Match times, streaming information, tickets and travel, team news, weather forecast, form, prediction and everything else you need to know ahead of the latest round of the LV= Insurance County Championship...
Fixture: Worcestershire vs Durham
Venue: New Road, Worcester
Dates: Thursday, June 3, 2021 - Sunday, June 6, 2021
Start time: 11am
What's the lowdown?
Worcestershire are looking for another win after picking up their first of the summer against Derbyshire last time out - a romping innings-and-23-run success.
Durham, meanwhile, will be looking to get back on track after losing in three days to Essex. Just six points separate the two teams, who currently sit fourth and fifth in Group 1.
Who's in form?
Worcestershire aren’t short of runs. Ed Bernard hit 90 and Jack Haynes made 97 during their win against Derbyshire, while wicketkeeper Ben Cox was one run short of a half-century.
With the ball, Dillon Pennington bagged nine wickets to lead Worcestershire to their first victory of the campaign.
Chris Rushworth finished Durham’s game against Essex with five wickets, four of them coming in 16 overs during the first innings.
David Bedlingham still sits third in the run-scoring charts with 666 runs in 12 inns, giving him an impressive average of 66.60.
Last five first-class matches (most recent first)
Worcestershire: WLLDD
Durham: LDWWD
Head-to-head first-class record
Total matches: 30
Worcestershire wins: 8
Durham wins: 11
Draws: 11
Abandoned: 2
What's the team news?
Worcestershire: Gareth Roderick, Josh Tongue and Charlie Morris are named in the 13-strong squad, plus 10 of the side that faced Derbyshire. Alzarri Joseph is the one to miss out.
Jack Haynes is an injury doubt after picking up an ankle problem in practice.
Squad: Daryl Mitchell, Jake Libby, Tom Fell, Jack Haynes, Gareth Roderick, Ross Whiteley, Brett D’Oliveira, Ben Cox (w), Ed Barnard, Joe Leach (c), Dillon Pennington, Josh Tongue, Charlie Morris
Durham: James Franklin has named an unchanged 13-man for the trip to Worcestershire.
Squad: Cameron Bancroft, David Bedingham, Scott Borthwick (C), Jack Burnham, Brydon Carse, Ned Eckersley (wk), Michael Jones, Alex Lees, Matthew Potts, Liam Trevaskis, Ben Raine, Chris Rushworth, Matt Salisbury
Latest Worcestershire news: Click here
Latest Durham news: Click here
Who said what?
Despite claiming just one win from their eight group matches, coach Alex Gidman believes Worcestershire are still in the hunt for a top-two berth in Group One.
“We are at the business end of this first part of the season and the lads have fought extremely hard to get themselves in a position where they are still very much in the competition," he said.
“From a group stage point of view, there is all to play for.
“We know we are coming up against a very good side in Durham who beat us a few weeks ago in what was a tough game of cricket.
“But the lads have proved to themselves that they are a really good team as well when they get all facets of their game together.
“They have been threatening to do that for a while and it happened last week (against Derbyshire) so they will be trying their absolute best to emulate that performance.”
Durham coach James Franklin is confident his side have exorcised the demons from their second loss of the season to champions Essex.
“Last week’s game is now parked in last week’s history books," he said.
"The boys have had a great chance to get away from cricket with the nice weather and spend time with their friends and families.
“We’ve got back into training from Tuesday and it’s been good, we’re sat for a great four days of cricket with the nice weather."
What's the weather forecast?
It promises to be hot and sunny in Worcester. Saturday looks likely to be the warmest day with minimal clouds and highs of 21 degrees Celsius.
Keep up to date with the MetOffice’s rolling forecast for Worcester: Click here
How do I follow the match?
TV/stream: Information to come.
All LV= County Championship matches are also available via the ECB's central hub: Click here
The matches can also be viewed on mobile via the ECB app.
Radio: BBC Local Radio and the BBC Sport website will carry ball-by-ball radio commentary of the game.
Digital: The Cricketer will carry live scorecards and daily updates from every LV= County Championship match in 2021, as well as the latest breaking news from around the counties and exclusive features. Visit our County Hub for more.
Going to the game?
Tickets
No tickets are on public sale for this fixture, will the club conducting a ballot of members.
Travel
Address: Worcestershire County Cricket Club, New Road, Worcester, WR2 4QQ
By car
From the north
From the M5 junction 7 follow the cricket stumps on the roadsigns to the ground.
From the south
From M5 junction 7 follow the cricket stumps on the road signs to the ground.
From the east
From the A422, Alcester, continue on this road to the roundabout junction with the A4440 (Swinesherd Way), take second exit at roundabout on to A44, continue to follow the A44 and it will lead you to New Road, the ground will be on your left.
From the west
From the A44, Evesham, stay on the A44 (east) and it will lead you to New Road, the ground will be on your left.
By bus: Once you are in Worcester city centre’s bus station that is beneath the Crown Gate Shopping Centre, walk out of the station, turn left, continue to walk straight ahead to a pedestrian crossing, walk across this and another pedestrian crossing, continue across the bridge over the Severn River and you will arrive at the ground on your left.
By train: Worcester Foregate Street is the closest train station to the ground and is approximately half a mile from the ground. To get to the ground from Foregate Street station turn left out of the main entrance, head towards the cross where you turn right onto Broad Street. Continue straight, across two pedestrian crossings to get to the other side of New Road, walk over the bridge and you will shortly arrive at the ground on your left.
Prediction?
Durham were beaten by Essex last time out but until then had been on a decent run, while Worcestershire come into this clash on the back of their first win of the season. Durham perhaps begin as favourites.
OTHER ROUND NINE PREVIEWS
Group 1
Group 2
Leicestershire v Gloucestershire
Group 3
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