Rhodes: Important To Hit Ground Running On Championship Return

Steve Rhodes says it is important for Worcestershire to hit the ground running when they return to Specsavers County Championship action against Sussex at New Road today (11am start).
The County will have little time to readjust to red ball cricket after back to back NatWest T20 Blast matches against Birmingham Bears and Northamptonshire Steelbacks.
But Director Of Cricket Rhodes stressed the importance of Worcestershire starting on the right note when they resume their promotion campaign with just five games remaining.
He said: “Is it important to hit the ground running? It is because we’ve had two T20s, one on Friday and one on Saturday, so the actual red ball preparation is absolutely zilch really.
“We’ve just got to be smart, be clever, certainly put that different hat on and make sure we start that game really well because it’s a big game.
“Sussex are a good side, a First Division side in many ways, and certainly at times this year have played like that.
“They’ve got a powerful bowling unit with a bit of pace and we’ve got to certainly play our ‘A’ game to defeat them and that’s what we will try and do.
“We are in a good position but five games left, that’s 120 points, there are a lot of points up for grabs and we will know more by the end of August.”
Worcestershire were beaten in the fixture at Hove where the toss proved a crucial factor.
Rhodes said: “We got the toss wrong down there. The wicket sadly went up and there and by the time Wells scored a big score against us, then it was going to be difficult.
“But we did fight hard and it is nice to know we can fight hard.”