Warwickshire welcome Essex to Edgbaston in their penultimate Rothesay County Championship match of the season on Monday, seeking a fourth victory of what has been a strong campaign in the red ball form.
The Bears, who are currently fourth, have lost just a single match this term, and they will be aiming to finish their Edgbaston campaign on a high against an Essex outfit who sit just beneath them in the table.
They’ll go into it fresh from their draw away at champions Surrey this past week, where Will Young appeared as a Bear for the first time.
New Zealand international Young was proud of his side’s efforts in their stalemate at The Kia Oval, and he is already very much looking forward to getting out on the pitch at Edgbaston this coming week.
Top order batter Young directly replaced compatriot Tom Latham, who spent the first part of this season as a Bear in both red ball and white ball forms, and he made his debut in London as the Bears shared the points with Surrey in a weather-affected game.
Indeed, Young's patient first innings knock of 72, from 166 balls, along with his fruitful partnership with Ed Barnard for the fifth-wicket stand, which was worth 89 runs, was crucial in ensuring that his side had a lead before Surrey batted again and steadied the ship after early wickets were lost.
Young said, "Surrey was always going to be a real challenge, but thinking back, I am really proud the Bears fought back after Surrey had got on top a couple of times - firstly with the wickets in the first innings to keep them to 240 and deny them that batting point was really crucial," Young said. "Then, in our response, being 40/4 and getting first innings honours over them was a real achievement.
"Being part of that, I just tried to bat for as long as possible and create partnerships; I enjoyed batting with Ed Barnard, and we managed to put some pressure back on them. Days three and four made it a really interesting game, but unfortunately, the weather was always going to make a draw the likely outcome. I was proud of the fight we showed."
The Bears' dressing room has developed a reputation for its positive atmosphere, which makes things that bit easier for overseas players to settle into their surroundings, for however long they're spending at Edgbaston.
Young, having spoken with Latham while the pair were away representing New Zealand earlier this summer, was left in no doubt that he'd be warmly welcomed by his new teammates, having received a glowing endorsement from Latham, who himself scored 889 runs this season across the County Championship and Vitality T20 Blast competitions.
"Playing against Warwickshire over the years, they've always seemed like a tight-knit group and having experienced it from the other side, I can see that the boys get on really well," Young added. "They've made it really easy for me to settle in straightaway. I feel really welcomed, and it feels like a great group to be a part of.
"Tommy came straight to Zimbabwe from Warwickshire, so I met him over there for the Black Caps Test series, and naturally I caught up with him about life in Birmingham with the Bears - he loved it. He said he was very well looked after by the club and that the dressing room was really fun and talented. My experience so far has been exactly the same."
Young is now looking forward to appearing at Edgbaston as a Bear as the club's season on home soil concludes with the visit of Essex. Previously, he'd represented New Zealand here when he scored a fine 82 in victory over England four years ago, and his memories of the atmosphere generated by Edgbaston during that match still live with him.
"I've really fond memories of Edgbaston," Young said. "My third Test cap was at Edgbaston for New Zealand, in 2021, and it was the first time English crowds had been allowed out to a sporting event after lockdown. The atmosphere was absolutely electric, the Hollies stand was pumping and the boys still talk about it actually - for many, it's the best atmosphere they've played in.
"Fond memories, we won the Test. I remember getting out to Dan Lawrence in the last over of the day, caught by Ollie Pope under the helmet and just playing against Surrey they were reminding me of that! Apart from that, great times here in Birmingham and Edgbaston and hopefully we can create some of those memories against Essex."
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