WORCESTERSHIRE’S misfiring batsman were handed a taste of Second XI cricket in a bid to regain form ahead of Friday’s four-day clash with Surrey at the Oval.
Daryl Mitchell, Tom Fell, Brett D’Oliveira, George Rhodes and Joe Clarke, who kept wicket, took to the field for the game with Warwickshire at New Road yesterday (Tuesday) following the innings and 41-run defeat to Nottinghamshire on Monday.
Pears chief Kevin Sharp hopes the 50-over fixture will help players regain form and confidence ahead of the trip to face Surry in the capital as Worcestershire look to end a run of three successive defeats from three matches in the new County Championship campaign.
Sharp said the side would do ‘everything they can’ to prepare for the game but told his players to take recent defeats on the chin and get better.
“I think we can all accept that this last three weeks has been difficult for batting in general. When you look at the scores around the country, teams are getting bowled out,” he said.
“Yes, there have been odd individuals who have made runs but generally there have been a lot of lads who have struggled and I think that is pretty understandable and down to the weather we have had.
“The pitches are moist and they are green – but we have still lost three matches and the opposition have been that much better than us but we recognise it. As a batter, if you’ve not spent hardly any time at the crease for three weeks and you’ve had six lowish scores, you are bound to lack a bit of confidence. That is human nature. It’s their job and if you are not doing well at your job, no matter what it is, you would be at times a little bit unsure of yourself.
“But that’s the game. It has always been like that, always will be like that, and it will be a test of character for them to come through.
“The only thing that will breed confidence is to spend some time in the middle. I’m hoping two or three of them will spend some time at the crease and get that confidence we need for Friday.”
Fell made a determined 37 in Worcestershire’s second innings against Nottinghamshire and is one of several players so far this season not to have capitalised after getting established at the crease.
Sharp said: “Tom Fell has had a difficult year or two, we know that, and he is definitely on his way back now. He will actually be quite disappointed, as two or three of the batters are, who have made 30s and 40s.
“Sometimes batters will get knocked over early against a newer ball and it is very important when you have got guys who have got in, making 30, 40, 50, that they go on and make 80, 90, 100 runs.
“That makes a difference between making a team score of 150 and 250-300.”
