Jack Haynes is relishing the chance to learn off and tap into the knowledge of Worcestershire CCC 2022 overseas player and ICC Men’s T20 World Cup winner Matthew Wade.
Haynes says he can only benefit from spending time out in the middle with Wade and that the left-hander will make “a big difference on and off the field.”
He will be available to play all formats at New Road this coming summer.
Haynes said: “Very excited to have a player of international quality who has proved how good he is on the international stage in big games in all three formats, including this T20 World Cup.
“It is pretty special to have someone like him at the club to learn off, to chat to, another good person to have in the dressing room.
“The dressing room has lads already who have got a lot of experience, but it is only going to help to have someone like him come over for this summer.
“I think he will make a big difference both on and off the field.
“Myself, I’m looking forward to batting with him and picking up bits of info. I’m definitely looking forward to that.
“Hopefully, I can stay out there long enough to bat with him for a bit and learn a bit and gain a bit of his knowledge.”
Haynes scored his maiden century for Worcestershire last summer in memorable style when he and fellow opener and new Club Captain, Brett D’Oliveira, put on a record 243 in 36.1 overs against Essex in the Royal London Cup at Chelmsford.
He is also determined to achieve three figures in red-ball cricket after coming so close in 2021.
Haynes said: “I will remember that day at Chelmsford for a long time, and it was pretty special to be the other end to Brett as well and put on that partnership.
“We had started that competition really well, and at the time, it was a pretty big game for us.
“I will never forget that first hundred, and it will be nice to get one in the red-ball stuff as well, hopefully.
“It was good to have someone like Brett the other end when I was getting close to the hundred.
“He is a very calming influence, and he was scoring very quickly, so there was no pressure on me.
“It was good to have him to talk to and his experience to run things through and keep me calm.
“I didn’t take anything home as a souvenir from that game, like a stump, but hopefully, I’ve got enough in the old memory bank to remember it!”
In the County Championship, Haynes scored 87 against Warwickshire at Edgbaston before being unluckily run out, and then 97 versus Derbyshire at New Road.
He said: “I was pleased to contribute to the team, which was the main thing. It was disappointing not to get it (the hundred).
“Hopefully, I will have a few opportunities next year to reach that mark, having been so close, and maybe be just a little smarter at times in getting over the line.
“But fundamentally, I want to contribute to the team performances and help Worcestershire to win games of cricket, and that is the main aim.”
After 19 Championship appearances, Haynes has a promising average of 32 but is keen to improve on that.
He said: “A decent start? I suppose so, but I’m always reasonably self-critical. I’m not disappointed with that for a start, and a lot of learning has gone on during matches, but hopefully, I can improve on that next year.
“It is a solid start, but it is just a start, and hopefully I can kick on and get some scores and contribute to wins, and hopefully that does go up.”
Haynes spent the first half of the winter working on his skills at Malvern College before flying out to South Africa at the weekend for two months of grade cricket.
He said: “There are things I’m always working on in my game, but there are a few things I wanted to work on technically.
“Also, just mentally, finding out my tempo in red-ball cricket and find out the way I want to go out and play.
“I don’t think I’m a million miles away. It’s just been a few different tweaks, and hopefully, they will work, and I will see the rewards next summer.”
