Head Coach Alex Gidman is excited about the qualities West Indian fast bowler Alzarri Joseph will bring to the Worcestershire CCC squad for the next seven LV=Insurance County Championship matches.
Joseph is in contention to make his County debut in tomorrow’s LV=Insurance County Championship encounter with Derbyshire at Derby as part of a 12 man squad.
He flew into England 10 days ago and, after a period of quarantine and then bowling in the nets, is raring to make an impact in what is his first taste of English county cricket.
Gidman said: “We’re excited that Alzarri has joined us. He is a very exciting young cricketer, and it’s great for us, our group and our supporters that he will be playing for us.
“I’m looking forward to having him as part of the set-up and the skill set that he brings. To have him for pretty much the start of the season and this chunk of cricket ahead is going to be brilliant.
“Overseas players have been tough to come by this year, so to get someone of the quality of Alzarri is going to be good for him and us.
“We hope it works for us, but part of the overseas deal for players is that it is also a positive experience for them and his own cricket journey.
“Hopefully, we can play a part in that as well.”
Gidman said Joseph’s signing would also enable the County to rotate their bowlers during a demanding schedule of four-day cricket until the end of May.
He said: “It is going to be a tough two months with back to back cricket throughout and no rest weeks, so hopefully, Alzarri’s addition allows us to genuinely rest a bowler each week. That will be the hope and trying to avoid picking up injuries.”
Gidman was proud of the performance put in by the entire team against Essex at Chelmsford.
He said: I’m proud of the players and how they went about their business throughout the game in what was a brutal game of cricket against the best team in the country.
“They were outstanding and thoroughly deserved to come away with the points for a draw. The application and dedication to the task were second to none.”
Joseph is added to the 11 players who were part of the side at Chelmsford.
WORCESTERSHIRE CCC (from):
Daryl Mitchell
Jake Libby
Tom Fell
Gareth Roderick
Brett D’Oliveira
Riki Wessels
Ben Cox +
Ed Barnard
Joe Leach *
Dillon Pennington
Charlie Morris
Alzarri Joseph
