After thirteen seasons with Northants, Russell Warren joined the Trent Bridge staff for the 2003 season. An attacking batsman and reserve wicketkeeper, he made his First-Class debut for his new County at the end of June, an earlier appearance being ruled out due to injury.
With Read away on international duty, Warren also kept wicket in his first game but with the return of Read, he stayed in the squad purely as a batsman.
His success with the bat in 2003 included three centuries and he averaged 45, but was not so prolific in the Sunday League matches. In his second summer, his record in One Dayers improved, whilst in four-day matches he maintained his first season’s effort. With Allyene brought in to act as Read’s deputy, Warren was no longer required as a stand-in keeper.
The arrival of Fleming in 2005 increased the competition for batting places and Warren’s First-Class appearances were reduced to nine in the season. A succession of low scores found him confined chiefly to the Seconds and his contract ended in 2006. In 2008, playing for Caythorpe, he won the Nottingham Premier League batting award.
In his early career, Russell Warren toured New Zealand with England Young Cricketers in the 1990-91 season, playing two test matches and two one day internationals. He also played two youth ODIs against Australia the following summer, opening the batting with future county colleague Mal Loye.
Warren took up umpiring after his playing career and joined the ECB First-Class list. He officiated in the last First-Class game of the Covid-affected 2020 season, the final of the Bob Willis Trophy, held at Lord's between Somerset and the eventual winners, Essex. Warren's major decision in that final was to give Sir Alastair Cook out LBW in Essex's pursuit of the victory target. Once Cook was dismissed, Essex declined the chase and settled for a draw which, by the rules of that season's competition, gave them the trophy as having the higher first innings score.
September 2020
Nottinghamshire First-Class Number: 574