Club Captain Brett D’Oliveira is encouraging Worcestershire’s players to continue to play with freedom when they return to LV=Insurance County Championship action against Sussex at Hove on Sunday.
D’Oliveira reflected on the positive attitude being shown by Worcestershire when he said:
“We are all in agreement that we are here to win games of cricket, so we don’t want to play for draws.”
The Championship programme is approaching the halfway stage with Worcestershire currently lying in third spot after the opening six matches have yielded two wins, two draws and two defeats.
D’Oliveira said: “We’ve played really well in patches. I’d like us to keep stringing those performances together.
“I still feel we’ve got a bit in the tank in terms of consistency.
“Having said that, we’ve won some games of cricket which showed true character, and that’s what I’m asking of the boys.
“We are sitting nicely in the table and I think it’s important we stay nice and present, take each session as it comes.”
The all-rounder added: “Exciting cricket, that’s what we are trying to produce. Obviously, within that, we have to have the ability to adapt in certain situations.
“But there is a lot of confidence amongst the guys at the moment, so hopefully, we can carry that on.
“I want them to go out there and play with freedom and play their own game. I know how challenging it can be if you are told to play in a certain way and that doesn’t suit your personal game.
“Those guys have signed a contract because they have the ability to play this game.
“I want them to play that game exactly how they want to play it, and so I give them the freedom and hopefully the confidence to do that.”
D’Oliveira added: “We are all in agreement that we are here to win games of cricket, so we don’t want to play for draws.
“I certainly, as captain, don’t want to play for draws and, if we keep putting ourselves in those positions, and keep trying to set up games, hopefully, we will come out on the right side, and we will win more than we lose.”
