Match Details VS Kent
Rothesay County Championship Division Two: Worcestershire v Kent
Venue: New Road, Worcestershire
Date: Friday 24th April
Scheduled start time: 11am
Match preview sponsored by MSN Pharmacy Group.
On the back of a thrilling three day win against Middlesex a fortnight ago, Worcestershire are looking to continue their impressive start to the season as they welcome Kent to New Road in a highly anticipated first home fixture of 2026.
A hard-fought final day draw away at Derbyshire was followed up by a memorable performance at Lord’s, meaning the Pears return to Division Two action at home looking to maintain their unbeaten start to the campaign.
The Latest
Bolstered by the recent confirmation that seamer Oliver Hannon-Dalby has extended his loan deal for a further four rounds of Rothesay County Championship action, the Pears will be hoping that the opening bowler can continue his fine start to life in Worcestershire colours having taken six-wickets in the most recent outing at Lord’s.
Head Coach Alan Richardson also confirmed that overseas signing Beyers Swanepoel has been training with the squad after a delayed start to the season, with the bowling all-rounder expected to make his first appearance for the Club in the curtain raiser at New Road this week.
Elsewhere, Dan Lategan will be looking to continue his fine form that has seen the young opener score back-to-back half-centuries in the opening sways of the season, forming a formidable opening partnership with Vice Captain Jake Libby.
Inside The Camp
“It is a special place to play”: Adam Hose eager for long-awaited New Road return
It has been a whirlwind year for Worcestershire star Adam Hose, who is loving life back on the pitch, with the batter this week in line to make his first competitive appearance at New Road for almost nine months.
An instrumental part of the Pears squad, Hose has slotted back into the Worcestershire side at the start of 2026 and is enjoying playing his part in what has been a bright start to the new campaign.
Saving the game after having their backs up against the wall away at Derbyshire, before producing a clinical all-round performance to win at Lord’s, Hose says the team is high on confidence heading into round three of the Rothesay County Championship.
“We definitely would have taken this start after two games, a couple of weeks ago, with one win and one draw. I think the team as a whole will take a lot of confidence, but there have been many personal performances along the way that have led us. Overall, the group is feeling pretty confident.
“The first two days against Derbyshire, we felt we weren’t quite up to our standards. We addressed that. Although a win was out of the question, we showed great character, which this team does consistently.
“Going to Lord’s last week and coming away with a win is a great feeling. It’s a great start for the team. Wins at the home of cricket are rare, so the boys will really treasure that heading into the rest of the championship block.”
Hose started the year in fine fettle, reminding everyone of his capabilities at number four with a fine half-century away at Derbyshire in the opening match of the season, before helping his side to a 19-point victory a week later in London.
After an early-season bye week, Hose explained that Worcestershire’s batting group has made a conscious effort to prepare thoroughly ahead of their return to New Road this weekend.
“Preparation will look slightly different this week. Everyone must focus on what they do well and how they score runs, because that is the aim of the game.
“A lot of conversations will be had or have been had around that, so we will approach it with an open mind. As a batting unit and as a team, we must get our heads around it. We want to use that as our home advantage.
“It’s been nice to spend a little bit of time in the middle, especially in those two innings against Derbyshire, but on the whole, I am just very happy to be back out on the park and looking forward to contributing some runs to the team.
Friday will be a poignant day for Hose, not only as it marks the Pears’ first home game of the season, but more significantly, it will bring an end to the 33-year-old’s nine-month absence from the place he calls home.
Having endured a long winter of rehabilitation and recovery, the man set to make his 76th appearance in Worcestershire colours is brimming with excitement at the thought of stepping back out onto the pitch.
“It was a long eight months, but moments like last week, when you win on day three at Lord’s and can enjoy a moment on the balcony with the lads, kind of make all that hard work you go through during a long-term injury worthwhile, because all those hard times feel like a distant memory.
“It’s really great to be back out there batting, and I’m looking forward to hopefully coming into some good form in these next few weeks at New Road.
“It’s a really special and historic place to play cricket where you get a real sort of traditional county cricket feel from the place, and hopefully we can put in a good performance to make it two in a row.”
The Opposition
Captain: Daniel Bell-Drummond
Table position: 7th
One to watch: Sam Northeast
On the back of a chastening few days in their most recent fixture at home to Northamptonshire, Kent will be looking for a marked improvement with the ball after Northamptonshire made a mammoth 684-2 in a record-breaking couple of days at Canterbury.
Salvaging a draw ensured this week’s visitors to New Road did not leave empty handed, but with plenty of stars within their ranks, hopes will be high of securing a first win of 2026.
Central to those aspirations is middle-order linchpin and recent returnee, Sam Northeast.
A veteran of the County circuit, the 36-year-old former Club Captain has already showed signs of his best form this month, with scores of 69 against Northants and 94 in round one against Durham a timely reminder to the Worcestershire bowlers that they will have to be at their best if they are to keep Kent’s key man quiet.
Squad vs Kent
