matt rawnsley says worcestershire are targeting more silverware in 2019 and that last summer’s vitality blast triumph is not viewed as a one-off by the county but just the start of what they hope will be another successful period in the club’s history.
the county’s ceo celebrated his first year at the helm by over-seeing the rapids experience a day to remember on finals day at edgbaston in september.
but the former left arm spinner, who picked up more than 120 wickets during his spell at New Road, is ambitious – like the club’s coaches and players – for more of the same success.
worcestershire now have a young but experienced squad supplemented by new signings in wayne parnell and riki wessels plus established overseas players in callum ferguson and martin guptill.
regaining a place in division one of the specsavers county championship is viewed as a priority especially with three teams being promoted this summer.
mr rawnsley said: “you have to be ambitious. i don’t think you can go into any professional sports cycle thinking you are going to do ‘okay.’
“we don’t want to compete. we want to be leading from the front and i think it is a healthy thing that we have high expectations of our performance.
“we have those expectations on the field and also off the field.
“we don’t want to just bumble along and be one of those teams who is a ‘minnow’ or an ‘underdog’
“that’s the past. the future for us is we want to be winning silverware, we want to get promoted and there is no real excuses why we shouldn’t this year.
“it is three teams promoted from division two. we have to do that and if we don’t, we have to have a serious look at ourselves.
“we need to expect the best from ourselves and we expect to win and we expect people to feel really under pressure when they come to New Road to play.
“we shouldn’t see the vitality blast win as a one-off. that is not ‘job done’. that is just the start. that is how i see it.”
