Worcestershire youngsters praised for One-Day Cup start

“This is what this competition is all about,” said Pears vice-captain Jake Libby, who is skippering the side in the absence of the injured Brett D’Oliveira.

“It can be tough, with all the injuries we’ve had but it’s given guys an opportinity. We came in with a lot of injuries but it’s given the chance for people to put their hands up and make a claim.

“So to win two from two on the back of that is a fantastic start. Despite all our injuries, we’re still in it to win it, we’ve still got a competitive squad and we’ll look to build on that,” he told BBC Hereford & Worcester.

With D’Oliveira nursing a shoulder problem, retiring former captain Joe Leach not expected to figure until a planned September swansong after knee trouble and Hose on Hundred duty, Worcestershire brought in three National Counties players on short-term deals.

Berkshire’s ex-Cornwall seamer Tommy Sturgess, Staffordshire left-armer Hishaam Khan and Oxfordshire spinner Tom Hinley all signed, followed by a fourth, Nottinghamshire spinner Fateh Singh.

Along with Rehaan Edavalath, who had only played one Championship game the previous summer, and two more Shropshire discoveries, Jack Home, who had played just one T20 game the previous week, and teenage paceman Harry Darley, who had made four T20 appearances, that added up to six List A debutants for the young Pears in their opening 183-run steamrollering of Middlesex.

Home, Darley and Sturgess all took three wickets, then former England Under-19s slow left-armer Singh hit 60 and took 1-22, while Hinley finished with 5-56 in the Pears’ 93-run win Durham.