Ed Pollock has become the third Worcestershire player to sign a new three-year contract, and he wants to build on the promise shown in red-ball cricket in his debut season and also recapture the destructive hitting that has been his trademark in the Vitality Blast.
The opener has followed spinner Josh Baker, and pace bowler Ben Gibbon in signing contracts until the end of the 2025 campaign after having one year left of his previous deal.
Pollock was given a chance that never came his way at Warwickshire to make his mark in the LV=Insurance County Championship last summer, and he demonstrated plenty of potential in that role.
He scored two centuries, including a memorable match-winning knock to defeat Middlesex at Merchant Taylor’s School, a 98 and two other half-centuries and his first season of Championship cricket yielded a respectable 645 runs at an average of 32.25.
Pollock said: “Paul Pridgeon (Cricket Steering Group Chair) gave me a call about the new contract, and I’m very happy with it.
“Everyone in cricket comes to accept that you don’t very often have that long-term security, so to have this backing from Paul and Alan (Richardson) means, if you have those dips in form or performances, you can keep a lot more level-headed and keep cracking on and doing what works.
“It was mixed emotions with regards to last year. Very happy with how I started Championship cricket, and there were lots of promising signs from that.
“Disappointing in the white ball campaign, but from chats with Alan and Paul, all parties think there is a lot of promise there to hopefully this season to go and win many more games for Worcestershire.
“Is the best still to come? I’ve started to believe it more. Last year was a scratch on the surface. Some of those performances in between spells of low runs showed me what I was capable of.
“Before I’ve known what I can do in white ball cricket, and I’m just starting to show what I can do in red-ball cricket, so it does very much feel like I’m still just getting started.”
Pollock is hoping to develop even further his opening partnership with red-ball vice-captain Jake Libby.
He said: “Myself and Jake have spoken about that this winter and getting the opportunity to bat more together.
“We came across each other with Warwickshire and Nottinghamshire, but as last season went on, we got to know each other’s games a lot better.
“I know when he is batting well, and suddenly that big partnership at Sussex in September (195 for the first wicket) was the fruit of the season.
“Suddenly, we know each other, and everything starts to click into place. Looking forward to continuing that this year.”
Worcestershire Cricket Steering Group Chair, Paul Pridgeon, said: “Polly has worked very hard, he has fitted into the side well, he has fitted into the dressing room well. There is a bit of humour about him which the lads really enjoy.
“He has done really well. He has come into Championship cricket, which he wanted to do, scored his hundreds and proved he could actually do it, which I think is massive for him.
“It’s all very well saying, ‘I want to play Championship cricket, I think I can do it’, but you have to go and prove it, and he has done that.
“He gives a different dimension at the top of the order in Championship cricket as well because sides are worried about him getting us off to a flier.
“What you see is what you get a little bit. He’s had his ups and downs, but he is a dangerous cricketer.
“I certainly think there is better to come from him white-ball wise where we haven’t seen the best of him yet. If it is his night, he can be so destructive.”
