PEARS chiefs have arranged an additional two-day match against Somerset as part of their pre-season programme.
The County will be in action at the Cooper Associates County Ground, Taunton, on March 18 and 19.
They have taken advantage of an opportunity and gap which has arisen in Somerset’s pre-season preparations to slot in the extra fixture.
Club Captain Joe Leach and his players are also due to face Somerset at the same venue in a three-day fixture from March 29.
It will increase the number of warm-up days cricket for Worcestershire to ten before the opening LV=Insurance County Championship fixture with Essex at Chelmsford.
Worcestershire Cricket Steering Group Chairman, Paul Pridgeon, said: “When this opportunity came about, we were delighted and glad to step in.
“It provides more valuable and beneficial time out in the middle against quality opposition before the action starts for real.
“We will have some worthwhile practice time at Kidderminster during the next week before travelling to Somerset.”
Worcestershire’s revised pre-season programme is:
March 18, 19 – Somerset at Taunton
March 24, 25, 26 – Durham UCCE at Kidderminster
March 29, 30, 31 – Somerset at Taunton
April 2, 3 – Kent at Canterbury