Worcestershire’s policy of giving home grown youth a chance to develop and flourish has come in for lavish praise from CRICINFO’s respected writer George Dobell.
The County fielded TEN Academy products during the six wicket win over Leicestershire at New Road which has taken them to the brink of promotion in the Specsavers County Championship.
Only Indian star Ravichandran Ashwin – the designated overseas player – did not progress through the ranks at New Road of the side which earned an eighth Championship win of the season.
Dobell says the English game “should be grateful” for the road Worcestershire are going down compared to some other counties.
He writes: “While some clubs look for their cheque book when they require a player, Worcestershire look to their youth teams.
“The England management and selectors talk of Steve Rhodes (Director Of Cricket) as the most helpful and committed of all county coaches, one of the few who never questions why a player might be called into a Lions squad or rested from a key match.
“He, and the likes of the academy coach Elliot Wilson are producing players who could serve their club and country with distinction.
“For that, the entire English game should be grateful. Promotion seems a just reward.”
