Eight bowling performances that led the Bears to Championship glory

Warwickshire’s bowlers had a 2026 Rothesay County Championship to remember, leading the league by picking up 41 of a possible 42 bonus points.

2026-10-08T11:45+01:00

In total, 12 players claimed at least one wicket across the 14-match season, with the Bears taking 250 wickets throughout the campaign.

While every wicket proved crucial, here are eight bowling performances that led the Bears to a ninth County Championship win…

Keith Barker v Essex (4-29)

It was an incredible return to the Bears side for Keith Barker as he halted Essex’s progress on day four in emphatic fashion. Essex were chasing 206 for victory at Edgbaston, however Barker had other ideas. He struck three times in his third over of the day, reducing the visitors to 16-3. Dean Elgar shouldered arms to a nip-backer first ball of the over as he was trapped in front, before he got Cook caught at cover to a full delivery two balls later. Around the wicket to the right-handed Allison, a big inswinger went straight through his defences for Barker’s third of the over. He would return to pick up a fourth wicket later in the day, to help Warwickshire to a crucial 41-run victory. It would be their first win of the season.

Olly Hannon-Dalby v Yorkshire (4-38 & 3-33)

After beginning the season on loan at Worcestershire, Olly Hannon-Dalby was recalled to the Warwickshire starting XI for the visit of Yorkshire. The experienced right arm opening bowler was to be a difference-maker in the Bears’ dominant 377-run victory.

After the Bears were 147 all out in the first innings, Hannon-Dalby took the key wickets of Adam Lyth, Matthew Revis, Jonny Bairstow and Dom Bess in Yorkshire’s reply, on his way to figures of 4-38, as Yorkshire were dismissed for 152. After Warwickshire then piled on 553 in the second innings, on a flat looking pitch, Hannon-Dalby got the ball to talk, as he picked up another three wickets to mark his return to the team in emphatic fashion.

Chis Woakes v Sussex (4-36)

In a back-and-forth game that saw Warwickshire win by just one wicket, Woakes’ four wickets in the first innings proved crucial, alongside his own 23 not out that saw the Bears home.

The first was a full delivery going across the left-handed Daniel Hughes, and his attempted drive could only find the hands of Ed Barnard at gully. With the opening day heavily rain-affected, Woakes returned on day two, trapping Coles in front of all three before getting Tear caught at second slip with a perfect outswinger to the right hander. In his very next over, he picked up his fourth of the innings, with Will Young taking a good catch at third slip. Having been 110 for three overnight, the Bears and Woakes struck early on day two, as Sussex were bowled out for 156.

Ethan Bamber v Glamorgan (5/28)

Needing a win to keep pace with both Nottinghamshire and Somerset at the top of the table, Ethan Bamber set the tone with a devastating spell on day one.

The first wicket came in the opening over of the day, with a brilliant delivery getting through the defences of Hope-Bell, and in his very next over, he did the same to Carlson with a beautiful delivery that nipped back through the gate, clipping the top of middle and leg. Kellaway then fell to Bamber, caught at backward point, and a couple of overs later, he had the first four wickets as Asa Tribe nicked behind. It didn’t take long for him to have five as Glamorgan were reduced to 39 for five. Around the wicket to the left-handed Dickson, the ball angled in before moving away and clipping the top of off.

Ed Barnard v Glamorgan (5/13)

After Bamber’s day one spell, Ed Barnard more than matched it in the second innings, as Glamorgan came up against an inspired Bears bowling unit.

Dismissed for 69 in the first innings, they could fare no better in the second, as Warwickshire ran through them a second time to wrap up victory inside two days. And it was Barnard that did the damage on that occasion.

At 41-1, Glamorgan had started their second innings brightly, but that changed quickly due to Barnard’s brilliance. A clinic in swing bowling, Barnard had three players LBW, bowled Mason Crane with a beauty, and saw another full ball caught by Yates at second slip. The Bears would win by an innings and 257 runs.

Ethan Bamber v Essex (6-26)

In a season full of Ethan Bamber highlights, his display in the first innings of Warwickshire’s win over Essex may have been his best.

He would take career-best figures of 6-26 as the Bears capitalised on slip ups from their title rivals to win by eight wickets and surge to the top of the table. It started in the first over of day one. Around the wicket to Paul Walter, a back of a length delivery that moved away squared him up and he was caught at gully. Bowled Bamber caught Yates has been a regular mode of dismissal, and that did for Charlie Allison, before Matt Critchley also fell, caught by Dan Mousley.

Bamber then returned to take the final three wickets of the innings as Essex were dismissed for 134.

Manav Suthar v Essex (5-75)

After Bamber had put the team in control following the first innings, Manav Suthar then spun the team to victory in the second.

On a flattening pitch, he bowled 24 outstanding overs of left-arm finger spin to pick up his third five-fer of the campaign. Essex had moved to 62 for no loss when Suthar struck his first blow. A slog sweep from Paul Walter was held in the deep by a diving Chris Woakes. Dean Elgar went next to a sharp turning delivery that bounced, took the inside edge and was caught by Vansh Jani at short leg. A brilliant piece of bowling then saw the end of Matt Critchley’s innings. A flighted delivery tempted him into a drive, and he could only feather it behind to Kai Smith. Flight also did for George Bell, who was caught on the crease when he was struck on the back pad in front, and Suthar wrapped up his five-fer with another plumb LBW.

Ethan Bamber v Leicestershire (5-52)

The last game of the season would be a memorable one, as Warwickshire sealed the County Championship title in emphatic fashion. For Bamber, it was the perfect end to an outstanding campaign. After taking four wickets in the first innings, he would end the match with nine.

He trapped Sheridon Gumbs in front to get the ball rolling, before bowling Rishi Patel with an unplayable delivery. Ben Cox then nicked to Sam Hain who took a sharp chance at slip, and then Ben Green went to a stunning one-handed grab at third slip from Will Young.

Needing one wicket to wrap up the title, fittingly Bamber struck for the fifth time in the innings, bowling Tom Scriven to spark amazing scenes on the Edgbaston outfield.