Defending Champions Surrey visit Edgbaston this week
After four matches, Warwickshire sit in second place in the Division One table of the County Championship, having won two and drawn two of their matches so far. Although Surrey have only won one of their four matches, they have not lost and are a mere six points behind the Bears.
Warwickshire have already doubled their tally of wins compared to last year, and will be well satisfied with their start to the season. The changes to the coaching staff pre-season, that saw Mark Robinson depart and Ian Westwood take over as Head Coach seem to have lifted morale in the dressing room. The most recent win over Yorkshire at Headingley by five wickets saw them take 20 wickets in the match, something that seemed beyond them last year. Ethan Bamber (a shrewd recruitment from Middlesex) and Zimbabwe-born Michael Booth have proved to be an effective pace duo, capturing 34 wickets between them so far. Ed Barnard has supported them well, and also scored over 300 runs in the middle order.
Until their most recent win over Somerset, Surrey’s start to the season was modest by their own high standards. They have scored plenty of runs – Dom Sibley has over 400, including two centuries in the match against Hampshire – but the bowling has been very reliant on Jordan Clark (14 wickets) and Dan Worrall (10 wickets). With Ollie Pope, Gus Atkinson and Jamie Smith all away this week in the England squad, Surrey have recruited Aussie left handed batter Kurtis Patterson for the next three games.
Overall, this looks to be a key contest. Based on pre-season expectations, Warwickshire have over- achieved so far and Surrey fallen a little short, but Surrey are probably the narrow favourites to win and leap-frog above the Bears in the table.
Key Players
Beau, the Bear from Snug is not the title of a best-selling children’s book. Instead, it is a description of Beau Webster, born in the small town of Snug, Tasmania and now playing for the Bears until he joins the Australian squad around the end of May. He played a key innings on his debut against Yorkshire and also has the merit of being able to bowl in two styles – fast-medium pace and off spin.
For Surrey, Dom Sibley will be keen to mark his return to Edgbaston, where he played for half a dozen seasons, with a big contribution at the top of the order. Sibley’s dogged and determined approach to his batting is perhaps unlikely to attract the attention of the England selectors in the Bazball era, so he is free to go on accumulating for Surrey.
Team News
Warwickshire still have both Chris Woakes and Chris Rushworth out with injuries. Sam Hain missed the Yorkshire match with a back strain and remains doubtful. Jacob Bethell is tied up with the IPL, but Warwickshire are hopeful that New Zealander Tom Latham will make his debut, delayed until now by a broken hand. Coach Ian Westwood has suggested that one of Bamber or Booth may be rested, and since Booth, for this season at least, still counts as an overseas player, the arrival of Webster and Latham will make Booth’s omission necessary.
Warwickshire squad (probable): Alex Davies (c), Rob Yates, Sam Hain, Dan Mousley, Ed Barnard, Kai Smith, Ethan Bamber, Olly Hannon-Dalby, Beau Webster, Tom Latham, Zen Malik, Craig Miles, Taz Ali
Surrey will be hoping that New Zealand seamer Nathan Smith will strengthen the bowling. All-rounder Tom Lawes has been recovering from a side strain, but played for the second team last week so may come into contention.
Surrey squad (probable): Rory Burns(c), Dom Sibley, Kurtis Patterson, Dan Lawrence, Ben Foakes, Ryan Patel, Jordan Clark,Tom Lawes, Ollie Sykes, Nathan Smith, Matt Fisher, Dan Worrall
Weather and Conditions
The current fine weather should last for all four days.
The Edgbaston pitch can get easier as the match progresses, so a high-scoring draw is not out of the question.
Date: 9th May 2025
Time: 11.00 am
Ground: Edgbaston Stadium, Birmingham
