Worcestershire CCC's players reported back today after the festive break for the second phase of their pre-season training programme.
Skipper Daryl Mitchell and the squad spent November and most of December under the supervision of Strengthening and Conditioning coach Ross Dewar at New Road.
Now the accent will shift predominantly to the technical side of their game at the County's winter base at Malvern College.
Batsmen and bowlers will work on any parts of their skills that need fine tuning in the nets with Assistant Coach and Bowling Coach Matt Mason, Batting and Second Eleven coach Kevin Sharp and Academy Coach Elliot Wilson.
But there will still be regular S and C sessions with Dewar to ensure the fitness level of the players is maintained during the next two months.
Then phase three of the County's build-up programme will see a return to Abu Dhabi for a third successive year in early March for warm-weather training and a series of T20, 50 over and red ball matches against county opposition.
Mason will again be overseeing the squad for the next three weeks while Director Of Cricket Steve Rhodes is part of the England Lions coaching team in the UAE for five 50 over matches against Pakistan 'A'
The former Worcestershire paceman said: "Up until Christmas, the guys were working chiefly on their fitness and core strength with Ross (Dewar).
"Those areas will continue to be important but there is now more emphasis in these next two months on the batting and bowling skills.
"It is an opportunity for anyone to work on any areas of their technique they feel may need honing with the coaching staff.
"This is when players can iron out any perceived 'faults', work on things like striving for extra pace if you are a bowler etc.
"The aim is to make sure everyone feels happy with their game for when we fly out to Abu Dhabi in early March and ultimately the first County Championship match of the season against Kent in April."
