Two teams of amateur cricketers in Warwickshire will get to play against their heroes in special short-form fixtures this summer.
Warwickshire's first team, which includes the likes of ICC Cricket World Cup winner Chris Woakes and England internationals Olly Stone and Dom Sibley, is going on tour for two T20 matches their opponents "will relish and never forget". The Bears Roadshow will see the pros play a Birmingham & District Premier Cricket League (BDPCL) XI at Kenilworth Wardens Cricket Club on Tuesday, May 31.
Mighty Warwickshire, the reigning County Champions, will then take on a Warwickshire County Cricket League (WCL) XI at Coventry & North Warwickshire Cricket Club on Tuesday, August 9. Both fixtures will take place during school holidays and will form part of a wider day of family fun and community activity led by the Bears and Warwickshire Cricket Board.
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"This is a fantastic opportunity for our recreational game in Warwickshire," said Andy Wyles, participation and growth manager at WCB. "For 11 players from both the BDPCL and WCCL to take on some of the biggest names in domestic cricket is an opportunity that they will relish and never forget.
"The games will also develop a much tighter relationship between the Club and the recreational game. "We want the fixtures to turn into prestigious events that can travel around many of the leading club grounds in the county each year."
Nick Archer, General Manager of BDPCL, said he was delighted to see the games come to fruition after they were cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to Covid: "It is fantastic the Bears have found a way to make it work in 2022 and the match presents a great opportunity for club players to showcase their talent against a fully committed First Class outfit."
In addition to the two games, each event will feature a girls and boys tournament, junior coaching and an opportunity to meet the famous Bears players. Graham Seal, General Manager of WCCL said: "The fixture versus the Bears is a very exciting opportunity for our players to compete against the best.
"It symbolises the partnership that has developed over the last three years between WCB, the county club and the largest amateur league in the county. We look forward to welcoming the Bears to Coventry and North Warwickshire CC, where they will receive a warm welcome and be challenged to a great game of cricket."
Paul Farbrace, the Bears' director of cricket, is "thrilled" at the prospect and said he hoped games in "the heart of our county" would become permanent fixtures in the calendar. "Thanks to the hard work of Andy Wyles, and to both leagues, we’re very excited to confirm the two matches," he said. "We’re committed to making both games a great success and hopefully turning them into annual events.
"Having spoken in detail with both leagues, we want our players to face the toughest test possible to support our Vitality Blast plans. The games also provide a great opportunity to take a closer look at talented players within the leagues who sit outside of our Academy and Performance Pathway.
"We won’t hesitate to take a closer look at any player who impresses us in these fixtures." Both fixtures are set to start at 5.30pm and further details on entry will be released by the two hosting clubs closer to the matches.
Warwickshire County Council leader Izzi Seccombe said: "We warmly welcome the return of Warwickshire's first team to its historical roots. These matches, coming at a time when the Bears are reigning County Champions, will be memorable events, encouraging participation and interest in this great game.
"Warwickshire County Council highly values our renewed and strong relationship with Warwickshire CCC and we are looking forward to building on this in future years."
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