Worcestershire Rapids head coach Alex Gidman has encouraged his side to embrace their status as T20 Blast holders on the eve of their T20 Blast opener.
Worcestershire Rapids open their campaign on July 18 away to Nottinghamshire before they host rivals Warwickshire one day later.
The change in formats comes after going winless in seven County Championship matches as the Pears languish in ninth.
The county will be hoping that they do not carry over that form to the T20 Blast, a competition that they won last year.
Speaking on the subject of winning the T20 Blast last year Gidman said that he hoped the players embrace their status as champions.
“Does being champions add to the pressure? Certainly not. We’ve got to embrace the fact and enjoy what we achieved last year,” Gidman said.
“I want the lads to enjoy being champions and try our utmost to get there again. Nothing would please me or the lads more than to replicate what we achieved last year.
“We should not be scared to talk about it. It is certainly nothing to be scared of. We are a very good white ball team.”
Worcestershire also announced their thirteen man squad for their opening two T20 Blast fixtures.
The squad includes exciting top-order batting with the likes of Moeen Ali available as well as World Cup finalist Martin Guptill.
Other batting talents include the returning Australian Callum Ferguson and former Nottinghamshire batsman Riki Wessels.
With such batting talent it is unsurprising that Gidman says Worcestershire’s confidence in white-ball cricket is high.
“Our white ball confidence is high even though we haven’t played a game yet and I know the lads are itching to get going.”
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