Worcestershire's promotion: New Road academy works wonders

Worcestershire president John Elliott says that the success of the club's youth operation is a major factor behind their onfield success.

The county celebrated their fifth promotion in 12 years to Division One of the County Championship - but this one meant even more to them as it was achieved with so many homegrown players.

Two of the team that beat Surrey - skipper Daryl Mitchell and wicketkeeper Ben Cox - were born in the county, while fast bowler Charlie Morris was born just across the border in Herefordshire and they have three more who come from their catchment area - Jack Shantry, Joe Leach and Richard Oliver - from neighbouring Shropshire.

Tom Fell and Tom Kohler-Cadmore both came through the academy, while Moeen Ali and Alexei Kervezee both joined the youth set-up when they arrived at New Road as 19-year-olds.

Former Worcestershire wicketkeeper Elliott, 72, the county's reserve gloveman when they won the County Championship for the first time in 1964, later served the club as chairman before becoming president in 2013.