alan richardson is “delighted” to have returned to worcestershire where he admits to playing the best cricket of his career.
richardson enjoyed a golden spell where he picked up more than 250 county championship wickets in four seasons before moving as head bowling coach to warwickshire.
he achieved one of the highlights of his career when he was named a wisden cricketer of the year in 2012.
now he is back at New Road as part of the restructured coaching set-up and relishing the challenges ahead with the current squad – many of whom are ex team-mates.
he said: “i’m very excited. i’m just delighted to have to have the opportunity to come back. as a player, worcestershire probably provides my fondest memories, of playing here at worcester.
“but the opportunity to come back is really exciting. we have got an exciting group of players and for me, it brings back such happy memories.
“it is a really great place to come back and work.
“i got really excited driving up to malvern college for the first day back (training after christmas).
“i’ve come back to familiar surroundings and know a lot of people who have really made me feel welcome.”
the modest richardson, when viewing his playing career at worcestershire, said: “batsman were just unlucky against me when i played here!
“i played my best cricket here, without a shadow of a doubt, and it’s where i enjoyed my cricket the most.
“i was really fortunate to be given the chance to play here. we all know the beautiful surroundings but the club itself is such a nice club to come and play at.
“it helped me feel really relaxed and really confident in what i was doing.”
in terms of the wisden award, richardson said: “it was a massive honour. i started my career having dreams and aspirations, playing for your country, and winning awards and trophies.
“my career hadn’t quite panned out that way although playing first class cricket was a real honour and privilege to do in itself.
“but to get recognition like that especially towards the end of my career was amazing really.
“i’ve a lot of things to thank worcestershire for and that was one of them, to give me the opportunity. i probably didn’t do everything that i was hoping to do (in my career) but to get that award was amazing.”
*read a question and answer session with alan richardson on the worcestershire ccc website during the next few days.
