Warwickshire ready to win silverware - Barnard

New Warwickshire club captain Ed Barnard says they are ready to compete for silverware on all three fronts this summer.

Warwickshire finished fifth in Division One of the Championship in 2025, and reached the quarter-finals of the T20 Blast, but missed out on the knockout stage of the One-Day Cup after finishing fourth in their group.

"We're playing lots of good cricket," Barnard told BBC WM. "We won a lot more games in the championship [three] than we did the year before [one].

"We got to the knock-outs of the T20 Blast, winning more games [eight] than just about anybody else in the country.

"So we're doing the right things; its just about putting it all together at the right time now."

Warwickshire's last County Championship title came in 2021 when Will Rhodes' side pipped Lancashire on the final day as well as winning the Bob Willis Trophy.

Barnard feels the club have been rebuilding the squad to make an assault on major titles again.

"It's something we've been trying to do for a few years now. We want to build a squad that's ready to compete in all three formats, on any pitch anywhere, so we've added more options.

"The seam-bowling stocks this year are really strong. Everyone is fit and available at the moment, so touchwood, that's going to give us a bit of a headache going into that first game [at home to Surrey on Friday].

"But that's what you want. You look at the likes of Surrey and teams that have won silverware in the past couple of seasons. They've got those stocks so that if someone misses out, you've got someone ready to come in."

Barnard replaces former captain Alex Davies, who decided to step down from the role after two seasons.

The 30-year-old all-rounder led the Bears in the One-Day Cup in 2024 and 2025 and will now also do the job in the County Championship and T20 Blast.

"I don't think you know you're ready for it until you do it," he adds. "I couldn't have had a better prep doing the vice-captaincy and leading the 50-over stuff, but I certainly feel confident in my ability to lead and to work with this group.

"Also, this group doesn't need too much leading. There's plenty of experienced heads in there, the likes of Woaksey [Chris Woakes] and Barks [Keith Barker] coming back in; I shouldn't have to do too much.

"I'd be stupid not to use the experience we've got in the team. There are hundreds of first-class games throughout, not just the two I mentioned; there's plenty more in there.

"Obviously I'll be the one making the final decision in the end, but there'll be plenty of heads around to help, and I'm really excited to see what we can do with that"

Barnard scored 922 first-class runs in 2025 and more than 1,600 in all competitions and also took 29 Championship wickets.

He's not too concerned that the captaincy will affect his own form with bat and ball.

"It's something I'm going to have to try and challenge myself with. It's something a little bit new for me, but I feel like in the 50-over stuff I managed to separate it out quite nicely and still perform well in that. I don't feel I need to change much.

"All through my career I've tried to just get better and better, and every year I tried to work hard to improve my game.

"Obviously my batting has taken off the last few years, compared to earlier in my career, and it's something I'm really enjoying. I love batting a long time, getting big scores, and putting in consistent performances for the team."

"With the ball as well, I still feel I can be really effective as part of a group. I'm just looking to improve on last year, but anything I can do to help this team win some silverware would be pleasing."

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