Alan Richardson praised a “really good effort” by the five-man Worcestershire CCC attack in bowling out Leicestershire for 222 on day one of the LV=Insurance County Championship match at New Road.
Bowling Coach Richardson is also delighted to see Club Captain Joe Leach and all-rounder Ed Barnard being rewarded for their efforts with the ball after a frustrating first half of the season.
Leach picked up three wickets to take his tally for the campaign to 35, and Barnard followed up his season’s best haul of 4-43 at Lord’s with two more wickets.
Richardson said: “It was a really good effort from us as a bowling unit. The five guys all stuck at it really well.
“When you lose the toss and bowl first, on what I think is a really good cricket wicket, to get the ten wickets by the end of play and to keep them under control with the scoring rate is a really good effort by the boys.
“Joe (Leach) had a really frustrating first half of the season. We played nine games back to back on some really unresponsive surfaces.
“He toiled hard and probably didn’t get the rewards, so in the last two or three games, I think he has got those rewards.
“He has bowled really well, stuck to his strengths and has created lots of chances, so really pleased for him.
“It was a tough first half of the season for all of the bowlers, but Joe would have felt that especially.
“It is a real good cricket wicket. Due to unforeseen circumstances with the floods here, we’ve not always been able to have those surfaces.
“But this one has had a real good impact on the game already in terms of good carry.
“There is enough in it for the bowlers, but I also think if you miss (the right length) as a bowler, then the batsman can score.
“For Ed, very similar to Joe, had a really frustrating first half of the season and is now starting to get some rewards.
“As a group, as a unit, all five of them stuck to their task brilliantly well today.”
Spinner Josh Baker again provided excellent support to the four-pronged pace attack with two wickets and keeping a tight rein on the Leicestershire batsmen.
Richardson said: “Really important for Josh Baker that he keeps learning and keeps taking in these experiences, and it was really vital for us that he bowled as well as he did.
“He managed to bowl a long spell, kept the scoreboard under control, picked up a couple of wickets, and created pressure for all the other guys as well.
“A great experience for him. Bowling on day one in a red ball match can be really tough for a spinner at times, and your roles can certainly change throughout the game.
“But today, he did it brilliantly well.”
Jack Haynes showed a safe pair of hands with two catches at first slip and another at short leg.
Richardson said: “You want guys to be as multi-dimensional as possible, and Jack has worked hard at his close catching and being a valuable part of that slip unit.
“For a youngster to go in there, it is a tough job. No-slip catch is easy, and I thought he did brilliantly well today and also at short leg.
“You won’t get many guys putting their hand up to do short leg either, and that is his first catch at short leg for us, and hopefully many more to come.”
