Liam Banks lands a new Bears deal

Banks who came through the Staffordshire county system before joining the Warwickshire’s academy as a 13-year-old, has committed to the Bears until at least the 2020 season. The 19-year-old was promoted to the Bears’ senior ranks during the 2016 season and made his first-class debut in the following season.

Having made two County Championship appearances to date, Banks has also won two Test and 12 One-Day International caps for England Under-19s and was part of England’s squad in the ICC Under-19s World Cup in 2018, where he made a top score of 120 versus Canada.

“Banksy is a very promising batter that has come through the Warwickshire pathway and shown real signs of progress over the past few years,” said Warwickshire first team coach Jim Troughton.

“I’m very glad that we have secured him for the future. He and a number of other young players have an opportunity to be a part of the Bears for years to come.”

Banks said: “I’ve absolutely loved being part of the set-up at Warwickshire since I joined the academy in 2013. “The club has a great history, we’ve got some of the best facilities in the county game and the team has had a lot of success by winning trophies across all formats in the last 10 years. “The squad has undergone a bit of change in recent times and the lads did a great job in getting us back up to Division One of the County Championship at the first attempt. There’s strong competition for places in the first team, so I need to keep working hard and scoring runs in the second XI and hopefully my chance will come to step up and contribute to more success for the club.”

Meanwhile, Warwickshire also confirmed fast bowler Olly Stone suffered a stress fracture of the back while with England in the Caribbean.

Stone was forced to return home last week and Bears coach Jim Troughton said: “We’re bitterly disappointed for Olly who has already had his fair share of injury heart ache.

“Getting himself into the England set up was a great achievement so the timing of this set back is a tough one for him.”

“The science and medical staff at Warwickshire will work closely with Olly, in partnership with the England medical team, and hopefully we can have him back to bowling as soon as possible.”