A look ahead at Warwickshire's 2018 season

After the 2017 season proving to be quite disappointing in some ways for Warwickshire with us facing relegation, but then also some great things to shout about such as reaching the final of the T20 Blast, it's now time to look ahead to the 2018 season with new fixtures, a new captain, and a new division. 

Firstly, I'm sure that most Warwickshire fans will be with me and say that its amazing news to hear that the wonderful Jeetan Patel (sings Jeets chant to myself...thanks Tom & Alex) has been appointed as Club Captain for County Championship team and One Day Cup team. He is no doubt one of our best players, and this is shown through the various awards he has won including 2017's Players Player Of The Season, which was thoroughly deserved, so the appointment is welcome news. He is going to make a great captain by setting a great example to the lads and he has years of experience to back him up, as well as playing with his heart and soul for the bears. As well as his constant motivation to the other guys on the field, you can tell that playing means so much to him and winning is his aim, as his voice is always the one heard most clearly at the back of the members area. He might be our overseas player, but he is certainly a true bear, who I know will put everything into getting us back where we need to be...Div 1 champions! In addition, its great news to hear that Grant Elliot is returning as the T20 captain. Last season, he got the lads playing some more fresh, exciting cricket posting bigger scores and helping with the bowling as well which enabled us to reach Finals Day. I am so glad he is coming back to try and get revenge this season and challenge for the silverware again, as you can tell he wants to do so well for the bears and is a fantastic overseas player. Another good appointment in the captaincy department is Dom Sibley as vice captain, which is a good attempt to hope to get leaders in the team coming through and during this transition period to engage the younger lads in leadership so we aren't searching for a captain in the coming seasons. Dom will learn a lot from watching Jeets and the other senior players, so in a few seasons he can be the captain to help us win more trophies. I cant wait to see the captains in action next season.

Fixture announcements have come out for next season and all in all the season looks a jam-packed one, but that makes it all the more exciting. The county championship fixtures were what I quickly scrolled to first, to see what days I can get away from revision to sit freezing cold at Edgbaston. It is slightly disappointing to see that they seem to have been pushed to the start of the season, where its just about out of winter, or end of the season where its basically autumn, but there is a few games in the height of summer which is good news, however not many at weekends which is sad news. The away fixtures also look very good, I am particularly excited for an away trip to Kent so I can go see my best friend Lettie as we have waited a long time for a Warwickshire V Kent game, as well it sounds like it possibly could be the Tunbridge Wells festival week so that should be a great away day at a wonderful little ground. Plus the Middlesex away being in the warmer days of the season and after exams also looks a good away day, as well as Glamorgan. I am definately looking forward to watching some proper cricket and keeping everything crossed that there is a free cake on the 1st of each champ game at Egbaston...

The One-Day Cup fixtures have also been released, which look a good bunch as well. Played throughout May & June it does make it slightly difficult to fit these in whilst I am meant to be buckling down and revising for exam season in June, but the fixtures look solid nevertheless. There is a Warwickshire V Worcestshire game in there as well at home which will be a good derby and one I'm sure we will come out on top in. One silver lining is that the final day is at the end of June, so not only is it warm (can you tell I don't like the cold) I also happen to have booked that week off work, so if Warwickshire could repeat their 2016 campaign and make it all the way to Lords and win that would be fabulous, lets make it happen! I think we can really challenge for this title this season, with new, young talent such as Ed Pollock and Aaron Thomason breaking into the T20 team I am hoping they can do the same in the 50 over team and play alongside the senior players who will also step up, and I believe we have one very talented batsmen in Sam Hain who will boss the competition once again. 

The fixture list that most people get most excited for is the T20 Blast list, and most eyes turn straight to the Bears V Pears derby, and the date is already in my diary! The games lined up look like amazing fixtures, with us starting our campaign away to Notts at Trent Bridge, which I hope to attend with a large bears following there and a repeat of the final, but not a repeat of the result! Then our first home game agasint Yorkshire Vikings, and continuing the home games with plenty of Friday nights lined up at edgbaston with the best atmosphere in cricket I think, along with sun-soaked Sunday afternoons watching the game. The introduction of midweek games to our home fixture list will also be a interesting one, and I'm sure the atmosphere will be just as good as a Friday night, as no school the next day for me! What a way to finish the home season as well with the clash with Worcestershire which last year brought in a record home crowd at Edgbaston, so that is going to be one hell of a game and night. The fact we also have a double header game with the KSL on our game against Lancashire Lighting, when Loughborough Lighting will take on Western Storm is a great prospect as well to add to the season. With Grant back as captain, and the signs of the cricket we saw last season with the talent shining through I think our chances are right up there for the title in 2018, bring it on! T20 Blast season is always an exciting time for the club with lost of exciting things happening on and off the pitch including the talent from the guys and the atmosphere off the pitch, and perhaps this season we can have a kids zone for adults? 

In 2018, our county championship title race will this season be in division 2 which is obviously not where we wanted to be at all, but its something to embrace and try and see the positive side of. It means that we can go through the transition period and build up a solid team with a mix of experience and young talent and build up through the season, and also through the divisions. It also gives us new opposition, and with that comes new grounds to visit, so the away days will be a good prospect as well. Kent was one I looked forward to as I've said, but also Leicestershire & Sussex are great ones as I love those grounds, and Middlesex away will be a good spectacle. Division 2 is certainly not going to be easy with some very good teams who have some very good players all fighting for promotion but I am confident we can put up a good fight and challenge to get back up to Division 1.

The 2018 season does boast plenty of things to look forward to all in all, perhaps not for the lads as much who aren't getting an abroad pre-season trip, instead are heading off to the car park to get the practice in a marquee. However, the return of cricket is always an exciting time, giving  a chance for us to build a good solid squad with a mix of young talent that are all ready to prove themselves with the experienced/senior guys stepping up in county game, and 50-over games. Plus, hoping the exciting cricket played by our T20 squad makes next T20 campaign a entertaining one and fingers crossed a winning one. It will also be good to catch up with all the members at the beginning of the season, and at the members events which I hope will be returning as they were a good laugh, especially in the pub quiz where we all definitely saw each others competitive side. Of course, I am also hoping for some sun!! Next season looks like it's going to be a good one, can it hurry up please. 

Here's to hoping Warwickshire can pull of one hell of a season next year!

Youuuuu Bearsssssss!!

2017 Cricket Season

Every year I hear people talking about whether summer or winter is their favourite season, and I only have one answer, my favorite season is by far cricket season. From April through to September, my life revolves around fitting in going to any games I can around revision and work and spending many sunny afternoons or Friday nights at the cricket, either cheering on or moaning about my teams, definitely more of the latter this season. 2017 cricket season was a fabulous one with some new grounds visited and some amazing play witnessed... 

Firstly, I spend a large percentage of my cricket season supporting my home county, Warwickshire and this season, that hasn't been easy at some points. The county championship this year on my occasions proved painful to watch with loss after loss and that ended with us being relegated into Division 2, with serious improvements needed next season. This also was made no better by the numerous cold, and windy days in April where I went and froze at Edgbaston just to see our batting collapse. All I can say is, thank god for Jonathon Trott. After last year beating Surrey to become One Day Champions, we went into the RLODC  with a great win over Northants in out first game, however thats where the wins started and ended with us not managing to qualify for the quarters, meaning our title defence was over.

However, there was much more to shout about in our T20 campaign, where we made it all the way to the final! Many friday nights were spent cheering on our fresh and new look t20 team, with plenty of bursting talent such as Ed Pollock and Aaron Thomason, the team was playing some exciting and great cricket...finally! We got through the quarters final which was a tough contest from Surrey at The Oval, a game I had to unfortunately watch in a bar in Lanzarote while hearing how amazing it was from friends who were there, and we had reached Finals day, which after the season we had in other tournaments was a great thing to cheer about! Unfortunately losing to Notts in the final meant we missed out on the silverware, but we will be back next year to take it just like we did in 2014. Supporting Warwickshire this season has undoubtedly had its lows such as the low first innings totals, the freezing cold days, the lack of Ian Bell runs and relegation but on the plus side they offered free cake on the first day of each championship game so I am not complaining too much.

When I wasn't at a Warwickshire game, I was watching England in their international games, and first of this summer for me was the Champions Trophy game which provided a welcome day off work & revision. England Vs Australia, a full house at Edgbaston, a whole stadium displaying their dislike to the Aussies, what more could you want! The atmosphere at this game is up there with one of the best I have been involved in, as the Aussies continued to lose wickets, the fans continued to wave them off the pitch. Then came a magnificent Stokesy century before the rain came, but England had won! Beating the Aussies and knocking them out the tournament while we progressed equals a good day at the office!

A spontaneous cricket trip is always welcome as well, when it was decided to buy tickets for Day 4 of England Vs South Africa at Trent Bridge, I was completely up for this. The cricket was slightly disappointing as England had to bat out Day 4 & 5 to get a draw, but they only managed to just before tea on Day 4 and were bowled for 133. At least the sun was shining and it was the only day of cricket this year I managed to wear a skirt at without being cold and changing into jeans...so it was worth it! 

Through visiting various grounds this season I went down to visit one of my best friends, Lettie, who is a Kent supporter and we were going to The Oval test match together and she offered to show me Canterbury Cricket Ground, so of course I said yes. We took a trip to watch Kent Vs Somerset, and saw a Kent win, which apparently at the time was a rarity, much like Warwickshire so I would like to class myself as a Good Luck charm in the hope of going back. Canterbury is a lovely, sweet ground, and it made a nice change from a stadium to be able sit and watch the game from a grass bank, and Kent offered a free cider with every ticket, so that was an added bonus! 

In the trip to Lettie, we also went to The Oval to watch Day 2 of the England Vs South Africa test match, where we witnessed another amazing Stokesy century to dig England out of trouble, for the millionth time. I also met Joe Root at this game, and if you know me well, you'll know this did make my day when he was his always lovely self. This test was Toby Roland-Jones' debut test match as well, a massive occasion for him which he lived up to by taking a 5fer, of which we saw 4 of these wickets to have South Africa on the ropes! The Stokes innings and bowling performance from TRJ made this one hell of a day test cricket and was great to tick another new ground off this season, I would highly recommend a visit to The Oval as its a fab ground with some very funny stewards who provided plenty of entertainment at the lunch & tea intervals. 

My final England game of the summer was the First Day/Night Test Match in England, at my favourite ground of them all, Edgbaston. I was very excited for Edgbaston to be putting on this test match and was also excited to see the prospect of D/N test cricket in England. The verdict is, its bloody cold! It may work in Aus, but in England where we had to have a blanket over us, I am not so sure. Nevertheless, as we turned up and lighting was striking, I wasn't sure how much cricket we would actually see, but the sun came out and that allowed us to see one hell of an innings from Cooky, who scored 243, batted Chef! The rain however began to fall again and the actual night part of the test was rained off for that Day. There was nothing like a day of Test cricket to help get over the trauma of A-level results day which didn't go as planned. Cricket is always my go to when you need something to take your mind of something. The innings from Cooky was one of the best all season I have seen, an absolute masterclass from an absolute legend.

I always say one of the best things about cricket is the people you meet through it, and this cricket season I met some pretty hilarious and lovely people, as well as spending time with the long loved besties, who were always up for a drink or cocktail at the cricket! Meeting people through cricket is one of my favorite things as the people love the same thing you do, and getting to know them is brilliant as well. 

To celebrate the end of the season, we fancied a night at the Warwickshire End Of Season Dinner, to celebrate success, not that there was much but the free bar all night wasn't going to be passed up! I cant think of a better way to end the season than downing jagerbombs with the Warwickshire Lads, taking full advantage of the free bar! Thank you Warwickshire for filling the hefty bar tab, worth every penny of my membership...and thanks for the memories of the season. 

Cricket season 2017, you were a good one.

Until 2018...

Dublin

Take me home country roads...

Okay enough of the Irish music that is still circling my head after my visit to the Irish capital of Dublin. In February half term me and my friend Leah took a mini break to Dublin to celebrate my 18th, we thought where else to celebrate than the place with some of the liveliest nightlife! We had the most amazing time there with plenty of laughs, stories, memories and a few pints of Guinness to wash it all down...

We flew out of the Monday from Birmingham and I was so excited for my first taste of Ireland and especially Dublin for a birthday celebration. Once we landed in Dublin airport, I instantly felt like I was in heaven... because of the accent. Oh my god, its everywhere, and its perfection. People everywhere were speaking and I must have looked a moron just starring and listening...oops. Once we arrived in the city centre and found our Hotel, The Arlington Hotel which overlooked the river I began to relax and fell in love with the hustle and bustle of Dublin. After stocking up on the essentials from the supermarket...chocolate, crisps, alcohol...(like I said the essentials) we took a trip to visit the absolutely stunning Trinity College Dublin which is maybe the prettiest University I have ever seen. I wish to go to University of Birmingham which I thought was lovely, but this takes that to another level. Exploring the university made me want to be a student there so badly and seeing the beautiful cricket pitch and surroundings made me want to go even more! We then went on the hunt to find somewhere to eat and it didn't take us long to find a Nandos so that we were sorted. Temple Bar district wasn't very far away so we went for a couple of drinks around here, and the area is beautiful at night, with light hanging from bar to bar, the Irish music coming through from the various bars and the atmosphere filling the streets, it just gave me another reason to love this place. 

As Leah had been to Dublin before she had a few places that she wanted to visit and after describing the most lovely restaurant, I was 100% up for a full Irish breakfast, which didn't disappoint that's for sure! We went to a restaurant called Sophie's which had some beautiful decor, with rose gold bar taps (this makes me very happy as I am obsessed with rose gold everything) and the rooftop 360 degree views of Dublin, plus one of the nicest breakfast that I have ever tasted. More exploring led us to Grafton Street, where there is a plethora of High Street shops mixed with some more high end shops which we were more than happy to browse around - The Dublin Disney Store is one of the best I have been into and their take on Selfridges is just perfection. To be a full tourist, a trip to Dublin wouldn't be complete without a trip the Guinness Storehouse. I can now proudly say that I am fully qualified in pouring the perfect pint of Guinness now after some very technical lessons in the Guinness academy. The tour of the brewing and history of Guinness is actually really interesting but the highlight is the Skyline Gravity Bar which boasts mile views of Dublin and also plays the best music...I was very content sitting with my pint and listening to the Westlife they were playing. At night we went to see the hilarious Jack Whitehall at the 3arena in the Point Harbor  but first took a trip to The Oval Bar, I couldn't not go in the pub named after the cricket ground! Jack was absolutely amazing, he reduced me to tears with his stand up and him slagging of Brexit to the Irish made it all the more hilarious. 

The Wednesday we visited the Leprechaun museum which was interesting to say the least...I thought it was a tour of little things leprechaun size but instead its a storytelling tour about legends & fairies, but the big chairs were great nevertheless, once I had managed to get up the thing, I have to admit it was not my finest hour trying to push myself up. As we were close to the Jervis Shopping Centre, we managed to squeeze in some time for some retail therapy - had to experience the Irish Primarks, Penny's which is just the exact same as Primark here, but oh well. Again we experienced the amazing Dublin nightlife Wednesday when meeting up with some of Leah's friends and I was completely allured once again by the charm of the bars, pubs, food, people and music. The nicest strawberry daiquiri graced our table and the loveliest Irish singers graced the stage in our hotel bar, where we laughed and sung until the early hours of the morning.  After Leah had got them to embarrassingly to sing happy birthday to me they played some of my favourite songs and my Dublin holiday was made by hearing Country Roads. This has got to be one of the things I love about the city, the sound of all the music playing from all the bars with so many musicians loving what they do and love seeing people enjoying themselves, the culture over there is quite frankly exceptional with everyone so friendly and welcoming and their idea of just being up for a good time. As we headed to bed, after guiding Leah back to the room and to her dismay, stopping her skipping down the hotel corridors singing I'll Tell Me Ma, we heard that Storm Doris was on its way so to expect delays tomorrow flying home...and delays is what we got. 

After seeing cancelled flight after cancelled flight in the morning as we both were constantly checking our flight to get home I was just glad to see that our flight was on time and boarding. Priorities were noted and we headed to get some food first and as we queued to board and after being given many updates from home via mum she told me many flights trying to land in Birmingham had to be diverted because it was too windy (Mum knows how to calm down her daughter who she knows is a nervous flyer before taking off into a storm doesn't she). Safe to say the flight wast the smoothest I have ever been on...after the most turbulent flight, with the plane being thrown around in the wind and 2 failed landing attempts in Birmingham we found ourselves on the way to Bristol airport. Guys, when a airline says ''sourcing coaches'' don't believe them, 5 hours later. these coaches were eventually sourced and after the 4 hour journey back to Birmingham Airport, I was very glad to be back in my dads car. although I don't think he enjoyed his 2 hour wait at the station...blame Doris dad! So 11 hours later than planned I was home, with a story to tell, plenty of amazing memories, a new city ticked off, the urge to travel more and one hell of an 18th celebration to remember. 

Dublin was an amazing city to visit, and its somewhere once you have visited once you want to go back to again and again to experience the atmosphere, attractions and of course the nightlife. Its Irish charm shines throughout the streets and comes from every corner of the city. The Irish hospitality certainly didn't disappoint either with the accent being one of many highlights and the people's welcoming charm it was hard not to fall in love with the city, and not even Storm Doris could ruin it. 

Until next time Dublin...

My Love Of Cricket

Growing up I was never very sporty or interested in it, I was surrounded by a family of football fanatics and never really got into it, nor any other sport. However one afternoon watching a cricket game in Poole Harbor changed that. I am now absolutely in love with cricket, and so happy I watched that game. 

Cricket is an absolutely wonderful sport I think, and I love everything about it. From the atmosphere when your team are playing at their best and every single fan in the ground is behind them and you are in a ground filled with everyone that has the same passion as you do for the game. Then to the fact that every single game is different, no game us ever the same. The variety of the 3 formats, test, ODI and T20 means that there is something unique about every game you watch, whether that be a record breaking ODI total or dismissing a team in one session to win The Ashes. The triumphs and jubilation that you experience as a cricket, or any sport fan is one of the best feelings ever.  The fact it is played in only summer months also is a very good benefit! Although rain delays are any cricket fans enemy. 

The first time I ever watched a cricket game was when I was on holiday in Poole. I was in a bar where I was staying and there was a game on between England & New Zealand in the 2013 Champions Trophy, As I reluctantly watched I actually got quite into it and suddenly became very interested in what was going on. The game was an exciting low scoring game, ironic the first game I watched was exciting, I wish my dad would have told me not all games are quite like that... Nevertheless I love the sport now and I am now so thankful that I was probably dragged into the bar to watch the game. 

The next taste of the game I got was when I somehow was watching the 2013 Ashes and it all of a sudden got very exciting, with people running and cheering everywhere including my dad! Turns out that it was a test from Ashes 2013, it was the 4th one and if England won, they had won the ashes so it was a thrilling game! The most important trophy ( well, urn) was up for grabs (as I was told anyway) between England and Australia. I got more and more into it as it progressed and England won the game in the end. I think this was the game that I knew I had found something I really really liked.  

Throughout that game, a certain player caught my eye. If you are reading this and know me well, you wont need to long t guess who it was.....

That player was Joe Root, one of England's rising stars at the time and as I write this undoubtedly our best batsmen across all 3 formats. I thought he was quite cute and thought oh well if I can get into the sport I might have to find my favorite player, and I think I quickly did. My 14 year old self thought he was quite attractive and I would be lying if I said that he wasn't a reason for my initial love in the game. Joe has always, and still is my favorite player in that team, there is now definitely a few additions such as Chris Woakes who also plays for my home team, Warwickshire, plus others! I have been fortunate to be able to meet these players and watching them makes the sport a whole lot better I must say!

Ever since those moments of watching the game for the first time my love for it has just grown and grown into I think one of the best things I did. Cricket is amazing for so many different reasons. One of the reasons is that I have met some amazing people through the game and at the games. Being able to instantly click with these people due to the mutual love of the game is amazing and I love meeting new people through it and getting to know them. Some of the friendships that have come out the game have been the best reason for loving the sport. Some of the girls and I have developed some amazing friendship are now some people I would consider to be my best friends. 

Another amazing feel is watching your team exceed all of your expectations and play an absolutely incredible series. There is nothing better than seeing the teams that work so hard and go through so much as a team to reach the highest points in their career and celebrate it. Watching England lift The Ashes in 2016 after beating the Aussies 3-2 was equally amazing as it was emotional! After coming through and defeating everybody's opinion of them not being good enough and to come out and show everyone what they could do was one of the best series I have watched as an England fan. My favorite game I have watched so far however was the 2016 RL One Day Cup final at Lords, commonly known as the Home Of Cricket. Warwickshire, my home team were in the final, and to my surprise I had been given the day off worked, and therefore it was a no brainer for me that I had to take a trip to this amazing ground to watch the chance of my team that I have followed through the wins and also the struggles of that season. The trip started of quite problematic after my trains were cancelled from my station to Euston but after sorting it out I was on my way to London to meet my friend Lettie. The game was the best I have been to I think, the atmosphere there was amazing, to be sat with all the Bears fans made it really special, the songs and the infamous chant of 'You Bears' sang out throughout Lords as we dismissed Surrey for a low score of 136 after a phenomenal performance from our bowling unit. Then after the skills of Trotty guided is to out total the cup was ours. Seeing the winning runs flow through the covers was unbelievable, I had seen them win the game and lift the trophy! That will be my favorite game for a while I think. 

Another reason that my love for the game grows is because of how surprised people are when they know that a girl loves the sport. I love the idea that I defy stereotype of that just boys can like sport or its just a mans game. The question is always asked, ''Do you come to watch your boyfriend play'' or ''So did your boyfriend drag you here?''. I don't need to be dragged to the cricket thank you, I don't need any convincing to go! I can be a girl and love cricket, it doesn't matter. Another thing is the idea that people think I just watched for the attractive guys playing, I mean its a complete bonus I'm not denying that but I don't travel around the country to look at them or get up at 3am to watch world cup games to see them when they are just a Google search away.

Cricket really is to me an amazing sport, I am so glad I watched that game in the Poole bar because I don't really know what I would be doing without it. Its brought me a lot of good! I look forward to 2017 season full of trips to games, and to watch hopefully more triumphs from the guys!

If you have read until the end, well done & thank you!

Em

xoxoxo