Worcestershire Rapids return to Vitality Blast action tomorrow with Head Coach Alex Gidman looking for senior and inexperienced players alike to return to winning ways.
The County, fresh from performing so well in the Bob Willis Trophy, face a quickfire re-match at Taunton against Somerset who successfully edged them out in the four-day competition for a Lord’s final spot.
The Rapids have five Vitality Blast matches remaining and are looking to improve on their performances and results during the first half of the campaign.
All-rounder and the Rapids Blast captain Moeen Ali, such a key figure during the 2018 and 2019 campaigns, has been unable to play due to England white ball commitments.
Paceman Pat Brown, the Rapids leading wicket-taker for the past two seasons and also a major part of their success, missed the opening two fixtures through part of the England set-up.
Gidman said: “We didn’t get the first half of the competition right. We have learnt a lot about the group in the sense that we have been missing some big players from last year.
“It is certainly not an excuse, just the fact that is the fact, and we need to try and improve without those players being around to support us.
“It is a very exciting opportunity for some experienced players to stick their hand up and lead the group.
“But then equally it is an opportunity for some of the younger players to take what they learnt in the first four games and put that into performances or improved performances and see if we can get a couple of wins in these last five games.”
The Rapids have named a 14 strong squad – Josh Tongue is unavailable because of the back spasm suffered in the Trophy game against Somerset this week.
Worcestershire Rapids from:
Hamish Rutherford
Riki Wessels
Jack Haynes
Jake Libby
Brett D’Oliveira
Ben Cox (w)
Ross Whiteley
Ed Barnard (c)
Daryl Mitchell
Pat Brown
Adam Finch
Tom Fell
Charlie Morris
Ben Twohig
