Warwickshire bounce back into Division One

Warwickshire have won promotion back to the first division of the County Championship at the first attempt, after a strong season in Division Two.

Promotion was secured in September, a year after the county was relegated.

Bouncing back

Last season was a disaster for Warwickshire. After topping the table in early May, they failed to win another Championship match and were relegated to Division Two. They were also relegated from the one-day Pro40 league, made worse by the fact that their neighbours Worcestershire won it.

This season, under captain Darren Maddy, the side has recovered strongly. Maddy took over as captain early last season, after the Zimbabwean Heath Streak stepped down just one game into the campaign.

A new era

The club made changes behind the scenes after last season's relegation, and the former England spinner Ashley Giles, a Warwickshire favourite, has taken charge of the cricket as director of cricket.

A proud history

Warwickshire, who play at Edgbaston in Birmingham, are one of the most successful counties in English cricket. They have won the County Championship six times, most recently in 2004, and enjoyed a golden era in the mid-1990s, when they won the Championship in 1994 and 1995, as well as several one-day trophies.

They also won the Benson and Hedges Cup in 2002.

Edgbaston

Edgbaston has been the county's home since 1886 and is one of the country's leading Test grounds. It hosted a famous Ashes Test in 2005, when England beat Australia by two runs.

Plans are being drawn up for a major redevelopment of the ground, including a new pavilion, to make sure it keeps hosting international matches.

Next season

Warwickshire will now play in the top division again next season, against the strongest counties in the country. Giles and Maddy will be looking to strengthen the squad so that the county can challenge at the top, rather than fight against relegation.

For Warwickshire supporters, promotion is a welcome reward after a difficult couple of years, and a chance to see their team compete for the title once again.

The high point of that golden era came in 1994, when Warwickshire won three trophies, the County Championship, the Sunday League and the Benson and Hedges Cup. That summer, the West Indian batsman Brian Lara scored an unbeaten 501 against Durham at Edgbaston, still the highest individual score in first-class cricket.

Under the current system, the County Championship is split into two divisions, with promotion and relegation at the end of each season, so a strong squad is needed to avoid dropping straight back down.