Worcestershire First Team Coach Alex Gidman says there is still plenty to play for in the Specsavers County Championship and that the team putting together a string of results heading into the final leg of the season can secure a promotion spot.
The County will be looking to take the positivity and confidence gained from the Vitality Blast victory over Notts Outlaws into tomorrow’s Championship fixture with Gloucestershire at Cheltenham.
It represents Worcestershire – and Gloucestershire’s – game in hand on the rest of the division and a chance to climb into the battle for promotion
Only 29 points separate the third and ninth placed teams in a fiercely fought division.
Gidman said: “Although we have had a rough patch, the table is still very tight.
“It is a question of which team is going to string together two or three wins going into the back end of the season.
“We have to believe we can do that and see where it takes us. There is still a huge amount to fight for.
“I still believe we’ve got a good enough team to go on a little run, maybe string a couple of victories together, and you never know where that is going to take you.
“We are not a million miles away from turning around the Championship season. “That’s what we will hold onto and there is still plenty to play for we are and looking forward to those challenges this week and in a couple of weeks time against Northants.”
Gidman added: “Everyone is aware we’ve had a tough couple of weeks but the atmosphere and spirit within the group has still been amazing.
“That’s never in question with these guys. They are a great bunch of lads and pros and that team spirit is never far away.
“The T20 came at the right time and hopefully it might spark just that little bit of confidence to crack on in the Championship as well.”
Gidman played at Cheltenham for many years as a Gloucestershire player and says it is an occasion to be relished.
He said: “The festival was something I thoroughly enjoyed. It was a wonderful time of the season for the Gloucestershire players.
“It will be a little bit strange going back there as the opposing coach. It was somewhere I loved playing so much so I know how much fun we will have down there.
“It’s a great atmosphere and well supported and I’m sure there will be plenty of Worcestershire supporters down there as well to add to the atmosphere.
“It’s a beautiful place to watch cricket. It’s a lovely setting, it’s generally a good cricket wicket. It’s got that hum and buzz around it with the corporate tents which makes it a really enjoyable place to play and watch cricket.”
Worcestershire have announced a 12 strong squad which shows one change from the side which was in action in the last Championship match against Durham at the Emirates Riverside.
Wayne Parnell has recovered from a hamstring injury after missing the last two Championship matches and comes into the squad for Josh Dell.
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Worcestershire (batting order to be finalised):
Mitchell
Wessels
Ferguson
D’Oliveira
Whiteley
Barnard
Cox (w)
Parnell
Leach (c)
Morris
Pennington
Finch
