Bears’ double boost in bid to bounce back
For 90 per cent of the Essex game we did a lot right, unfortunately that hour cost us. That can happen against the best teams Mark Robinson
HASSAN Ali has been released by Pakistan from their IT20 series in England and is available to return to County Championship action at his former club Lancashire.
Ali – who took 25 wickets in five matches for the Red Rose in 2022 – is part of a 14-player squad that’s travelled to Old Trafford as Warwickshire look to bounce back from last week’s defeat at Essex.
Today’s squad includes seamer Craig Miles who’s recovered from the ankle injury he suffered at Surrey, plus Kiwi quick Michael Rae and 20-year-old Che Simmons who both took five wickets on debut at Chelmsford.
Sam Hain – who was withdrawn from the Essex game after being hit on the helmet fielding at short leg – misses the trip as concussion protocol mandates players must sit out for at least seven days.
Chris Benjamin – who’s hit a double-century and a century in recent Second XI games – comes into the squad.
First team coach Mark Robinson said: “The re-introduction of Hassan will be good and he brings a real energy, and Milo is back so it gives us more options.
“Sam feels well and is symptomfree but the regulations stipulate he must have a spell away which is the right thing to do as a precaution after a concussion.
“But it’s important you keep trusting the things you do. For 90 per cent of the Essex game we did a lot right, unfortunately that hour cost us. That can happen against the best teams.
“We need to make sure we extend our best batting periods for longer. The modern game is sometimes quite fast, but the old values of doing simple things for longer are important. When we get into those positions, we need to be more ruthless.”
Spinner Danny Briggs also misses out on the trip to Lancashire – who won their first game of the season last time out against Durham – with a finger injury sustained in training.
Pakistan pacer Aamir Jamal remains sidelined with a back niggle, while Michael Booth, Chris Rushworth and Liam Norwell are still recovering from injury.