Ian Bell and Olly Stone are both making good progress from their injuries and on schedule to return to Warwickshire's team in mid-June.
The Bears have entered the 2019 season without the leaders of their batting and pace-bowling after Bell required surgery on ligaments in his right foot and Stone suffered an incomplete stress fracture in his back.
The recovery of both is on track, however, and they will hopefully be ready to return to the first-team fray in one of the back-to-back Specsavers County Championship games away to Yorkshire and Surrey in mid-to-late June.
In the meantime, our young squad has a great opportunity to express themselves and gain as much experience as possible. This will make them and us stronger in the long term.
Jim Troughton
Other injured players are expected back before then. Adam Hose, who sustained a fractured right thumb in the nets last Thursday, should be available within three or four weeks, as should Liam Norwell, who is still awaiting his Bears debut as he recovers from a torn pec muscle.
Aaron Thomason (torn pec) is around ten days away from a first-team return and Matt Lamb (side-strain) is two to three weeks away.
First-team coach Jim Troughton said: “It’s good to know that our injured players are making progress and we look forward to seeing them back out on the park again.
“It’s always a test of your squad-depth when injuries occur but it’s part of professional sport. We have a superb physio and sports medicine team working hard to get our guys back to full fitness and those players are desperate to put in match-winning performances for the Bears in the future.
“In the meantime, our young squad has a great opportunity to express themselves and gain as much experience as possible. This will make them and us stronger in the long term.”
Chris Woakes is fully fit, but his input for the Bears is dictated by the England set-up. The all-rounder will be available against Durham on Friday but will miss the games at Worcester and Derby as he will be at an England training camp.
