Sometimes, even the best-laid plans have a way of coming full circle—and for Warwickshire head coach Ian Westwood, that couldn't be more true when it comes to veteran seamer Olly Hannon-Dalby.
It wasn't easy for Westwood to watch the 38-year-old paceman don a Worcestershire shirt during a short-term loan spell. But as Hannon-Dalby stormed back into the Bears' lineup with a match-winning performance against his former side Yorkshire, Westwood couldn't help but admit the move had paid off in spades.
"As uncomfortable as it was seeing him bowling for Worcester, I think it's really worked," Westwood told BBC Radio WM, reflecting on a decision that initially raised eyebrows among Warwickshire faithful.
Hannon-Dalby was recalled two matches early from his temporary stint with the Pears—where he had already bagged 11 wickets in just four appearances—to shore up a Warwickshire attack hit hard by injuries. And he didn't just fill a gap; he dominated. Against Yorkshire at Edgbaston, the veteran seamer delivered a masterclass, taking figures of 4-38 and 3-33 to help the Bears cruise to a commanding 377-run victory.
"He's bowled as well against Yorkshire as he ever has done, as well as I've seen him," Westwood added. "He's incredibly unlucky not to be playing those first few games. We knew that he'd come back in and we would need him at some stage, and he's just shown the true quality of not just the bowler but the bloke there. To come back in and in those circumstances and bowl like that is testament to him."
The timing couldn't be better for Warwickshire. With their next County Championship clash against Glamorgan looming on Friday at Edgbaston, Hannon-Dalby's form provides a much-needed boost. Meanwhile, fitness concerns linger for former England all-rounder Chris Woakes and Keith Barker, both of whom are struggling to be ready. Westwood also noted that Michael Booth is nursing a knee issue after taking an impact to the side of the joint.
"It's quite swollen and stiff, but hopefully he's going to do everything that he can to be available," Westwood said, keeping fingers crossed for the young quick.
For now, though, all eyes are on Hannon-Dalby—a bowler who proved that sometimes, a change of scenery can be the spark that reignites a career.