From Bears Academy to County Championship winners

Having helped to develop several outstanding players over the years, the Bears Academy had a direct influence on the success of the Warwickshire side this term. Here are the five players that have been at the Club throughout the entirety of their career and played a significant role in the Club’s ninth County Championship triumph…

Rob Yates

After progressing through the Warwickshire age-groups from under 10s, Solihull-born Rob Yates broke into Warwickshire’s senior side in 2019. In the same year, he scored his maiden County Championship century and established himself as a regular in the Bears’ red-ball team.

Yates played a key role this term, both at the top of the order where he scored 740 runs, and in the slip cordon, where he took an incredible 39 catches. He is now a two-time County Championship winner with the Club, having been involved in the 2021 success too.

Dan Mousley

Dan Mousley is also a product of the Warwickshire Academy, having been with the Bears since the age of ten. After signing his first professional contract in 2019 and making his First Class debut in the same year, he has since gone on to become a regular figure for the Club across all three formats.

The left-handed batter played in all 14 County Championship fixtures this term, scoring a career-best 702 runs.

Kai Smith

Kai Smith’s journey to the Bears Academy took a different path to many others having been born and raised in Dubai to South African parents. He signed with Warwickshire in 2022, joining the Academy, while also making his List A debut in the same year.

The wicketkeeper-batter would have to wait until 2025 to make his First Class debut, however ended the successful 2026 season with a first trophy for the Club, and as the Club’s gloveman across formats.

Chris Woakes

All-rounder Chris Woakes made his County Championship debut for the Bears in 2007 having previously played for the U15s, U17s and Second XI. He has gone on to enjoy an outstanding career and has now been directly involved in three of Warwickshire’s nine County Championship victories, making him one of the most decorated players in Bears history.

In eight First Class matches this season, he took 27 wickets at 22s, and also contributed vital runs with the bat, particularly when he helped to get the Bears over the line by one wicket in a tense, must-win game against Sussex.

Sam Hain

Hong Kong-born Sam Hain, who was raised in Australia by English parents, showed huge potential as a teenager. He actually represented Australia U19s as a 16-year-old before coming to Warwickshire for a trial.

The rest is history, and Hain has built up the kind of resume that wouldn’t look out of place alongside some of the great red-ball players in domestic cricket. He’s been a linchpin of the Bears’ batting unit, and in 2026 scored over 1,000 runs in First Class cricket for the second season in his career. He was pivotal to the Bears’ success.