Warwickshire celebrate return to the big time

Warwickshire bowling hero Dougie Brown admitted he was relishing the prospect of playing Division One cricket next season after his team clinched the third championship promotion place.

Brown, who had match figures of 10-80, the best by a Warwickshire bowler against Derbyshire since Jack Bannister in 1967 at Edgbaston, admitted: "It's been frustrating for the last two or three years not getting into the big time.

"But we have had a fantastic team atmosphere this season and that has kept everyone going."

Director of coaching Bob Woolmer had forecast the battle for promotion would go right to the last round of matches and he admitted: "We left it a bit late but getting there is the only important thing.

"Now we have a lot of hard work to do to challenge for trophies. But I am very proud of the guys, this was our major goal in pre-season."

For Derbyshire, the challenge is even bigger. They were beaten by an innings five times this summer, the first time they have suffered that ignominy since 1926 and they finished without a win at their Derby headquarters for the first season since 1979.