2018 county cricket previews: Warwickshire

In partnership with the Cricketers’ Who’s Who, here’s Wisden’s profile of Warwickshire for 2018.

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FORMED: 1882
HOME GROUND: Edgbaston Stadium, Birmingham
T20 NAME: Birmingham Bears
CAPTAIN: Jeetan Patel (Championship and RL50), Grant Elliott (T20)
2017 RESULTS: CC1: 8/8; RL50: 9/9 North Group; T20: Runners-up
HONOURS: Championship: (7) 1911, 1951, 1972, 1994, 1995, 2004, 2012; Gillette/NatWest/C&G/FP Trophy: (5) 1966, 1968, 1989, 1993, 1995; Benson & Hedges Cup: (2) 1994, 2002; Pro40/National League/CB40/YB40/RL50: (2) 2010, 2016; Sunday League: (3) 1980, 1994, 1997; T20 Cup: 2014

The lowdown

Even victory in the T20 final would not have saved Warwickshire’s season. They finished bottom of Division One in the County Championship and their One-Day Cup group, which in total produced just three wins. There were nine defeats in the Championship, five by an innings. Of the frontline batsmen, only Jonathan Trott held his own.

Ian Bell resigned the captaincy shortly after he was dropped from the T20 side. Young Sam Hain was excellent in the short formats but struggled badly against the red ball. With the exception of Jeetan Patel – now the four-day and 50-over captain – and Keith Barker, none of Warwickshire’s usual suspects showed up. They were grateful to uncover another wicket-taking Ryan Sidebottom – this one a 28-year-old Australian with a UK passport.

But the emphasis now is on youth, reflected in the signings of vice-captain Dom Sibley (22) and Adam Hose (25) last summer, and Will Rhodes (23) over the winter. Ed Pollock (22) and Aaron Thomason (20) both shone in T20 cricket. Colin de Grandhomme returns for another Blast under the captaincy of seasoned Kiwi compatriot Grant Elliott.

Transfers

IN: Will Rhodes (Yorks), Colin de Grandhomme (NZ, T20)
OUT: Ateeq Javid (Leics), Mark Adair, William Porterfield (both released)

Sport director: Ashley Giles

A veteran of 54 Tests and 62 ODIs, Giles replaced Dougie Brown in 2016 to begin a second spell in charge of the club where he spent his entire playing career. As director of cricket, Giles helped Warwickshire win the CB40 in 2010 and the Championship title in 2012 before a brief spell as England’s limited-overs coach. Graeme Welch returns to Edgbaston to replace Alan Richardson as bowling coach, and former captain Ian Westwood has become development coach just five months after retiring.