THE RAPIDS are set to rise at New Road this summer after Worcestershire CCC confirmed a new nickname for the Natwest T20 Blast competition.
Daryl Mitchell’s men will take to the field as the Worcestershire Rapids for the new-look competition as club chiefs recognise the annual floods which blight New Road.
The club also hope the name will be synonymous with a brand of cricket they hope to produce.
This year’s effort will be boosted by the arrival of Pakistani spinner Saeed Ajmal, the second best T20 bowler in the world according to the latest rankings.
Worcestershire opted to drop the ‘Royals’ part of their branding last season as it clashed with the name intended to be used in the short form of the game by Hampshire.
Business Development Director Jon Graham said: “We thought of a name that combines the regular floods with the fast-paced style of cricket that is synonymous with NatWest T20 Blast.
“We will be pushing the brand out everywhere and hopefully over the summer you will see the Rapids name all over the city, be it a replica shirt, T-shirt, hat, whatever.”