Head Coach Alan Richardson believes Worcestershire duo Olly Cox and Harry Darley will benefit in terms of confidence, and also as part of their learning curve, from their performances against New Zealand in the T20 fixture at New Road.
Rookie professional Cox opened the batting and hit 63 off 36 balls with one six and 11 fours.
Pace bowler Darley then picked up two wickets as the pair enjoyed excellent first team debuts.
Richardson said: “It would have been nice to put in a slightly better performance. I think the boys will be disappointed to have scored just over 120.
“But there were a couple of stand-outs. Olly Cox played fantastically well, struck the ball as well as we know he can do, so that was fantastic for him.
“Harry Darley acquitted himself really well. It was obviously going to be difficult to defend that score so for him to get a couple of overs in, and pick up as couple of wickets, experience the tempo of the game, will be great for him.
“The intensity of the game would have been very different to what those guys have experienced before and that experience will be invaluable moving forward.
“For Olly and Harry, their first taste of this kind of cricket, it would have been huge for them, and then the added bonus of performing pretty well on that stage.
“It should fill them with a lot of confidence but also give them some idea of the standard of cricket that they want to play at.
“There were some very good cricketers in that New Zealand side and so to taste that will be fantastic for them.”
Richardson added: “Harry has had a terrific season so far at whatever standard he has played in, club cricket for Shrewsbury, our Academy or in the second team, he has acquitted himself really well.
“He is in a bit of a streak at the moment, keeps picking up wickets, but there is a reason he does that, he bowls good balls and challenges players.
“That was a great experience for him and to pick up a couple of wickets will be hopefully something he will cherish throughout his playing career.”
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