Jake Libby was full of praise after his side showed “glimpses of their best” in their opening fixture of 2026 against Sussex in a two-day friendly at Hove.
The Pears took to the challenging March conditions well, with all 13 of the travelling squad involved throughout the match, maximising a competitive run-out for the first time this calendar year.
Despite the teams shaking hands at Tea on the second day and the match ending in a draw, Worcestershire’s batters were able to enjoy some crucial minutes in the middle, with the Rothesay County Championship opener away at Derbyshire now just over a week away.
Libby, said the adjustment made by the batting unit, against an attack that included Ollie Robinson and in very testing overheads, was very pleasing.
“I think on the whole we will come away very pleased to get some time in the middle under our belts, against a very decent attack and in some tough conditions.
“These pre-season contests are still some of the times where lads are acclimatising somewhat to what is happening both on the surface and above our heads, but I think the early signs were really good.
“The first innings was just about getting something on the board, and everyone made some form of start. The second innings is where you saw a bit more of what lads can do.
“To watch Brett, Hosey, Ethan and Waitey all show glimpses of their best with the bat was encouraging for the whole group, but everyone put their hand up at different moments.”
“You take it with a pinch of salt early on in the calendar, but overall, it was exactly what we needed after a long winter indoors.”
After amassing over 1,000 runs in Division One last season, the vice-captain wasted no time getting back into his groove at Hove, scoring a fluent 66* from 79 balls at the top of the Worcestershire card.
So often a lynchpin for the Pears, Libby batted just the once during the match, with Worcestershire agreeing to use an extended 13-man squad that saw his batting counterparts make the most of the second innings.
The established opener expressed his delight to be back scoring runs for his team.
“It always feels like you are ready to get back out there at this time of year after such a long winter away from it all.
“Clearly, the differences from indoors are stark, but it is nice to be able to put into practice some of those work-ons from the winter and just be back in that competitive scenario against the bowlers.
“It is my job at the end of the day, to score runs for the team, so it always feels nice to be contributing towards what we are doing. It doesn’t always work out like that and there are plenty of ups and downs during a season, so hopefully I can carry that into Glamorgan and the rest of pre-season before we start things at Derbyshire.
“It wasn’t perfect, but it was lovely to feel a few off the middle and stay in the fight for an extended period against some testing bowling.”
