Match times, streaming information, tickets and travel, team news, head-to-head record, weather forecast, prediction, and everything else you need to know ahead of the latest round of the County Championship...
Fixture: Warwickshire v Worcestershire
Venue: Edgbaston, Birmingham
Dates: Thursday, May 6, 2021 - Sunday, May 9, 2021
Start time: 11am
What's the lowdown?
Draw specialists Worcestershire make the short trip up the M5 to Birmingham for the local derby against Warwickshire.
Worcestershire have been scoring plenty of runs in the 2021 Championship but a general lack of wickets has meant they have yet to taste either victory or defeat after their four matches to date. No one else in Group 1 is unbeaten at this stage of the season.
Warwickshire, meanwhile, are in undulating form. Having become the first team to beat Essex since June 2018 a fortnight ago, they were summarily trounched by Durham inside three days last week.
That said, they remain top of Group 1 - an incredibly tight pool in which just 14 points separate top and bottom.
Who's in form?
Worcestershire opener Jake Libby has the second best average in the County Championship this season.
His 411 runs have come in six innings at an average of 102.75, with two centuries and one fifty and the haul is 150 more than Warwickshire's top runscorer so far in 2021 - Sam Hain.
With the ball, Olly Hannon-Dalby is the most prolific wicket-taker from either side, with 15 Championship wickets this season, though they have come at 27.13 apiece.
Last five first-class matches (most recent first)
Warwickshire: LWWDD
Worcestershire: DDDDL
Head-to-head first-class record
Total matches: 190
Warwickshire wins: 52
Worcestershire wins: 38
Draws: 100
Abandoned: 1
What's the team news?
Warwickshire: South African opener Pieter Malan joins the squad having resolved the visa issues delaying his arrival. As a result, Hanuma Vihari's stint with the club is over, the Indian having covered for Malan in the interim as Warwickshire overseas.
Olly Stone comes back in for Harry Brookes, having been rested for the trip to Chester-le-Street.
Squad: Will Rhodes (c), Tim Bresnan, Danny Briggs, Michael Burgess (wk), Oliver Hannon-Dalby, Sam Hain, Matt Lamb, Pieter Malan, Craig Miles, Dan Mousley, Liam Nowell, Olly Stone, Rob Yates
Worcestershire: Right-arm quick Josh Tongue makes his first Championship squad of the summer after undergoing shoulder surgery over the winter and proving his fitness by turning out for the second XI.
Squad: Joe Leach (c), Daryl Mitchell, Jake Libby, Tom Fell, Gareth Roderick, Brett D’Oliveira, Riki Wessels, Ben Cox (wk), Ed Barnard, Alzarri Joseph, Charlie Morris, Dillon Pennington, Jack Haynes, Josh Tongue
Latest Warwickshire news: Click here
Latest Worcestershire news: Click here
Who's said what?
Warwickshire head coach Mark Robinson is looking for his side to make up for a heavy defeat at Durham.
"It’s all about us and making sure we’re in the right place. We learn our lessons from this game and we look to get better on a daily basis. That’s what we’re asking from all the individuals," he said.
"We’ll meet Worcester on Thursday and we’ll try win that first half-hour, that hour, that first session, first day and we’ll do it bit by bit."
Despite his side being one of the few counties with nine back-to-back Championship fixtures, Worcestershire head coach Alex Gidman isn’t complaining.
"It will be tough, but one of the biggest strengths of this group is just getting on with things and dealing with what is in front of them," he said.
"It’s a very tough fixture against a Warwickshire team likely to be at full strength, including quite a few international players. But it’s a good opportunity for us to give them a good run for their money."
What's the weather forecast?
Cold and overcast on days one and two. Rain looks almost inevitable on Saturday. Temperatures of no more than 12 degrees Celsius. Brrrr.
Keep up to date with the MetOffice’s rolling forecast for Edgbaston: Click here
How do I follow the match?
TV/stream: Warwickshire will offer live coverage of the match via their website: Click here
All County Championship matches are also available via the ECB's central hub: Click here
The matches can also be viewed on mobile via the ECB app.
Radio: BBC Local Radio and the BBC Sport website will carry ball-by-ball radio commentary of the game.
Digital: The Cricketer will carry live scorecards and daily updates from every County Championship match in 2021, as well as the latest breaking news from around the counties and exclusive features. Visit our County Hub for more.
Going to the game?
Tickets: This match is to be played behind closed doors owing to Covid-19 restrictions.
Travel: Not applicable owing to Covid-19 restrictions.
Prediction?
Warwickshire need to improve from last week and in a tight group they can't afford another slip-up. Worcestershire might have forgotten how to win but they're not losing. With dodgy weather around as well, we're going for the draw.
OTHER ROUND FIVE PREVIEWS
Group 1
Group 2
Group 3
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