The 2026 season is upon us as Surrey start their campaign with a trip up the M40 to face Warwickshire at Edgbaston
Rory Burns’ side will look to put a marker down in their first Rothesay County Championship match of the season.
Click here for a season preview with Club Captain Rory Burns and Head Coach Gareth Batty.
HOW CAN I KEEP UP WITH PLAY?
The match will be broadcast live on Warwickshire’s YouTube channel, with a link placed on the Kia Oval Match Centre and Club’s social media channels. Video highlights and a written match report will be available at the end of each day of play, with regular video clips and updates available on social media.
SQUAD NEWS
Surrey have named a 14-player squad for the trip to Warwickshire. Sean Abbott is available and goes straight into the squad. Reece Topley returns to a red ball squad for the first time since 2022. 18-year-old all-rounder Ralphie Albert is also included after making his County Championship debut in last September’s thrilling win at Hampshire.
Gus Atkinson is unavailable as he is still under ECB directive on his return to playing following an injury sustained on the Ashes tour. Dan Worrall and Cameron Steel are also missing through injury. Will Jacks is unavailable due to his involvement in the IPL.
LAST TIME OUT VERSUS WARWICKSHIRE
Honours were even for the second time last season as Surrey and Warwickshire shared the spoils at the Kia Oval last September.
Half-centuries from Rory Burns (52) and Ryan Patel (72*) took Surrey to a below par 246. Four wickets from the fiery Tom Lawes restricted the Bears to a first innings lead of two as they were bowled out for 248. New Zealander Will Young stood firm as early wickets fell around him with a crucial 72. Young was well supported by Ed Barnard – who is the new Bears captain, with a vital 50 to steer his side to 248.
Surrey’s top order fired, led by Dom Sibley’s 103 not out, to take the side to 391/8dec. Sibley, who retired not out on 64 due to injury, came back to move to his fourth century of the summer. Burns (54), Pope (78) and Foakes (52) moved the scoreboard to a place where Surrey could attack before declaring before lunch on the final day.
Tom Lawes took the sole wicket as the Warwickshire stood firm before both teams shook hands at 4:51pm with Warwickshire 105/1.
WARWICKSHIRE
Previewed by Brian Halford, ECB Reporters Network, supported by Rothesay
Captain: Ed Barnard
Head coach: Ian Westwood
2025 finish: 5th
2025 highest run-scorer: Ed Barnard (922)
2025 highest wicket-taker: Ethan Bamber (43)
Key winter moves: Warwickshire have acted decisively to strengthen a senior seam-bowling department which has leaned far too heavily on the excellent Olly Hannon-Dalby for too long. Jordan Thompson has arrived from Yorkshire, Nathan Gilchrist from Kent and Keith Barker is back from Hampshire. With Chris Woakes having retired from international cricket, the pace attack has an appealing depth, allowing for rotation to help keep all its members fit.
What we’re looking forward to seeing: The Edgbaston faithful are looking forward to seeing Chris Woakes back in the Bears fold – the all-rounder has played just 12 Rothesay County Championship matches in the last nine seasons. Woakes’ appetite for the game remains high and he is hungry to make a big contribution to his beloved county. Seeing Woakes and Barker running in will evoke memories of 2012 glory!
Aiming to catch Test selectors’ eye: Ed Barnard – the all-rounder has hugely impressed in all departments since moving across from Worcestershire and more of the same must surely be rewarded with a call-up. He was also appointed captain just before the start of the season.
Final thought: Warwickshire’s squad enters the 2026 season in better shape than for several years. After all the recent transition, fifth in the Championship in 2025 was a decent effort in Ian Westwood’s first year as head coach. With some stability and experience in the ranks, and the transformed seam attack, his second could bring a serious challenge for honours.
