New Worcestershire CCC signings Taylor Cornall and Ben Gibbon are looking forward to their first winter of full-time cricket training.
Opener Cornall and left-arm pace bowler Gibbon, plus Worcestershire’s third new signing in former Warwickshire batter, Ed Pollock, will be part of the pre-season work programme at New Road and Malvern College.
They have joined forces with Worcestershire CCC Head Coach Alex Gidman, the other coaching staff, and their new team-mates.
Cornall scored a century for Worcestershire Seconds against Yorkshire Seconds at Scarborough in September and is happy to focus on cricket after completing his studies.
He said: “I’ve finished completing my Masters in Ecological Economics at the University of Leeds, and it was a decision as to whether to find a graduate job or to continue pursuing cricket.
“A lot of my friends have taken the former route to London and various other routes, but, for me, it has always been about cricket.
“I want to put the academics side behind me for a little while and enjoy playing and making the most of this opportunity with Worcestershire.”
Gibbon has spent two years working on a building site alongside making his mark for Cheshire in National Counties cricket.
He said: “For many years, since about 2005, I’ve always thought ‘I want to do something like this and to get this chance with Worcestershire is brilliant.
“I’m just happy to get going this winter and looking forward to the challenge and doing as well as I possibly can.
“Working day to day at your cricket can only be of benefit.”
Gidman said: “The guys will report back for some fitness testing and some team discussions and a few chats about some bits and pieces.
“We will get back into the gym with Ross Dewar and then will start back at Malvern College the following week on November 15.
“We will be very open with the group, and the group will be very open back about the areas we need to try and improve, and we will get to work on those as quickly as possible.
“The work ethic and attitude of the group is never in question, which means, I know, we will have an enjoyable winter trying to rectify some of those areas.
“Before Christmas, it’s pretty flexible for the players. We’ve got senior players who might feel they don’t need to do quite as much before Christmas.
“Then we’ve got some younger players who are chomping to get going after a week.
“It’s about a balance, but we need to get the bodies back into shape and the fitness levels up before Christmas predominantly.
“But then certainly after Christmas, we will be all hands on deck and getting everyone working very hard.”
