One of the most heartening sights for Worcestershire supporters has been the encouraging return to first team action of paceman Charlie Morris during the past few games.
Morris had taken 96 County Championship wickets in the past two seasons and played an important role in the 2014 promotion campaign.
He has experienced a challenging time during the first half of the 2016 season and has undergone a slight remodelling of his action.
But Morris has worked tirelessly to regain his form and rhythm and there have been positive signs.
Here he talks to the Worcestershire CCC website about his determination to earn back his first team place.
Question: It must be brilliant for you to be back in the first team and also taking some wickets?
Charlie Morris: "It is definitely good for the confidence and I am just delighted to be back contributing the first team and hopefully contributing in a winning way very shortly."
Question: How challenging have the last few months been for you?
Charlie Morris: "It has been a tough few months but definitely a challenge and one I've just completely thrown everything at.
"Like anything in life, if you put the hard work in and the commitment, and you are dedicated towards something, you can achieve whatever you want.
"It is really rewarding to be back in the first team the last two or three games and I'm just loving being back and, as I say, contributing to the team's effort."
Question: You've taken a lot of wickets during the last two years, how difficult was it when they dried up?
Charlie Morris: "The last couple of years have gone reasonably well and to start off the season slowly was just how it went. It was just one of those things.
"I've always tried to look forward and be positive and now the hard work has been put in – and it is still continuing to be put in – and now that I'm at this stage, I'm really looking forward to having a busy back-end of the season and helping us get promoted and to get through to the quarter-finals in the 50 over competition."
Question: Do you feel in your own mind now that you are in the position where you can contribute positively?
Charlie Morris: "Absolutely. I feel in a real good place and I've got to thank a lot of the coaches for their commitment and hard work that they've put in, and trust.
"I could name a few of them but they know exactly who they are – Mase, Bumpy, Kevin Sharp, Giff and Tony Ghaye has come in, our club psycologist, and he has done some really good work over the last few weeks with me which has been incredibly helpful and important and made a really big impact this last four weeks.
"He is very different to other psycologists I've worked with but this whole positive element is brilliant and helps you with your game and just to crack on – and that's what I'm looking forward to doing now.
"I'm just delighted to be back playing cricket, and continuing to work hard, and just enjoying being back playing for the first team."
Question: Is it inevitable in a career to have ups and downs?
Charlie Morris: "Absolutely. Everyone does in their career. Even in life. It's great having success but you learn a lot more about yourself and your game and about how to deal with things when you are at the bottom of a low.
"That's the stuff you can really build on to help you cope with tough situations in the future. Of course, to have some success in the past two years has been brilliant.
"When you have a slight low like this, there is no clear pathway to the top. I think in any sports, all athletes who have got to the top have their little ups and downs.
"It's just part of it and makes you stronger.
"I feel real positive moving forward but again I need to continue working hard and that is something I'll continue doing."
Question: People would not have seen you in at the ground bowling and working at eight o'clock in the morning?
Charlie Morris: "There is a correlation between hard work and results and there is no other way about it. You can't get results by taking short cuts and I'm a believer if you set your mind to anything, you can do it, you can overcome it. Everything is in the mind.
"Whatever the challenge of a situation is, whether it is in sport or not, as long as you have a positive mindset and you work smartly but with real dedication and belief, you always get the end result you want."
