Report: Worcestershire v Warwickshire, Rothesay County Championship

Day One

Sam Hain bounced back to form with a season high 86 but a late flurry of wickets and a solid reply by the hosts gave Worcestershire the upper hand on Day One at New Road.

Pears’ Tom Taylor continued his fine form with another four wickets as Warwickshire were dismissed for 227.

Taylor took four for 37 as Warwickshire, having been strongly placed at 161 for two thanks to Sam Hain (86 from 152 balls) and Tom Latham (59, 153), lost their last eight wickets for 66 runs.

Worcestershire then reached 53 without loss with Jake Libby on 39 (54) and Gareth Roderick 13 (42).

Warwickshire chose to bat but had to work hard for runs in the morning session as the seamers found plenty of lateral moment. Rob Yates perished to the seventh ball of the day, Taylor’s first, when he edged an attempt to force through the offside to wicketkeeper Gareth Roderick. Alex Davies fell to the 118^th when he was pinned lbw by Matthew Waite.

Latham and Hain retrenched, the former solidly, the latter sketchily at first before settling into some glorious shots, notably sixes down the ground off Taylor and pulled off Ethan Brookes. The third-wicket pair batted diligently to add 109 in 32 overs and were moving their side into ascendancy when Worcestershire struck three big blows in seven overs.

Brookes dismissed Latham with a lovely outswinger which took the edge through to the keeper and Beau Webster who sliced a drive to point. Ed Barnard, warmly applauded to the crease at his former home ground, soon returned to the pavilion nursing a 12-ball duck after edging Jacob Duffy to first slip.  

Hain passed 50 for the first time this season and was within 14 of building it into a century when he edged Waite to second slip. Henry Nicholls accepted that catch and another one 18 balls later when Kai Smith edged Taylor to first slip.

Zen Malik dug in for a well-constructed 34 (58) which included a straight six off Waite to raise the 200 but his departure, lbw to Taylor, triggered the loss of the last three wickets for four runs in four balls.

Taylor trapped Ethan Bamber in front and Chris Woakes, playing his first championship match of the season and only his tenth in seven years, edged Duffy to second slip.

Worcestershire’s reply started at a gallop with 12 from the first over from Bamber. Against an attack including Woakes and Chris Rushworth, each playing their first game of the season after injury, openers Libby and Roderick put 50 on the board from 68 balls.

Sam Hain said: “”We know the wickets here, through absolutely no fault of the home club, do a little bit and that was certainly the case. I thought Worcestershire bowled well in groups and Tommy (Latham) and I just tried to battle it out. I think at one stage I was on eight off about 50 balls..

“It was hard to time the ball but at some point you have got to flick a switch and I had a bit of a gamble and found a little bit of rhythm which I guess has been a bit lacking in the first half of the season.

“It was nice to spend a bit of time out there in the middle, especially with Tommy. Then we lost wickets but that just went to show that on a pitch like this the game can move quickly so tomorrow hopefully we can get three or four wickets quite quickly and that will put the game back in our favour.”

Squad: Worcestershire vs Warwickshire, Rothesay County Championship

Warwickshire First Team Coach Ian Westwood has named a 14-man squad for Bears’ first derby game of the season at neighbours Worcestershire.

There’s just one addition to the squad that faced Hampshire last week – and it’s a welcome sight for Bears fans as England allrounder Chris Woakes is set to make his first appearance of the season.

Ed Barnard is in line to play his third First Class game against his former county.

The allrounder has scored 99 runs in two innings (ave 49.5) and taken three wickets in the previous two encounters.

And if selected Zen Malik will face the Club with whom he developed through the Youth Pathway and Academy before being released as a teenager.

Beau Webster makes his last appearance for Warwickshire before departing to join up with Australia ahead of the World Test Championships final at Lord’s and subsequent tour of the Caribbean.

However, it’s hoped he will return to feature in Warwickshire’s two Championship games in July, starting with the return Bears vs Pears derby at Edgbaston on 22-25 July.

Squad

Davies (c)
Taz Ali
Bamber
Barnard
Hain
Hannon-Dalby
Latham
Malik
Rushworth
Simmons
Smith
Webster
Woakes
Yates

How to follow

Members and supporters can follow the match live in our Match Centre at edgbaston.com, which will include a free-to-watch stream and a live text commentary. You can also see a ball-by-ball feed and watch highlights of all the action.

Supporters can get involved by sending their match-day comments and thoughts on X via @WarwickshireCCC and we’ll publish the best ones on our live text commentary in the Match Centre.

Supporters can also watch the Live Stream and get instant push notifications of all wickets, innings and match results via the Edgbaston app, which is free to download on iOS and Android.

Match updates will also be available across the Club’s social media accounts, simply search for @WarwickshireCCC.

Injury Update: Worcestershire vs Warwickshire, Rothesay County Championship

Chris Woakes features in the Bears squad for the first time this season after overcoming an ankle injury that’s delayed the start to his 2025 summer.

The 36-year-old is among the group that travels to New Road tomorrow for the last of seven games in the opening block of County Championship games before attention switches to the Vitality Blast.

Woakes – who’s been picked for two four-day England Lions games against India A starting on 30 May – last made a red ball appearance for Warwickshire on 3 July at Taunton.

If selected he’ll be looking to add to the 18 wickets he’s taken in four First Class games for the Club at New Road, including a match-winning 6/49 to bowl out the hosts early in the 2011 season.

Fellow seamer Chris Rushworth is again included in the squad and will be pushing for his first start of the season.

The 38-year-old – who took 13 wickets in six red ball appearances last season – has recovered from a calf injury and it means First Team Coach Ian Westwood has a selection decision to make in the seamers department.

First Team Coach Ian Westwood, said: “Apart from Boothy, who will be missing for quite some time, all our seamers are fit and in contention. It’s a good (selection) problem to have, at least fir this one game.

“The New Road game will be the last for Beau Webster for a while before he joins up with the Australia squad. He’ll be looking to sign off in style. And we hope to have him back for a couple of Championship games in late July.

“Rob Yates split the webbing in his hand taking a catch against Hampshire which he had stitched up. It was causing him some discomfort in our second innings, but it’s settled down now. He’s been batting and should be good to go for Worcestershire.”

How to follow

Members and supporters can follow the match live in our Match Centre at edgbaston.com, which will include a free-to-watch stream and a live text commentary. You can also see a ball-by-ball feed and watch highlights of all the action.

Supporters can get involved by sending their match-day comments and thoughts on X via @WarwickshireCCC and we’ll publish the best ones on our live text commentary in the Match Centre.

Supporters can also watch the Live Stream and get instant push notifications of all wickets, innings and match results via the Edgbaston app, which is free to download on iOS and Android.

Match updates will also be available across the Club’s social media accounts, simply search for @WarwickshireCCC.

Bears vs: Worcestershire's Waite for first win is over

Warwickshire face a Worcestershire side on the up after their near neighbours recorded a first win at the sixth time of asking last week.

A comprehensive 225-run victory against Essex belatedly kickstarted their Division One campaign following four successive defeats.

Allrounder Matthew Waite has been the Pears main threat with the ball this term – the ex-Yorkshire quick has 23 wickets – but he laid the foundations with the bat and a first innings top score of 73.

It lifted Worcestershire to 358 all out – registering their first batting bonus points of the season – before 29-year-old Waite took 6/19 to skittle Essex for 110 and secure the spoils inside three days.

The Pears will be hoping it acts as a run-scoring catalyst as they’ve being bowled out for 200 or less in seven of their 12 innings so far this season and no player has an average north of 30.

Waite’s fellow fast bowler Tom Taylor (pic above) is another man in form.

The 30-year-old – who signed from Northants ahead of the 2024 season – has 22 wickets to his name already and took 5/56 against Sussex earlier this month.

And 25-year-old Ben Allison has taken 19 wickets in six matches including that of his brother, Essex batter Charlie Allison, who he clean bowled for a second ball duck last week. Awkward.

Pears’ former Bears

Bears’ former allrounder Ethan Brookes has established himself in the Worcestershire line-up this season and has played in every Championship game so far.

He’s their joint second highest scorer with 319 (ave 29.00) – only Jacob Libby (353)who hit 167 against Sussex earlier this month has accrued more – and has taken six wickets.

Another ex-Bear Adam Hose had made four appearances this season with a top score of 82 in the first round of fixtures at Somerset and an average of 24.87.

How to follow

Members and supporters can follow the match live in our Match Centre at edgbaston.com, which will include a free-to-watch stream and a live text commentary. You can also see a ball-by-ball feed and watch highlights of all the action.

Supporters can get involved by sending their match-day comments and thoughts on X via @WarwickshireCCC and we’ll publish the best ones on our live text commentary in the Match Centre.

Supporters can also watch the Live Stream and get instant push notifications of all wickets, innings and match results via the Edgbaston app, which is free to download on iOS and Android.

Match updates will also be available across the Club’s social media accounts, simply search for @WarwickshireCCC.

Bamber up for Bears v Pears after memorable last New Road trip

Ethan Bamber is gearing up for his first Bears v Pears derby – and he hopes the game at New Road will reach the highs of his last visit to Worcestershire.

Bamber – Warwickshire’s top wicket taker this season with 22 – was part of the Middlesex side that won promotion from Division Two at New Road on the last day of the 2022 season.

And it ended with players from both sides on the balcony watching the drama unfold 30 miles down the road at Edgbaston as Liam Norwell delivered his nine-fer heroics.

“It was a mad game, great memories,” said Bamber. “I ended up watching the Bears game alongside Ed Barnard. It was his last game for Worcestershire before his move to Edgbaston so he was very invested.

“That was my only First Class game to date there so I’m really looking forward to returning with the Bears. It’s my first derby game for the Club so there’s a bit extra on it. New Road is a tight ground, you’re close to the fans, so we might get some banter. I enjoy it; it’s good to play in front of passionate support.

“Traditionally it’s been a seamer friendly wicket some hopefully there will be something in it for me. But I think there have been some less predictable wickets this year, teams not knowing what to expect, so it could be interesting.

“We’ll have to adapt to what we find. We’ve played on a number of different wickets this year and I think we’ve got better at reacting quicker to what’s in front of us and what’s needed on what surface.

“We’re in a good spot. A positive result makes that first block of Championship games look very solid, three wins and three draws from seven. We all want to end this block of games on a positive note.”

Bamber had already snared 191 First Class wickets before arriving at Edgbaston so Warwickshire knew they were signing a bowler of proven red ball pedigree.

But the 26-year-old has also showed steely determination with the bat, contributed valuable runs, and swatted more sixes (five) than any other Bear so far this term!

“I’m pleased I’ve been able to contribute; I’m enjoying myself. I love playing, and hopefully that comes across to our fans. The lads have been supportive, Westy and Barnesy, giving me an opportunity to express myself on the field.

“There were a couple of innings (Surrey and Hampshire) when I felt I bowled well but didn’t get anything. That’s the nature of bowling but you have to trust what you’re doing and keep the process simple.

“One thing I’ve not been great at in the past is, if it’s not gone well in the wickets column, I’ve gone searching. That often ends with you going for more runs and making the task harder for yourself. But if you keep doing the right things with the ball, rewards will come and things can change quickly.

“I’ve always felt I’ve not done myself justice with the bat. But the coaches here have supported me and challenged me to take it on. To take my batting more seriously. knowing I can achieve something personally and for the team.

“It was different batting at eight this week. But the more time I spend out there, the better my decision making, not giving away weak dismissals, and throwing in some counter punches every so often…to the short side!”

Bamber has faced Worcestershire on three occasions in the County Championship, taking 12 wickets and with a best of 4/28 in September 2021 when took seven wickets in the game.

How to follow

Members and supporters can follow the match live in our Match Centre at edgbaston.com, which will include a free-to-watch stream and a live text commentary. You can also see a ball-by-ball feed and watch highlights of all the action.

Supporters can get involved by sending their match-day comments and thoughts on X via @WarwickshireCCC and we’ll publish the best ones on our live text commentary in the Match Centre.

Supporters can also watch the Live Stream and get instant push notifications of all wickets, innings and match results via the Edgbaston app, which is free to download on iOS and Android.

Match updates will also be available across the Club’s social media accounts, simply search for @WarwickshireCCC.