ETHAN Bamber admitted Warwickshire failed to capitalise on an excellent start to the new County Championship season at Edgbaston.
Bamber took three early wickets on his debut against Sussex who were reduced to 40-3.
But Sussex dominated after that with Tom Clark and skipper John Simpson both making centuries to steer their side to 386-5 at close of play.
Bamber admitted it was a mixed day and told Warwickshire’s official website: “It was a nice way to start.
“It’s a big responsibility to set the tone with the new ball so I was pleased to take some wickets and start well for my new club.
“The pitch developed into quite a true batting surface during the day, but it felt in the morning that you could get some steep bounce off the surface.
“There was some nice pace in it and good carry.
“Some of the life in the wicket deadened later on and there was less lateral movement – but if we are totally honest I think we’ll admit there were too many boundary balls.
“We didn’t quite bring our best skill set into play, especially in the latter portion of the day, and I take my share of responsibility for that with too many poor balls with the second new ball.
“But it looks a good wicket and with a good first session tomorrow we are still very much in the game.”
Bamber’s early three wickets appeared to prove captain Alex Davies was right to choose to bowl first, but Bears struggled to push home that early advantage.
Warwickshire started with four debutants: Bamber, Sri Lankan Vishwa Fernando, Taz Ali and Kai Smith.
Bamber produced a superb opening spell of three for eight in seven overs.
The former Middlesex all-rounder trapped Tom Haines lbw, playing across the line, then removed Daniel Hughes and Tom Alsop with successive balls.
Hughes copped an lbw decision before Alsop edged an outswinger to Rob Yates at second slip.
The brittle foundation of 40 for three was diligently shored up by a stand of 121 in 37 overs between Clark and James Coles (51, 102).
The latter played fluently to be first to his half-century but then gave it away when he skied an ill-judged leg-side swipe at Taz Ali to give the 18-year-old leg-spinner his first championship wicket.
Any hopes the sizeable home crowd harboured of another Sussex clatter of wickets proved ill-founded.
Simpson enjoyed a superb first season at Hove last year, averaging 74.81 with the bat in the championship, and resumed in the same vein as he breezed to a 58-ball half-century.
Clark, meanwhile, concentrated implacably and reached his fourth first-class century, from 223 balls, with his 15th four.
But he perished six overs before the close when he edged Ed Barnard behind.
In the next over though , Simpson followed him to three figures.
