Last month, ahead of the 2026 Vitality Blast, we revisited the 2014 season, and the last time Warwickshire captured the T20 crown. While that was an outstanding season on many levels, 1994 stands above all else in the history of the Bears.
The Club became the first to win three domestic competitions in the same season, and it’s a feat that hasn’t been replicated since…
Leadership
Dermot Reeve represented England on three occasions in test matches and 29 times in One Day Internationals during his playing career and captained the Bears from 1993 to 1996.
In 1994, he led Warwickshire on the field, with the late Bob Woolmer serving the first of his terms as Head Coach from 1991 to 1994.
Between them, they created a winning culture, and arguably the greatest winning team in the history of English county cricket.
Overseas star
During the treble-winning season, Warwickshire made an outstanding overseas signing just days before the campaign began – non-other than West Indies star and one of cricket’s true greats, Brian Lara.
Signed in late-April, fresh from scoring a then world record 375 in Antigua against England, Lara would be pivotal, particularly in Warwickshire’s pursuit of the County Championship.
His contribution of 2,066 runs in the County Championship, at an average of 89.92, included nine centuries. In his first seven innings for the Bears, Lara struck six centuries, including his world record 501 not out against Durham.
It wasn’t just his runs that were crucial though. Alongside Reeve and Woolmer, Lara brought a winning mentality to the Club, and surrounded by a hugely talented squad – that included the likes of Tim Munton, Roger Twose, Gladstone Small, Neil Smith, Richard Davis, Dominic Ostler and Trevor Penney to name just a few – it was a recipe for success.
Benson & Hedges Cup
Warwickshire’s record-breaking season began with the team capturing the Benson & Hedges Cup for the first time in their history.
A three-wicket win against Middlesex at Lord’s Cricket Ground in the first round got the ball rolling, with Munton (three for 27) and Penney (39) contributing in a low-scoring affair at the Home of Cricket.
Kent were the opponents in round two, and after play was washed out at Edgbaston due to rain, the match was decided by a bowl-out, with the Bears edging proceedings 5-4.
In the semi-finals, Surrey set the Bears 268 for victory at The Oval. In reply, Lara top scored with 70 off 73 balls, and with telling contributions from Ostler (44), Twose (46) and Reeve (46 not out), the Bears reached the total six down and with five balls of their innings remaining.
On 9 July, the highly anticipated final between rivals Warwickshire and Worcestershire took place at Lord’s, with the Bears producing arguably their best performance of the competition when it mattered most.
Having won the toss, the Bears elected to bowl first, restricting Worcestershire to 170 for nine from their 55 overs. A complete bowling performance was highlighted by Paul Smith taking three for 34. After Ostler and Twose put on 91 for the first wicket, Smith would contribute with the bat too, scoring an unbeaten 42 to guide his side to a six-wicket win, and a maiden Benson & Hedges Cup.
County Championship
Warwickshire’s second trophy of the campaign was confirmed by the first week in September. Their dominance in the County Championship was evident as they were crowned champions with one round of fixtures remaining.
It was an outstanding season from the Bears, who in 17 games won 11 times and lost just once. At the time, their winning margin of 42 points at the top of Division One was the largest margin of victory in the Championship since 1979.
There were several standout performances throughout the season.
Munton’s right arm medium-fast bowling was to prove pivotal to the Bears’ charge towards the title. At key times he produced, and he would end the season with a haul of 81 wickets at an average 21.54.
While Munton was the leading wicket-taker, Davis (31 wickets at 31.74), Small (36 wickets at 26.27) and Smith (49 wickets at 34.48) all made telling contributions with the ball.
With the bat, Lara was at his absolute best, scoring in excess of 2,000 runs, while the whole team backed up his brilliance. Twose was in inspired form, racking-up 1,395 runs at an average of 55, while Andy Moles averaged 50, Ostler 38 and Penny 38.
Their triumph in the County Championship was a team effort, with Lara and Munton at the fore. It would pave the way for the team to go for the unprecedented treble later that month.
Sunday League
Following their County Championship success, the Bears had two games remaining of the Sunday League, as they battled for top spot with local rivals Worcestershire.
A win against Hampshire in the penultimate fixture – four days after they secured the County Championship – was decided by the Bears’ faster scoring rate, before they travelled to the County Ground to take on Gloucestershire for the final game, chasing their place in the history books.
Penny, who averaged 57 in the competition, scored 55 to help the Bears to 183 for eight in the must-win fixture, before Small took three wickets as Gloucester were dismissed for 137 to seal the treble.
Ostler led the scoring throughout the competition with 530 runs, while Lara (364 runs), Twose (397) and Reeve (378) all chipped in. Neil Smith (26 wickets) and Paul Smith (20 wickets) were the pick of the bowlers.
Almost four
Two months after the Benson & Hedges Cup Final, Warwickshire came agonisingly close to securing a fourth domestic trophy in the season, however Worcestershire would get their revenge.
In the NatWest Trophy, the Bears batted first on the Saturday morning, however due to rain, they had to return on Sunday morning to complete their innings. At the time, with Lord’s known for being tricky to bat on first in September, Worcester made that advantage tell. Despite 81 from Lara, it wasn’t enough, with the Pears chasing down Warwickshire’s total of 223 for the loss of just two wickets.
Post-season
For their performances, Lara and Munton were both named amongst Wisden’s five cricketers of the year in 1995.
Following the season, Bob Woolmer left the Club to coach South Africa. Phil Neale joined as Head Coach and successfully led the Bears to two more trophies in 1995.