Worcestershire Director of Cricket Steve Rhodes gives his reaction after the five wicket defeat by Nottinghamshire in the LV = County Championship at New Road today.
Question: A good scrap but you needed early wickets this morning?
Steve Rhodes: "Yes, James Taylor and Riki Wessels again played very well. By the time they both got out, they had practically got the runs they required so it was a very solid batting performance from Notts in the end.
"If we come look back on the game and look at both first innings, I think there were good opportunities for adding 40-50 runs in our total and maybe taking 40-50 runs off their total.
"Add them up together and you can get the cushion you need to win on the fourth innings."
Question: You've been competitive again?
Steve Rhodes: "Nearly every game we've fought hard. I know opposition have found it hard to break us and we've had times when we've slackened off.
"But again we talked about how the lads worked at Yorkshire and it's the same here. It's another team where we are playing against six international players and we've one in Saeed Ajmal.
"We are outnumbered in that sense but I can't fault these young blokes. They are trying so hard and if we keep that up and start doing more of the right things in our first innings, then I can see us finishing the season strongly.
"If we can get two wins out of these last four games, which is very possible, and if they maintain that effort level and start doing the right things, a few decisions will go our way and hopefully we will come away with the points."
Question: It's about taking opportunities and Ross Whiteley has done well since you brought him back into the team?
Steve Rhodes: "You look at the season he's had really, he's been excellent. His one-day form has been unbelievable. He is a terrific striker of the ball.
"First innings here, he got a good ball on 30 and he'd done all the hard work and he showed he doesn't have to blast his way to get his eye in and start his innings.
"He showed he can do that in a composed manner and he did that second innings."
Question: With Alex Gidman back in form, you've got another experienced player in your middle order?
Steve Rhodes: "We were all desperate for him to get a century and he got to 71 and he felt hard done by.
"But those are the little things that if they can go your way, then you get a batter who has got a hundred, you get another 40-50 runs in the first innings and that goes a long way towards cushioning it when you need it on day four."
