Worcestershire have hell and high water to overcome
ESPNcricinfo previews Worcestershire's prospects for 2015
Alex Winter
08-Apr-2015
Alex Gidman has made the switch up the M5 for Division One cricket • PA Photos
Last season
County Championship Div 2: 2nd; NatWest Blast: 8th South Group; Royal London Cup: Quarter-finals
County Championship Div 2: 2nd; NatWest Blast: 8th South Group; Royal London Cup: Quarter-finals
IN: Alex Gidman (Gloucestershire)
OUT: Nick Harrison, Matt Pardoe, Graeme Cessford (all released)
OVERSEAS: Colin Munro, Sachithra Senanayake, Saeed Ajmal
OUT: Nick Harrison, Matt Pardoe, Graeme Cessford (all released)
OVERSEAS: Colin Munro, Sachithra Senanayake, Saeed Ajmal
2014 in a nutshell
Worcestershire giggled their way through 2014 with a remarkable Championship season that saw them promoted against all expectations. Saeed Ajmal played a big part - he took 63 wickets at 16.47 in only nine matches, five of which Worcestershire won - but there were other stellar performance too with Daryl Mitchell racking up 1334 Championship runs and Jack Shantry taking 56 wickets at 23.85, including taking 10 wickets and scoring a century in a famous turnaround victory over Surrey that enhanced his folk-hero status. It was one of eight Worcestershire victories and they were only denied the title in the final round. There was also a T20 quarter-final but they performed poorly and lost at Surrey.
Worcestershire giggled their way through 2014 with a remarkable Championship season that saw them promoted against all expectations. Saeed Ajmal played a big part - he took 63 wickets at 16.47 in only nine matches, five of which Worcestershire won - but there were other stellar performance too with Daryl Mitchell racking up 1334 Championship runs and Jack Shantry taking 56 wickets at 23.85, including taking 10 wickets and scoring a century in a famous turnaround victory over Surrey that enhanced his folk-hero status. It was one of eight Worcestershire victories and they were only denied the title in the final round. There was also a T20 quarter-final but they performed poorly and lost at Surrey.
2015 prospects
As in every other season that Worcestershire have began in Division One, they are favourites for relegation. Like in 2011, it would be considered a fabulous achievement for the club to survive but as that year and last season showed, they are a county capable of defying expectation. They are hindered this year by Ajmal not arriving until mid-July after international duty - his remodelled action is yet unproven too. Sachithra Senanayake has been signed to cover for Ajaml but has also been forced to change his action and is yet to play a first-class match since doing so. Alex Gidman has signed from Gloucestershire and two seasons of over 1000 Championship runs, albeit in Divison Two, suggests he has lost none of his talent.
As in every other season that Worcestershire have began in Division One, they are favourites for relegation. Like in 2011, it would be considered a fabulous achievement for the club to survive but as that year and last season showed, they are a county capable of defying expectation. They are hindered this year by Ajmal not arriving until mid-July after international duty - his remodelled action is yet unproven too. Sachithra Senanayake has been signed to cover for Ajaml but has also been forced to change his action and is yet to play a first-class match since doing so. Alex Gidman has signed from Gloucestershire and two seasons of over 1000 Championship runs, albeit in Divison Two, suggests he has lost none of his talent.
Power brokers
Steve Rhodes has overseen the ups and downs of a decade as director of cricket at New Road - they have been promoted and relegated three times - and is fully aware of the difference between the two divisons. Daryl Mitchell has been captain since 2011 and signed a new four-year deal last year. He led from the front in fine style in 2014 and more runs will be needed this season for Worcestershire to survive.
Steve Rhodes has overseen the ups and downs of a decade as director of cricket at New Road - they have been promoted and relegated three times - and is fully aware of the difference between the two divisons. Daryl Mitchell has been captain since 2011 and signed a new four-year deal last year. He led from the front in fine style in 2014 and more runs will be needed this season for Worcestershire to survive.
Key player
Daryl Mitchell was Worcestershire's best batsman by some distance last season and the county will need a similar contribution from someone to be competitive in Division One this year. Mitchell is the ideal candidate given he has made over 1000 first-class runs in the past two seasons and his experience in a squad lacking knowledge of Division One. Mitchell's captaincy will also be crucial with the challenge of raising a side expected to struggle.
Daryl Mitchell was Worcestershire's best batsman by some distance last season and the county will need a similar contribution from someone to be competitive in Division One this year. Mitchell is the ideal candidate given he has made over 1000 first-class runs in the past two seasons and his experience in a squad lacking knowledge of Division One. Mitchell's captaincy will also be crucial with the challenge of raising a side expected to struggle.
Bright young thing
Charlie Morris started the 2014 season representing Oxford MCCU but finished the campaign with over 50 Championship wickets and part of a side that won promotion. Morris, a brisk right-arm seamer who keeps things tight, is just the type of bowler Worcestershire need to make the step up if they are to survive this season: a mystery Sri Lankan spinner cannot take all the wickets.
Charlie Morris started the 2014 season representing Oxford MCCU but finished the campaign with over 50 Championship wickets and part of a side that won promotion. Morris, a brisk right-arm seamer who keeps things tight, is just the type of bowler Worcestershire need to make the step up if they are to survive this season: a mystery Sri Lankan spinner cannot take all the wickets.
ESPNcricinfo verdict
Worcestershire are perennially written off, so how about Worcestershire for the title? Unfortunately for them, stranger things haven't happened and it would be truly remarkable if they even challenged for survival given the squad they possess. Unlike 2011 when they managed to stay up, largely thanks to Alan Richardson's wickets, there is no attack leader with the ball and they will not see enough of Moeen Ali to add genuine class to the batting order. But Worcestershire are a resilient bunch and have overcome hell and high water before.
Worcestershire are perennially written off, so how about Worcestershire for the title? Unfortunately for them, stranger things haven't happened and it would be truly remarkable if they even challenged for survival given the squad they possess. Unlike 2011 when they managed to stay up, largely thanks to Alan Richardson's wickets, there is no attack leader with the ball and they will not see enough of Moeen Ali to add genuine class to the batting order. But Worcestershire are a resilient bunch and have overcome hell and high water before.
Bet365 odds: Championship Div 1: 25-1, NatWest Blast: 33-1, Royal London Cup: 25-1
Alex Winter is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo He tweets here