PEARS skipper Daryl Mitchell insists his players are ready to handle the pressures of gaining promotion back to Specsavers County Championship Division One.
The 32-year-old batsman, who is enjoying his benefit year at the club, has said the team have enjoyed a ‘positive’ pre-season and are all healthy heading into the new campaign.
Mitchell also insists there is a lot of promise among the youngsters in the squad and expects everyone to play their part in challenging for promotion.
“It’s a blow only one team can gain promotion this year in Division Two as it obviously gives us less chance, but we’re optimistic and will be challenging for that top spot,” Mitchell said.
“The pressures we face are different now to that of previous years. When we’ve been relegated before there’s been a doom and gloom element that we would struggle to finish mid-table, but now the media and supporters expect us to bounce back and challenge at the first time of asking.
“It’s a pressure we welcome though, as everyone in the dressing room expects the same.
“I think Dolly (Brett D’Oliveira) will join me in opening the batting. Brett’s done well in pre-season and got a big ton against Oxford recently, so he’s likely to continue at the top.
“Last season Ed Barnard and Joe Clarke burst on the scene and I expect them to continue their progress this year, but I think the next batch of youngsters to potentially make an impact will be
Ben Twohig, who’s a 17-year-old left-arm spinner, and Josh Tongue, a 6ft 4in pace bowler. Keep an eye on them,” he added.
The county-born star also shared with the Observer what it has been like to play for the Pears for more than a decade.
“The benefit year has been interesting and has taken me out of my comfort zone a couple of times as I’m a cricketer, so it tests a different skill set but it’s been good fun,” he said.
“This is my 14th season at WCCC and that’s not including the five to six years I spent in the academy. My affiliation with the club goes back so far I can still remember playing for the under 11s squad. I’ve loved every minute of it.
“I’ve played with some great players throughout my time at the club, but if I had to pick one that stood out for me it would have to be Hicky (Graeme Hick).
“I idolised him growing up in the late 80s and 90s, so to actually share the batting with him is something very special to me,” he added.