The wicket-keeper has been impressed with the Bears strength in depth.
Tim Ambrose is pleased by his personal strong start to the season but admits he is also “excited” to have seen such excellent contributions from Warwickshire’s younger players in the opening two matches.
Ambrose has formed the batting linchpin in those matches with 81 against Sussex and 103 against Northamptonshire. His wicketkeeping has also been top-drawer as illustrated by his taking of six catches in an innings against Sussex.
We know that to be high up in the table we’ll have to be right on our game every single session of every day.
Tim Ambrose
But alongside the experienced keeper’s good work in a promising start for the team has been valuable work from more recent additions to the squad – Olly Stone, Ryan Sidebottom, Henry Brookes, Will Rhodes and Matt Lamb.
“The younger guys have come in and put their hands up and that augurs really well for this season and beyond,” Ambrose said. “That’s brilliant to see and it’s exciting for us older players to see younger guys coming in and performing like that.
“They have played a huge part in our good start. It is great to have that positivity back around the club that comes from playing good cricket which we have in the first two games. Against a good Sussex side we scrapped our way to a solid draw and then we put in a very convincing performance against Northamptonshire where the bowlers did a fantastic job.
“It’s been a good start for me personally, especially when you think a few weeks ago, when there were a few complications with my hip, I wasn’t even sure I’d be getting back out there again.
“I have got the numbers, in terms of runs, but I wouldn’t have done without the bowlers getting stuck in with the bat at the other end in both games. That was great cricket from them because that can turn games for us and it’s why they work so hard on their batting.
“Henry batted beautifully at Northampton. He’s got a fantastic attitude and has got a lot of talent and is confident, in a good way, so we have just got to look after him and not expect too much too soon.”
Next up for the Bears, starting on Thursday, is a home game against a Derbyshire side which, Ambrose warns, is dangerous.
“Derbyshire had a great result against Middlesex to start the season and will come to us full of confidence,” he said.
“They have some good players and it just shows this is a very competitive division. We know that to be high up in the table we’ll have to be right on our game every single session of every day.”
