TALENTED batsman Joe Clarke has been backed to rediscover his ability to notch big scores by Worcestershire director of cricket Steve Rhodes.
The Pears chief said it was ‘only a matter of time’ before the runs start piling again up for the ‘immensely talented’ 21-year-old.
Rhodes said he is confident a big score is around the corner from Clarke, who was Worcestershire’s highest scorer in the Specsavers County Championship in 2016 with 1,200 runs including five hundreds.
Clarke has made several promising contributions during the current campaign with six scores between 33 and 56 in all competitions.
Rhodes said: “Joe is hitting the ball well and what is pleasing is he is one of our best batters and other people are dove-tailing around him.
“It is a matter of time. There is a big score around the corner. He is a guy with immense talent and the runs will certainly come.”
Rhodes is also confident Clarke will regain his England Lions spot if he scores a weight of runs during the upcoming fixtures.
Clarke was left out of the squad for the three one-dayers versus South Africa ‘A’.
“Generally most people want to play for England and the stepping stone of Lions cricket is something to nail,” Rhodes said.
“Joe can only nail that by getting his chance to do that. He has been left out for the next round of games but I really don’t think that matters too much.
“If he gets runs over the next few weeks, he will be back in.
“I know for a fact if you were to play in every Lions fixture, you’d miss three Championship games.
“There are only 14 and it’s a huge chunk if you play all the Lions cricket so I would imagine the selectors will share it around a little bit to make sure the lads are still playing a reasonable amount of county cricket.”