Tuesday, September 15th, 2020

ED LOOKING FOR “GOOD MOMENTUM” TO TAKE INTO NEXT SEASON

Ed Barnard says Worcestershire Rapids are looking for a positive finish to their 2020 Vitality Blast campaign to give them “good momentum” heading into next season.

The Rapids busy schedule continues this evening under floodlights when they take on Northamptonshire Steelbacks at Wantage Road (6.30pm start).

They have three matches remaining in the competition and Barnard says the Rapids are aiming to come out on the right side of the “fine margins” which have been key factors in deciding the majority of their games.

Vitality Blast captain Barnard said: “It doesn’t feel like we are 100 miles away. I feel we are all playing really well.

“It’s just those small margins at the moment and key periods of the game we are not quite winning which hopefully we will turn around and get a few wins in the remaining games of the tournament.

“The aim is to keep playing the best cricket we can and be really positive.

“If we can finish the tournament well, it can give us some good momentum to take into next year.”

Head Coach Alex Gidman echoed Barnard’s sentiments and said: “With the exception of the first game, we haven’t played poorly in any other game. We’ve played some good cricket, but I think our inexperience has shown at some stages.

“I can’t fault the guys efforts. They desperately want to win as many games as possible.”

The Rapids have named a 13 strong squad – the 11 players in action against Birmingham Bears minus Riki Wessels plus Jack Haynes, Adam Finch and Tom Fell.

Worcestershire Rapids

Jack Haynes

Hamish Rutherford

Jake Libby

Brett D’Oliveira

Ben Cox (w)

Ross Whiteley

Ed Barnard ©

Daryl Mitchell

Pat Brown

Charlie Morris

Dillon Pennington

Adam Finch

Tom Fell