Bamber wants to become all-format option for Bears

Warwickshire seamer Ethan Bamber says last season was one of growth and that he wants to become an all-format option for the Bears. The 27-year-old had a highly encouraging first season at Edgbaston following his move from Sussex, taking 43 wickets in the County Championship as Warwickshire finished fifth, nine points behind Somerset in third. Bamber was an ever-present in the Bears' four-day side and led the attack, bowling more than 150 overs more than anyone else in the squad.

"Through the season, I felt that I grew as a bowler and it was my first opportunity, probably, to be ever-present in a Division One attack, certainly with the new ball," Bamber told BBC Radio WM. "And that's something I really enjoyed. " Club-by-club guide to the 2026 County Championship Warwickshire ready to win silverware - Barnard Not ready to stop yet at Warwickshire - Woakes Bamber 'feels part of something important' at Warwickshire Bamber, whose wickets came at an average of 33, also returned a respectable economy rate of just over three runs per over over the course of the red-ball summer.

Nevertheless, he said he looks back on 2025 knowing where he would like to improve. "I think something I didn't always do as I'd have liked was there were too many spells where I thought 'I let him off the hook there'. I bowled too many bad balls," Bamber said.

"I hope that I've added some craft and some skill to my game over the winter and I hope I'm able to display that. " Bamber has spent some of the winter playing Australian grade cricket in Adelaide and said that experience has helped his game. "It's always challenging, grade cricket, whatever the level is, and I was fortunate the standard was really good.