Warwickshire County Cricket Club captain Jeetan Patel has signed a new one-year contract extension to cover the 2019 season alongside fast bowlers Oliver Hannon-Dalby and Ryan Sidebottom and all-rounder Alex Thomson.
Patel (37) was appointed club captain during the close season and has won all three domestic trophies with the Bears and has twice been named as the PCA’s County Most Valuable Player.
Jeets has been one of the best overseas players that we’ve seen in the county game and, having recently been appointed captain, we want to ensure that we have his future secured for the next two seasons.
Ashley Giles
He has recently returned to Edgbaston from his native Wellington, New Zealand, ready to start his seventh consecutive season for Warwickshire, having taken 353 First Class, 102 List A and 113 T20 wickets for the club to date.
Ashley Giles, sport Director at Warwickshire CCC, said: “Jeets has been one of the best overseas players that we’ve seen in the county game and, having recently been appointed captain, we want to ensure that we have his future secured for the next two seasons.
“He has shown outstanding leadership qualities since joining the club, setting a great example on and off the field whilst also helping the young players with their development. We think he will make an excellent captain and look forward to seeing him back on the field in the Bear & Ragged Staff later this week.”
Hannon-Dalby (28) joined the Bears from Yorkshire ahead of the 2013 season and went on to play a pivotal role in club’s NatWest T20 Blast victory at Edgbaston in 2014 and the 2016 Royal London One-Day Cup final at Lord’s. He has made 102 appearances across all three formats for the Bears, taking 166 wickets.
Sidebottom and Thomson both joined the Bears during the 2017 season and made significant impressions in the senior ranks.
Australian-born Sidebottom (28) initially trialled with Warwickshire second team after impressing for Berkswell in the Birmingham & District Premier League. He subsequently made his debut at Lord’s in the Specsavers County Championship win over Middlesex and went on to take 23 wickets at an average of 22.47 in his seven appearances.
Thomson (24) initially came through the Staffordshire Cricket pathway and enjoyed three years in the Cardiff MCCU system before making his Championship debut for the Bears against Yorkshire last season.
“All three of Olly, Ryan and Alex are excellent characters and have had to work exceptionally hard to get where they are in the county game,” said Giles.
“Olly has been a regular in white ball cricket since he joined the club, but we hope that he can push for a place across all three formats. We’ve also seen him develop as a mentor to our young players by spending time coaching the Academy.
“Ryan and Alex have come through very different routes into the professional game, but they performed admirably in difficult circumstances for the team when they made their debuts in the Championship last year. We’ve been very impressed with their work over the winter months and the challenge for them is to now prove that they can play a prominent role for the team across all formats.”
