The sun is shining and County Cricket resumes at Edgbaston
Newly promoted Sussex will play their first top flight Championship match in a decade at Edgbaston this week-end.
By all reports, the streets of Birmingham will be lined not by ecstatic supporters but by rubbish bags and rats. A strike by bin men and women has created a health hazard, but within Edgbaston Stadium there has been no such problem of disposing of unwanted items. Performance Director Gavin Larsen and First Team Coach Mark Robinson have both departed the scene in a pre-season clear-out. Ironically Robinson may well be back at Edgbaston in his new short-term coaching role with Sussex.
Last year, the Bears flirted with relegation all season, winning only one match and surviving mainly because of the greater ineptitude of Lancashire and Kent. If they are to do better this year, it will most likely be because of a stronger contribution from overseas players and progress by youngsters such as Hamza Shaikh and Kai Smith.
Sussex are untried in the top flight, but Head Coach Paul Farbrace is setting his sights high. “Our goal is to win Division One. We expect to be in the top half. Top four is a realistic goal for us.” To achieve that ambitious aim he is largely relying on the squad that gained promotion. As they start their campaign at Edgbaston, the three Toms; Alsop, Haines and Clark, should provide enough runs to support captain John Simpson and overseas man Daniel Hughes. Ollie Robinson looks to be fit and ready to open the bowling with Jayden Seales. Off-spinner Jack Carson will probably play, but spin is unlikely to be a match-winner this early in the season.
Despite the likelihood of four full days of play, an easy-paced early season pitch makes a draw the most likely result.
Key Players
All-rounder Ed Barnard has just signed a two year contract extension for Warwickshire. He provides balance to the side as a highly capable batter and a consistent and reliable seam bowler. With the unexpected retirement of Michael Burgess, Barnard’s run-scoring in the middle order will be even more crucial this year.
Sussex leaned heavily last year on John Simpson. As well as captaining the side and keeping wicket, he scored almost 1200 runs. He is a resilient character, but can he carry that triple burden of captaincy, keeping wicket and run-scoring for another season? Sussex fans will be hoping so.
Team News
Mark Robinson’s successor, newly promoted Ian Westwood, has soon experienced the vicissitudes of the top coaching job. Overseas star Tom Latham has a broken hand and will not now arrive to bolster the batting. Veteran pace man Chris Rushworth has a calf injury and is out for an indefinite period whilst Chris Woakes has an ankle problem and misses out. Jacob Bethell is involved with the IPL and both Dan Mousley and Olly Hannon-Dalby had to undergo scans on hand injuries, but should be fit to play. Fortunately, Sri Lanka left-arm pace bowler Vishwa Fernando has arrived to play in the first three Championship fixtures and Ethan Bamber, signed from Middlesex, will make his Bears debut. The wicket-keeping gloves will be handed to Kai Smith.
Warwickshire squad (probable): Alex Davies (c), Rob Yates, Hamza Shaikh, Sam Hain, Dan Mousley, Ed Barnard, Kai Smith (wk), Danny Briggs, Michael Booth, Vishwa Fernando, Ethan Bamber, Olly Hannon-Dalby
Australian opener Daniel Hughes is available for the whole season so should play at Edgbaston, as should West Indies pace bowler Jayden Seales (24 wickets in six games last year). Aussie Nathan McAndrew does not arrive till June. Unlike the Bears, Sussex have few injury worries and final selection may come down to which out of Danny Lamb, Finn Hudson-Prentice and Henry Crocombe get the nod.
Sussex squad (probable): John Simpson (c,wk), Daniel Hughes, Tom Haines, Oli Carter, Tom Clark, Tom Alsop, James Coles, Jack Carson, Finn Hudson-Prentice, Danny Lamb, Henry Crocombe, Jayden Seales, Ollie Robinson
Weather and Conditions
The good news is that Birmingham should bask in four days of non-stop sunshine. Whilst day one could see temperatures as high as 21 degrees, supporters should not be too hasty in discarding their fur-lined undergarments because there will be a drop to around 14 degrees by day four.
As for the pitch, groundsman Gary Barwell battles with an over-used square and usually produces decent pitches that sometimes lack a bit of pace.
Date: 4th April 2025
Time: 11.00 am
Ground: Edgbaston Stadium
