With the start of Worcestershire’s 2nd XI season on the horizon, Head Coach Alexei Kervezee this week discussed his ambitions and expectations ahead of his first campaign in charge.
Returning to the Club where he enjoyed eight years as a player, the former Netherlands International has spent the off-season adjusting to life in his new role at Worcestershire as Men’s 2nd XI Head Coach.
With the senior squad vying for places in the early throws of the Rothesay County Championship, and Academy prospects enjoying the packed U18 schedule, it has been all go at the start of the 2026 summer at New Road.
Keen to build on the positive, competitive environment left by his predecessor, Richard Jones, Kervezee is clear about what a successful campaign for the 2nd XI looks like.
“Ultimately, we want Academy lads either getting rookie contracts or progressing into our senior set-up.
“We want senior lads on the fringes pushing for places. We will get some trialists who can take an opportunity, so it doesn’t matter where you find people; you might find them out of nowhere. The key is getting them to improve.
“Richard created a positive environment for the 2nd XI throughout last year that not only bred good cricketers but saw them genuinely improve along the way.
“This will be an environment where it is a stepping stone into the senior side, which is what it should be in my opinion.
“We want it to be a place where whoever comes in can instantly execute their skills and deliver to the best of their ability.”
Having already re-acquainted himself with some familiar faces in the Pears’ backroom staff, the 37-year-old has spent plenty of time with Alan Richardson, Kadeer Ali and Richard Jones mapping out the lie of the land ahead of the 2026 summer.
With a competitive squad all vying for places in the 1st XI’s Division Two campaign, Kervezee will work cohesively with Academy Head Coach, Elliot Wilson, to nurture the next generation of Worcestershire stars and continue their growth at the senior level.
The likes of Henry Cullen, the keeper-batter who enjoyed a stellar 2025 in the 2nd XI, will continue to knock on the door of the 1st XI, whilst Pathway products Jeet Varaich, Seth Essenhigh and Alfie Higgins will all be hoping to maximise their opportunities when they inevitably arise in the early stages of this summer.
Currently managing a squad that is slightly thin on the ground, Kervezee is set to utilise his Academy weaponry early on in the season.
“With the current scenario, with injuries, unavailability, etc., you might well see a heavy academy presence in the early part of the season for the 2nd XI.
“But that isn’t something I am at all concerned about; these guys are ready to take their chance and deserve their opportunity.
“We have been very fortunate in the amount of cricket we have played in April and the early parts of May. The weather has been good and favourable for the boys to get plenty of overs under their belts and time in the middle before we get going properly on Monday.
“We start with some white ball and T20 cricket at the front end, before the Championship starts, and we kind of dovetail the two competitions.
“Richard guided this team to a final last season, so that is the bar for us to try and go back-to-back in the four-day competition this season.
“If you get to a final or win a tournament, it would be a successful year, but the focus for me remains in providing Alan, Richard and Kadeer with players that are ready to compete at the top level.”
Ombersley will play host to the 2nd XI’s first competitive fixture of the summer on Monday, where the Pear’s begin their T20 Central Group campaign against Glamorgan.
The start of the season can’t come soon enough for the man who scored over 4,000 first-class runs for his County, with a season brimming with opportunities now within touching distance.
With a passion for the game running deep through his veins, Kervezee has settled back into his more than familiar surroundings with ease, but is eager to translate his enjoyable start into results on the pitch.
“I am loving it here, to be honest.
“The winter period is stereotypically the easier time of year; I use that phrase very loosely, as nothing is easy, but I am loving having cricket back.
“The summer presents challenges, but it is such a lovely environment to be in, and the lads around me have made it so welcoming that it is a place where you want to do well.
“It has felt a bit like coming back home again, which I can’t speak highly enough of and am so keen to hit the ground running this week.”
