Ed Barnard is striving to build on his personal success during the 2017 campaign with the aim of “scoring more runs and taking more wickets” as he prepares for the challenge of Specsavers County Championship Division One cricket.
The 22-year-old all-rounder was voted Worcestershire Supporters’ Association Player Of The Year after polling 50 per cent of the votes.
Barnard scored 580 Championship runs at an average of 36.25 batting in the lower order and was joint second highest wicket-taker with 47 at 25.25.
It was another year of outstanding progress in his development for the former England Under-19 player.
Barnard said: “I think personally last season could not have gone too much better really.
“When we spoke at the start of the season, I said I wanted to score more runs – and I did that – and I wanted to take more wickets and be more threatening with the ball – and I did that as well.
“For me, it’s now just kicking on again and scoring more runs and taking more wickets again in what is going to be a tougher division.
“Is building on that success a key factor? Definitely, especially now with us going up into Division One.
“It is going to be tougher cricket and if I can replicate or even go better with my performances in that division, hopefully it might help to get noticed and help us again as a team.”
On being voted Supporters’ Association Player Of The Year, Barnard said: “Obviously it shows that people respect the work I put in and some of the performances I put in last season.
“To be rewarded for that is nice and thank you to everyone who voted for me.
“But obviously the big thing for me was getting promoted and I was more than happy with that. The other rewards I got were a bit of a bonus.”
