Liam Norwell signs three-year deal with Warwickshire

Warwickshire have signed Liam Norwell, the Gloucestershire pace bowler, on a three-year contract.

Norwell, 26, was ruled out of the remainder of the 2018 season with a hamstring injury picked up at the beginning of the T20 Blast, which was a recurrence of a problem from earlier in the summer which limited to one County Championship match, but enjoyed an impressive 2017 Championship campaign with 59 wickets at 17.39.

"Liam is a fantastic addition to our bowling attack," Ashley Giles, Warwickshire's sport director, said "The transformation of our squad has been talked about a lot and we have made good progress in the last 12 months by giving more opportunities to young cricketers from our pathway, but by also signing talented, young cricketers who can make major contributions to Warwickshire and Birmingham Bears for several years; Liam certainly fits this profile.

"He has been on the county circuit for six years and, aged 26, he has the potential to play a significant role here at Edgbaston for several years, working alongside bowling coach Graeme Welch."

Norwell will remain with Gloucestershire until the end of the 2018 season before joining the Warwickshire squad for pre-season training in November.

"The club has a lot of ambition, a great coaching set up and a squad that I believe can compete in all formats for silverware and be successful for a long period," he said.

"I've really enjoyed my time with Gloucestershire, but right now I feel it's time for a new challenge to try and push myself to be as successful as I can in cricket and for Warwickshire and Birmingham Bears."