Preview: Somerset v Warwickshire, Friendly

Warwickshire head into their final pre-season warm up game, against Somerset at Taunton, with places in the team for next week’s championship opener still very much there to be claimed.

The three-dayer in the westcountry from Friday April 1-Sunday April 3 will conclude what has so far been a sun-blessed and very satisfactory pre-season for the Bears.

The match practice, free from interference from the weather, has enabled players to find some fluency and form ahead of the title defence launch, at home to Surrey, next Thursday.

Players have seized the chance to state their case for inclusion in the XI against Surrey. Now, against one of the teams likely to be challenging hard for the Bears’ crown this year, those players have one last opportunity to shine, says captain Will Rhodes.

“The Somerset game is one more chance for players to stake their claim. We have played three games against good opposition and got in some excellent preparation and now a game against Somerset, one of the best teams in the country, at their place, is the perfect way to round off pre-season.

Will Rhodes

“There are one or two names inked in to the team sheet next week. Dom Sibley will be pretty much first name down. He has had a really good winter’s work and adapted it brilliantly from the Indoor Centre to out on the grass.

“Danny Briggs is bowling better and better each time he plays. Michael Burgess has done really well. Several times in the last couple of weeks he has come in to face the new ball and played like he was facing the second new ball.

“But there are places in the team still up for grabs and it’s great that we have so many guys competing for them. When we pick the team to play Surrey there will be people who are disappointed but that is the way of it it is when you are champions and have a strong squad with players like Alex Davies coming in and like Dom coming back in.

“For the guys left out next week I’ll just remind them that it is a six-month season and their chance will come, so just be ready to take it. Everyone has a role to play in the months ahead.”

Among the bowlers in the squad for the Somerset game is young paceman Che Simmons who has enjoyed a strong pre-season.

“Che  has impressed us all, both with his bowling and the way he has been around the group,” said Rhodes. “It is always exciting to see a young fast bowler coming through and showing what he can do. Che reminds me of Henry Brookes when he burst on to the scene aged 18 a few years ago.”

Squad

Will Rhodes (C)
Chris Benjamin
Danny Briggs
Michael Burgess (WK)
Alex Davies
Olly Hannon-Dalby
Dom Sibley
Sam Hain
Matt Lamb
Dan Mousley
Liam Norwell
Ryan Sidebottom
Che Simmonds