Winning start fantastic for young Pears - Libby

Worcestershire are hoping to at least make it out of the One-Day Cup group again - as they did in 2023

Worcestershire have not had much to smile about in 2024 in what has so far been the most trying of seasons on and off the field.

But, as they fight the threat of relegation in the County Championship and lick their wounds from a poor T20 Blast campaign, their early form in the One-Day Cup has given renewed hope.

The Pears have won both their two Group A games, one of five sides still with 100% records, including Derbyshire, who they visit on Friday, and Midlands neighbours Warwickshire, who have won their first three in Group B.

But the Pears have nothing like the squad depth enjoyed by the more affluent Bears - and, facing injury concerns and the loss of Adam Hose to the Men's Hundred, they had to make four temporary new signings, just to be able to put out a competitive side in the One-Day Cup.

"This is what this competition is all about," said Pears vice-captain Jake Libby, who is skippering the side in the absence of the injured Brett D'Oliveira.

"It can be tough, with all the injuries we've had but it's given guys an opportinity. We came in with a lot of injuries but it's given the chance for people to put their hands up and make a claim.

"So to win two from two on the back of that is a fantastic start. Despite all our injuries, we're still in it to win it, we've still got a competitive squad and we'll look to build on that," he told BBC Hereford & Worcester.

With D'Oliveira nursing a shoulder problem, retiring former captain Joe Leach not expected to figure until a planned September swansong after knee trouble and Hose on Hundred duty, Worcestershire brought in three National Counties players on short-term deals.

Berkshire's ex-Cornwall seamer Tommy Sturgess, Staffordshire left-armer Hishaam Khan and Oxfordshire spinner Tom Hinley all signed, followed by a fourth, Nottinghamshire spinner Fateh Singh.

Along with Rehaan Edavalath, who had only played one Championship game the previous summer, and two more Shropshire discoveries, Jack Home, who had played just one T20 game the previous week, and teenage paceman Harry Darley, who had made four T20 appearances, that added up to six List A debutants for the young Pears in their opening 183-run steamrollering of Middlesex.

Home, Darley and Sturgess all took three wickets, then former England Under-19s slow left-armer Singh hit 60 and took 1-22, while Hinley finished with 5-56 in the Pears' 93-run win Durham.

Tom Hinley's 5-56 against Durham was his first 'five-fer' in senior cricket

"I've played a few games for the twos with Tommy and seen how well he can do," said Libby. "He's got his opportunity and he bowled really well.

"I couldn't be more pleased for him. He's got good variation and a googly and he's taken his chance with both hands."

"It was unbelievable really," said Hinley, who has had two years outside the first-class ranks with Sussex, for whom he made one appearance in 2021.

"I was just hoping to be able to have a bowl and to get a wicket so that I could say that I had got a professional wicket. And I got bit lucky with the first two.

"The first was an unbelievable catch from Ethan Brookes. It’s always useful if someone takes a catch like that to get your first wicket - but the other three I was quite happy with as they were good balls.”

Worcestershire first spotted him on winter nets duty at Loughborough University, where assistant Pears coach Richard Jones was on a coaching course. And, in the wake of the sad passing of Josh Baker in May, there is a now gap in the Pears' spnning resources.

"It has been tough at times," said Hinley. "But, being at university at Loughborough you are around a lot of counties, playing with a lot of players who are contracted to counties. So, I was always hopeful. But it was more hope than expectation that I would get back in.”