Warwickshire v Hampshire (a): Rothesay County Championship preview

WarksvSussex CC Aug26 Day2 neildugganphotography-29

Warwickshire travel to the Utilita Bowl to take on Hampshire in the latest round of Rothesay County Championship fixtures looking to remain in the title race.

2026-09-01T15:00+01:00

Here’s what you need to know before play gets under way at 10:30am on Wednesday 2 September…

Team news

It will be a case of three out and two in for the Bears as they head down to Hampshire, with Manav Suthar making his return for his second spell of the season. The Indian spinner made a positive impact both on and off the field during his two-match Rothesay County Championship spell earlier in the year, and has returned to the Bears for the final four matches.

He is joined in the squad by wicketkeeper-batter Kai Smith, while Alex Davies, Michael Booth and Che Simmons drop out.

Title race heating up

Last week’s round of County Championship fixtures were heavily rain-affected across the country, so little has changed at the top of Division One, with Warwickshire still in the mix with four games remaining. They remain in third place, eight points behind Nottinghamshire in first and four behind Somerset in second.

Against Nottinghamshire last week, the first and third day of play were completely washed out, with the Bears earning ten bonus points for their efforts when they did manage some play.

This is the first of three away fixtures for the Bears, before they conclude their County Championship with a home game against Leicestershire.

Opposition insight

Hampshire are currently bottom of the Division One table and will be looking for a strong end to the campaign to ensure their survival in the top tier of English domestic cricket.

But for the weather, they may well have earned a third win of the season last week against Glamorgan. In testing conditions, there was just one run separating the teams after the first innings, with Hampshire all out for 162 before they dismissed Glamorgan for 161.

In the second innings, Hampshire declared on 300 for eight after six of the top seven batters scored 30 or more. Looking to force a result, they had Glamorgan 21 for three before rain ultimately saw the match end in a draw.

Previous meeting

The two teams last met in red-ball cricket in 2025, with Hampshire winning their Rothesay County Championship encounter by 89 runs at Edgbaston.

Ed Barnard was the pick of the bowlers in Hampshire’s first innings, taking four for 56, as Hampshire made 300 before being bowled out. Despite Barnard top-scoring with a well-made 58 in reply, the Bears were dismissed for 194 following a Kyle Abbott (5-47) five-fer.

The Bears then set up an intriguing finish by bowling Hampshire out for 203 thanks to Ethan Bamber (4-60) and Beau Webster (4-47), leaving themselves 310 for victory.

Captain Alex Davies struck 66 at the top of the order to boost the Bears’ chances, however Bamber’s 43 was the next best as Warwickshire came up short, dismissed for 220 on the final day.