Seam star is aiming high after putting injury hell behind him

Chris Wright has no qualms about his main aim for 2014 – to help Warwickshire bring the county championship title back to Edgbaston.

The fast bowler, nearing full fitness again after missing much of last season due to a stress fracture in his back, is setting the bar high for the Bears.

Their defence of the title last season was fatally undermined by a rolling series of injuries, many medium or long-term, to key players.

But if Warwickshire can put anything like a full-strength team on the field regularly this year, then Wright expects them to challenge hard for trophies.

“I want to win the championship again,” Wright said. “We certainly have the 11 to do it and the necessary depth in the squad, barring ridiculous injuries like last year.

“When we won it in 2012 everyone individually won a game for us and it feels amazing when that happens.

“Our bowling attack is ridiculous. I would hate to bat against it – I think my best bet would be to try to slog Keith Barker.

“I think the 50-overs competition will really suit us too so I expect us to do well in that.

“Obviously our T20 needs to improve and we have worked very hard on that this winter but, given a clear run of injuries, we should be challenging hard on all fronts.

“For me personally, taking 50 championship wickets would be good but just putting in match-winning performances that help us win the league again would be awesome.

“In one-day cricket I’ll just try to have a serious economy rate bowling at tough times in the innings. Bowling well up front and at the death is tough but so rewarding.”

Wright will be delighted to be back in the mix following his stress fracture.

Last year was a frustrating one for him, not least as it stalled his startling rise into the England reckoning.

But he reflects upon it with an impressive sense of perspective.

“I have had plenty of lows, like most people, so it didn’t bother me that much,” he said. “In the grand scheme of things people have much bigger problems than that.

“Big deal, I can’t bowl for six months – but I get looked after and get given a specialist training programme to try to get me super-strong. As professional cricketers, we are very lucky.

“Getting sacked by Essex was much worse, but even that ended well because I ended up at the Bears. Hopefully, the injury was the start of a process which will enable me to get stronger and bowl slightly quicker for longer.

“My only regret is that had I completed the season last year I think Warwickshire would have been more successful while perhaps I might have been involved on a tour this winter somewhere.

“I tried to see the positive side of the injury – a focused rehab period and strength training which I really enjoy.

“I also got to spend more time with the family which was nice – I have two pretty cool kids.”