Barnard delighted as Bears lift County Championship trophy

Ed Barnard said you ‘dream of days like this’ after leading his side to Rothesay County Championship glory inside three days against Leicestershire in front of a buoyant Edgbaston crowd.

2026-09-26T17:55+01:00

Needing seven wickets on day three to seal a ninth Division One title in the Club’s history, it took Warwickshire until just after 2pm on Saturday to take the final wicket, with Ethan Bamber – who ends the season as the league’s leading wicket-taker – taking the final wicket of the campaign.

Barnard, who becomes only the ninth Bears captain to lift the County Championship trophy, was delighted the team were able to do it in front of their own fans.

“It’s incredible,” he said. “The fans that have flooded in this week, and for it to be a sunny Saturday at Edgbaston, to win the trophy, it doesn’t get much better.

“The fans have been incredible all year, but especially this week. Loads of people have been in on day one, two and today and to hear those ‘You Bears’ shouts really spurs you on. It’s been really special.”

Warwickshire, in a three-way battle with Somerset and Nottinghamshire for the title throughout the closing weeks of the season, produced a stirring run of results across the final six fixtures of the season to force their way to the summit of Division One.

Barnard’s men won five of their last six games, including each of their last four which all came inside three days.

“If we’d have planned the season, we said we wanted to be in contention, so to have been in contention and then to go on the run of games we’ve had, and play the brand of cricket that we have has been really special,” Barnard added.

“We’ve spoken all the time about being disciplined and sticking to our processes, and it’s worked really well. To have the quality of players we’ve got helps, but it’s been incredible to be part of.

“It’s been a great title race. The run in especially, it didn’t seem like anyone was dropping any points, until last week, so we knew we had to be at our best.

“Everyone has worked hard and deserves everything we’ve done. To win five out of the last six is really special, and we’re deserving of it.”

Barnard was quick to heap praise on the entirety of both the playing squad and backroom staff for their efforts in ensuring the team were prepared to challenge throughout the campaign.

“We’ve put this squad of players together over the last few years,” he said. “To have the bank of seamers we’ve had, it’s meant we’ve been able to rotate and look after some of our bowlers, but also whenever anyone has played, there’s been massive contributions.

“Nathan Gilchrist, Keith Barker for his two games, Michael Booth, Jordan Thompson – I could list everyone. They’ve been incredible coming in and out of the squad.

“The overseas players deserve a shout as well. Beau [Webster] was brilliant at the start of the year, Youngy [Will] and Manav [Suthar] at the back end have been fantastic. It’s been a squad effort. Everyone off the field as well. The backroom staff have been incredible. We’ve had a lot of injury-free players this year which helps, and everyone is part of this.”

Barnard was named Warwickshire’s captain ahead of the 2026 season and concludes the year with silverware after his first full season leading the team.

“I was very proud when I got offered the chance to take on the captaincy,” he said. “When you take on the captaincy you do dream of days like this and being part of these trophies, so to have done it the first year is pretty surreal.

“I’m not sure that’s too much down to me. This group is very easy to manage. They’re incredibly hard working and every member of that squad deserves this.”