Ed Barnard says Bears’ eyes are firmly fixed on Warwickshire’s 2025 season opener as the countdown to the new campaign begins in earnest.
New Year’s Day marks 93 days until Warwickshire take on Sussex in Round One of the Rothesay County Championship at Edgbaston.
Vice Captain Barnard – who’s scored 1,322 runs (35.72 average) in 28 First Class games since his move from Worcestershire – heads to Australia in the coming days for warm weather training and grade cricket.
But he says attention in the dressing room is now focused on preparations for the April red ball start – and to bring home a trophy for Bears fans.
He said: “All the Members will be itching for April 4 to come around as soon as possible – and we’re no different. Our commitment to them is that we’ll be as prepared as well as we possibly can be, and ready to hit the ground running.
“We want to get off to a winning start and set the tone for a campaign that will see us challenging at the top of the table.
“We’ve had a good couple of months in the gym, getting the boys back together again. But when you reach New Year it all really comes into focus, the start will be with us very soon.”
The squad head to Abu Dhabi in March for a pre-season training camp and T20 competition involving several other First Class Counties.
He’s encouraged by the signings of seamer Ethan Bamber from Middlesex and New Zealand Test Captain Tom Latham – and believes the side can challenge for silverware in 2025.
“Latham and Bamber are brilliant additions to the squad,” added Barnard, who averages almost 70 for Warwickshire in List A cricket and has been named Metro Bank One Day Cup Player of the Year for two seasons running.
“Tom Latham is a very experienced international Test captain, I enjoy watching him play and have played against him a few times. He’s a quality player.
“And I’ve known Ethan for a few years now. He’s an exuberant, enthusiastic character, and a brilliant bowler. You only need to look at his stats in First Class cricket to know he’ll really add to our side.
“I don’t set myself specific targets ahead of a new season; I just want to keep improving year on year. I want to keep contributing in all aspects of the game, bat, ball and fielding.
“But a big goal for me is to get back into the T20 Blast side and to play regularly in that competition, that’s one for me to attack next year.
“To win a trophy is the collective goal, obviously. We’re getting close in the T20 and 50-over, getting repeatedly to the knock-out stages, so to get over that last hurdle and put ourselves right in the mix for a trophy is what we’re all striving for.
“And to be fighting up there in the Championship.”
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