A two-day internal practice match in Abu Dhabi has given 1st team coach Jim Troughton “a lot of food for thought” as he ponders how Warwickshire’s team might look when it begins the season against Surrey at The Oval on April 7.
The two-day game was structured to supply maximum practice with all the batsmen getting time at the crease and the bowlers delivering a decent number of overs in their first full-scale outdoor practice of the year.
It was a great chance for myself and Ash to have a good look at all the players, contracted and not-contracted, and gave us a lot of food for thought.
Jim Troughton
It was an opportunity for those players to make the right impression on Troughton as the 2017 season draws close. And the game was of great value to the 1st team coach and sport director Ashley Giles who is also out in the UAE the Bears’ 13-day trip.
“It was a very good couple of days for us,” Troughton said. “I have an idea of the 11 that we will pick against Surrey at The Oval but there are places not nailed down and this was a real chance for guys to shine and put their hands up for selection. Some took it, some not so much.
“The batters batted in partnerships for 21 overs at a time and, though the bowlers bowled well at them, it was not a wicketfest and they looked very good considering it was their first time this year in the middle.
“All the seamers bowled ten overs, two spells of five, each day, so they got good overs in their legs. The spinners had no limit on their overs because they can just bowl and bowl.
“It was a great chance for myself and Ash to have a good look at all the players, contracted and not-contracted, and gave us a lot of food for thought.”
Among those to impress was 17-year-old academy product Henry Brookes, fresh from making a big impression with the England Under 19s team in India.
“It was very interesting to see Henry in action after the winter he’s had and he did well,” Troughton said. “We are not getting giddy about him because he has a long way to go yet, but his potential is clear.”
Next up for the Bears is a two-day red-ball friendly against Worcestershire on Saturday and Sunday before the emphasis will switch to white-ball cricket during the second week of their stay in the UAE.
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