Bowling coach Matt Mason believes Worcestershire all-rounder Gareth Andrew has rediscovered his "love of cricket" after praising his excellent start to the season.
Andrew took his wicket tally to 11 in the last three innings with a return of 3-46 against Derbyshire on the second day of the LV County Championship match at New Road.
It followed on from his match figures of 8-85 in the convincing 125 run home success in the previous game against Kent.
Andrew's knee and back problems of the previous two seasons are well documented after he enjoyed an excellent time with bat and ball during the 2011 campaign.
But Mason is quick to praise Andrew's work during the winter in putting those setbacks behind him and his willingness to take the new ball with his shortened run-up.
Mason said: "I think at the back end of last season Gazza was down about his cricket and he will be the first to tell you that. Injuries and performances and just the roller coaster of sport got on top of him.
"But the winter he has had, the work he has put in and the way we've looked after him, helped him find that enthusiasm again and love of cricket that you have to have if you are going to be a bowler. That has really helped him already this year.
"I've got a real understanding of what it is like to have those big injuries and it's not just the fact you are not playing.
"You can't go out there and help your team-mates and it is a tough time, probably the toughest thing you will go through mentally as a player.
"Forget performances because sometimes that is out of your control and injuries even more so.
"But Gazza has coped with it really well and the work he has done during the winter has been spot on."
Andrew was willing to take on the responsibility of the new ball after the retirement of Alan Richardson.
Mason said: "The thing that has really impressed me the most is how he has wanted to take that new ball.
"He has wanted that responsibility and because he is such a confidence player, and with the confidence Mitch (skipper Daryl Mitchell) has shown in him and the lads, you can see he is puffing his chest out, he is running in hard.
"He is playing with a smile on his face and that is really important."
