Ed Barnard’s determination to climb the Worcestershire CCC batting order paid off in style in 2021 as he scored nearly 750 runs at an average of almost 50.
The all-rounder began the campaign in the number slot but after consistent performances with the bat he was promoted to number six for the home game with Warwickshire.
Barnard scored 112 not out against The Bears to add his maiden hundred in the opening LV=Insurance County Championship match of the campaign against the then reigning champions Essex at Chelmsford.
He also hit three fifties to end with 746 runs at an average of 49.73.
Barnard chipped in with 25 wickets and there were encouraging signs with the ball towards the end of the season.
Only Jake Libby scored more runs than Barnard and he enjoyed another prolific year with 1075 first class runs at 56.57.
Libby scored four centuries and four fifties to finish as the second highest run-scorer in the country behind Sussex’s Tom Haines (1176).
Pace bowler Joe Leach ended with 38 wickets after an excellent September in what is his final season as Club Captain.
It was the fifth time in seven seasons since becoming a first team regular that Leach has finished as leading wicket-taker after 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2020.
Paceman Dillon Pennington’s 29 scalps included a career best match return of 9-76 versus Derbyshire.
FINAL AVERAGES
LV=INSURANCE COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP
BATTING
Libby Matches 14, innings 23, Not Out 4, Runs 1075, Highest 180*, Average 56.57
Barnard 13, 18, 3, 746, 128, 49.73
Haynes 9, 14, 0, 491, 97, 35.07
Leach 13, 19, 5, 377, 84, 26.92
D’Oliveira 14, 21, 2, 480, 71, 25.26
Cox 14, 21, 2, 413, 60*, 21.73
Mitchell 14, 23, 1, 470, 113, 21.36
Wessels 7, 10, 0, 202, 60, 20.20
Morris 6, 8, 2, 116, 50, 19.33
Roderick 7, 11, 2, 167, 42*, 18.55
Joseph 6, 8, 0, 148, 61, 18.50
Fell 12, 19, 0, 324, 69, 17.05
Baker 5, 7, 2, 84, 61*, 16.80
Pennington 10, 14, 4, 156, 56, 15.60
Tongue 4, 6, 1, 66, 17, 13.20
Sodhi 1, 1, 0, 13, 13, 13.00
Finch 3, 4, 1, 37, 31, 12.33
Whiteley 2, 3, 0, 34, 22, 11.33
BOWLING
Sodhi Innings 2, Overs 49.2, Maidens 3, Runs 148, Wickets 6, Best 6-89, Average 24.66
Tongue 7, 115.5, 18, 358, 14, 5-39, 25.57
Leach 24, 428, 108, 1141, 38, 5-68, 30.02
Pennington 17, 282.4, 57, 898, 29, 5-32, 30.96
Finch 5, 76, 13, 250, 8, 2-32, 31.25
Morris 11, 189.3, 45, 621, 19, 6-52, 32.68
Whiteley 2, 10, 1, 33, 1, 1-22, 33.00
Baker 8, 144.2, 30, 408, 12, 3-49, 34.00
Joseph 10, 158, 21, 574, 15, 2-22, 38.26
Barnard 24, 368.1, 83, 1052, 25, 4-43, 42.08
D’Oliveira 17, 253.4, 29, 808, 15, 3-95, 53.86
Mitchell 13, 93.5, 15, 291, 4, 2-34, 72.75
Libby 7, 38.2, 5, 129, 1, 1-45, 129.00
