Worcestershire’s quartet of injured pace bowlers are making encouraging progress and Head Coach Alan Richardson says the plan is for them all “to be fit and firing” for the start of the 2025 season.
Richardson expects Ben Gibbon and Yadvinder Singh to start their back to bowling programmes in the near future after being side-lined with their respective back problems.
Gibbon played five Vitality County Championship matches during the first two months of his third season at Visit Worcestershire New Road but was side-lined from early June.
Newcomer Singh, a product of the South Asian Cricket Academy, made his debut against Surrey at the Kia Oval and picked up four second innings wickets but then suffered the setback.
Adam Finch is also stepping up his rehab work in the New Road gymnasium after having surgery on his knee injury in September.
Finch bravely came back to play when not fully fit against Kent in a crucial Vitality County Championship match and played an important role in a vital win with four wickets and a career best score of 43.
Harry Darley is playing purely as a batter and fielder for Ulverstone CC in Australia after a glute injury and not being allowed to bowl at present as a precautionary measure.
He made his senior breakthrough for Worcestershire last summer in the Vitality Blast and Metro Bank One Day Cup.
Richardson said: “There is no time limit on them now with it being the close season, which is quite nice, but Ben and Yaddy will start their back to bowling programme soon.
“Yaddy played the one game (against Surrey) and was then injured but it is always a danger that will happen when you come into the professional game.
“It’s very different, the intensity of it, from playing club cricket and going into professional cricket.
“But Yaddy has dealt with it really well. It was disappointing but we had a lot of faith in him with his two year contract and he will be a better player for it.
“It’s just unfortunate that it happened because it would have been nice to see a lot more of him.”
Richardson added: “With Harry we are just being quite cautious. He has just had a bit of a glute issue. He is playing, he is taking a full and active part in the field and batting.
“We are just taking our time with him with the bowling. For me, it is also an opportunity for Harry to have a bit of a personal development by going away. It’s not just about the cricket.
“With Adam, I have just seen him in the gym and he is coming along nicely with his knee so he will be up and running soon as well.
“Like I say, there is no time rush with these guys and again the plan is for those guys to be fit and firing for the start of the season.”
