Wednesday, December 11th, 2019

ROSS: COUNTY CAN REAP BENEFITS OF PLAYERS EARNING CALL-UPS

ROSS: COUNTY CAN REAP BENEFITS OF PLAYERS EARNING CALL-UPS

ross whiteley says the experience gained by worcestershire ccc players in different franchises this winter and next summer can only benefit the county going forward in white ball cricket.

whiteley and New Road team-mates pat brown and moeen ali have been in either t10 or t20 action this winter.

brown is now gearing up for his first taste of big bash action with the melbourne stars while moeen will play in the pakistan super league and indian premier league in the new year.

with seven rapids players part of the hundred in 2020, whiteley says the know-how picked up from such tournaments can aid worcestershire in their bid to become even more successful in 50 over and t20 cricket.

whiteley said: “any opportunity to play in a new tournament or a high quality of cricket is fantastic for not only the players, but also the club.

“they will bring back so much experience and new ideas potentially to worcestershire from working with some of the top quality coaches that are around in these tournaments.

“hopefully it will be good in the next couple of years, bringing all that info back to the county.”

whiteley will have the chance to work with sri lankan legend mahela jayawardene in the hundred after being picked up by southern brave.

he said: “it’s great, and with the quality of players in the squad as well, on paper it looks a very exciting team.”

whiteley has recently returned from a second stint in the t10 league, this time with karnataka tuskers in abu dhabi.

he said: “i didn’t know the draft was on. i was in cyprus, actually sat down for dinner with my girlfriend, when i got a call from my agent.

“it was really late on at night and i thought ‘something is wrong here’ and i answered it and it was a nice surprise rather than something wrong.

“it was a bit of a shock but it was great to have another spell in that tournament again.

“it’s great fun and you don’t have much time to think with it being cut in half from the t20.

“but it was a great experience, exciting for the crowds, and interesting to see how people played it compared to the first tournament two years ago.

“it was also nice to go somewhere that almost feels like home after being there for so many pre-seasons now with worcestershire.”