A trio of Worcestershire players are chasing trophy glory during their current winter spells in Australia.
Opener Ed Pollock, all-rounder Tom Taylor and pace bowler Harry Darley are all in genuine contention to help their teams lift silverware heading into the final leg of the campaign.
Taylor is chasing a double success with Victorian Cricket Association side Altona North whom he linked up with at the start of the New Year.
Altona are level on points with 39 leaders Altona Roosters in the 10 team first grade competition.
They are also on the same number of points as Point Cook Centrals and Point Cook in the T20 tournament with four wins from five games.
Taylor, Worcestershire’s joint leading wicket-taker in the County Championship last summer, has made an impact in both competitions.
Darley’s side, Ulverstone, are currently top of the Cricket North West first grade with nine wins from their 12 matches.
They are on 108 points, 16 more than Sheffield Men with whom they drew at the weekend, in the 11-team table.
Darley has gradually been building up his bowling after a glute problem and in one recent game had a devastating spell of 6-4.
Pollock’s club, St. George, are occupying second spot in the New South Wales Premier Cricket first grade with eight wins, three defeats and a no result from their 12 matches to date in the 20-team table.
Their 52 point tally currently puts them seven points behind leaders Parramatta.
Pollock was side-lined for one game with concussion after being struck in the nets but he has returned in explosive form with scores of 51 and 83 against Mosman, with his combined tally of 134 runs coming off just 80 balls.
Of the other Worcestershire players in action Down Under, Henry Cullen has played a big role in all four of third placed Woodville’s victories in the South Australian Cricket Association first grade competition.
But they are currently facing an uphill battle to secure top score as they trail leaders East Torrens by 30 points.
New Worcestershire signing, spinner Fateh Singh, has collected nine wickets from his last two appearances for Canterbury but they are currently bottom of the Eastern Cricket Association first grade tournament.
Ethan Brookes has also made some telling contributions for Adelaide University, including a memorable 82 not out in a one wicket win, but they currently are bottom of the South Australian Cricket Association Premier Cricket first grade.
The Worcestershire players in Australia are scheduled to fly back to Visit Worcestershire New Road in mid-March to continue their preparations for the new season but they will have plenty more opportunities to make their mark in the next month and a half.
