Liam Norwell: Warwickshire paceman to stay until 'at least' end of 2025 season
- Published
Liam Norwell has taken 94 first-class wickets since arriving from Gloucestershire in 2019
Warwickshire pace bowler Liam Norwell has signed a new deal that should keep him at Edgbaston "until at least 2025".
Norwell, 31, has taken 94 wickets in 22 first-class matches for the Bears since arriving from Gloucestershire in 2019.
But he saved his best for the final day of the 2022 County Championship season when he took a career-best 9-62 to help retain the Bears' Division One status.
Warwickshire begin the new Championship season with a trip to Taunton to play Somerset, starting on Thursday.
Norwell claimed 49 wickets to help Warwickshire win the Championship title in 2021, but he managed just four appearances in 2022, which was a major factor in their struggles.
And but for his heroic efforts when he returned for the last game against Hampshire last September for his first cricket in two months, the Bears would be in Division Two.
Instead, their dramatic five-run win over Hampshire meant that Yorkshire were relegated.
With the signings of Worcestershire all-rounder Ed Barnard, Durham veteran Chris Rushworth and former Lancashire paceman Hasan Ali, the Bears have upgraded their new-ball attack.
'One of the best bowlers in the country'
With the further addition of England one-day vice-captain Moeen Ali from Worcestershire to skipper the Bears' T20 Blast side, Norwell admits: "We've put together a squad that I believe can compete in all formats and hopefully bring more success for our fans."
But it is the England Lions international's own return to full fitness that could be key.
"Liam is one of the best bowlers in the country," said Bears first team coach Mark Robinson. "There are few better in my opinion.
"He's worked with our physios and strength and conditioning team to come back well from injury, and he's always retained a very positive mindset."
Liam Norwell needs three more first-class wickets to reach 350 - and has taken 46 in white-ball cricket
Norwell cut back on his winter training regime in a bid to keep fit, having not bowled a ball before Christmas.
"I decided to take a different approach," he said. "I did no cricket pre-Christmas, which is a bit different for me.
"We've kind of come to realise that I tend to maybe over-train and overwork and that might contribute to some of the injuries and periods I've had out.
"I made quite a conscious effort this winter to do my fitness stuff, pre-Christmas, but no cricket. I just spent some time with family and put the hard yards in with the lads at the ground.
"I thought that, with less cricket I might struggle a little bit, but I haven't. I feel fit, strong, and my game is in quite a good place at the moment.
"I want to play as much cricket as I can this summer, across all formats, and be on the pitch as much as possible with the lads."
Norwell will still start the new season with memories still fresh of just how heroically he ended the previous one.
'I'm glad I put in a meaningful contribution'
After Oliver Hannon-Dalby made the breakthrough, Norwell then sensationally took the next nine Hampshire wickets, to bowl out the visitors, chasing just 139 to win, for 133 in the 44th over.
"I've always backed my ability," he said. "But I didn't think I'd be taking nine wickets in an innings.
"To keep coming back, mentally more than anything, and just keep telling myself it's going to be okay and things will work out. That's a massive tick for myself.
"The rewards of all the hard yards I put in on or off the pitch. I'm glad I managed to put in a meaningful contribution at the end of the season when it really mattered.
"When you put in a performance like that, I think it's not just for wickets, it's just for confidence in my body."