Worcestershire Seconds make the switch to four-day cricket tomorrow when they take on Hampshire on the opening day at the Ageas Bowl (nursery ground).
Coach Kevin Sharp’s side have produced excellent red ball cricket in the Championship throughout the summer and actually led the table with two games remaining although their rivals had games in hand.
Now they will take part in a trio of four-day games as the camaign reaches its climax during the next month or so.
Sharp said: “We have played really well in the red ball stuff. It will be close for second, third and fourth. I guess it depends on how the other results go.
“We have had a lot of good matches and overall the red ball and 50 over competition have been really impressive
“Now we are looking forward to some four-day cricket. That will be good and it gives you a different perspective.”
Worcestershire had to settle for a draw from their final Championship match with Nottinghamshire at Notts Sports Club after dominating the opening two days.
Sharp said: “There were some good individual performances and we played well as a team again.
“The only thing we couldn’t do really was bowl them out on the last day. We had a good lead and with a view to bowling them out to win it.
“One of their fellows played particularly well, the guy (Jake) Libby. He played a very good knock. We couldn’t get him out and they played well on the last day to save it.
“It was played in a four-day manner really because once you’ve gone past a team and decided to try and bowl them out, you play it like four-day cricket really.
“There were some good batting performances. There are lads who are performing. Alex Milton got 60 odd, Twiggy (Ben Twohig) played well, Tom Fell’s hundred was a very good innings so very pleased with them really.”
The Seconds will be without paceman Dillon Pennington at the Ageas Bowl.
Sharp said: “His shoulder popped out last week in an Under-17 match. He is not available this week. I hope he is not going to be too long (out of action).”
Seconds (from):
Rhodes
Westbury
Fell
Dell
Milton
Malik
Jack Haynes
Ul-Hassan
Twohig
Shantry
Morris
Davis
