Ethan Bamber: Is Warwickshire’s title-winning paceman an England hopeful?

Having taken more wickets on two of England’s Test grounds (103 at Lord’s and 67 at Edgbaston) than at the rest of the venues he has played on put together (138) hardly weakens the former Middlesex man’s argument.

And while spearheading the county champions’ bowling attack does not necessarily translate to England recognition, as Essex’s Jamie Porter knows all too well, it certainly did no harm to the selection hopes of Nottinghamshire’s Josh Tongue in 2025, nor Gus Atkinson in Surrey’s three title-winning seasons from 2022 to 2024.

Bamber has actually taken more Championship scalps this season, 69 in 14 games, than Atkinson did across those three combined seasons (50 in 15 matches) – although by 2024 he was a regular in England’s Test attack.

But you still have to come up with the goods, and it was only really Warwickshire who quietly fancied themselves for success when the season started in April.

“When the fixtures first came out, we felt we had a run-in that could be favourable if we were in good form,” Bamber told BBC Radio WM.

“If we were able to position ourselves well in the first block of games, then we had established a successful and productive method true to the group we had.

“As it turned out, we were playing well and the group has had its rewards for persisting with that. It’s all been really special.”