The Bears first-team coach was speaking to Brian Halford as he prepares his side for their opening fixture at Somerset, which starts 12 April.
Jim Troughton is “very excited” about the 2020 season for Warwickshire, having seen his squad “show glimpses” of what they can do last year despite the adversity of an injury-ravaged campaign.
The Bears’ squad, and the bowling attack in particular, was hammered by injuries, but the situation is now much more encouraging as preparations steps up towards the new season.
The big plus from last season is that we already know that they can perform at that level.
Jim Troughton
If, as they say, these things even themselves out, then Troughton’s squad should be lightly-touched by fitness issues in the coming months – in which case, the coach reckons, 2020 has very interesting potential.
“I am very excited about next season,” he said. “If we can keep our players on the park we have got a really strong team – and pushing the senior guys will be all the younger players who came through in 2020. The big plus from last season is that we already know that they can perform at that level.
“Despite everything that was thrown at us last year we showed glimpses of what we can do. We made the champions follow on at Edgbaston and were twice on top of Somerset. We competed deep into day four down at Taunton and were on top after two and a half days at Edgbaston before a big third innings wobble cost us. I think that innings was one of the big learning curves of the season for us. Somerset’s experience really showed there when they turned a 111-run first-innings deficit into victory. It’s games like that that you really learn from.”
Somerset will be the first opponents for Troughton’s men in 2020 as the Bears face a tough championship opener at Taunton starting on April 12. They then have quickfire championship games at home to Northamptonshire and Lancashire, away to Surrey and at home to Hampshire and Somerset. before the end of May.
“The first six rounds of the championship will be fantastic for everybody next season with England’s players around,” said Troughton. “There will be some really good four-day cricket played and if we have Chris Woakes and Dom Sibley available and all our players fit then hopefully we can put down a real marker.”
