In total, seven former captains have led the Bears to eight titles in the Club’s history, with Barnard looking to replicate the achievements of the following…
Frank Foster (1911)
Frank Foster captained Warwickshire to their first ever County Championship title back in 1911. Aged just 22, Foster was commended for his leadership at his age, and he remains the youngest Bears captain to win the competition. An all-rounder, Foster played 159 First Class matches in his career, scoring over 6,500 runs while taking 717 wickets. He also represented England in the 1911/12 Ashes.
Tom Dollery (1951)
It took Warwickshire 40 years before they lifted the County Championship trophy for a second time, with captain Tom Dollery leading from the front. In fact it was the first Championship title achieved under a professional captain. Known to get the best out of those he led, he was also well-known for showcasing his very best when under pressure. Many of his big scores were made when the team needed it most.
Alan Smith (1972)
Alan Smith hailed from Warwickshire and led his home team to County Championship glory in 1972. Even more impressive was how his side did it. Through 20 fixtures, they went unbeaten, winning nine and drawing 11 to make sure of a third Bears title. Smith himself had an illustrious career in First Class cricket, scoring 11,000 runs while also representing England in Tests and ODIs.
Dermot Reeve (1994 & 1995)
The only Warwickshire captain to win the County Championships twice, Dermot Reeve led the Club to back-to-back titles in 1994 and 1995. The first of those titles came as part of a domestic treble, something that no other county has achieved since.
In ’94, the late Bob Woolmer was Head Coach and a young Brian Lara was beginning to stamp his authority on the sport. The team’s dominance in that year saw the Bears crowned champions with one round of fixtures remaining.
The following year, Woolmer left to coach South Africa, with Phil Neale working alongside Reeve, and the duo combined to lead a historic second successive title. In ’95, the Bears won 14 of 17 games in the County Championship for one the highest win percentages in recent history.
Nick Knight (2004)
In 2004, Nick Knight led from the front as Warwickshire secured a sixth title. His side were dominant with both bat and ball, going unbeaten with five wins and 11 draws while also earning league-high bonus points in both batting and bowling. Knight himself scored over 1,200 runs during the season, averaging 57.09, while Ian Bell was at his best, leading the league with 1,498 runs at 71.33.
Jim Troughton (2012)
In 2012, Warwickshire were dominant under the leadership of Jim Troughton. They clinched the trophy with a match to spare, doing so in early September following an innings victory over rivals Worcestershire. The team won six, drew nine and lost only once during the 2012 campaign, with four of those wins coming inside the first six games of the season. The Bears’ bowling attack was led in impressive fashion by Chris Wright, who took 62 wickets, and Keith Barker, who picked up 56.
Will Rhodes (2021)
Due to Covid-19, the format of the County Championships altered, with the Bears adapting best to a two-phase competition. Will Rhodes was the man to lead them to glory, doing so in difficult circumstances and with a calm authority. The title was decided during the final session on the final day, with Warwickshire bowling Somerset out to make sure of celebrations at Edgbaston.
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