Bears will have to be ‘spot on’ in quest for promotion
The expectations are there, from fans and players. We don’t believe we should be in the Second Division. Jeetan Patel
CAPTAIN Jeetan Patel insists that Warwickshire’s attitude must be “spot on” today when they face Glamorgan in pursuit of another victory in their bid for Specsavers County Championship promotion.
The match at Colwyn Bay will bring together Division Two’s top and bottom teams, separated by 91 points, the Bears having won six of nine games and Glamorgan having lost six of nine.
The Welsh county has not won in the championship since the opening round in April - but Warwickshire captain Patel will demand that his team shows no trace of complacency in the pretty but unfamiliar surroundings of Rhos-on-Sea.
“The Glamorgan side has got some very talented cricketers so we are going to have to front up again,” the skipper said. “We have to make sure our attitude is spot on and probably give even that little bit more because Glamorgan will know the surroundings and the pitch better than we do, so we need to make up for that.”
“I have never been to Colwyn Bay before so I am excited to be going somewhere new. There is always a great atmosphere at an outground and I’m sure it will be the same this week.”
Patel would certainly settle for something similar to Warwickshire’s only previous visit to Colwyn Bay, in 2005, when they won by ten wickets. Centuries from Ian Westwood and Jonathan Trott lifted the Bears to 545 for seven before Trott and Jim Troughton got
among the wickets to leave a victory target of three – to which Nick Knight and Westwood calmly steered their side in 2.2 overs.
This time round the Bears fans will travel to north Wales with expectations high – both for a win over Glamorgan and, a little further down the line, a successful culmination to the promotion bid.
Patel, who needs just four more wickets to reach 800 in first-class cricket, has no problem with high expectations but is looking no further ahead than the next four days
“The expectations are there, from the spectators and also from us as players,” he said. “We don’t believe we should be in the Second Division and that’s good because we are striving for more. We want to be in the First Division and competing for the First Division title, but you can only play the game’s that’s in front of you and if you start looking too far ahead you can come a cropper.
“The way we played over two days against Gloucestershire last week was very professional with a really solid attitude and that is what we have got to show again.”