Academy progress, cake and recruitment: No final, but Worcestershire are getting things right

SAM DALLING: It might be Essex and Somerset who are destined for Lord's, but the Pears are showing plenty of evidence that their upward trajectory is no fluke

• Somerset book Essex clash in Bob Willis Trophy final
• How nice was it to see Jack Leach playing cricket again?

Somerset are into the final at Lord's. Victory by 60 runs. There will a few be a few ciders sunk in Taunton tonight. 

But let’s talk about Worcestershire. Today’s result was of course a blow; they’d love to have made the showdown. 

As it was, Somerset wrapped up victory with a degree of ease. A target of 245 was always a big ask particularly when you factor in the calibre of the opposition.

Nevertheless, 2020 is a year the Pears can be proud of, much like the last 150. New Road has been their home for well over a century. A chocolate box ground set in front of the cathedral with the River Severn in the background.

Consummate hosts, the staff couldn’t do enough for you despite the current limitations. In the press box they’ve got the perfect double act; John Curtis and Chris Oldnall. They’ve worked together for decades and their knowledge of the club is unrivalled. They don’t mind sharing either. 

Then there’s the cake. It’s been sorely missed this year. Ordinarily, come 3pm the tannoy judders into action and the announcement comes; tea is served at the Ladies' Pavilion. 

Cue the queues. Apparently Surrey’s Scott Newman used to be sent round with a handwritten list to pick up Mark Ramprakash's order. 

This is a club that if certain departing bigwigs had their way, would lose its first-class status and go part-time; “I just don’t see the point when looking at the bottom end of our red ball game, where it is producing nothing," said outgoing chairman Colin Graves.

He wouldn't have liked this. Nine academy graduates were on display for both sides. Pat Brown and Adam Finch aren’t here either. The latter is on loan and doing the business at Surrey.

^{Joe Leach has led the way valiantly this season}

There must be something in the water. They breed them big, the breed them tall, they breed them quick. Spearheaded by the prolific Joe Leach. The skipper is something of a throwback to the 60s.  Alongside him are a gaggle of youngsters all hoping to make their mark on the international scene. 

Brown already has, Ed Barnard is a Lions player and Josh Tongue has made three squads only for injury to cruelly ruled him out each time. 

Former England man James Taylor started life here, while once upon a time Joe Hart was offered a two-year deal. And what about Ben Cox, one of the finest glove men on the scene, or Daryl Mitchell who can perhaps consider himself unlucky to have been in the Strauss, Trescothick Cook era?

Brett D’Oliveria and Jack Haynes both looked in good touch today too. Their influence doesn’t stop at the gates; Joe Clarke reached three figures the clash with Durham this week, Tom Kohler-Cadmore is skippering Yorkshire in the Blast and George Rhodes – son of Steve – is up at Leicestershire. All youth products. 

To say they’ve acquitted themselves well in the Bob Willis Trophy is an understatement. It’s been a marked improvement in the last few years. Remember too that they had four top-tier sides in their group. 

They fell at the last today but the green shoots of recovery are evident. Relegated in 2018, they were expected to bounce back a the first time of outing.

Everything looked rosy when they started with back-to-back wins. Then came quite a stumble and only Leicestershire pipped them to the wooden spoon. 

It was back to basics over the winter. Long hours spent in the nets grooving their red-ball batting. Funnily enough, runs are much harder to come by if you aren’t in the middle. They’ve taken that to heart, reaching 400 three times this summer. 

^{Pat Brown is Worcestershire's much-cherished England international}

Occasionally they bring in an outsider but not before they’ve done proper due diligence. Take Jake Libby, whose signature Kevin Sharp and Alex Gidman should take great credit for.

Pushed out at Nottinghamshire, he tops the tournament’s run scoring charts. His capture was a statement of intent; someone in their prime rather than at the back end of their career. 

They’re in decent nick off the pitch as well. Like all counties, they’ll be tested by current times But despite the ground being underwater for more than 70 days over the winter, they’re in a good position.  

In Fanos Hira they have an impressive chairman. A local lad -  schooled in the city - he’s been coming to New Road for three decades. Smart and talks a lot of sense. He does the job of two here; there’s no chief-executive.

A few have grumbled online in recent days over the decision to restrict the live stream for this one. It’s easier to criticise from afar. Yes, it was an imperfect solution but we live in imperfect times. 

The club was trying to reward it’s loyal fanbase, promising exclusive content for its supporters. It is not a time to alienate those you love and need the most. Bear in mind this is all being improvised. There was no grand plan and people are trying their hardest to get to grips with things they otherwise wouldn’t have been in their remit. The club honoured its word.

To the home of cricket we go. Fitting really. Afterall the two best sides in the country are there. 

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