Edgbaston could be a home from home for George Garton. It's been a long winter for the left-arm quick, who arrived on a three-year deal from Sussex in November and who is preparing to make his Warwickshire bow in the T20 Blast this week.
By his own admission, Garton isn't particularly an extrovert, so making the decision to plot a different course on his career path was one he had to mull over. What certainly helped - both Garton to settle in but also the Bears to recruit him in the first instance - was that there were so many familiar faces awaiting his arrival after he'd signed on the dotted line.
Hove to Birmingham has been a well-trodden path. Danny Briggs made that move prior to the Bears' title win in 2021. Coach Mark Robinson and wicket keeper Michael Burgess both have strong links to Sussex. Garton has also played with Alex Davies and Jake Lintott in The Hundred - indeed a competition they won the inaugural edition of in 2021. All of the above have made for a comfortable bedding in period.
"I've loved it," Garton told the Birmingham Mail. "It's been a long experience before my first game, but there have been plenty of familiar faces. Robbo, I've known since I was about four. Davo as captain I've known for a while, Burgey, Briggsy and Jake as well. Because of the way cricket is these days, with the Hundred and other leagues, you get to know lads around the world. I've loved it, it's been brilliant.
Come and join our Bears Facebook group ahead of the Blast here!
"If I was going to move, I thought why not make a big move and test myself in a different region of the country, experience something new. The south group is so competitive that we don't focus on the north group, so it'll be good fun. I've never played at Headingley, weirdly, it'll be a new experience for me. I'm looking forward to it."
It's been an uncharacteristically quiet winter for Garton, who underwent surgery following the culmination of Sussex's campaign last autumn. The angle created by his left arm, along with his express pace and ability to hold a bat has made him an attractive proposition for many franchises around the globe.
Garton, who has taken 72 wickets at an average of 27 in the Blast, has played in the IPL, the Big Bash and the SA20 in recent years, as well as for his country, but this close season has been used to prepare for this, the next stage of his career in new surroundings. He's been impressed by the environment which has been created by his new teammates in their dressing room.
"I was going through rehab and after Christmas nothing came up - I was ready to play and wanted to play, but nothing came up - but it gave me a great opportunity to train and work on myself," Garton continued. "Also, with the move, it just helped me to fully settle in and talk to Robbo and [Stuart] Barnesy the bowling coach about what I want to achieve going forwards.
"I have to admit that, wherever you go you're always a little bit nervous and, for myself, I'm not the biggest extrovert so I'm always conscious of how I fit in. I think it's been one of the best dressing rooms I've been in. The way the group is structured with the age ranges, the experience and the excitement of young talent.
"Just the way everyone looks after each other. There's a great atmosphere, a very close feel even though some people live quite far away. The lads are honest with each other and that comes through cricket and feedback on performances, but also away from that and helping each other."
Garton is strictly white ball for now. He'll play in the Blast and then will return to the Brave for The Hundred later this summer, but he's continued to keep an eye on the Bears' County Championship exploits at the beginning of this campaign. Returning to the longer form of the game isn't something he's given up on by any means.
"I've been 12th man and it's helped to get my training in so I've followed it quite closely," he added. "I've been running the drinks and it's been interesting - it's the first time I've not been available for selection for red ball cricket and it was a weird feeling, especially in the first game, being around it but not involved.
"It's worked really well, it's given me a hunger for red ball cricket again. I've always wanted to play it. I had a good chat with Robbo when I was signing - focus on one thing. Coming up and moving, a lot is happening so focus on one thing and aim towards that, then see what happens afterwards.
"In the long-term, for sure. You see the way the England team play now, it's an exciting brand of cricket, it's a brand that interests me and it suits the way I play - I want to take wickets and it helps, moving to a bigger club with a bigger squad, you can rotate your players a bit better. I said to Robbo, for me, I want to bowl fast, be aggressive and take wickets.
"Sometimes, the County Championship schedule can't allow bowlers to bowl fast. If you're playing seven games in eight weeks, you can't run in and bowl 90mph. To come in and be able to do that excites me and it'll help me be the best cricketer I can be while I'm trying to help the team win. It's up in the air, there's no set time to come back, we're discussing it but it's a long term goal."
The Bears kick off their T20 Blast campaign at Durham on Friday evening before they welcome Nottinghamshire to Edgbaston as part of the Blast Off on Saturday. Garton was speaking at the club's Bear Hunt event in the Mailbox.
