Warwickshire began this season as they played out most of last season at Edgbaston – with a draw, this time against newly promoted Sussex.

The Bears drew all their first five County Championship matches in 2024, before ending the campaign in far more dramatic fashion with an innings victory over Kent, followed by an innings defeat by Essex.

But they reverted back into ‘draw’ mode again once Sussex, in their first match back in the top flight since 2015, had opted not to try and set the Bears a realistic target on a docile pitch.

Having resumed on 126-3 in their second innings, with a lead of 200, there was still something to play for on day four – and the wicket of Sussex first-innings centurion John Simpson for 22 on the stroke of lunch did potentially breathe life into the game.

Warwickshire’s first-innings centurion Rob Yates, who has now become more than a part-time spinner, bowled unchanged until 10 minutes before lunch, tidily taking three of the Sussex wickets to fall.

At that point, the visitors led by 288, with 66 overs left. But they instead delayed their declaration until they had reached 313-7, setting the injury-hit Bears a highly improbable target of 388 in 44 overs.