2022 survival hero Liam Norwell signs Warwickshire contract extension

The seamer kept the county up in 2022 after being ravaged with injury issues early in the summer

Mark Robinson believes Liam Norwell is "one of the best bowlers in the country" after the quick signed a two-year contract extension, keeping him at Edgbaston until 2025.

Despite only playing four County Championship matches in an injury-ravaged 2022, the 31-year old delivered the most important performance of the Bears' season on the final day.

With Hampshire chasing 139 for victory, Norwell claimed 9 for 62 to claim a vital victory. They are the twelfth-best figures in first-class cricket for Warwickshire.

The five-run win ensured Warwickshire avoided the embarrassment of being relegated as defending champions.

"I'm really happy to have signed a new deal with the Bears," Norwell said. "I've loved my time here so far and am looking forward to the next few seasons when I'm sure we can challenge for titles."

But speaking after that performance, Norwell hoped only that his heroics would allow his teammates and fans to forgive him for his injury troubles.

"I feel like I've let the lads and management down quite a bit this year," he admitted at the time. "I believe, without trying to sound arrogant, if I played more this season, we wouldn't be in this position… I just have that confidence in myself."

^{Norwell kept Warwickshire up last season with his performance against Hampshire (Gareth Copley/Getty Images)}

Since joining from Gloucestershire in 2018, Norwell has taken 94 first-class wickets in 22 matches, at an average of 18.90.

Forty-nine of those came in 2021 as Warwickshire won the County Championship for the first time since 2012. This earned him a place on the England Lions tour of Australia in 2022.

But now for the Bournemouth-born seamer, the focus is on staying fit and taking wickets.

"I can't wait to get going this season," he added. "I want to play as much cricket as I can this summer, across all formats, and be on the pitch as much as possible with the lads."

Warwickshire first-team coach Robinson has credited Norwell's positive mindset to recovery, describing him as a "dedicated professional and hard worker".

"I hope we're going to see the very best of Liam again in the coming years."

The experience of Chris Woakes, Chris Rushworth and Oliver Hannon-Dalby, alongside the talents of Hassan Ali, make Norwell part of a potent fast-bowling attack at Edgbaston this season as Warwickshire look to get back on track in red-ball cricket.

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