Bamber on ‘surreal’ feeling of being part of Championship winning team

Ethan Bamber produced the concluding moment that Warwickshire fans had been waiting for throughout the season, and admits that being a Rothesay County Championship winner is a ‘surreal’ feeling.

2026-09-28T12:10+01:00

Bamber took the final wicket to cap what has been a remarkable season for the right-arm opening bowler.

With 69 wickets, he ends the year as the leading wicket-taker across First Class domestic cricket, and after dismissing Leicestershire’s Tom Scriven, sparked incredible scenes at a sun-kissed Edgbaston, as Warwickshire were crowned champions.

“It’s a great privilege to be able to be in those moments,” Bamber said. “I went numb to be honest.

“I think it will sink in. It felt a bit surreal, like it wasn’t happening.

“Sometimes the universe conspires to set up moments, and it certainly felt like that. Olly [Hannon-Dalby] said to us in the huddle when we got the eighth wicket, ‘keep it professional but just take a picture of this and soak it in because this is pretty special’.

“I think for that last period to be quite drawn out was actually so perfect because I got to spend five or six overs really looking around at the support and the families up at the top there.

“To be able to do it here, on this day, in front of so many people that really care, with a bunch of people you really care about, it feels very complete and very special.”

Bamber has been part of a sensational Bears bowling attack that has merited 41 of a possible 42 bowling points throughout the 14-match Division One campaign.

Supported by a cast including the likes of Chris Woakes, Hannon-Dalby, Ed Barnard and Manav Suthar over the closing weeks of the season, Bamber has averaged just 12.71 over the last six weeks in a devasting period of seam and swing bowling.

During the celebrations on Saturday afternoon, the 27-year-old spoke about the bowling unit and what it has been like being part of a ‘special group’.

“When we were in Stellenbosch pre-season, we looked around and we all knew what a special group we were part of,” he added. “There’s always a part of you that wonders if you can put it together on the field.

“It’s been so competitive which brings the best out of you as a cricketer, but I also think so supportive and underpinned by a real care for one another, the support from Pop [Welch], and a desire to help one another get better.