WORCESTERSHIRE director of cricket Steve Rhodes has defended the club’s policy of developing homegrown talent for the benefit of Worcestershire and England.
Daryl Mitchell, Brett D’Oliveira, Tom Fell, Joe Clarke, George Rhodes, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Ben Cox, Joe Leach, Ed Barnard and Charlie Morris had all come through the New Road pathway into the team for the County’s last game of the summer with Sussex.
The only exception in the XI at Hove last week was West Indies paceman Miguel Cummins, who bowled superbly in taking 12 wickets in the game as Worcestershire won by 11 runs.
Worcestersire have provided five England Under-19 players, two Lions plus Test and ODI player Moeen Ali to the international set-up this summer plus a raft of players for the Bunburys and Super Four festivals at Under-15 and Under-17 level.
It is a contrast to the approach of some counties who opt to parade several different nationalities.
Rhodes said: “Some counties have got guys from all sorts of countries and it’s been really tough at times for Worcestershire because we’ve not got just a young side but very much an English team playing sometimes against many overseas players.
“We are trying to stick to our guns and trying to do it the right way by English cricket.
“We want our lads to try and grow and have opportunities in major batting and bowling spots and wicket-keeping spots and try and get them good enough to play for England.
“I’m a very proud Englishman and I want England to do well, I desperately want Worcestershire to do well but we are trying our best to do it in a fashion involving English players.
“It doesn’t mean to say we will not deter a little bit away.
“It might happen one day but at the moment we are trying our best to stick to our policy which is trying to produce them and having English players playing county cricket.”