Bears not looking to replace Webster & Ali for Blast

Beau Webster (left) is expected to return to Warwickshire at the end of July, with Ali (right) set to be back for the T20 Blast game against Derbyshire on 8 June

Warwickshire first-team coach Ian Westwood says the club do not intend to sign any short-term replacements for Beau Webster and Hasan Ali for the start of their T20 Blast campaign.

The Bears signed all-rounder Webster until the end of July but he will now miss the whole tournament after his call-up to the Australia squad for the World Test Championship and subsequent tour to the West Indies.

Fast bowler Ali will be unavailable for the first three Blast games after being given a central contract by the Pakistan Cricket Board.

It leaves the Bears with New Zealand captain Tom Latham as their overseas player for the opening matches.

They will take on Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge in their first group game on Friday (18:30 BST).

Westwood said being without Webster and Ali was not ideal but that he is happy with the squad he has.

"It's always a blow to lose skilful players, and big players, in your team. But we've got a squad for a reason and it gives others a chance to come in and show what they can do," he told BBC CWR.

"It's hard to bring someone in just for a couple of games.

"My way is always to try to promote from within first, unless you're really in a hole, and we're happy with what we've got in the squad and think we can still compete really well."

As the Bears begin preparing for another tilt at the Blast title they last won in 2014, their attempt to replicate their domination of the group stages in the knockout phase of the competition will come under the spotlight.

Defeat by eventual champions Gloucestershire in 2024 was the third quarter-final loss in as many seasons for the Bears, who have not reached Finals Day, held on their home ground, since 2017.

Westwood said thinking about ending that recent last-eight hoodoo is not in their minds as they prepare for this year's tournament.

Former Bears batter Ian Westwood replaced Mark Robinson as Warwickshire head coach in February

"It's not. We've got a lot of work to just to get to that stage," he said.

"We can't take if for granted, the amount of effort needed to even qualify for the quarter-final.

"Our sole focus is to take it each game one by one and not look too far ahead.

"There's always expectation, we've got a good squad and we're excited about what we can do. So we'll be confident and ready to go."