Preview: Leeds/Bradford UCCE v Warwickshire, Friendly

Preview: Warwickshire v Worcestershire, Friendly

Warwickshire has named a 12-man squad for the three-day fixture with Leeds/Bradford UCCE at Weetwood, Leeds.

Having enjoyed four full days of cricket so far in preparation of the opening game of the LV= Insurance County Championship season, Warwickshire welcome back England opener Dom Sibley who returns to First Class action with the Bears.

“I’m looking forward to getting back onto the pitch for Warwickshire this weekend up in Leeds," said Sibley. “I’ve been back in training for the last 10 days and, whilst it’s been nice to have had a break since I got back from India, I can’t wait to get some time back out in the middle.

“The first Championship game is only on Thursday and it will come around quickly. I want to contribute as much as possible for Warwickshire and to put a few scores together and to help us get a few big wins would be lovely.”

After scoring 1,324 Championship runs for the Bears in 2019, including five centuries, Sibley’s return to Warwickshire ahead of England’s June Test series with New Zealand, is something that excites the skipper.

“Dom comes back into the side this weekend and it’s a massive boost to have him at the top of the order,” he said.

“We’ve had four really good days of cricket against top quality opposition, in Notts and Durham, and we’re looking forward to this first taste of travelling away to face Leeds/Bradford, who put in a good performance this week against Yorkshire.

“We’ve probably been ready since January, but to get outdoors in the last couple of weeks is fantastic. Pre-season seems to have gone quite quick this year as opposed to a really long winter.”