PICKING my favourite story of 2016 has been especially challenging when you consider the great sporting events of the last 12 months.
Worcestershire County Cricket Club’s Moeen Ali became an integral part of the England side which reached the final of the ICC World Twenty20, Worcester Warriors’ Ben Te’o made his England debut in the Autumn Internationals and the city gained a Vitality Netball Superleague franchise – the Severn Stars.
University of Worcester student Matthew Hudson-Smith reached the final of the Men’s 400 metres at the Olympic Games in Rio and Worcester City continue to deliver high quality football.
However, one particular story springs to mind.
Back in early July, Pears batsman Tom Fell made his return to the club’s first team after recovering from cancer.
Not only was that a great feat in itself, but the 23-year-old smashed his way to a half-century – truly remarkable.
Aaron Wise
BRAVE Worcestershire batsman Tom Fell made a half-century against Leicestershire in Specsavers County Championship Division Two on his return to the first team after recovering from cancer.
The 22-year-old scored 61 on an emotional first team comeback for the Pears on day two at New Road after missing the start of the season following chemotherapy treatment for testicular cancer.
Fell, who has been itching to regain his place in the first team since being given the all-clear at the end of May, hit 11 fours off 114 balls before eventually being caught by Ned Eckersley off Ben Raine.
It was his first appearance since scoring a career-best 171 in the final Championship match of last season against Middlesex at New Road – an innings that took him past 1,000 runs for the campaign.
After Leicestershire were bowled out for an impressive 407 in their first innings, Worcestershire replied with skipper Daryl Mitchell scoring 52 before being run out.
Thanks to Fell’s half-century and a solid 90 by all-rounder Joe Leach, the Pears went onto win the match by three wickets.
