Adam Hose wants to help Worcestershire make history after signing a new three year contract at Visit Worcestershire New Road.
The middle order batter says securing a top flight spot for a third successive season for the first time since the Vitality County Championship split into two divisions in 2000 is a goal to strive for next summer.
Hose had one year remaining of his current deal but has put pen to paper on a new contract until the end of the 2027 season and believes the club is in “a really strong position.”
He played his part in Worcestershire securing promotion from Division Two in 2023 and produced some important knocks last season when sixth place – the club’s highest in the one-division structure – was achieved.
Hose wants to repay the faith shown in him by Worcestershire who offered him the opportunity to play all formats after he left Warwickshire at the end of the 2022 season.
He said: “I’m really happy to sign the contract. It is giving a fair chunk of the next part of my career to the club. They were first to come in when I was looking to move (from Warwickshire) and offered all-formats cricket which was the reason for me leaving clubs.
“For them to back me, and show faith in me, like they have done over the last couple of years, has been brilliant.
“To have that faith continued, and have a bit more longevity in a contract, is something I’m really happy about.
“The club is in a really strong position. Obviously a very difficult season last year in terms of things off the field.
“But I think it shows amazing character within the playing group and the club itself that we had such a strong finish, especially within the red ball side. I’m really happy to commit myself to the club.”
Hose believes the future is bright for Worcestershire in the coming seasons.
He said: “What has been achieved the past two years just shows the direction in which the club is heading.
“Last year we set our sights on promotion and that is exactly what we managed to do.
“This year we set our sights on finishing sixth, that’s what we spoke about at the start of the year.
“The club has never finished that high in the history of two divisions and so to get that and tick that off is another goal we should as a playing group and a club should be really proud off.
“I think it shows that trend that the club is heading in a really good direction.”
Regarding future goals and targets, Hose said: “Moving forward again, what then becomes a good season for us now moving forward, we will have to sit down and talk about that.
“But there is no reason why we shouldn’t have aspirations to finish higher next season.
“We’ve got to be realistic with a lot of things but I think as a group we should continue to challenge ourselves because there is no reason why we shouldn’t be able to accomplish the goals that we set ourselves.
“Staying up for a third year in a row for first time, that should be our goal and we should be thinking ‘let’s make history for the club.’
“We know that the club hasn’t stayed up for more than two years in a row so let’s put that on the radar. It could be very special again.”
Hose believes a superb team effort was key to Worcestershire’s success last season.,
He said: “Everyone you talk to about Worcestershire says we are a very close unit and I think that shows in how we play our cricket.
“There was no individual outstanding performers, in terms of runs or wickets, but everyone bought in, everyone chips in and fights, and that’s what got us over the line.
“Moving forward, we are going to have to fully embrace that because we know things aren’t going to be perfect all the time.
“But the one thing we really control, and really embrace, is how tight we are as a group, and how much we embrace those situations when they are in front of us.”
Head Coach Alan Richardson is delighted to see Hose become the latest experienced player to commit his long term future to Worcestershire.
He said: “A couple of years ago we got ourselves into a really precarious position in terms of players being out of contract going into a season.
“It is really important to keep a core of the players together and Adam has developed into a big part of that, both in red ball and white ball cricket and I’m delighted he has signed the new contract.
“He is a really good character for us to have in the changing rooms, really influential, and it is a big one for us.
“His skill historically on the field has been in white ball cricket but also now developing as a red ball cricketer is big for us.
“But also his influence off the field as well is equally as important.”
Richardson added: “One of Adam’s huge strengths is his curiosity and he wants to get better. He has a huge thirst to get better and to keep challenging himself.
“Part of that journey is his red ball cricket. He talks really well when he first joined about the best players playing all the formats.
“Certainly for him, red ball feels like something he has not always had the opportunity to tap into.
“I’ve experienced players before, as a player and a coach, who say they want to play all formats and their actions don’t always meet that and match that.
“Certainly with Adam, his desire to play all formats, to keep improving and be the best cricketer he can be, is a real example to everyone else.”
