Head Coach Alan Richardson looked to take the positives out of his side’s rain affected match at Durham ended in an inevitable conclusion, with batters dominating a game that saw skipper Brett D’Oliveira leave the field on the final day with an ankle injury.
With attentions on managing workloads heading into Saturdays showpiece finale at Trent Bridge, Richardson said the opportunity rotate his bowlers’ workloads and minimise time in the field came at a good time, with the match heading to an obvious end.
“I think if you said to us at the start of the game that would have drawn it and only had to field for about 90 overs, we probably have taken that. Unfortunately, we’ve lost Brett for the time being.
“That is really unfortunate. He’s worked incredibly hard. I thought he batted really well.
“We’re really looking forward to him having a good bowl today as he’s probably not bowled anywhere near as much as he’d like to, and he’d want to. So it would have been a really good opportunity for him today and it is just unfortunate he had to come off.”
After bowling just one delivery, Worcestershire’s club captain was forced from the field of play after rolling his ankle during his follow through.
Limping off, Richardson confirmed his star man is in the best place possible with the club’s medical staff, with his assessment and rehab taking a priority in a race to get fit for Saturday’s final.
“He will have a scan tomorrow, have a bit of a look at it and see where it gets.
It’s a bit early to tell at the moment, but he was in considerable pain when he came off, so we’ll just see how that goes. He’s been icing it all afternoon and now he’s in the capable hands of the physio team.
“We’ll see where he lands tomorrow but he’ll go along and see someone tomorrow for a scan.”
After a testing season in Division One, it was confirmed midway through the fixture at Durham that Worcestershire had been officially relegated, with not enough points left on offer to make final dash for survival.
Having been dodged the drop last year against the odds, the Pears were up against it from the get go this time around, but continued to be resolute throughout and show a real fighting spirit that saw them graft until the bitter end.
Richardson, said it was important for his side to give a good account of themselves this week despite the surrounding circumstances.
“Yeah, if I’m going to be honest, it was more after the Notts game where I realised that we’d have to pick up 48 points and everyone else not pick up many at all, if any.
“That was a real low point for us all, but then the main objective here was to make sure that we put in a really good performance, to give a really good account of ourselves.
“I think at times, we haven’t always done that, obviously, because of the position we’re in.
“So for us to have done that even with the inevitability of what was around the corner really was good, but we didn’t want to be distracted by anything else that was going on, and make sure that we gave a real good account of ourselves this week, which I believe we have done.”
One shining light for the Pears across a turbulent season of red ball cricket, is seam bowler Tom Taylor, who collected his 50th wicket of the Rothesay County Championship season on the final day at Chester-le-Street.
Taylor, who had limited opportunities last season courtesy of injury, has excelled for Worcestershire this campaign, and Richardson praising his key man for an outstanding contribution.
“I think he’s been brilliant ever since he’s come in with us.
“He had that injury at the start of last year, which was unfortunate, so he only played about six or seven games, but made impacts in those games and he was part of all three of our wins last year, which was really important.
“And this year again, he’s been a really solid performer, really consistent, Assistant has a threat with a new ball throughout and he’s kept running in for us.
“In the field and with the bat, he’s got lots and lots to add as well. I’m really pleased because when people change clubs and move clubs, it can be difficult. It feels like Tommy’s settled in really well with us.”
