WORCESTERSHIRE director of cricket Steve Rhodes believes his team will produce an improved display in the LV= County Championship match against Sussex at Hove starting tomorrow.
The County suffered a 10-wicket defeat to champions Yorkshire in their Division One curtain-raiser at New Road earlier this week, collapsing on the third day having held a slender lead after the first innings.
But Rhodes felt his players would learn from the experience and expects them to give a good account of themselves over the next four days against a Sussex side featuring former Worcestershire overseas player Steve Magoffin.
The County chief said: “They will have quite an aggressive attack. If they play on one of the new wickets there, the ball will really go through. We will be ready for that. We know what to expect.
“They’ve got a reasonable pace attack down there which will be a challenge but we will focus hard on improving some of the areas we can improve.
“But like I said before, not many people know a lot about this team and I’m optimistic we will put up a better performance.”
Magoffin played for Worcestershire during the first half of the 2008 season, having been recommended by former player and director of cricket Tom Moody, who was his coach with Western Australia.
The 35-year-old had previously had a short spell with Surrey and in three seasons with Sussex has picked up 194 first-class wickets, including 72 last year.
Rhodes said: “I think he is a fine bowler. We selected him before Sussex did. We had him as our overseas player before they did. We anticipate a good battle with him.”
Worcestershire will select from: Mitchell, Oliver, Fell, Gidman, Kohler-Cadmore, Kervezee, Cox, Andrew, Shantry, Senanayake, Morris, Leach.
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