Birmingham Mail

Thought the seagulls had taken revenge? Well panic not because Brian has merely moved to a new blogging home.

Click here to read more of Brian's blog entries.

See you there!

What can you do with Mums eh?
In the run-up to Christmas, Mary and I each told our mums: "Look, please, don't get us a Christmas cake this year. We're on a health drive. No sweet stuff. No cake. We always appreciate the cake and it is always delicious but, this year, please, we'll give it a miss. No cake. Ta."
Both maters appeared to take this message on board. But, just in case, we reinforced it a couple of times as Chrimbo approached. "Please...no cake...health drive...no cake...that is...cake not...no cake. "Righty-ho," they both said.

Both gave us a Christmas cake. What can you do?

Ladies and gentlemen, please allow me to wish a very happy Christmas and groovy New Year to everyone who clicked on to and contributed to the cricket blog during 2007. Best wishes and thanks to you all. Hope you all have a great Chrimbo and New Year. Sadly, it's always a difficult time for me because it brings back some painful memories. I came from a poor family, you see. In fact, one year things were so tight that Mum and Dad gave me an empty box for Christmas and told me it was an action man deserter. Talking of spiny mammals, which I wasn't but I'm sure somebody on this big old globe of ours was at that very moment, even though we are heading for late December the hedgehog that traditionally attends my neighbour's garden for dinner every evening has still not hibernated. IN MID-DECEMBER!! The world is tilting on its axis, is it not? Mind you, I have to say that particular creature is rather unusual. One day last summer I looked out into the garden and there, to my great surprise, was my neighbour playing chess against this hedgehog. "Blimey," I said. "That must be an unusually bright animal." "Not really," said me nabe, "I'm beating him 3-2." Hedgehogs not bothering to hibernate does makes you think the world's gone bonkers but no more so than England's football team being managed by a bloke who can't even conduct his introductory press conference in English, although even that seems entirely sane and reasonable compared to the ECB's scandalously crass, greedy and short-sighted decision last year to flog all live international cricket to SKY, a decision which, if it were possible, will attain even more ludicrous proportions than ever before next summer when, with England's footballers absent from Euro 2008 (all no doubt using the spare time to swot up on Italian) centre-stage will be there to be seized by cricket only for live coverage of the national team to be available only to a tiny sprinkling of the potential audience. Once again, a very happy Christmas to all from me, Mary, my neighbour, her hedgehog and all the goldfinches.

Ladies and gentlemen, please allow me to wish a very happy Christmas and groovy New Year to everyone who clicked on to and contributed to the cricket blog during 2007. Best wishes and thanks to you all. Hope you all have a great Chrimbo and New Year. Sadly, it's always a difficult time for me because it brings back some painful memories. I came from a poor family, you see. In fact, one year things were so tight that Mum and Dad gave me an empty box for Christmas and told me it was an action man deserter. Talking of spiny mammals, which I wasn't but I'm sure somebody on this big old globe of ours was at that very moment, even though we are heading for late December the hedgehog that traditionally attends my neighbour's garden for dinner every evening has still not hibernated. IN MID-DECEMBER!! The world is tilting on its axis, is it not? Mind you, I have to say that particular creature is rather unusual. One day last summer I looked out into the garden and there, to my great surprise, was my neighbour playing chess against this hedgehog. "Blimey," I said. "That must be an unusually bright animal." "Not really," said me nabe, "I'm beating him 3-2." Hedgehogs not bothering to hibernate does makes you think the world's gone bonkers but no more so than England's football team being managed by a bloke who can't even conduct his introductory press conference in English, although even that seems entirely sane and reasonable compared to the ECB's scandalously crass, greedy and short-sighted decision last year to flog all live international cricket to SKY, a decision which, if it were possible, will attain even more ludicrous proportions than ever before next summer when, with England's footballers absent from Euro 2008 (all no doubt using the spare time to swot up on Italian) centre-stage will be there to be seized by cricket only for live coverage of the national team to be available only to a tiny sprinkling of the potential audience. Once again, a very happy Christmas to all from me, Mary, my neighbour, her hedgehog and all the goldfinches.

"For the fly, the fly, the fly be on my turnip.
And it's all my eye, for we try, to keep fly off turnip".

Three twos and seven singles were the total of Vaughn Van Jaarsveld's first-team batting input during his Warwickshire career.

During the 2007 season, 40 ducks were registered in first-team cricket for the Bears.

Tim Ambrose hit 127 fours in the championship - but not a single six.

Adam Shantry and Alfonso Thomas both scored off every ball they received in the Pro40.

Ian Westwood faced 1,380 dot balls in the champo.

The Bears hit 31 sixes in the Twenty20 but conceded 34.

Kumar Sangakkarra scored 11 threes in championship cricket.

A few thoughts on the 2008 fixtures.
1. Five Twenty20 games away then five at home. Only in cricket....
2. With respect to the Oval, Old Trafford etc., nice to see back in the Bears' itinerary more of Northampton, Leicester and Derby again. Venues just as historic and more charming than many of the bigger ones.
3. Oakham, Milton Keynes and (probably) Southgate will be appealing for travelling Bears fans. Big shame - an outrage, some would say - that Warwickshire continue to ignore their own outgrounds.
4. Glad to be going back to Chelmsford. I can collect the underpants I left hanging out to dry on the hotel balcony there but then forgot about in 2001.
5. Season ends on September 27. Are we inching inexorably towards Christmas cricket?

"The flowers left thick at nightfall in the wood
This Eastertide call into mind the men,
Now far from home, who, with their sweethearts, should
Have gathered them and will do never again."

'In Memoriam (Easter 1915)'. Edward Thomas.

In the big picture, sport - football, cricket, the Ashes, trophies, leagues, Bears, Pears, Blues, Villa, any of it - doesn't really matter very much does it?

Good news. Sources from the south-west suggest that Warwickshire's championship visit to Gloucestershire next season will not be at Bristol (the most charmless cricket ground in the history of the world, nay universe). Sadly, it's not Cheltenham the Bears will be heading for but Gloucester is still a lot groovier than Bristol.
Aye - grandparents. When my Nan used to visit she always used to bring me a banana. Like it was a real treat. She'd always beam as though she was handing over the biggest thrill in the world. I felt like saying "Nan - rationing finished decades ago yer silly old bird. Bananas are two-a penny". Never did though. Bless 'er - she kept her teeth in a half-pint glass at night.

Just when we thought 2007 would be a year to entirely forget for the Bears, October has brought glory. Paul Warren has swept magnificently into the regional final of Britain's Best Dish (ITV 5pm).
His exquisite trout mousse had Jilly Goolden drooling (I think it was over the mousse) and wiped the floor with the fry-up served up by his opponent Mike.
In a thrilling, end-to-end encounter, Mike warned: "I'm going to trounce his trout mousse!" But Paul cleverly declined to get drawn into a war of words, honed his horse-radish sauce to perfection and kept his nerve brilliantly to produce what one judge described as "a true classic."

According to the "Atlas of Bird Migration" (quite a thick book so everything in it must be true): "Contrary to popular belief, there is no such creature as a "seagull". Although many gulls are birds of inshore waters and some rarely leave the open ocean, others nest far from any ocean and, during migration, cross the prairie grasses and farmland that characterises the American Great Plains - the antithesis of "seagull" habitat."

So, there you have it. I, and others inside and outside the Edgbaston press-box, can only admit, candidly and shamefully, that we were wrong. Sincere apologies.

Ladies and gentlemen, one last post (I won't be blogging Sunday's game - I'm off to lie down in a darkened room for a month) to say that, post-match, Mark Greatbatch said he will meet the chief executive on Monday and have a "season's debrief" on Tuesday but he would be "very disappointed" not to return to Edgbaston next year.
I think he might be in for a disappointment.

Thanks again for all your comments on and interest in this blog and your company and general pleasure-to-knowness around the grounds this season. Cheers, all.

Whoops of delight from Lancashire's supporters greet the announcement that Lancashire's win has lifted them top of the table.

Defeat arrived in a appropriately scruffy way - four byes as Ambrose failed to gather a quicker ball from Botha.

Lancashire 71 for 1, won by nine wickets. The Bears also reap a point-deduction, still being calculated by the scorers.

Lancashire 50 for 1. Chilton 16, Croft 10.

They require 18 from 122 overs with nine wickets left.

Come on Bears, dig deep.

Streak still on. Probably got about 12 more opportunities to get that wicket.

Carter draws an edge from Horton and Ambrose takes a brilliant catch in front of first slip.

Lancashire 32 for 1. Chilton 10 Croft 0.

Time is running out for Streak. He is still plugging away but it's fair to say he looks less than agile at the moment. It took him so long to get in to join the celebration (I use the term loosely) huddle for Carter's wicket that it was almost time for the next ball.

Attention swivels to Streak and his pursuit of his 500th first-class wicket.

Leaving Warwickshire after this season, it's far from certain that he will ever play another first-class match. So with Lancashire requiring only 68, time is running out.

He did not induce a false shot in his first two overs but began his third by ripping a leg-cutter past the helpless Chilton's outside-edge. The tension is palpable.

Mahmood flattens Loudon's off and middle stumps and the former participant in the Eton Wall Game departs for 80. Three balls later, Mahmood bowls Anyon.

Warwickshire 272 all out.

Lancashire require 68.

The Bears are going to have to bowl jolly well to win this.

Chapple delivers a ball which is simply too good for Thomas who falls lbw for 15.

As Thomas trudges away, Loudon contemplates at the non-striker's end. A penny for his thoughts.
Are they a) shame we'll be playing at the likes of Derby and Cardiff next season or b) at the end of this season I'll be out of this club faster than Jesse Owens out of Berlin in 1936?

Warwickshire 252 for 8. Loudon 66, Carter 6.

Lunch: Warwickshire 225 for 7. Loudon 54, Thomas 6.

Warwickshire continue to pile on the pressure. They now lead by 20 runs. Over lunch, Tim Ambrose is pondering when to declare.

Lancashire started to look distinctly ragged towards the end of the morning session. Heads began to drop, not least when Thomas clipped a single to fine-leg to take the lead to a commanding 15.

Suddenly the mood at the ground changes. Lancashire's supporters, hitherto cock-a-hoop and buoyant, have long faces and furrowed brows. Anxiety is etched upon their fizzogs.

Warwickshire are in front.

212 for 7. Loudon 46, Thomas 0. Seven runs to the good.

Now who's laughing, Lancashire?

Cork gets one to lift on off stump and Botha fails to drop his hands quickly enough and gloves to the wicket-keeper for a duck.

Warwickshire 202 for 6. Loudon 41, Streak 0.

They are going to avoid the innings defeat aren't they? Three needed.

Relegation edges even closer as Hampshire follow-on against Kent and Ambrose, on 16, is deceived by a slower ball and chips Cork to mid-off.

Warwickshire 201 for 5. Loudon 41, Ambrose 0.

Should avoid an innings defeat from here (four more runs needed).

Good news-wise, that's about it.

Parker makes his not-so-sprightly way back to the pavilion after having his off-stump flattened by a full-length ball from Newby.

Warwickshire 165 for 4. Loudon 23, Ambrose 0.

38 required to avoid an innings defeat. Six wickets left. Thick cloud assisting swing bowling and the light is indifferent although, frustratingly for Warwickshire, not quite gloomy enough for suspension of play.

Warwickshire 160 for 3 (54 overs). Loudon 19, Parker 14. The Bears are 45 behind.

Loudon appears to have his concentration-head on this morning while Parker has started in sprightly fashion.

There has just been a five-minute delay while the umpires considered Dominic Cork's request for a change of ball. After much milling around and scratching of heads (first their own, then each other's), they acceded.

After 17 minutes play Trott, stuck in the crease, is lbw to Chapple having not added to his overnight 42.

Warwickshire 137 for 3. Loudon 10, Parker 4. Still need another 68 to make Lancashire bat again.

Why are 97% of wall-mirrors in this country between six and ten inches too low?

Good morning ladies and gentlemen. It's an overcast morning in Manchester, not ideal for batting so the Bears could have their work cut out!

I wonder if anyone can help me out. Last night,I popped into a public house. It was a bit dreary and reminded me of a poem, written by Anthony Thwaite, based on a visit he made to a pub in Manchester. He found some mysterious graffiti on the toilet wall: "Mr Cooper - dead".
The poem is called "Mr Cooper" and I've found mention of it on the net but can't find the actual poem itself. Can anyone help?

Play has been abandoned for the day due to sunshine!! The glare at the Stretford Road end means that the last 13 overs were lost.

If the game was a closer contest, Lancashire, right in the running for the title, might have had a bit to say about it. Irrespective of that, the spectators have been robbed of an hour's entertainment.

Sometimes, cricket really shouldn't be allowed out...

"Get on with it", "Get 'em back" and "Rubbish" are three of the comments uttered with feeling by Lancashire supporters after the players leave the field due to the batsmen being inconvenienced by, wait for it, the sun!

It's shining too brightly, would you believe.

Warwickshire 125 for 2. Sometimes, I do wonder about cricket.

The Cricket Gods, devout readers of this blog, having spotted that I had just referred to "Resolute Warwickshire resistance" instantly decreed that Westwood should lean forward to Keedy and pop up a catch to short leg off bat and pad. Out for 50.

Warwickshire 113 for 2. Trott 38, Loudon 0.

Can they avoid the customary clatter?

Warwickshire 117 for 1 (40 overs). Westwood 50, Trott 36.

Westwood has just reached 50, from 122 balls with seven fours. A fine, chanceless knock by the opener. Trott, meanwhile, is batting patiently and correctly.

Just watching Trott play out a maiden from Keedy with six rock-solid defensive shots made you wonder how so much of the Bears' batting came to be so lacking in resolution for so long. Most of them really are better players than they have looked in the last two months.

Tea: Warwickshire 86 for 1 (27 overs). Westwood 40, Trott 16.

More solid batting from this pair. The biggest alarm came when Trott called Westwood through for a crazy single and Westwood would have been run out by yards if Cork, following up after bowling, had hit the stumps with his throw.

Warwickshire 60 for 1. Westwood 30, Trott 0.

Powell, on 23, drives at Keedy and edges to Laxman slip.

Is this to be the match in which Trott bounces back?

Warwickshire 51 for 0 (11 overs). Powell 20, Westwood 26.

Powell and Westwood are applying themselves diligently. There have been two or three edges through the slips but no chances given.

Keedy is just coming on. The spinner could be the key man from here on in. If Warwickshire deal well with him, Lancashire will have to work their ageing seamers much harder.

Sitting 'ere at Old Trafford, seven Warwickshire "experts" have predicted the close of play score.
George 164 for 5
Kim 143 for 7
Jane 107 for 2
Alan 198 for 9
John 135 for 2
Paul 200 for 3
Brian 118 all out. Anyone else fancy their chances as a pundit?

Lancashire 311 all out. Laxman edges Carter to Ambrose to perish for 103.
Carter finishes with 5 for 67. The lead is 205.

Now, can Warwickshire
a) get their fingers out
b) make Lancashire bat again
c) take the game into tomorrow
d) win?

Newby aims a big sweep at Botha and misses, perishing clean bowled for 26.

Lancashire 305 for 9. Laxman 101, Keedy 0.

Another valuable bowling point is banked,

Lancashire 299 for 8 (94 overs). Laxman 99, Newby 22.

Lancashire making serene progress. Botha is wheeling away but has just been lifted for a straight four by number ten Newby. Thomas is being Thomas - persevering and whole-hearted but without looking especially potent.

Suet.

Lunch: Lancashire 267 for 8. Laxman 83, Newby 6.
161 ahead.

Let's not abandon all hope. There have been great turnarounds before.
Powell, Westwood, Trott, Loudon and Ambrose have all proved in the past they are capable of playing major innings.

If the Bears can total 500-plus...

Carter gets one to rear at Mahmood who gloves it to the wicket-keeper.

Lancashire 255 for 8. Laxman 76, Newby 2.

This is classy work from Laxman. The lead is now 149 and the press-box concensus is that we will all be on our way home tonight. It's a long time since a Warwickshire innings lasted much more than two sessions.

Warwickshire's position is enhanced by two fine catches at point. Streak drops short and Chapple, on 16, cuts hard to Parker who takes a great catch to give the bowler his 499th first-class wicket.

In the next over Carter, in his first over of the day, drops short and Cork, still to score, cuts hard to Anyon who dives low to take the catch well.

Lancashire 213 for 7. Laxman 51, Cork 0. 107 ahead.

The ball is swinging and Streak is bowling a good spell which includes a groovy outswinger which Sutton edges to Ambrose.

Lancashire 192 for 5. Laxman 42, Chapple 7.

Chapple often seems to get a few runs against the Bears.

Ernie Wise got married within weeks of Eric Morecambe. But to a different woman.

Lancashire 163 for 4. Laxman 22, Sutton 6.

Lancashire cricket manager Mike Watkinson is temporarily umpiring in place of Nigel Cowley who has experienced chest pains and will undergo surgery next weekend. John Holder is on the way as a replacement.

Thomas and Botha are bowling. It's overcast so the ball should swing. One wonders how Ernie Wise's career would have unfolded had he not met Eric Morecambe.

Good morning ladies and gentlemen.
As I parked up in Old Trafford this morning I was greeted by a Lancashire steward. Smart as a guardsman in his red jacket, he was casting an eye over Warwickshire's players indulging in their customary pre-play football game.
"Y'know," he mused,"The way they played yesterday I thought they might be practicing their cricket."

But is this to be the day the Bears bite back?

The close: Lancashire 156 for 4. Laxman 22,

Horton edged the last ball of the day to Ambrose off Botha. He made 71, having faced more balls than nine of Warwickshire's batsmen put together.

A welcome late fillip for the Bears but it would be stretching it to say it evened the day right up.

Good evening. I'm off to me seedy hotel to get in a few hours kip before the seagulls start.

Law, on 43, cuts at Carter and Powell clings on to a fine catch in the slips.

Lancashire 130 for 3 (47 overs). Horton 65, Laxman 2.

Warwickshire 106 all out, Lancashire 116 for 2. Kent 304 for 4.

I need to cleanse my soul. I've got a confession to make.
At lunchtime a quantity of fresh fruit was brought up to the press box. It contained two large, juicy Conference pears.
I took them both.

I'm a bad person.

Pitch inspector Peter Walker has just popped into the media facility to report that he is perfectly happy with the pitch.

"It did a bit early on as you would expect," he reported, "but it's a good pitch."

Lancashire 88 for 2 (30 overs). Horton 49, Law 19.

Tea. Lancashire 76 for 2 (24 overs). Horton 45, Law 12.

Warwickshire's seamers (led by Carter's 6-2-10-1) have plugged away nobly enough, as they have done all season. But so pitiful was the batting that the bowlers have an impossible job to do.

A gentleman just entered the press box and inquired: "Who's here from the Yorkshire Post?"
It was gently pointed out to him that the Roses Match here was, in fact, in July.

The admirable Carter digs one in at Croft who can only fend it up in the air and Ambrose takes the catch.

Lancashire 58 for 2 (17 overs). Horton 35, Law 4.

Rather ominously, Law thunders his second ball to the cover fence. But Carter is bowling well and Streak also keeping it tight and causing one or two problems despite his dodgy back.

A breakthrough. Anyon drops short, Chilton fails to control his pull and Thomas takes a good catch at long-leg.

Lancashire 44 for 1 (9 overs). Horton 26, Croft 0.

Lanashire 36 for 0 (8 overs). Horton 26, Chilton 10.

On Sunday, Mark Greatbatch described this match as "our Test match".

The record margin in a Test match is an innings and 579, by which England defeated Australia at The Oval in 1938.

Thomas edges to first slip to end a last-wicket partnership of 17 with Anyon which at least averted the ignominy of failure to reach three figures. When the 100 was finally reached there was a sympathetic ovation like you might hear from the staff at a nursing home when the oldest resident finally manages, after much effort and many near-misses, to get his teeth in.

Warwickshire all out for 106 in the 46th over.
At the risk of further accusations of not being constructive, I must venture that this is not an entirely imposing total.

Carter slashes Chapple to point and departs for 1.

Warwickshire 89 for 9 (42 overs). Thomas 0 Anyon 4.

It's a lovely, sunny day.

But then so was July 1, 1916.

Warwickshire 85 for 8 (41 overs). Thomas 0, Carter 1.

Streak, on 7, nibbles fatally and supplies Sutton with his fourth catch. Botha, on 27, is tucked up by a short ball from Mahmood and gloves a looping catch into the cordon.

Lancashire are understandably perky but they will be laughing on their other side of their fizzogs when Thomas and Carter pass the Bears' record ninth-wicket stand against Lancashire -107 put on by Giles and Frost at Blackpool in 1997.

Mahmood powers a yorker through Ambrose and the bails fly. Ambrose out for two, eked from 14 overs.

Warwickshire 75 for 6 (35 overs). Botha 25, Streak 0.

There is a bit in the pitch for the bowlers. Just a bit, though.

Lunch: Warwickshire 70 for 5 (32 overs). Ambrose 2, Botha 20.
Ambrose has got his nut down in typical fashion. Botha has been assertive.

By the way, Ambrose's dealings with the press have been mature and impressive since he was landed with the captaincy. Not least after the Surrey game when Mark Greatbatch, asked about the batting frailties of the last three months, replied: "Not wishing to pass the buck, but... Amby?" and incredibly he passed the buck to the young chap skippering the side for the first time in first-class cricket!

Cork digs one in and Parker pulls but gets a bottom-edge through to the 'keeper to depart for 16.

Warwickshire 47 for 5 (23 overs). Ambrose 1, Botha 0.

I try to be positive. But the words hopeless and directionless spring to mind.

How on earth has Warwickshire's appalling downward spiral been allowed to drag on so, so long?

After 90 minutes doughty resistance, Powell offers no shot to Cork and loses his off-stump. Out for 27.
Warwickshire 41 for 4 (20 overs). Parker 11, Ambrose 0.

Funny thing about the journey up this morning. The car kept being filled with an overwhelmingly pungent smell of old socks. I checked and it wasn't mine. I've never suffered in that way.

Except, inexplicably, at Bangor, north Wales, in 2002.

Mahmood gets one to jag back into Loudon who inside-edges to the wicket-keeper and departs for, not to put too fine a point on it, a blob.

Warwickshire 25 for 3 (12 overs). Powell 22, Parker 0.

It would be just like heroic true-Bear MJ Powell to bat all day today 'know.

If he can find some partners...

Westwood, on 2, attempts to pull Mahmood and sends up a skier to mid-off where Keedy takes a sitter. Three balls later, Trott, on 1, edges Chapple to the wicket-keeper.

Warwickshire 14 for 2 (8 overs). Powell 11, Loudon 0.

Powell looking solid enough but there is early juice in the track and Mahmood and Chapple have both beaten the bat regularly.

Streak is a surprise returnee (is that a word?) so the 11 gentlemen on whom the Bears' championship First Division future depends are Westwood, Powell, Trott, Loudon, Parker, Ambrose, Streak, Botha, Thomas, Carter and Anyon.

Warwickshire won the toss and will bat on a strange, shiny pitch that would probably glow in the dark.

Good morning ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to Old Trafford - now is this to be Warwickshire's valedictory First Division fixture?
Teams not announced yet but Warwickshire's players are hard at work in the nets. It is a magnificent sunny day.

Many thanks, by the way, to the driver of the yellow van who clearly owns the highways in Cheshire so had every right to change lanes in ludicrous fashion on the Bowden island and remove a quantity of paintwork from my passenger door. Cheers, pal.

Surrey won by nine wickets with 52.3 overs to spare.

Appropriately, Ramprakash struck the winning runs.

Warwickshire are 9 points above Kent, who have a game in hand.

Can they hit back with a win at Old Trafford? We'll see Tuesday to Friday. Cheers for now.

Surrey 171 for 1. Batty 67, Ramprakash 7.

Woakes and Botha are on.

Really could do with a wicket or two now.

Woakes collects his maiden championship wicket by drawing an outside-edge from Newman into Ambrose's gloves. Newman goes for 86.

Surrey 155 for 1. Batty 58, Ramprakash 1. 22 runs needed.

Or nine wickets.

Game on...

Lunch. Surrey 131 for 0. Newman 71, Batty 52.

I once went round the crypt at Windsor Castle. Compared to Edgbaston today it was a riot of life, colour, optimism and exuberance.
The atmosphere here today says it all. There's only a sprinkling of people in the ground and the ambience is so subdued and gloomy.

Even the french pastry I just obtained from the Tom Dollery was flat and lifeless.

Surrey 101 for 0. Newman 54, Batty 41.

Newman has just reached his half-century with an enormous swept six off Botha.

Surrey need another 76 from 70 overs with ten wickets left.

It's hard to be optimistic.

Surrey 50 for 0. Newman 25, Batty 23. Another 127 required.

The desperately-needed early breakthough has not arrived, despite decent spells from Carter and Thomas. Carter has been replaced at the Pavilion End by Woakes.

A raven has just risen across the sky in the distance beyond the pavilion.

Or perhaps it was a crow.

Surrey 16 for 0. Newman 11, Batty 5.
Carter and Thomas open up for Warwickshire but both batsman hit an early boundary, clearly having decided that a positive approach is best.

Unwelcome tidings from Lord's. The England camp want Ian Bell to rest before travelling to Sri Lanka later this month so he will not play in the championship match at Old Trafford starting on Tuesday. That's a huge blow, especially with Jim Troughton not fielding today due to his sore back.

Good morning ladies and gentlemen. Surrey will resume this morning, under light cloud with wagtails gambolling on the outfield, on 2-0, requiring 177 for a victory which would leave Warwickshire's First Division status hanging by a thread.
Reasons to be optimistic:
1. There's a groovy precedent. In 2002, at The Oval, Surrey were set 169 to win but were all out for 137 as Warwickshire, shrewdly skippered by Mike Powell, lodged a remrkable win after following on.
2. Er, that's about it.

Warwickshire 264 all out. Woakes 14 not out.
Surrey, needing 177 to win, were 2 for 0 from two overs at the close.

Warwickshire have battled their way to a foothold in the game but Surrey are still warm favourites.
Troughton, in discomfort from a back injury, made a plucky 43 and Carter a typically belligerent 27. Woakes batted with impressive composure for an 18-year-old making his championship debut,

Tea: Warwickshire 178 for 5. Troughton 15, Botha 6.

An intriguing, error-strewn game.

90 in front. The Bears will want to set Surrey at least 200, ideally 250-plus.

Warwickshire 163 for 5. Troughton 5, Botha 1. Effectively 75 for 5.

Westwood plumped for an attacking policy and struck 79 from 90 balls but then took one risk too many and lifted to point. Trott gritted his way to 33 but edged Ormond to the 'keeper (although he evidently didn't think he hit it).
Ambrose turned Hussain to leg slip and went for 11. Loudon, on 20, steered Ormond to gully.

Backs to the wall stuff again, I'm afraid.

Warwickshire 87 for 1 (22 overs). Westwood 54, Trott 19.

Westwood passed an accomplished 50 from 59 balls with his second six, flicked over the short mid-wicket boundary, off Dernbach.

The first-innings deficit of 88 is now all but cleared. If the Bears can avoid the customary collapse scenario, they could build a winning position 'ere.

Lunch. Warwickshire 47 for 1 (15 overs). Westwood 26, Trott 7.

Warwickshire trail by 41.

This game is fascinatingly poised.

Just hope Warwickshire's batsmen can focus after lunch and keep their concentration from straying to the lunchtime League One thrillfest that is sure to be Walsall v Port Vale (ko 1pm).

Powell goes hard at a Nicholson long-hop way outside off-stump and Dernbach takes a fine diving catch a point.

Warwickshire 21 for 1 (7 overs). Westwood 8, Trott 0.

Warwickshire 16 for 0 (5 overs). Powell 9, Westwood 7.

Both openers should be back in the hutch already. Powell, on 1, edged Ormond to Butcher and Westwood, on 3, edged Nicholson to Benning but both slip catches - simple ones - went down.

Huge reprieves for Warwickshire. Can they take advantage?

Surrey 373 all out. Ormond 25 not out, Dernbach out for 10, well caught by Carter, running back at mid-off, off Thomas..

The last pair added 29, extending Surrey's first-innings lead to a very useful 88.

A concern arose for Warwickshire when Troughton pulled up awkwardly in the field (while Dernbach and Ormond ran four). He appears to have suffered another back spasm and left the field.

Anyon strikes with the very first ball of the day which lifts on off stump and loops off Hussain's bat gently to Woakes at gully.

The third bowling point is safely banked by Warwickshire. Surrey 344 for 9.

The start of play has been delayed, not by a dead skunk, but by indifferent light.

Play is due to begin at 10.55am.

Surrey 344 for 8 - 59 ahead. Hussain 6, Ormond 7.

Good night and good luck - which, incidentally, is a rather good film.

Nicholson's dangerous counter-attack (41 from 65 balls) ends with a missed sweep at Botha and an lbw decision.

Botha's bowling in the fourth innings of this match, if the Bears can set Surrey any sort of target, will be crucial.

Surrey 334 for 8. Hussain 3, Ormond 0. 49 in front. A lead of 75 or above would be a worry for Warwickshire.

Botha opens his championship account for Warwickshire with a huge wicket. The spinner gets one to turn and bounce at Ramprakash and Trott takes an excellent catch at slip.

Ramps goes for a monumental 175 from 336 balls with 24 fours and two sixes. Nicholson has responded by biffing Woakes for four fours in an over, suggesting he hasn't much faith in the tail.

Surrey 321 for 7 (34 ahead). Nicholson 29, Hussain 1.

Surrey 293 for 6 (106 overs). Ramprakash 167, Nicholson 11.

Botha and Anyon are plugging away but Surrey have moved in front and are edging towards a position of strength.

Ramprakash shares a birthday (last Wednesday) with folk legend Loudon Wainwright III and rock legend Freddie Mercury.

In his 24th over, the big-hearted Anyon takes his second wicket as Jordan, on 17, edges and Ambrose takes a fine catch.

Surrey 267 for 6 (99 overs). Ramprakash 152, Nicholson 0.

Surrey are 18 runs behind. If Warwickshire can knock over the tail - or dismiss that pesky Ramprakash - it's 'game on'.

Tea. Surrey 266 for 5 (96 overs). Ramprakash 151, Jordan 7.
A good afternoon for Surrey thanks to a fifth-wicket stand of 74 in 14 overs between Ramprakash and Benning. After Walters played no stroke and was bowled by Anyon, Benning thumped 44 from 40 balls with a six, top-edged spectacularly off Carter, and eight fours.
Benning edged a pearler from the impressively persevering Thomas to Ambrose but Ramprakash goes on and on and on, having faced 291 balls so far.
Nice that Sunderland has ended its unhappy record as the largest metropolis in Europe without a cinema.

Softened up by Trott's magnificent maiden before lunch, Butcher falls in the second over after the interval, falling over a drive and playing on to Carter. Out for 14 from 63 balls.
Agonisingly, Carter then draws Ramprakash, on 104, into a mis-hook but Thomas drops an absolute sitter at mid-off.

Surrey 143 for 3 (62 overs). Ramprakash 104, Walters 0.

You don't really want to be dropping Ramprakash!

Lunch. Surrey 134 for 2 (59 overs). Ramprakash 100, Butcher 10.
Credit to Warwickshire's bowlers who have stuck at it and kept the scoring rate right down. At least that meant Surrey have had to consume time setting down a foundation. Batty's 21 occupied 107 balls and Butcher's 10 has so far taken up 55.
All the seamers have bowled well with Carter, Thomas and Anyon unlucky not to have broken through again.

Then Trott came on just before lunch and bowled a fantastic over. His figures so far: 1-1-0-0.

Surrey 115 for 2 (50 overs). Ramprakash 85, Butcher 6.

Still the Bears, now in the form of Anyon and Woakes, make Surrey work hard for every run but Ramprakash, although he has played some false shots, really is high class.

I have been informed of a very effective way of dealing with seagulls. Mix phosphorous into some bread and leave in a place where seagulls go. After they eat said bread, watch them fly away and, the first time they imbibe water, explode.

Surrey 70 for 2 (36 overs). Ramprakash 48, Butcher 0.

Well-deserved reward arrives for Thomas when, having delivered 76 balls for just 15 runs, he draws an edge from Batty and Botha clutches the catch to his midriff at second slip. Batty departs for a painstaking 21 from 107 balls, just two of which he struck to the boundary rope.

Let's just take a moment to vaunt the talents of Brenda Lee, alive and well at 62, and purveyor of such classic tracks as "I'm Sorry", "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree", and "Dynamite".

"What a voice," an esteemed member of the press box has just averred. "What a voice."

Surrey 65 for 1 (33 overs). Batty 21, Ramprakash 43. Thomas, having conceded five runs in his first ten overs, has led a disciplined bowling effort but Batty and Ramprakash are employing the patience of men determined to be in there for the long haul.

Good morning ladies and gentlemen and welcome to Edgbaston for one of the most important days of championship cricket in recent Warwickshire history. A bad today and they will be staring Division Two in the face.

Carter and Thomas have opened the bowling, a siren has just wailed past the Pavilion End, the sun is shining on a lovely crisp autumn day, a spectator in the RES Wyatt Stand is picking his nose and the Bears' depleted, morale-sapped troops need a big, big day. Surrey 41 for 1.

Ladies and gentlemen, I didn't find the forum particularly encouraging last night. Here's my take on it. I would be very interested to hear yours.

NOTHING funny happened on the way to the forum at Edgbaston last night.
But something very strange occurred as soon as it started. All 500 or so people present disappeared into a time warp.
On July 27, 2006, a supporters forum at Edgbaston attracted hundreds of Warwickshire members grumpy about their team's poor form, most of all a horrible capitulation at Scarborough.
They were assured by chief executive Colin Povey and director of cricket Mark Greatbatch that nobody was under any illusions about the situation and everybody was working ever so hard to turn things round.
Fast forward to September 6, 2007. Spooky. Hundreds of supporters, identically grumpy, were given identical assurances.
Unsurprisingly, few were placated by what they heard. But still the panel - Povey, Greatbatch and skipper Darren Maddy, along with Dennis Amiss in a lets-get-this-over-with-as-quickly-as possibly compere role - got off lightly.
Supporters forums are unwieldy beasts. For every one probing, weighty question from the floor, three tangential ones get in the way of what most people want to discuss. Probably 95 per cent of members present last night want Greatbatch out but there was no direct question to him, Povey or cricket committee chairman John Claughton (pressganged on to the panel late on) about his future.
Instead, other details were explored. Nobody asked if it was acceptable that, for much of the last two months, day-in and day-out, Warwickshire's cricket has been woefully sub-standard. But the lack of tank-tops in the club shop was lamented, as was the early-season failure to get the clocks right. And, of course, that old chestnut - parking. Warwickshire stand on the threshold of a humiliating double relegation but what about parking at the Constance Road end?
All valid concerns for members who pay their dues, of course. But last night they helped the panel off the hook.
Not that the audience failed to land any blows. Claughton got a rough ride. He looked startled to be "invited" up by Amiss and immediately undermined everything he has ever said or will ever say in his current role by insisting it was his "duty" to offer public support to the coach and players.
Duty? That's something you do, irrespective of merits, isn't it? On those grounds, if the Bears lose every game without collecting a single bonus point next season, Claughton will still offer support.
Back to the deja vu. Just like July '06, Povey and Greatbatch responded to questions with strained courtesy. The reaction from the floor was less-than-friendly. "Resign," cried a voice (re. Greatbatch). "Big girl," hollered another (re. Claughton). "Shambles," said another. "Garbage". "It's a fiasco." "Mr Povey hasn't got a clue about cricket."
Trouble was, it was all, as is the nature of forums, too disparate, achieving nothing bar, perhaps, convincing the panel of the depth of members' feelings. After graciously allowing the audience an extension beyond the ludicrously early originally-intended finishing time of 8.15pm, Amiss wrapped it up.
Ah well - see you next summer. Same cast, same script.

Close: Surrey 41 for 1 (24 overs). Batty 11 (from 70 balls), Ramprakash 29.
Carter and Thomas bowled very well and Anyon decently (although Ramprakash broke the shackles momentarily to lift him into the pavilion for six). Woakes and Botha both delivered their first champo overs for the Bears.

Someone on that list has got to have an inspired day tomorrow. Ramprakash, by the way, averages 96.80 in the champo for Surrey against Warwickshire since moving from Middlesex in 2001.

Surrey 34 for 1 (20.3 overs). Batty 11, Ramprakash 23.

Woakes has added a bit of symmetry to the day. Having hit his first ball in championship cricket for four, he was duly socked for four when he bowled his first ball.

A bit of a spurt has taken Surrey above one run per over but it's been good old-fashioned atritional stuff. Like the old days - Bristol, 1936, for example, when Warwickshire's two innings against Gloucestershire amounted to 336 in 207 overs.

Surrey 10 for 1 (12 overs). Batty 4, Ramprakash 6.
Carter and Thomas are making Surrey work hard for every run. Batty, on 3, edged Carter into his body and the ball rolled on to the stumps but didn't dislodge a bail, then on 4, edged Thomas to first slip but Powell dropped a staightforward chance. Ramprakash, on 6, edged Thomas just short of second slip.

I don't like to strike a lavatorial tone but whoever left those two large floaters in Trap 5 of the RES Wyatt Stand first-floor gents should take a good look at themselves.

Carter strikes with his eighth delivery, a superb away-cutter which Newman edges to Ambrose.

Surrey 0 for 1 (2.2 overs). Batty 0, Ramprakash 0.

Anyon misses a hefty swipe at Hussain and is bowled for 13. Carter not out 14, including a six off Hussain.

All out 285. It appears a rather unsatisfactory score although, let's look on the bright side, if Surrey are 35 for 6 by the close it will seem an excellent score.

From 193 for 2, the last eight wickets fell for 92 runs in 26 overs. Rarely, since May, has a Warwickshire innings contained more than one significant hamster, er sorry, partnership.

In the first over after tea, Woakes chops Jordan to gully and exits for 9. 259 for 9.

This looks like a Bears total that opens up the prospect of an innings defeat. It's not a bad track and Surrey will fancy piling up 450-plus.

"Ambrose is, as Ambrose invariably does, batting with sense and skill."

In the last over before tea, Ambrose lifts a short ball from Jordan straight down the throat of deep square-leg. Out for 33.

Tea. Warwickshire 258 for 8. Woakes 9.

117 for 6 in the afternoon session.

Warwickshire 258 for 7. Ambrose 33, Woakes 9.

Thomas, on 9, failed to control a cut at Jordan and Benning took a fine diving catch at point.

Eighteen-year-old Woakes, in at nine, promptly pulled his first ball faced in the championship to the mid-wicket boundary for four. He then cut his sixth, from Hussain, for four more.
Ambrose is, as Ambrose invariably does, batting with sense and skill.

Warwickshire 228 for 6 (64 overs). Ambrose 16, Thomas 5.

Loudon slashed fecklessly to gully for 13 and then Botha, on 1, missed a rather ill-judged pre-meditated sweep and fell lbw to provide former Bahawalpur, Islamabad Cricket Association, Khan Research Labs, Pakistan Automobiles Corporation, Pakistan National Shipping Corporation, United Bank Limited, Stevenage, Welwyn Garden City, Pyrford, Byfleet and St Albans spinner Murtaza Hussain with his first championship wicket.

Warwickshire 193 for 4 (54 overs). Loudon 0, Ambrose 0.

Troughton departs, a little unluckily, gloving Nicholson down the leg-side to the wicket-keeper. That ends a partnership of 149 in 42 overs with Powell. Troughton's share was 76 from 128 balls with 12 fours and a six, not one of his most stylish innings, but a pugnacious and highly valuable one.
Without another run added, Powell, lifts a pull to mid-on and, to the huge disappointment of the crowd, falls for 82 from 155 balls with 15 fours.

Warwickshire 164 for 2 (42 overs). Powell 68, Troughton 61. Steady progress since lunch.
Look, it's been a gruelling, joyless season so let's strike a lighter tone with some JOKES.
Due to shortage of space I can't include the full jokes but here are some hugely amusing punchlines. Plase fill in the rest yourselves - and feels those sides split...
Thigh-slapping punchline number 1....."No, sir, I'm a frayed knot."
2........"Don't blame me, sir, I only laid the table."
3........"I'm sorry, I didn't realise it was her turn."
4........"But I just don't understand," she said. "He always made his own sandwiches."

Lunch. Warwickshire 140 for 2 (33 overs). Powell 61, Troughton 50.

These two batsmen have added 96 so far to repair the early damage. Both - and Troughton in particular - played and missed a bit early on but that was to be expected as the ball moved about in overcast conditions.

Surrey's bowlers have delivered a bit of filth in amongst the better stuff and, against an attack shorn of Singh and Schofield, Warwickshire will fancy building a very strong position from here.

Warwickshire 77 for 2 (21 overs). Powell 37, Troughton 16.
Powell is batting very well, watchful but punitive of the bad ball having advanced to 37 from only 61 balls with seven fours. Troughton started very edgily but has settled to hit a couple of handsome boundaries.

How ironic it would be if Powell, having been maginalised throughout the reign of coach Mark Greatbatch, was to play a big innings which proved crucial to averting the embarrassment of a double-relegation.

Warwickshire 44 for 2 (10.1 overs). Powell 21, Troughton 0.

Trott, having looked in good nick, gets a jaffa from Nicholson and edges to the wicket-keeper to depart for 19. Agonising stuff for poor Trott, who started this match with a championship average of 18.81 this season.

There is some movement for the quick bowlers but Powell is digging in and also punishing any loose balls that come along, hitting four fours from his first 30 balls.

Westwood edges the eleventh ball of the day, from Ormond, to second slip. Out for 4.
Warwickshire 16 for 1. Powell 8, Trott 4.

Bears target Paul Horton has signed a new two-year contract with Lancashire.

The state of Warwickshire's season is summed up perfectly by the attendance at Edgbaston today. Small, you could say.

Good morning ladies and gentlemen. A huge boost for the Bears when the team-sheets are handed in. Surrey are without Harbhajan Singh with a foot injury so, with Chris Schofield away preparing for England duty, are deprived of both the spinners who have underpinned their recent good form. In comes Pakistani spinner Murtaza Hussain (mug with 524 first-class wickets behind him).

More good news for the Bears. They win the toss and bat. Westwood, Powell and Carter are back in the team and Woakes makes his championship debut.

Northamptonshire won by six wickets with four overs to spare.

The Supporters Forum on Thursday could be a bit lively.

Grisly stuff. This season is on a one-way ticket to Seagull City, calling only at Droppingsville.

Northamptonshire 200 for 3 (31 overs). Boje 54, Sales 52.

Need 31 from 9. Cruising home.

Northamptonshire, bottom of Division One at start of play, very rarely cruise home.

Warwickshire will be bottom in about 20 minutes time.

Nothamptonshire 168 for 3 (26 overs). Boje 42, Sales 37. Need 63 off 14 overs.

Another dangerous partnership is building. Botha replaced at the Football Ground End by Streak. Loudon, serving up a variety of offerings at the Pavilion End, has just been socked for four, dot, four, six by Sales.

Defeat today, remember, would mean Warwickshire have one foot in Division Two.

Botha makes a sensational start. His first ball for Warwickshire is pitched well up and Wessels drives back a return catch to depart for 52 from 29 balls with eight fours and two sixes.

A huge wicket - and it's almost two in two for the debutant as Sales chips his first ball to extra-cover where James spills a fairly difficult chance.

Northamptonshire 113 for 3 (17 overs). Boje 23, Sales 1.

Northamptonshire 100 for 2 (15 overs) Boje 14, Wessels 51.

Wessels has looked in tremendous nick from the word go. He smote his first two balls, from Thomas, for four and has just hit Streak so far over the stand at mid-wicket that the ball was temporarily lost.
When it was finally located, Wessels immediately clubbed it for four through the covers before lifting the next for six over long-leg to reach 50 from 26 balls.
Looking a smidgin dangerous.

If there has been a better catch anywhere in the universe this season than the screamer that Trott has just taken, one-handed miles to his right, at mid-wicket to dismiss Peters, then I'd be amazed.

An absolute belter - and the sort of flash of individual brilliance that can turn games. And, dare I day it, seasons?

Northamptonshire 48 for 2 (10 overs). Boje 3, Wessels 11.

Warwickshire 27 for 1 (7 overs). Peters 10, Boje 0.

White smote Carter for three early fours but then, on 17, failed to control a cut at the left-armer and James took a fine catch at point.

Personally, I find 'Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?' almost intelligence-insultingly bland. Give me 'Mrs & Mrs' any day of the week.

Warwickshire 230 for 8 (40 overs).

Nick James delivered another bright cameo late in the innings (for 25) to lift Warwickshire to a total which looks about par.

Very difficult to call this one. The Bears need to take early wickets, field well - and get Sales early.

Warwickshire 192 for 5 (36 overs). Trott 40, James 12.

Trott and Ambrose added 60 in 10 overs and batted intelligently before Ambrose, just starting to climb into a few strokes, was adjudged lbw, sweeping Boje, for 39. He did not like the decision.

This batting order is causing a few surprises. Groenewald at four. Loudon still to arrive at the crease, James having come in at seven but James has just swung Brown for six over mid-wicket.

Sangakkara clips Boje straight to Peters at mid-wicket and departs for 39.

117 for 4 (25 overs). Trott 17, Ambrose (acting captain today) 0.

Warwickshire 112 for 3 (23 overs). Sangakkara 36, Trott 14.

Westwood lifted Klusener to Boje in the covers to fall for 25 (from 28 balls) then Groenewald, promoted to provide a bit of biffing, smote two fours but holed out in search of a third (out for 9).

At 80 for 3, the Bears needing shoring up and Sangakkara and Trott have spent the last six overs engaged in that process. Sangakkara has his head down and looks determined to play a valedictory match-winning innings. The contest is on a knife-edge.

George Dobell is on the phone to Jane Hyatt. "Carter is batting nicely," he says. And just as the "ly" in nicely is leaving Mr Dobell's lips, Carter chops Klusener straight into the hands of Wessels at point.

Carter c Wessels b Klusener/Dobell 24.

Warwickshire 37 for 1 (8 overs). Westwood 13, Sangakkara 0.

Warwickshire 28 for 0 (6 overs). Carter 20, Westwood 8.

A steady start. Carter, on 2, was dropped by Sales at slip off Klusener, but is again looking ingood nick.
Just popped back to my car, which I parked up about an hour ago, and there is a bird-related souvenir the size of a large pizza smack bang in the middle of roof.

Surely, there are no bleedin' seagulls in Northampton!!

Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. Well, here's a game neither side can afford to lose.
Team changes: Maddy is ruled out by the ankle injury he collected fielding yesterday (he will have a scan tomorrow and his participation in the Twenty20 World Cup could be in jeopardy). Troughton and Anyon have been left out. In come Botha (for his debut) while Westwood and Groenewald return.

Northamptonshire won the toss and chose to field. Here we go: The Resistable Force v The Movable Object.

Lancashire 254 for 5 (39.5 overs). Won by five wickets with one ball to spare.

Alfonso Thomas almost got the Bears out of jail with a fine last over. Lancashire began the 40th over requiring only two runs but Thomas bowled Laxman with the first ball, then delivered two dot balls before a scrambled single took the scores level and another one secured victory.

How badly Warwickshire need to win at Northampton tomorrow. They must evoke the spirit of FR Foster, whose team famously clinched the county championship at Wantage Road in 1911.

Lancashire 208 for 4 (32.1 overs). Laxman 28, Cork 0.

Laxman and Croft added 65 from 64 balls before Croft, on 39, lifted Streak to Maddy who took a great low catch at mid-off.

Lancashire need 46 from 7.5 overs and it's getting very dark. Intriguing.

Lancashire 156 for 3 from 24 overs. Laxman 8, Croft 16.

Loudon made the breakthrough when Horton hoiked him to deep square leg. Cross then chopped James to backward point and Chilton turned Loudon straight to mid-wicket.

Are Lancashire about to add more grist to their reputation as chokers?

Whatever grist is.

Lancashire 119 for 0 (16 overs). Cross 65, Horton 46.

Anyon and Carter were struck for six fours in eight balls at one stage. The seamers having been milked, spinners Loudon and James have just been introduced to the "attack".

The ground, despite a good number of people being in it, is very quiet as the Bears appear to be set to extend their poor record to just one win in 15 games in all competitions.

Lancashire 53 for 0 from 8 overs. Cross 33, Horton 12.

Cross has hoisted Thomas for six over mid-off and his five fours. An unpromising start for the Bears.

Warwickshire 253 for 7 (40 overs).

The Bears appear to have ended up about par after a useful late stand of 36 in four overs from James (18 not out from 12 balls including straight sixes off Chapple and Cork) and Streak (17 not out from 13 balls).

In a survey this week the custard cream was voted, by a vast majority, as Britain's favourite biscuit. Who could argue? It's a quality confection.

Warwickshire 203 for 5 (33 overs). Trott 12, Loudon 2.

Lancashire have fought back well. Sangakkarra, having failed to impose himself, was lbw to a lovely flighted ball by Marshall for 23 from 33 balls, Ambrose (31 from 36) swept to deep square leg and Troughton gloved a slower ball from Mahmood to perish for 5.

It is up to Trott, strangely demoted to five in the order after top-scoring in the Hampshire debacle, to supervise the late-over thrash.

Warwickshire 170 for 2 from 25 overs. Sangakkara 23, Ambrose 16.

Carter pulled Marshall's first ball - a long hop - straight to deep mid-wicket to perish for 92 from 64 balls with 16 fours and two sixes. He received the warmest of ovations from a decent-sized crowd.

Sangakkara and Ambrose making more sedate progress now that spinners Marshall and Keedy are in tandem but the Bears are well-placed for a total in the region of 300.

Warwickshire 133 for 1 from 16 overs. Carter 91, Sangakkara 4.

Maddy chipped to mid-on to perish for 20 out of an opening stand of 89 in 12 overs with Carter but Carter is batting superbly. He is on 91 from 60 balls with 16 fours and two sixes and it has been far from indiscriminate slogging. Some very fine shots - cuts, drives and reverse-sweeps - too.

South African spin-bowler Ant Botha has joined Warwickshire from Derbyshire with immediate effect. He has signed a deal until the end of 2009 and is in the squad for the visit to Northamptonshire tomorrow.

Warwickshire 51 for 0 from 8 overs. Maddy 14, Carter 31.

Carter hitting cleanly, albeit fed some dross by Sajjid Mahmood. I still hold out some hope that the Bears will see sense and offer Carter another deal.

Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to the Fun Palace that is Edgbaston for a Pro40 match that, shall we say, Warwickshire slightly need to win.
Neil Carter, told last month that he has no future at the club, is recalled in place of Groenewald. Nick James replaces Vaughn Van Jaarsveld. Lancashire are without the Sri Lanka-bound Muralitharan.
Warwickshire win the toss and bat with Carter going in as pinch-hitter.
A pall of gloom hangs over the sporting world today after the noble Tim Henman went out of the US Open, his last competitive outing as an individual. Farewell Timbo.

During Warwickshire's recent visit to Hove, seagulls were to the fore - making the mother of all rackets from 4am every day and dropping their loads with military precision on any chosen target, not least Darren Maddy during his post-match press conference.
I suggested then they are on the list of things that serve no useful purpose whatsoever. Well, I can reveal they also bear grudges. This morning I looked out of the window in Frinton-upon-Sea and my humble Ford Fiesta was not so much covered with seagull evidence as buried in it.
Four of us, armed with spades, were required to clean things up.
Seagulls. Pointless, dirty...and malicious.

Warwickshire 213. Kent 400 for four. Match drawn.

"A bit of a shocker" said the man from the Times of today's offering of "entertainment".

I'm on hols now so won't be blogging on Sunday or from Scarborough. Cheers for now.

Matthew Walker lifts Alfonso Thomas to point to give the debutant 3 for 63 so far.

371 for 4. Dexter 36, Jones 0.

Twenty-nine runs to go and then this laborious, joyless day's cricket can be put to bed.

Kent 332 for 3 (Walker 29, Dexter 14)
Thomas removed Key, caught at mid-wicket by Parker for 153, and then accepted a return catch from Van Jaarsveld (85) who was deceived by a slower delivery. The two wickets fell close together, since when it has been the expected slow plod for bonus points.

Three of us hacks have just met for lunch with Colin Povey and John Claughton.

Mark Greatbatch, it appears, enjoys their full backing and is going nowhere.

Lunch. Kent 240 for 1. Key 133, Van Jaarsveld 63.

So flat and uninspired have Warwickshire looked that the consensus from the press-box is that if Kent come back out and give it a thrash for hour and get to 400 quickly then they could then pull out and give the Bears a very uncomfortable last session and a half.

Warwickshire 213. Kent 216 for 1 (Key 129, Van Jaarsveld 43).
This is almost surreal. You couldn't call it a sporting 'contest'. Kent (who are in the relegation zone, let's not forget) are motoring on without a care in the world. Two fours by Key from Loudon's opening over raised the century partnership.
Everyone just seems so resigned to what's happening out there. It's all so incredibly flat.

A Bears fan in front of the press-box is reading the Sun. First he checked out 'Mystic Meg' for any sign of hope for his beloved team. Then he turned over to 'Clinic Confidential'...

Key reaches 100 from 203 balls with 18 fours. It's his 33rd first-class century although there's some debate in the press-box as to whether this constitutes a first-class bowling attack.

Kent 175 or 1 (38 behind). Key 104, Van Jaarsveld 29. (Good news, at least, for Emma's fantasy team!)

The Edgbaston faithful are watching with gritted teeth and rising dissatisfaction.

Daggett has gone for a scan on a sore intercostal muscle. That's an injury which tends to hang around so the prognosis is unlikely to be good. Another seam option bites the dust.

Meanwhile, is appears that Kent haven taken the expected option and are aiming simply to achieve full bonus points which would lift them above Surrey and out of the relegation zone. They have added only 34 runs from 14 overs this morning. 142 for 1. Key 75, Van Jaarsveld 25.

The Surrey match at Edgbaston on September 6-9 is looking rather large.

At 10.59am a few spots of rain were falling - you couldn't call them a "shower" - but the relative enthusiasm of the two teams was nicely encapsulated by the fact that Kent's batsmen reached the crease before Warwickshire's team had left the pavilion!

Streak and Thomas take up the bowling. Daggett is off the field so the Bears are, for reasons still to be ascertained, an option down for the moment.

Kent 114 for 1. Key 56, Van Jaarsveld 17. 99 behind.

Good morning ladies and gentlemen. Play should start on time - there is grey cloud around but it's quite high. So, will Kent go for the jugular and try to force victory against fragile-looking Warwickshire? If so, they would have to bat like the clappers this morning.

Much more likely, the visitors will aim for full bonus points from a draw, in which case the Bears would have got away with being outclassed by Kent for the second time in a month. We'll see.

How over-rated is Elvis Presley, by the way?

Close of play. Kent 108 for 1 (41 overs). Key 56, Van Jaarsveld 13.

Maddy reeled in the run-rate late on with 11 overs for ten runs which, allied to Streak's eight overs for ten, means Kent probably have too much to do to force victory tomorrow.

Still, you never know. Even taking the injuries into account this was another poor day at the office for Warwickshire. Kent, let's not forget, are one from bottom in Division One and were beaten by Surrey inside two days last week.

Kent have to score extremely quickly to get into a position to force an unlikely win here so, in that context, Streak's current spell (one for three in six overs) is highly significant.

Maddy, too, has reeled in the run-rate with five overs for six runs.

Kent 87 for 1 (28 overs). Key 45, Van Jaarsveld 4.

By the way, which is the only English (hem-hem) racecourse ever visited by Margaret Thatcher?

The breakthrough arrives. Streak sends down a full-length ball outside off-peg, Denly drives and edges and Loudon takes a superb catch, one-handed diving low to his left, in the gully.

82 for 1 (22 overs). Key 44, Van Jaarsveld 0.

The redoubtable Maddy has brought himself on.

If there was more than just tomorrow left the Bears would be in a bit of a pickle.

Warwickshire 44 for 0 (nine overs). Key 23, Denly 19.

Shantry has just conceded a three and three fours from four successive balls.

It's not looking entirely promising and there is a rising undertone of impatience detectable among the spectators.

Shantry 4-0-31-0, replaced by Daggett.

Tea. Warwickshire 213 all out.
Daggett caught by gauntlet-wielding maestro Jones off Van Jaarsveld for three, leaving Thomas unbeaten on 21 after 56 balls of worthy resistance.

A tatty collective effort from the Bears. Eight catches behind the wicket suggest there was some poor shot-selection.

If Kent are 150-odd for not many at the close they will hit their pits tonight full of optimism.

A fifth catch for Van Jaarsveld as Parker plays away from his body at McLaren and edges to second slip for 49. Next ball, Shantry is plum lbw to an inswinger.

Parker and Thomas, total strangers surprisingly brought together in the Bears' cause, showed plenty of fortitude. Parker gritted it out well while Thomas has batted like a very capable number 9, lifting Tredwell for a handsome straight four.
Warwickshire 212 for 9 (58 overs). Thomas 20, Daggett 3 (having survived, just!, the hat-trick ball).

Streak, on 15, essays a big drive at Saggers and edges to Tredwell in the slips. That was 166 for seven and it could have gotten worse straight away when Parker edged Saggers but Van Jaarsveld just failed to pull off his fifth catch, one-handed to his right.

Parker is battling stoically, interrupting solid defence to play one handsome cover drive off Saggers. Thomas's first scoring shot for the Bears was a debonair clip off his legs for two.

Warwickshire 184 for 7 (49 overs). Parker 36, Thomas 8.

Malinga drops short a couple of times and is hammered stylishly to the point boundary by Troughton.

Troughton and Parker, not without some discomfort against the moving ball, add 38 for the sixth wicket but then Troughton leans forward, bat tucked behind pad, to McLaren and is adjudged lbw for 36. Parker is digging in valiantly without looking hugely secure.

Warwickshire 134 for 6 (34 overs). Parker 13, Streak 1.

Right, sorry about the late posting but popped over to get me snout in the salad counter (Thing-you-do-not-need-or-want-to-know no. 45b).
Anyway, the flawed batting continued as Loudon wafted at McLaren and edged into the cordon then, from the last ball before lunch, Ambrose pushed forward to a good one from Malinga and Van Jaarsveld at second slip duly took his fourth catch of the session.

Lunch. Warwickshire 94 for 5 (27 overs). Troughton (dropped on 8) 22.
The Bears might be reflecting upon those two washed-out days with a degree of relief.

Troughton, on 8, inside-edges McLaren but Jones fails to cling on to the chance, changing direction to his right. Stirs memories of Canterbury last month when, with Warwickshire engaged in a desperate rearguard action, Troughton edged Cook and Jones could not hold on. That miss probably cost Kent victory as it delayed them getting at the Bears' tail in the second innings before rain arrived.

Warwickshire 79 for 3 (21.2 overs). Troughton 15, Loudon 14.
Rain stopped play for five minutes but only a passing shower and they were soon back on.

Trott's foot movement is suspect as he drives at Arafat and edges to second slip. Out for 10 - that's ten innings in all cricket without getting past 20 for Trott. That England call-up seems a world away now.

A tinge of concern here for the Bears with the ball swinging around.
50 for 3 (15 overs). Troughton 2, Loudon 0.

The first free public library in Britain was opened in Airdrie, Scotland.

Sangakkara, having batted beautifully, gets a corker from Saggers, angled across the left-hander but also nipping further away, and he edges to Van Jaarsveld at second slip.

Sanga goes for 26. Saggers 2 for 20 from 7 overs.

Warwickshire 40 for 2 (14 overs). Trott 2, Troughton 0.

The sound of drilling from a short distance away is not doing much for the aesthetics of watching cricket but anyone who delights in highly-skilled batting can only enjoy Sangakkara's work. His touch and timing has been lovely from ball one on what looks a good batting track.

Maddy, however, edges the last ball of Saggers' fifth over to Jones and perishes for 8.
Warwickshire 31 for 1 (10 overs). Sangakkara 21, Trott 0.

Saggers and Arafat bowling so far. McLaren and Malinga aren't a bad second wave in waiting.

Good morning ladies and gentlemen. Warwickshire have achieved their number one objective - they won the toss and will bat.
Thomas makes his debut while Daggett comes in (Tahir and Anyon are injured). Further up the order the injured Westwood is replaced by Parker.
Good luck to Luke. But I think a case could have been made for the inclusion of Powell (in the runs for the 2nds and capable of playing long innings).

Sangakkara strides out to open with Maddy.

Glory be. The sun is shining, the roller is on the pitch, chaffinches are frolicking on the outfield, the players are warming up and we should get a prompt start.

So, a two-day game. Is there any way this can be anything other than a trawl for bonus points? Neither side can afford to lose while, for the Bears, the idea of winning the toss and heading for full batting points at their leisure, thus making themselves impregnable by tonight, must surely appeal.

...it's off for the day again. Unless somebody plays exceptionally well or exceptionally badly tomorrow and Friday it's just a plod for bonus points.

The groundstaff have beavered away, all the covers were off, the pitch was marked out and the sun was shining. All set fair...then it starts to rain again!

Another heavy shower just sets it all back a bit longer. Very frustrating...most of all for Kent. Still haven't got as far as tossing a coin or naming teams.

Instead of Niall O'Brien, why don't they sign Niall Bailey? He'd be able to help 'em build the new pavilion.

It's brightening up a lot and the groundstaff are out there working like beavers, not in that they are building for themselves a cosy lodge created from severed branches and mud, but simply in terms of industry-levels as they strive to make the ground fit for play.

A lot of water has been shifted, although there's plenty more still to go. If there's no more rain, possible mid-afternoon start, perhaps. It's what Ernie Wise would have wanted.

The sun is shining. As me dear old nan would have said, "Well...I'll go to the foot of our stairs"!

Steady drizzle is falling, likely to elongate the wait for cricket. Meanwhile, behind the scenes, Warwickshire's beavering goes on to strengthen for this season and beyond. The Doshi deal might well be called off for good this week but the Bears' interest in Stuart Broad (Leicestershire), Mushtaq Ahmed (Sussex), Ant Botha (Derbyshire), Ryan McLaren (Kent) and Niall O'Brien (Northamptonshire) remains active.

But how come, in these scientifically advanced days, that it is impossible - absolutely impossible - to get weetabix out of a box without scattering bits all over the place?

Good morning ladies and gentlemen. With a forecast for sunshine and showers there should be some cricket today but certainly not at 11am. A series of torrential showers in the last two hours have soaked the ground although the sun is breaking through and mopping up is underway. Perhaps a start after lunch if there's no more rain.

What all this lost time means, of course, is that really Warwickshire only have to bat well once to be pretty sure of not losing the game - which would be a solid step towards avoiding relegation.

Ladies and gentlemen, it has been called off for the day.

Still drizzling, although brightening up slightly. The standing water has diminished.

At least nobody has passed wind in the press-box.

Memories stirring, instead, of the thrilling John Player League game at Edgbaston in 1978 when, in a ten-over thrash, Warwickshire, chasing Glamorgan's paltry 54-7, needed six off the last over but Alan Wilkins dismissed David Smith, Eddie Hemmings and Chris Maynard and conceded just three runs and the Bears ended on 52 for 7.

Good morning ladies and gentlemen. It's raining heavily and there's standing water on the outfield. It looks a no-play-today scenario but for two factors - a better forecast for later on and previous excellent mopping-up operations by the Edgbaston groundstaff this season.

No team news beyond that Alfonso Thomas's clearance is through and he will play. No progress on Doshi - and it's looking more and more likely that there won't be any. Doshi junior's illustrious Bears career could enter the history books as a brief outing as sub fielder and drinks monitor at Hove.

Warwickshire face the vital game with Kent with massively depleted seam-bowling ranks. Definitely out: Anyon (hamstring), Tahir (hip), Groenewald (hamstring), Carter (due to have a knee scan tomorrow) and Brown (achilles). Streak is in squad but suffering a sore back.
Alfonso Thomas, meanwhile, has his work permit but still needs clearance from the United Cricket Board of South Africa. The battle to get Doshi registered goes on but without movement - chances are that battle won't be won this season.
Westwood also out with bruised ribs. With Kent needing points even more desperately than Warwickshire, the Bears might not be too devastated if the expected rain arrives.

The seagulls who had done their level best to ensure that all visitors from Warwickshire to lovely Hove did not sleep one second beyond 5am on any morning had one last fiendish card to play.
As Darren Maddy chatted, post-match, to reporters on the benches outside the dressing-rooms there was a 'splat' on the captain's shirt.

Far above, a bad bird, bitter, frustrated and angry at Sussex's failure to harvest the expected win, made good its escape....

With Sussex 405 for 5, it's called a draw and the Sussex supporters give their team a very warm ovation from the field. Evidently they see today as a valiant rearguard action from their chaps, which of course it was, but I reckon the way it panned out it was a bit of a wasted opportunity too.

As for the Bears, no win but a much more spirited display than at Durham. They remain on the outskirts of the relegation fray though and face a huge game against Kent at Edgbaston next.
Westwood will have a scan on his abdomen on Monday. He must be a doubt for Tuesday.

Montgomerie holes out to Shantry at deep mid-wicket off Loudon and, after nine hours batting, perishes for 195, agonisingly short of a maiden double-century. 111 needed off 5!

What is it about the mentality of championship cricket? Teams bat with endless adventure and aggression in one-day cricket but so often championship games are allowed to peter out. Sussex needed 144 from 20 overs with six wickets intact but chose to just plod on to a draw.
Shane Warne might have his faults but you can see why he finds some teams bafflingly negative.

Sussex 363 for 4. Montgomerie 181, Hodd 27.

141 needed from 19 overs

I just wonder, if Sussex are still only four down with ten overs to go, they might have a bit of a tilt at this target. Wright and Naved still to come and they can hit.

It seems crazy to do so much of the hard work and then not try to see the job through.

Looks like Sussex have settled for a draw. Loudon is back on and probing away but Montgomerie continues on his implacable way.

351 for 4. Montgomerie 176, Hodd 21. 156 needed from 24.2 overs.

This has been a fascinating contest played in front of good-sized, sun-soaked crowds but it appears that we will not be having a thrilling denouement.
Unless Loudon and Anyon can strike hard in the next over or two...

Tea. Sussex 317 for 4. Montgomerie 151, Hodd 14. They need 187 from 33 overs.
If the Bears take a wicket or two soon after tea Sussex would surely call off the chase but, if they don't, the good-sized crowd could be in for a thriller here.
Warwickshire have persevered pretty well in the circumstances. We all know the bowling lacks potency but, to be fair, they are without Tahir (sore hip) while Streak is not fully fit.

Westwood's injury is understood not to be a fracture but his torso is badly bruised and very painful.

Loudon takes a rest after a spell of 16-3-37-3 that brought Warwickshire right back into the game. Troughton switches ends to replace him at the Sea End as Darren Maddy continues to delay taking the new ball. Anyon is on at the Cromwell Road End.

Sussex 300 for 4. Montgomerie 136, Hodd 12. Greatbatch doing a sterling stint at third man.

204 runs or six wickets to win fom 41 overs.

Adams essays a rather wild drive at Loudon and inside-edges on to pad and then stumps.

Sussex 274 for 4. Montgomerie 123, Hodd 2.

Loudon, having not taken a championship wicket since July 11, has just ripped out three for 12 in 30 balls.

Troughton. at the other end, has slipped into the groove too and is troubling the batsmen.

Loudon propels the ball from a distance of approximately 22 yards from the end beyond which the sea is lapping serenely to shore and Goodwin attempts to cut the ball and succeeds but gets it much too fine and chops the ball into the hands of Maddy at slip.

262 for 3. Montgomerie 114, Adams 1.

The breakthrough arrives straight after lunch as Loudon turns one sharply to find Yardy's edge and Maddy accepts a sharp catch at slip.

Sussex 252 for 2. Montgomerie 110, Goodwin 0. 252 runs or eight wickets required from 60 overs.

A large quantity of white feathers at extra-cover suggest there was a seagull casualty overnight. Ah well, one fewer to wake people up in the middle of the night...

Lunch. Sussex 239 for 1. Montgomerie 101, Yardy 50.

In the last over before lunch, from Loudon, Montgomerie reached his first champo ton since April (291 balls, 11 fours) and Yardy reached his 50 (153 balls, six fours).

Sussex require 265 from 64 overs. If Warwickshire don't pick up a wicket or two quite soon after lunch, things could get a bit twitchy for the Bears.

Sussex 233 for 1. I don't want to strike a negative tone but Sussex have played this just right this morning and look like going into lunch requiring about 250 from the last two sessions which is far from straightforward but definitely on and in the press-box there is a rising sense that something historic, ie. the fourth biggest run-chase in the history of world cricket, could unfold here.

At least that's more pleasant than the rising sense of something nasty from the bottom of the Times reporter which filled the press box for much of yesterday afternoon.

Sussex 210 for 1. Montgomerie 78, Yardy 47.

Sussex just starting to accelerate slightly although only 38 runs in the first hour showed their first priority, understandably enough, is to secure a draw.

Greatbatch is bearing up quite well in the hot sun. Troughton has replaced Loudon at the Sea End while Streak plugs away at t'other. Tidy enough but not too penetrating.

Mark Greatbatch is fielding (at short leg to Loudon and mid-off to Anyon).

Ian Westwood is heading off to hospital for a scan on his ribs as the injury he sustained from that Loudon long-hop last night remains very sore. A broken rib is a possibility.

Naqaash Tahir is also off the field, complaining of a sore hip, so with Heath Streak still in discomfort with a sore back, the Bears have their work cut out to take these nine wickets.
Sussex 167 for 1.

Good morning ladies and gentlemen. It's a scorcher in Hove as Anyon and Loudon take up the attack for Warwickshire.

Now then will it be a case of a) the Bears finishing off the job to administer Sussex's first champo home defeat since 2004, b) a record-busting Sussex win or c) neither one thing nor the other with a close-of-play score of 327 for 6 and a draw.

I lean towards c.

A fascinating final day awaits. Close: Sussex 160 for 1. Montgomerie 61, Yardy 18. They need another 344 from 96 overs tomorrow.
Sussex scored 35 runs from the last 23 overs. The batsmen did not give a chance as Maddy rotated his bowlers. Westwood was lucky to escape intact when, fielding short-leg to Loudon, he had a long-hop pulled full-bloodedly into his chest. No alarms for the batters though.

Can the Bears winkle out nine wickets tomorrow? Or will Sussex rewrite a few records? And will the man from the Times get his bottom seen to? We'll see. Just off to maim a few seagulls.

Warwickshire's opening batsmen strike. Maddy bowls and Nash clips firmly to short mid-wicket where Westwood takes a great low one-handed catch. Nash goes for 50.

125 for 1. Montgomerie 47, Yardy 0.

Streak has not bowled, evidently in discomfort from his back.

Ah, the fresh, clean air out here in the deckchairs...

Suddenly, the tranquility of a sunlit afternoon at Hove is shattered as a member of the journalistic profession, from an alleged 'quality' newspaper, emits a series of particular noxious passages of wind from the rear of the press-box.

Two reporters have fled for a walk around the ground. Two others have sought sanctuary out on the balcony. Cricket reporting is not without its drawbacks.

116 for 0. Nash 50, Montgomerie 46. Seven bowlers used in the first 30 overs.

Tea. Sussex 94 for 0; Nash 42, Montgomerie 38. Another 410 required.

BREAKING NEWS...........
East Grinstead have swooped to sign Danny Wackett from Crawley. Brighton-based jockey Matt Batchelor has travelled to Norway for some rides this weekend. Warwickshire continue to work away behind the scenes, with the ECB, the PCA and Surrey, to get Doshi registered but the bottom line is, if Surrey continue to decline to give written approval, Doshi is stuck in limbo.

Sussex 83 for 0 (21 overs). Nash 39, Montgomerie 30.

Sussex prepared a turning wicket here, hence their two spinners bowling 58 per cent of the overs and taking 80 per cent of the wickets in the two Warwickshire innings.

So Jim Troughton was on for the 16th over but a leg-stump full-toss, swung for four, and then a four-wides were not encouraging.
Shantry has just been struck for three fours in four balls by Nash.

Sussex have survived a couple of early shaves to get through the new ball unscathed. In the first over, Nash edged Anyon just short of Ambrose. Then in the fourth over, Shantry found Nash's edge but the ball flew through vacant second slip. Second slip has just been moved to gully! Shantry has been replaced by Tahir.

The highest total ever posted in the fourth innings to win a game against the Bears was 347 for 4 by Worcestershire at Worcester in 1981 so Sussex have got to blow that record well and truly apart. Sussex are also chasing the fourth highest fourth-innings winning total of all time.

Warwickshire all out for 238 after Shantry is caught behind off Mushtaq Ahmed (who ends with the most expensive match analysis of his career - 11 for 281).
So the equation is known. Sussex require 504 to win. That would be not only a Bears heart-breaker but also a record-breaker. The previous best fourth-innings score to win a championship game was 502 by Middlesex against Nottinghamshire (including Harold Larwood!) at Trent Bridge in 1925.

Game on. 56 overs today and then all of tomorrow for the Bears to take ten wickets.