Thursday, July 13th, 2017

Rapids Have “free Rein To Enjoy Themselves” On Return To T20 Blast Action

Rapids Have “free Rein To Enjoy Themselves” On Return To T20 Blast Action

Director Of Cricket Steve Rhodes says Worcestershire Rapids have "a free sort of rein to enjoy themselves" now the attention switches solely to the NatWest T20 Blast for the next three weeks.

Worcestershire will have little time to make the transition from Specsavers County Championship cricket back into the short format of the game after yesterday's draw with Gloucestershire at Cheltenham.

They take on Leicestershire Foxes at New Road tomorrow evening in the second of four successive home games to start the North Group programme.

The County's players will have today off to recharge their batteries before looking to bounce back from last week's opening defeat by Birmingham Bears.

Rhodes said: "Is it difficult playing a four-dayer in middle of the T20 Blast? Yes and no. You just get used to that. As a professional cricketer, you need your different hats on and you need to make sure you put the right one on for the right occasion!

"We are back to T20 and I've spoken to the boys about having some fun over this next two and a half weeks.

"We are a side who people enjoy to watch, and they enjoy playing together, and are going into the games with quite a free sort of rein to enjoy themselves.

"I think the lads will respond to that and we are looking forward to Friday.

"We had planned on some practice today (Thursday) but the lads are going to have a day off.

"The lads are a little bit cooked and freshening up for this group of players is important because this group of players (in the Championship) are also our T20 group."