India’s left-arm spinner Manav Suthar will turn out for Warwickshire in their next two County Championship fixtures, away to Yorkshire (Scarborough, 12-15 June) and Somerset (Taunton, 19-22 June). The 23-year-old has already taken 129 wickets in 29 first-class matches; this will be his first taste of county cricket.
“I’m incredibly excited to be joining Warwickshire for the next two County Championship games,” Suthar said. “The team have started the season very well, so I’m hoping that I can play a part in helping them in their push for the title.”
Suthar arrives on the back of a dream Test debut against Afghanistan in Bengaluru, where figures of 6 for 33 earned him Player of the Match honours. R Ashwin, watching from the commentary box, purred: “Lovely to watch, took us back in time.” Praise like that, from a man with 500-plus Test wickets, travels quickly.
Warwickshire’s performance director, James Thomas, is understandably buoyant. “We’re delighted to welcome Manav to the Bears, at a really exciting time for the team,” he said. “We’ve played some good red-ball cricket already this season, and Manav will bring a new aspect to our bowling attack. It shows how highly he’s rated in India after his selection to their Test team last week, so it’s going to be great to have him around the group.”
The Bears sit second in Division One, six points off Surrey, and have often tapped into India’s talent pool. Jayant Yadav, Krunal Pandya and Mohammed Siraj have all pulled on the Bear and Ragged Staff in recent campaigns. Conditions in early June can be cool, with a hint of swing; however, Scarborough traditionally offers turn as the match wears on, so Warwickshire will hope Suthar settles quickly – messrs Lyth and Malan may be his first county victims.
