Head Coach Alex Gidman says the individual development and progression of several young players has been one of the major successes for Worcestershire CCC during the 2021 season.
The likes of Jack Haynes (aged 20), Josh Baker (18), Dillon Pennington (22) and Adam Finch (21) have all taken significant strides forward and been major plus points.
Haynes, Pennington and Finch – all former England Under-19 players – had tasted first team action in previous years.
But Baker has burst into the senior squad and instantly looked at home and again made a key contribution with a three wicket burst during the home win over Sussex in the LV=Insurance County Championship.
Gidman said: “Although we all know our results could have been better at certain times, one of the key successes of this season has been some individual development.
“Josh (Baker) would fit into that. He has been great for us. To have him within the squad, gives us great balance and he just looks very comfortable.
“It is just amazing for us to see a spinner come on so quickly and look so comfortable.
“There is no doubt he will face some challenges at some stage but he just sticks in and competes and is very accurate.
“He got the rewards with those two or three wickets which were really crucial on the third day.
“Worcestershire has a great tradition of bringing on their own players and that is something we are always keen to try and continue to do.
“We’ve had two or three younger players in the Sussex game who are still very inexperienced who I thought were really good.
“Adam (Finch) is still at a very early stage of his career and I thought he bowled with good aggression, good pace.
“Dillon (Pennington) has had some success already this season and Jack (Haynes) is still very, very young.
“We’ve got our own group of young players we are developing, and trying to develop as quickly as possible.
“It’s great for our club that these guys are starting to stand up and perform consistently. Exiting time for the club with that group of players and equally exciting for the future.”
