4
Chairman’s Report by Norman Gascoigne
After a stellar year in 2014 it was always going to be
difficult to back up that level of performance on the pitch
in 2015. However as we moved in to the middle of August
we were still ‘live’ in all three competitions and had proved
ourselves to be the ‘form team’ in the NatWest T20 Blast.
We traditionally pride ourselves on finishing the season
strongly, but on this occasion, we rather stumbled across
the line, finishing fifth in the Championship; being denied
a crack at the RL50 quarter finals by the rain and slipping
out of Finals Day in the first semi-final. In truth we had been
competitive without ever being at our consistent best. It is
a measure of our high expectations that ultimately we were
disappointed with a season that many Counties would
consider a solid success.
In the Championship, despite the fact we had seven
batsmen who scored centuries, no-one scored 1,000 First
Class runs. Whilst our bowling attack was comparable to
those at the other leading sides, only Jeetan Patel took
fifty red ball wickets. As a consequence we could not force
enough wins or hang on for draws when it mattered most.
There is no doubt that Yorkshire were worthy winners. Given
the number of England players they provided in 2015, their
points tally was remarkable and they set a new benchmark
of excellence that we must find ways of matching and
surpassing. Championship cricket remains a real priority for
us and given the talent we have in the squad, I am confident
that if we can bring our ‘A-game’ consistently to the party,
we remain a force to be reckoned with.
We started poorly in the RL50 competition and put
ourselves in a difficult position. A rained off game against
Kent at Edgbaston in the final round of group matches
ultimately put us out of the competition but the damage
was done earlier on. The skipper batted more fluently and
consistently in this format and Ollie Hannon-Dolby was our
top wicket taker with fifteen at an average of 17.
I was also pleased to see Ateeq Javid get some
consistent opportunities and he will have benefitted from the
experience. We feel the 50 over format is well-suited to the
make-up of our squad and we should have done better in
this competition.
In the NatWest T20 Blast we were reigning champions
and performed accordingly in the group stages when we
were comfortably the best side in the competition.
Brendon McCullum’s 158* against Derbyshire Falcons will
live long in the memory, but this was the one competition
where we were able to deliver our game plans to a
high standard and where the whole squad performed
consistently. It was therefore all the more surprising that
we got off to a disastrous start and were bundled out of
the semi-final in front of another passionate, full-house at
Edgbaston. A solid recovery by Rikki Clarke and Ateeq
Javid followed by a late flurry with the bat by Laurie Evans
gave us something to bowl at, but when we failed to dismiss
Richard Levi, the writing was on the wall.
Overall I was left feeling frustrated at what could have
been, but over the last five years we remain the most
successful county across all formats. The style of cricket
played in the domestic competitions is changing and we
must evolve our own plans if we are to maintain this position
and if we are to get back to winning silverware rather than
being contenders. The key will be to retain the principles
and foundations that have served us well, whilst seeking to
innovate and develop where we can.
Brendon McCullum leaves the field after his innings of 158 not out
Ian Bell Chris Woakes
WARWICKSHIRE/BIRMINGHAM BEARS PLAYERS GAINING
INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION 2015
England Test/ODI
–
Ian Bell
England Test
–
Jonathan Trott
England Test/ODI
–
Chris Woakes
Ireland ODI/t20
– William Porterfield
Scotland ODI
–
Freddie Coleman
New Zealand Test/ODI/t20
– Brendan McCullum
England Visually Impaired
–
Luke Suggs
– Justin Hollingsworth
–
Mo Kharti
England Physically Disabled
–
Sam Wyles
England U19’s (vs Australia)
–
Aaron Thomason
England Development Programme
U17’s (vs Pakistan U17’s and
Australia U19’s)
–
George Panayi
England Women (vs New Zealand
and Australia)
–
Rebecca Grundy
Amy Jones
–
England Women’s Development
Programme
–
Marie Kelly (U19)
Tiarna Gilkes (U15)
–
England Over 70’s Ashes
–
John Day
–
Jim Philips
Once again many of our players have received
international recognition this summer. Congratulations to:-
