PEARS fast bowler Jack Shantry insists if the club reach the T20 finals day and mount a serious promotion challenge it would be a successful year.
The experienced New Road regular, who picked up four wickets in the first innings against rivals Gloucestershire in their Specsavers County Championship Division Two clash, believes the young squad have scrapped the underdog tag and are now itching to prove themselves across all formats of the game.
The 28-year-old also admits his own personal aim is to take 50 wickets in this year’s County Championship.
“I think all the boys have got a good spirit heading into the new campaign and we’re looking forward to getting back on track after relegation last year,” Shantry said.
“With only one team getting promoted hopefully we can start strongly and put ourselves in contention to get back into Division One. I think only one team going up is a necessary evil, but if we win three to four games in our first six we’ll be right up there. You don’t want to be playing catch up in Division Two.
“We’ve come close to advancing to the T20 finals in the last few years but have fell just short. After the way it finished last year against Hampshire we all feel there are some wrongs to be righted, so we’ll be going out with fire in our belly ready to prove the doubters wrong again.
“Personally, I’m very lucky to have gone through my career without missing a game due to injury which is something I’m very proud of and hope to continue this year.
“The benchmark for most fast bowlers is to take 50 wickets in a County Championship season and I’ve achieved that two years in a row now. To make it three is my primary aim,” he added.
Shantry also believes the overseas signings of Matt Henry and Mitchell Santner will bring something new to the bowling attack.
“I back Henry to do very well this season. He’s got a lot of international pedigree and with his pace I think he’ll really bolster our firepower with the ball,” he added.
“And we saw how well Santner bowled in the T20 World Cup for New Zealand. I think he was one of the best spinners in the tournament and he can bat as well which is a bonus.”