WORCESTERSHIRE keeper Ben Cox admitted scoring his first century in two years was ‘a monkey off my back’ after his ton against Gloucestershire in Specsavers County Championship Division Two.
Cox had gone to the middle when Worcestershire were in trouble at 69-4 on day two, in reply to Gloucestershire’s 383 all out, on a wicket offering ample encouragement to the bowlers.
But he responded by making a career-best 124 and shared in a crucial stand of 141 with George Rhodes (52) to rescue the visitors at Cheltenham.
It was the third century of his first class career, following tons against Hampshire in 2014 and Somerset the following season.
The wicket-keeper batsman reached his century off 136 balls, which included two sixes, when he drove Liam Norwell for his 17th four.
Having moved up the batting order to six, Cox admitted he was never in doubt he would score 100 runs despite initially struggling to adjust to the pace of the pitch.
“It was good fun actually. I enjoy those situations where you go into bat and you’re struggling a bit,” said the 25-year-old.
“They always seem to get the best out of me and get up for it that ten per cent more. I thrive on those situations, so that will be my best hundred in terms of batsmanship.
“It wasn’t too pretty to start off with. It was one of those wickets where it was quite hard to time for your first 30 balls, quite hard to get used to the pace of the pitch, the bounce.
“But I didn’t feel at any stage I was going to get out below 100.
“Sometimes it happens like that for you. I got a bit of a top edge early on and it went over fine leg for six, so it’s one of those days where stuff like that went my way.
“Fortunately it was a chanceless one so I’m really pleased with that. It’s a monkey off my back. I’ve been trying desperately to spend more time at the crease.
“Moving up the order to six, hopefully this is a sign of more to come,” he added.