The return of the Vitality Blast is just over a week away, with both Warwickshire Bears’ teams starting their quest for silverware on Friday 22 May.
The women’s team travel to Chelmsford to take on Essex and the men play Gloucestershire in Bristol before EdgBLASTon hosts the Blast Off double-header two days later.
Tickets for Blast Off on Sunday 24 May remain on offer at £15 for adults and £5 for U16s.
We want to make sure you Prepare for the Bears. After highlighting several batters to look out for earlier this week, here are the bowlers you will see taking wickets this summer…
Chris Woakes
The former England international needs no introduction. With over 390 wickets for England to his name across all three formats, the lifelong Bear will be an important part of Warwickshire’s T20 campaign this summer. For Warwickshire in T20 cricket, the right arm pacer has 182 to wickets at an average of 25. Expect him to add to that number in the next few months!
Hannah Baker
Right arm leg spinner, Hannah Baker, has started the season off well for the Bears in the Metro Bank One Day Cup, and will be looking to continue that trend when Blast season gets under way. The 22-year-old is one of England’s brightest spin bowling prospects, having been called up to the England training squad at just 16, before making her One Day International debut in 2024.
Usman Tariq
Warwickshire Bears fought off competition from around the world earlier this year to secure the signing of overseas star Usman Tariq for the 2026 Vitality Blast campaign. The 30-year-old spinner, who has had success in franchise cricket around the world in recent years, as well as impressing for Pakistan, will be in Birmingham for the entirety of the summer, playing in the Blast for the Bears before remaining at Edgbaston with Birmingham Phoenix.
Em Arlott
A wicket-taker in all formats, Em Arlott is sure to be adding to her tally at EdgBLASTon this summer. In ten appearances for England across One Day Internationals and T20s, Arlott has taken 15 wickets, all at an average of less than 20. Her averages in The Hundred (15.97) and the Big Bash League (12.57) also make her one of the most sought-after bowlers in world cricket.
Jordan Thompson
Jordan Thompson will make his first appearances in the Vitality Blast for the Bears this summer after signing on a three-year deal from Yorkshire last year. The right arm quick has played 86 times in the Vitality Blast over the last eight years for Yorkshire, taking 99 wickets at an average of 25. He also has experience of franchise cricket, having played in both Australia and Pakistan in short form.
Issy Wong
Issy Wong brings pace to the Bears attack, and will be looking to hit the ground running next week, ahead of the Women’s T20 World Cup next month. It’s easy to forget that Wong is just 23-years-old, with the right arm quick having already achieved a lot in the game. In T20 cricket alone, she’s played franchise cricket all around the world and has 13 international wickets to her name and counting.