Warwickshire will enter the new system with a squad that has potential, but it feels like this is not quite the team they had in mind. There are always a few reasons for that and not all of them are in your control.
They lost Amy Jones who, although not a regular starter due to England duty, is a player who added depth and led quietly by example. Marie Kelly, who has strong ties to the team, might have been someone they hoped to bring back and the fact both now line up for Midlands rivals The Blaze will sting.
That said, their recruitment has not been poor. Nat Wraith brings plenty of experience and will challenge Abbey Freeborn for the gloves. With a Rachael Heyhoe Flint (RHF) Trophy average of 35.66, she could steady a batting line-up that is still adjusting after the loss of Eve Jones.
Warwickshire have also signed promising young players Armu Surenkumar and Millie Taylor. Surenkumar, still just 18, was starting to feature more regularly for Sunrisers and early signs suggested she was settling into her role as an all-rounder, offering plenty with bat and ball.
A left-arm spinner and twin sister of Mary Taylor, Millie has come through the Sussex and Vipers pathways and should get more opportunities here than she had at Hampshire. That said, Warwickshire are not short of spin options of quality.
The spin ranks include captain Georgia Davis and the exciting Hannah Baker. Davis, an off-spinner, made her England debut against Ireland and was part of the recent A tour of Australia. It suggests the former police officer is firmly in the conversation for England honours. A strong start to the season could see her force her way into Charlotte Edwards’ plans.
Baker, a 21-year-old leg-spinner, has started to come into her own. At an age when many bowlers are still finding their rhythm, she has already taken 31 wickets in both the RHF Trophy and Charlotte Edwards Cup, demonstrating the control and clarity needed to trouble batters in both formats.
They complement a pace unit with experience and a balance some sides will struggle to match. Issy Wong, one of the quickest around, had recently lost her way. Her rhythm was gone and her England potential seemed to vanish with it, but she has gone away, worked at it and is now rediscovering the form that once made her a star in the making. Her fifer in England A’s unofficial Test points to better things ahead, for both Wong and Warwickshire.
Emily Arlott was on the cusp of an England debut before injury struck. One of the taller domestic bowlers, she gets good bounce and carry and remains a consistent threat. She strikes the ball cleanly and has, on occasion, seen her side home with the bat.
Also in the pace ranks is Katie George, a player whose England career was cut short by injury, but who still offers real quality and all-round depth to this side. She has dug the side out more than once with a calmness that defines her game.
The batting has potential and that is both a strength and a source of uncertainty. With Eve Jones gone, Chloe Brewer steps up as the senior player in the top order. She struggled for form last season, averaging 20.20 in the RHF Trophy and was dropped after three Charlotte Edwards Cup games. She will need to rediscover her best and with a young batting unit around her, this leadership role might be exactly what unlocks it.
Charis Pavely and Davina Perrin are two exciting young batters. Despite debuting for Central Sparks back in 2021, Perrin is still only 18. She has got a good range of shots, times it well and has always had power. Two fifties in last year’s RHF Trophy, plus a strong winter with England Under-19s, suggest she is beginning to repay the early faith shown in her.
Pavely is developing into a powerful all-rounder and is another youngster brought through the professional system. As a left-hander, she also gives Warwickshire a different look in the line-up.
Bethan Ellis often flies under the radar but brings real solidity with the bat. She gives the big hitters freedom, though she is more than capable of clearing the ropes herself. She reads the game well and can shift gears when needed.
Abbey Freeborn is another who likes to get on with things. She has added more patience in recent seasons, with three fifties last year, including a top score of 93. The challenge now is converting those starts into match-defining innings and pushing on from the consistency she has built over the past three years.
Key Player
Katie George is a genuine three-dimensional cricketer. A quality left-arm seamer who swings it and varies her pace with the new ball. Injuries have forced her to reinvent aspects of her game. In the first season of The Hundred, she played solely as a batter, but it was her athleticism and fielding that stood out. Her approach makes her an excellent role model for younger players.
Player to watch
There are several promising youngsters, but this feels like the season where Davina Perrin steps up as a regular run-scorer. Her time with England Under-19s showed she relishes responsibility and that is exactly the role she will be asked to play.
How will they fare?
This feels like a season where Warwickshire will have to place their faith in a young, relatively inexperienced group. That might mean a few bumps along the way and another campaign of inconsistency. The bowling attack is strong; arguably one of the best, but the batters need to step up regularly. That might not happen just yet, unless they bring in an overseas player who adds the kind of star quality and stability they are currently missing.
Opening Fixture: Metro Bank One Day Cup: 23 April 2024 v Hampshire at Edgbaston
