WORCESTERSHIRE director of cricket, Steve Rhodes, believes the group of players not involved in his side’s County Championship draw with Hampshire can help freshen up the squad for tonight’s (Friday) NatWest T20 Blast clash at Derbyshire.
Richard Oliver, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Colin Munro, Gareth Andrew, Chris Russell and Brett D’Oliveira did not feature against promotion rivals Hampshire at New Road this week and are part of the Rapids 12 man party.
Rhodes said he felt the other players needed to rest up and recharge their batteries after a recent hectic programme and being in the field for more than two days against Hampshire.
“The guys needed desperately to rest up on Thursday, which is what we spoke about, and try and recharge the batteries of the guys who are going to be playing on Friday,”
“There are a few guys coming into contention for that T20 spot that will have been rested up so they will be fresh and that is quite a nice position to be in when we dovetail in some of the players.
“It just gives the guys who play all of the games some energy.”
Rhodes added this season’s schedule has been hectic but insists it is the same for all teams – and worse for some.
“It’s been quite heavy the workload, but it is the same for all teams,” he said.
“It’s probably worse for some of the teams with some of the travelling you have to do from Durham, Kent, Essex, Hampshire, Somerset.
“Some of the travelling is quite extreme so I think of the positive and we are in the Midlands and there is a little bit less travel.”
Worcestershire currently top the North Group and will be looking for a fifth successive win in the competition this evening.
Rapids squad for the Derbyshire Falcons game (7pm start):
Oliver, Mitchell, Kohler-Cadmore, Munro, Whiteley, Andrew, Cox, Kervezee, Shantry, Ajmal, Russell, D’Oliveira.
