New signings Ed Pollock, Taylor Cornall and Ben Gibbon, will all make their first appearance for Worcestershire when they launch their pre-season programme of games this week.
Fast bowler Gibbon and opening batsman Cornall will be part of the side to take on Oxford UCCE at The Parks in a three-day game starting tomorrow (Wednesday).
Opener Pollock will feature in the team who will face Hampshire in a two-day friendly at the Ageas Bowl beginning on Thursday.
Several Academy-Pathway players will also be handed the opportunity to taste senior cricket.
Rehaan Edavalath, Henry Cullen and Ben Parker will play against Oxford UCCE and Ismail Mohammed and Reeve Evitts versus Hampshire.
New Club Captain, Brett D’Oliveira, will lead the side at The Parks with Vice-Captain, Jake Libby, skippering Worcestershire at the Ageas Bowl.
Head Coach, Alex Gidman, will oversee the Oxford game and Assistant Coach Alan Richardson will be in charge against Hampshire.
Gidman said: “At the moment, we are still very much in the realms of pre-season, and it’s the first run-out for everyone.
“I’m sure there is an added bit of adrenalin for those three guys (Cornall, Pollock and Gibbon), but fundamentally it is the same for everyone.
“It’s those game habits, getting back into the swing of things as quickly as possible. We are providing all the players with a run-out this week and next week.
“That is superb from our point of view because we want them all playing as much cricket as we can.
“With the Academy lads, it is something we need to try and do, expose these talented younger guys to more competitive cricket as early as possible.
“These sorts of games are an ideal opportunity to give them a taste for it.
“The hope is they go away, having succeeded or not, and learnt a lot about what they need to do to improve and give themselves a chance of making it to that level consistently.”
Worcestershire v Oxford UCCE at The Parks (March 23, 24,25)
Gareth Roderick +
Taylor Cornall
Jack Haynes
Brett D’Oliveira *
Ed Barnard
Jacques Banton
Henry Cullen
Rehaan Edavalath
Charlie Morris
Ben Gibbon
Ben Parker
Worcestershire v Hampshire at the Ageas Bowl (March 24 and 25).
Jake Libby *
Ed Pollock
Tom Fell
Ben Cox +
Ismail Mohammed
Joe Leach
Josh Baker
Reeve Evitts
Dillon Pennington
Adam Finch
Mitchell Stanley
