Mind the gap, Allan Donald warns Warwickshire
ALLAN Donald has warned that Warwickshire must raise their game “several notches” to cope with First Division cricket next season.
The Bears’ promotion in the championship was sealed by victory over Essex at Chelmsford on Saturday.
Their progress along the road back to Division One has been similar to their route to the County Championship title in 2004 – driven principally by draws with heavy bonus points.
Warwickshire have won only four games, drawing 11, indicating a greater degree of resilience than incision.
To remain unbeaten throughout the championship season would be an admirable feat. But coach Donald and director of cricket Ashley Giles are under no illusion – the team is still a work in progress.
The gap in quality between Divisions One and Two of the championship grows every year. And the Bears have a hard winter’s work ahead to try and bridge it.
“There is a big gap now,” Donald said. “There are quality cricketers up there in the First Division and we need to have our house in order next year.
“The difference is not just the quality of cricketers but the massive intensity. We will have to up our intensity by several notches if we are to compete up there.
“First-class cricket in this country is of a very healthy standard – in Division One especially. There’s a big difference.”
After inheriting a squad reeling from double relegation, Donald and Giles have excelled in steering Warwickshire straight to promotion.
There is plenty still to do, not least in one-day cricket. Rough edges remain, not least in the field where far too many catches have been spilled.
But Donald has no complaints about a squad still in transition after Mark Greatbatch’s bumbling two-year stint in charge.
“When myself and Ash sat down in February the first thing we said was it’s going to be scrappy,” Donald said. “We have to understand we have a bunch of young guys that we have to be patient with. We can’t expect miracles from these guys – the unit is growing.
“I don’t know how many more guys Ashley is going to sign but Rikki Clarke has come in and added something already, just his presence in the dressing room. Although he hasn’t played much international cricket, he is a very experienced campaigner.
“We are moving in the right direction, that’s for sure. We are still building and you could almost say to go up is a bit of a bonus.”
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