WORCESTERSHIRE batsman Ross Whiteley is confident he can reproduce his emphatic big hitting of last year ahead of the county’s opening T20 match.
The Rapids welcome Durham Jets to New Road this Friday (May 20) in the opening game of this year’s NatWest T20 Blast.
And Whiteley is hoping his side can finally reach finals day at Edgbaston after missing out on three times in the past four years.
The Pears fell to Yorkshire at Headingley by 29 runs in 2012, despite an unbeaten 80 off 53 balls by the late Phil Hughes.
In 2014, the New Road side travelled to The Oval where an explosive half-century from Jason Roy helped Surrey to a three-wicket victory in the quarter-final.
Rapids players and fans suffered heartbreak last year when Hampshire emerge victorious by 17 runs, despite Worcestershire securing their first-ever home quarter-final.
Whiteley’s big hitting was a feature of the Rapids’ run to the quarter-finals last year.
After nearly winning the home clash with the Nottinghamshire Outlaws, Whiteley smashed 11 maximums in his 91 not out off 35 balls against Yorkshire, the most by a Worcestershire player in T20 cricket.
Going into this year’s tournament, Whiteley has a strike rate of 149.82 and has hit 56 sixes in 42 T20 innings.
“Playing T20 cricket in Worcester is always special and another home quarter-final would be fantastic for the club,” said the 27-year-old. “The players really enjoy the tournament and strive to finally get to that finals day at Edgbaston.
“It’s going to be an exciting summer and I think we’ve got a really good T20 squad. Hopefully I can help the Rapids with some big hitting like last year.
“Everyone who was at the quarter-final game against Hampshire had a great time and provided an amazing atmosphere.
“Obviously the weather dampened it a little bit, but it was probably the best atmosphere I’ve ever played in front of.”
Rapids’ T20 clash with the Jets starts at 5.30pm.
The following Friday (May 27), they visit Edgbaston to play Birmingham Bears.