PEARS skipper Joe Leach has urged his side to do all they can to make an impression on their return to Division One of the County Championship.
Speaking after the full fixtures for the 2018 campaign were released last Wednesday, Leach hoped his side would raise their game as they return to cricket’s top flight.
Worcestershire will launch their Championship programme with two games away from New Road.
They face Hampshire at the Ageas Bowl from April 13 and then tackle Somerset at Taunton the following week.
Leach’s men will take on fellow promoted side Nottinghamshire in their opening home Championship match of 2018 from April 27 to 30.
The clash will be the first time the two sides have met since the Pears’ magnificent victory at Trent Bridge courtesy of a superb century by Daryl Mitchell.
Next up at Blackfinch New Road will be another attractive fixture against reigning Division One champions Essex from May 11.
Ryan ten Doeschate’s men won the title at their first attempt after being promoted the pervious year and Leach said their achievement would boost the Pears’ confidence of making an impression.
“We can’t look at those names in there and feel subservient. We’ve got to go out there and match them and beat them ultimately because that’s what we want to do.
“That’s our aim, to go into Division One and do as well as we can.
“We’ve got to be respectful of these teams, but no more respectful than any of the teams we were playing last year.”
Worcestershire will be heading to the seaside in August with successive away Championship matches against Yorkshire at Scarborough and Lancashire at Southport.
“It is always pretty good up at Scarborough. The Yorkshire crowd are normally pretty vocal and I know our supporters enjoyed their visit there a couple of years ago,” Leach said.
The all-rounder is also looking for Worcestershire to go one better in the Royal London One-Day Cup in 2018 after topping the North Group this summer and securing a home semi-final.
“We did well but that is what this team is capable of. We’ve set the bar now and we’ve got to try and keep reaching that standard and go one further.
“Hopefully we can get to Lord’s and win one of these white ball competitions in the next few years.
“To do that, we need to keep turning in campaigns like we did last year. I expect nothing less from the lads than to put on another good showing.”
WORCESTERSHIRE’s 2018 fixtures in full.
April 1-3 – Leeds/Bradford MCCU – New Road
April 13-16 – Hampshire – Ageas Bowl – County Championship
April 20-24 – Somerset – Cooper Associates County Ground – County Championship
April 27-30 – Nottinghamshire – New Road – County Championship
May 4-7 – Surrey – Kia Oval – County Championship
May 11-14 – Essex – New Road – County Championship
May 19 – Derbyshire – New Road – Royal London One-Day Cup
May 23 – Yorkshire – Headingley – Royal London One-Day Cup
May 25 – Durham – Riverside – Royal London One-Day Cup
May 27 – Lancashire – New Road – Royal London One-Day Cup
May 29 – Leicestershire – New Road – Royal London One-Day Cup
June 1 – Nottinghamshire – Welbeck – Royal London One-Day Cup
June 3 – Northamptonshire – New Road – Royal London One-Day Cup
June 7 – Warwickshire – Edgbaston – Royal London One-Day Cup
June 19 – West Indies A – New Road – Tour Match
June 20-23 – Lancashire – New Road – County Championship
June 25-28 – Nottinghamshire – Trent Bridge – County Championship
July 5 – Lancashire Lightning – Old Trafford – T20 Blast
July 6 – Warwickshire Bears – New Road – T20 Blast
July 8 – Derbyshire Falcons – 3aaa County Ground – T20 Blast
July 13 – Northamptonshire Steelbacks – New Road – T20 Blast
July 15 – Yorkshire Vikings – New Road – T20 Blast
July 20 – Durham Jets – Riverside – T20 Blast
July 22-25 – Somerset – New Road – County Championship
July 27 – Northamptonshire Steelbacks – County Ground – T20 Blast
July 29 – Lancashire Lightning – New Road – T20 Blast
August 3 – Durham Jets – New Road – T20 Blast
August 4 – Nottinghamshire Outlaws – Trent Bridge – T20 Blast
August 9 – Derbyshire Falcons – New Road – T20 Blast
August 10 – Leicestershire Foxes – County Ground, Grace Road – T20 Blast
August 12 – Nottinghamshire Outlaws – New Road – T20 Blast
August 17 – Warwickshire Bears – Edgbaston – T20 Blast
August 19-22 – Yorkshire – Scarborough – County Championship
August 29-Sept 1 – Lancashire – Southport – County Championship
September 1-4 – Hampshire – New Road – County Championship
September 10-14 – Surrey – New Road – County Championship
September 18-21 – Essex – Chelmsford – County Championship
September 24-27 – Yorkshire – New Road County Championship