Your Bears: Dom Sibley’s Greatest Performance Poll

Dom Sibley has amassed nine First Class centuries since joining the Bears midway through the 2017 season.

Which of these fantastic knocks stands out to you? Brian Halford picks out four. Download the Edgbaston app, available on iOS and Android, to vote.

109 v Kent at Edgbaston, County Championship, September 2018

It was a Second Division title showdown when Kent visited Edgbaston for the last match of 2018. Both sides were already assured of promotion, but who would finish top?

The Bears took immediate control as Olly Stone, Keith Barker and Chris Wright took three wickets apiece to skittle Kent for 167. In helpful bowling condition, however, the visitors, their promotion season having been driven by the potency of their seamers, fancied their chances of hitting back hard.

It didn’t work out that way as Bears openers Dom Sibley and Will Rhodes took their side in front without being parted. A fiery attack led by Kiwi ace Matt Henry gave it all they had got, but was emphatically blunted.

Sibley played the consummate opening batsman’s role for 119 from 287 balls, his relentless and rock-solid resistance, wearing down the bowlers for Rhodes and others to come in to capitalise.

The Bears were Second Division champs and Sibley had ended the season with centuries in three successive games.

109* v Hampshire at Edgbaston, County Championship, May 2019

The best innings are not always the biggest. In difficult batting conditions, a half-century can possess much greater merit than many a ton unfurled on a flat track. Hampshire arrived at Edgbaston with as strong a seam attach as you’re likely to see in county cricket – Kyle Abbott, Fidel Edwards, Keith Barker – and there was a bit in the wicket. In the Bears’ first innings, ten gentlemen failed to reach 25; Sibley carried his bat for 109.

Abbott, who was to unfurl the season of his life, bowled magnificently. Edwards let fly his usual mix of grenades. Barker did what the Bears fans had see him do so often, deliver skilful, probing swing bowling.

Others came and went but Sibley was immoveable. When last man Olly Hannon-Dalby, having hit two exquisite fours in a fluent eight (17 balls), fell to Gareth Berg, the opener remained unbeaten on 109 from 263 balls with nine fours. It was his sixth century in successive championship games.

244 v Kent at Canterbury, County Championship, July 2019

The Bears arrived at Canterbury during a gruelling stretch of five successive away four-day games and with a bowling unit ravaged by injuries. Kent won the chose, chose to bat, piled up 585 for seven, then waited for their impressive seam attack, abetted by scoreboard pressure, do its work.

The Bears needed something substantial from their top order.

Just the sort of challenge that Dom relishes…he batted for the little matter of ten hours and 40 minutes!

First in an opening stand of 221 with Will Rhodes, he blunted Kent’s potent attack. Then punished it in an innings of 244 from 491 balls with 34 fours. Never mind the batting skills and powers of concentration involved, what an immense physical effort from a man who had just fielded for 144 overs.

By the time Sibley fell, in the 171st over, the Bears were on 457 and were safe in the game. From an opening batsman with his side up against it, it was the perfect innings.

215* v Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge, County Championship, September 2019

Nottinghamshire closed the first day on 425 for six. A case, for the Bears, of ‘good game to win.’

They did win – thanks to one of the most stirring fightbacks in the club’s history. And Dom was at the heart of it.

The Bears replied to Notts’ 498 with 488 as Dom batted through the innings for 215 from 420 balls with 30 fours. His 531 minutes of resistance only ended when he ran out of partners. His skilful batting had reversed the whole flow of the game…and he hadn’t finished yet.

After the Bears bowlers, led by Olly Hannon-Dalby, excelled to set up a victory target of 271, in went Sibley (who had been on the field for every minute of the match so far) to launch the chase with skipper Will Rhodes. Their stand of 146 was the perfect start and, by the time Sibley fell for 109 (147 balls, ten fours), the Bears were on the threshold of victory. 

Dom’s match tally, 324 runs from 567 balls in 716 minutes with 40 fours.

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