Daryl Mitchell has revealed Worcestershire’s determination to ensure that this year’s Vitality Blast triumph is not a one-off success.
The opening batsman, a survivor from the County’s previous trophy success in 2007, said the squad and CEO Matt Rawnsley spoke immediately after the Blast finals day glory at Edgbaston about using it as a “stepping stone” to winning more silverware.
Mitchell feels no-one can dispute that Worcestershire were “the best white ball team in the country” in 2018 and that the recruitment of Wayne Parnell and Riki Wessels on long term deals means they will be an even stronger force next summer.
Mitchell said: “With the 2007 side, that won the Pro40 League, we just got on a roll. I don’t think we were anywhere near the best white ball team in the country that year.
“We just got a bit of momentum, won six out of the first seven games with one abandoned and won the league.
“This side, I think, are proven over two years in T20 and certainly 50 over cricket and certainly this year we were the stand-out white ball team in the country without a shadow of a doubt.
“I don’t think anyone can argue with that. The way we won the North Group in the 50 over and T20 respectively over eight and 14 games was no fluke, simple as that.
“Then the way we performed on finals day at Edgbaston, I don’t think anyone could argue that we didn’t deserve to win that competition.
“We beat two very good sides who were at full strength with very good bowling attacks in Lancashire and Sussex.”
Mitchell added: “After winning the T20, everyone said in the dressing room afterwards ‘make sure this is just the start’.
“The players, coaches, the CEO, said that we want this to be a stepping stone to winning more silverware and also in more conversations moving on from that night in debriefs, season reviews, and where we are moving forward to.
“The club has shown its intent with the signing of Wayne (Parnell) certainly strengthens us and allows us to focus on a batter or batters in T20.
“He will be a big boost with his experience and obviously Riki (Wessels) is a quality signing.
“I think we are in a stronger place going into next year than we are this year.
“Some of the younger guys also have a year’s cricket under their belt and will learn from the experiences they’ve had in a lot of big games, the likes of Pat Brown and, at times, Dillon Pennington. You also forget how young Ed Barnard is still.
“Hopefully these guys can go from strength to strength next year and, with the signings we’ve made, we are in a really good place.”
