Warwickshire County Cricket Club Head Coach Ian Westwood believes his squad are embracing the nervous excitement on the eve of the Rothesay County Championship opener against Surrey.
The former Bears’ batsman enters his second year as Head Coach after taking the reins prior to the start of the 2025 season, and has a strong and enthusiastic squad at his disposal with options in all departments.
Bears open their campaign against Surrey at Edgbaston Stadium and the 43-year-old is excited to face the challenge head-on, with the Brown Caps often seen as the yardstick when it comes to the Rothesay County Championship.
“Surrey have been the team to beat for a number of years,” he said. “Obviously Notts managed to finish above them last year, which was a good effort from them, so we know they’re going to come with lots of quality. They’ve got great depth in their squad and lots of ability, so we’re going to have to be at our best if we want to compete and hopefully come out on top.
“We’ve tried to give everybody an opportunity this pre-season to show what they can do and to try and force their way into the team. Not everybody can play in that first game here against Surrey, but we’re going to need all the bowlers in the squad throughout the season. So we’re going to try and pick a team that we think gives us the best chance to win each game that we play.
“I suppose nervous excitement would be the words. Everybody’s had a good pre-season, but they’re just ready to get out and get cracking now.”
Former England star Chris Woakes heads into his first full County Championship for nine years and Westwood is thrilled to have the 37-year-old in his dressing room, along with fellow veteran Keith Barker, who rejoined the Bears this winter from Hampshire.
“Ultimately we want them to perform for us on the field, that’s their jobs but what they bring us off the field and in the changing room as well is just as important.
“They’ve been fantastic for that so far, passing on their skill, their knowledge and just being a big presence around the place so it’s great to have them back.”
With Ed Barnard, who was named captain of the PCA Men’s Team of the Year 2025, which is formed using the PCA’s MVP rankings to create an XI of the finest domestic players, being named Warwickshire First XI Captain ahead of the new season, Westwood is in no doubt as to the qualities the 30-year-old will bring to the role.
“He’ll bring a lot of calmness to the role. He leads by example on and off the field, so he’s got huge respect in the changing room for what he’s done and the way he treats people. He’ll bring a lot of calmness and a lot of experience and I think the lads will really buy into his messaging.”