Captain Jake Libby says Worcestershire should take confidence from last summer’s performances in the Metro Bank One Day Cup and is backing Rob Jones to repeat his success during the 2024 tournament.
Libby confirmed Jones will again bat in the number three role where he impressed when initially on loan from Lancashire before signing a three year deal at Visit Worcestershire New Road.
He scored a memorable century against Northamptonshire at Wantage Road and two other fifties and his 366 run tally at an average of 45.75 was only surpassed by Libby (397).
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Jones has experienced a challenging first full season but Libby has no doubt that he can emulate his performances of 12 months ago ahead of Wednesday’s opening home One Day Cup encounter with visiting Middlesex (11am start).
He said: “That is what I reminded him. I spoke to him the other day and told him he was going to be batting at number three again.
“I was really happy with the role he did last year. He was really consistent for us in that number three slot.
“It probably hasn’t been the season he would have wanted personally but we know how good a player he is and how well he did last season.
“He is going to be one of our main players, as he was last year, with the bat at three. Really looking forward to watching him do really well this year.”
Libby also played a key role in the Rapids reaching the quarter-finals and narrowly losing away to Hampshire with a total of four half centuries.
He said: “I thought we had a really strong competition last year and enjoyed the success we had. We played some really good 50 over cricket.
“We’ve got a lot of confidence to take from last season.
“Obviously this season going into it, we’ve had a few injuries which has been well documented but it will be nice for the lads to change it up and start a new competition.
“We had a few good performances at the finish of the T20 and hopefully we can take that momentum into the 50 over competition.
“There will be a few guys who have got new opportunities, some new faces from last year, and really looking forward to it.”
Libby added: “Ultimately, the batting is the strength. It’s just natural with the injuries we’ve had.
“We’ve managed to keep a good group together. Disappointing we are not going to see much of Kashif which is a shame.
“But there is really good depth in quality with the bat and some really good opportunities for some new people to show what they can do with the ball.”
Young pace duo Harry Darley and Jack Home plus newcomers Tom Hinley, Hishaam Khan and Tommy Sturgess are set to gain valuable experience of senior cricket during the next month of One Day Cup action.
Libby said: “To test these guys out at the highest level they can play is going to be exciting and probably some younger bowlers are probably going to play a more senior role with the ball as well.
“It will be good for them to have that role and hopefully they will learn a lot and hopefully they can go really well.”
Libby is again set to occupy the number four role where he enjoyed so much success and he has been Worcestershire’s leading run-scorer in the One Day Cup for the past two seasons.
He said: “I’ve enjoyed it. I’ve had some success in white ball cricket. I’m looking forward to it. I’m pleased with my form the last couple of years batting at four.
“It’s a role that suits me. I can bat at the top or through the middle and hopefully I’ll have another strong competition.”
Worcestershire Rapids
2 Jake Libby (C)
7 Ed Pollock
9 Gareth Roderick (W)
10 Tommy Sturgess
11 Rehaan Edavalath
13 Henry Cullen
14 Olly Cox
24 Jack Home
25 Hishaam Khan
41 Harry Darley
42 Tom Hinley
77 Ethan Brookes
88 Rob Jones
