Next Tuesday will be a momentous day in the history of Worcestershire CCC as we celebrate our 150th anniversary.
The Club was formed via a meeting at the Star Hotel in Foregate Street – now know as the Whitehouse Hotel – on March 3 1865.
Worcestershire have seen many highlights since their first match at Bromsgrove Grammar School the following month.
From the days of winning four successive Minor Counties Championships, to being called 'Fostershire' in the early 1900s to a golden period of five County Championship titles – and many more one-day trophies – in a 25 year period from the 1960s to the 1980s, there is much to admire.
Now fittingly Director of Cricket Steve Rhodes, who featured in two of those Championship title triumphs, has ensured the 150th year will be played out in Division One of the Championship.
He was also at the helm when the county's famous fighting spirit came to the fore as we overcame the summer floods of 2007 to win the Pro40 title that year without playing a single game at New Road.
Many of the world's greatest players have graced the club – Ian Botham, Kapil Dev, Imran Khan and Glenn McGrath to name but four in recent decades.
And the likes of Tip Foster – the only person to captain England at football and cricket – Tom Graveney, Basil D'Oliveira, Glenn Turner and Graeme Hick have become New Road legends.
Even WG Grace placed for us in 1870, being recruited to play against the North of England, and he helped to clinch a two day win!
There is so much to be proud of since that meeting at the Star Hotel and the the good thing is that the future is looking bright on and off the field with new facilities such as The View and a young and talented squad – supplemented by a genius like Saeed Ajmal.
Here's to the next 150 years!
