Warwickshire County Cricket Club Bowling Coach, Pop Welch, is looking forward to the test posed by Yorkshire when the two sides meet at Edgbaston Stadium in the Rothesay County Championship on Friday.
The Bears return to action after a week off looking to continue the encouraging start they’ve made to the 2026 season, recording a win, two draws and a solitary loss from their first four outings to sit fourth in the current standings.
Welch has been pleased with the start the bowling unit have made to the campaign, and says after a week off, they are in a good place as they look to close the 12-point gap to table-toppers Nottinghamshire.
“The four games back-to-back was quite difficult, so the break came at the right time,” he said.
“We played very well against Surrey, obviously had a blip against Sussex but then beat Essex and put in a really good performance against Nottingham.
“It’s where we want to be, going into day four with a chance of winning the game.
“We’re in a very good place, and I still think there’s another couple of levels that the batting and bowling group can get to. Things are very positive.”
In Yorkshire, the Bears face a side rounding into form after they produced an assured performance to beat high-flying Somerset by 75 runs last time out.
Welch says that due to the strength of the teams in Division One this season, every week provides a different test, with Yorkshire no different, but says the side will be up to the task as they hope to impress on home soil.
“Every team is strong,” he added. “We played Surrey the first game of the season and the top six or seven are internationals. Every game proves a different test.
“Either one of Harry Brook or Joe Root is going to play so it’s a great opportunity for the bowling group to test their skills. Jonny Bairstow is a good performer and has been for England and Yorkshire over the years, so it should be a really good test, but we’re looking forward to it.
“The bowlers are bowling well, they’ve worked hard over the last six months from the winter and like I said, the test against Nottingham was a good one. It showed how far they’ve come as a bowling group.”
Play gets under way at Edgbaston at 11:00am on Friday 8 May, with the teams set to be announced at the toss.