On the eve of the highly anticipated Rothesay County Championship clash with Middlesex at Lord’s, we are taking a trip through the archives back to the last time Worcestershire ventured to the Home of Cricket.
This takes us back to September 2021, where a COVID affected season resulted in an adjusted County Championship format, with the 18 first-class Counties split across three Divisions, competing for the Bob Willis Trophy.
Worcestershire travelled to Middlesex late in the summer, searching for a strong finish to their campaign, with 18-year-old Josh Baker producing a memorable individual cameo for the Pears.
Having won the toss, Captain Joe Leach opted to bowl first, a decision that was vindicated just 51 overs later as the visitors bundled Middlesex out for just 144.
On an overcast opening day, a rampant Pears seam attack prospered, with Dylan Pennington, Ed Barnard and Charlie Morris all supporting the skipper by taking scalps.
Barnard (4-43) returned the best figures for his team, whilst there were three wickets for Leach himself, two for the impressive Pennington and one for young Morris.
A top-order collapse that saw Worcestershire reduced to 44-6 meant the momentum of the match turned on its head, however.
With Gareth Roderick (42) the only top-order batter to make any sort of headway, the onus fell on the away side’s tail to dig them out of a precarious position.
Joe Leach (21) and Charlie Morris (20) both played valiant support roles as teenager Josh Baker scored a superb 61, in a punchy counterattack that edged his team in front.
Striking 10 fours and a solitary six, Worcestershire’s prodigy at number 10 reached a glorious half century from just 45 balls, taking the rapturous applause of those in Pears colours shortly before the innings was ended with the away side in front by just 27 runs.
It was Morris who would steal the headlines during Middlesex’s second innings with a majestic spell of bowling that saw him record exceptional figures of 6-52, supported by Leach (2-35), but the hosts’ middle-order stood firm to steer their side towards 250.
Contributions from Holden (46), Andersson (45), Simpson (59) and Hollman (46) guided Middlesex through the bowling charge from the visitors, who were set 220 to win the match heading into the fourth innings.
For the second time in the match, it was Roderick who led the way for the Pears, top scoring with an attritional 42 from 77 balls, but the batter was left to his own devices, with only Barnard (28) making a score of note.
Despite a valiant effort from the pears, showing excellent fight to stay in the low-scoring affair, it was Middlesex who had the last laugh, dismissing the Pears for a modest 119 and inflicting a 101-run defeat on Worcestershire in the process.
Those travelling to Lord’s this week will be hoping the script looks slightly different five years on, with the spirit of Josh Baker sure to be looking over his Worcestershire teammates when they take to the field on Friday morning in search of a first win of the new Division Two season.
