Preview: Wales v Warwickshire, National County Showcase

Warwickshire will prepare for their Metro Bank One Day Cup campaign with a 50-over match against Wales National County.

matc

2023-07-29T17:28:01.000Z

Warwickshire will prepare for their Metro Bank One Day Cup campaign with a 50-over match against Wales National County.

The Bears head to Sudbrook Cricket Club in South Wales as part of a National Counties Showcase which allows every National Counties to host a First Class county to test themselves against the best players in the country.

Mark Robinson will take a 13-player squad across the border with Warwickshire Club Captain Will Rhodes leading the side.

Michael Booth, Kai Smith and Theo Wylie, who have all penned short-term rookie contracts, will also make the journey down the M50.

“We’re excited to test ourselves in a new environment,” said Robinson. “These games are a great spectacle and will have a festival-like atmosphere with plenty of families watching on.

“The squad we’ve chosen has a nice blend of experience and youth and we feel this opportunity will allow our younger players to be around a professional setting, whilst giving valuable overs to our seamers.”

Preview: Wales v Warwickshire, National County Showcase - Image 2

Warwickshire visited Chester Boughton Hall last year, securing an emphatic 107-run victory, after seeing their previous clash cancelled due to COVID.

They head to Caldicot to face a Wales National County side that includes Sam Pearce, who joined the Bears on pre-season in Abu Dhabi in 2019, and Cameron Hemp, son of former Bear David.

Wales National County’s Head of Talent Pathway, Matt Dando-Thompson added: “The showcase game is always one of the dates that players look for at the start of the summer. It has that added incentive given the quality of opposition and the doors it can open for you if you perform well.

“We're fortunate to have an abundance of players with ability that have experienced a fair bit of 2nd XI cricket over the last few years and there will be no better occasion than Sunday for them to show just how good they can be.

“It's great that Warwickshire is bringing a strong side - we know it will be tough, but equally we have shown over the last two years against Glamorgan that we can compete. The lads will give it their all and see where that gets us to."

Play commences from 11 am with the game sponsored by Wrexham-based sports company NetWorldSports. Admission is free.

Squad

Will Rhodes (C)Ed BarnardMichael BoothEthan BrookesGeorge GarrettManraj JohalJake LintottCraig MilesLiam NorwellHamza ShaikhKai Smith (WK)Theo WylieRob Yates