Bears v Pears in focus: Mousley v Brookes

The biggest Vitality Blast T20 fixture of the season is just two days away, as Warwickshire Bears take on Worcestershire Rapids at Edgbaston Stadium on Friday 26 June.

As we build up to a huge double-header at The People’s Home of Cricket, with Bears Women playing Surrey at 3:00pm before the huge local derby gets under way at 7:00pm, we’re highlighting some of the key head-to-heads that could decide the fixture. Tickets are still available.

As it’s match-week, we’re highlighting two batting all-rounders that could play a part: the Bears’ Dan Mousley and the Pears’ Ethan Brookes…

Dan Mousley

Batting all-rounder, Dan Mousley, will have a key role to play in Friday’s local derby with both bat and ball. Mousley has represented England in T20 and One Day cricket, as well as captaining England Lions in recent years.

In the Bears’ last outing against Somerset, Mousley struck a T20 career-best 71 off just 36 balls to help his team to a first win of the 2026 Vitality Blast campaign. He’ll be eager to make a similar impact in a must-win game at Edgbaston.

Mousley has a vast amount of experience in domestic T20 cricket having now played almost 100 games, and has amassed over 1,700 runs and taken 72 wickets with his fast off-spin in that time. Mousley is thought to be the fastest spinner in the world.

Ethan Brookes

Ethan Brookes, at 25-years-old, has been a regular feature in Worcestershire’s T20 side since making his first appearance in 2024. While not as experienced as Mousley, Brookes has proven time and again that he can make a difference.

A right-handed batter and occasional right arm pace bowler, Brookes has almost 750 runs in T20 cricket across 34 games to date, and despite his overs being limited in 2026, he has impressive average of 25 with the ball in that time.