WORCESTER, England, GDP – Alzarri Joseph’s general skills have caught the attention of Worcestershire head coach Alex Gidman, who now believes the West Indies Test star can make a vital contribution with bats and balls during his time with the county.
Playing on last week’s County Championship appearance against Derbyshire, the 24-year-old grabbed three wickets in the contest and hit an attractive 46 in the first inning as Gloucestershire forced a draw in Derby. With the visitors falling at 231 for seven, Joseph managed to break eight fours and six in an awful 55 balls, adding 51 for the eighth wicket with Ed Barnard (23) to get the total up to 305 in response to Derbyshire. 390.
“There were some glimpses of some serious bowling there, so looking forward to how it contributes over the coming weeks,” said Gidman as he looks forward to the Thursday start of the Worcestershire clash against Nottinghamshire in New Road here .
“He also made a huge contribution with the bat in the first inning and is happy and an excellent character to have around.”
Joseph has played 16 Tests for the West Indies and scored 38 wickets with his right arm speed but has been with his much improved innings which he has impressed with recently, hitting half a century against New Zealand last December and Bangladesh last March.
Captured by a West Midlands outfit for the first seven games of the Championship, Joseph arrived straight from the two-Test series against Sri Lanka in Antigua last month.
Forced to quarantine on arrival in England under government COVID-19 directives, Joseph enjoyed only a brief training period before the Derby game and Gidman said he had shown up, especially in bowling.
“It was always going to be a tough start for Alzarri, after not playing for a couple of weeks, having to isolate and being unable to lift so much,” he noted.
“Understandably, it will take a few headlines for it to come quickly, but I think it improved and improved as the Derby match progressed.”
Worcestershire are fourth in Group I at 26 points after taking away their opening two games, both away games, and Gidman said they are looking forward to finally playing at home.
“It’s been a difficult year for everyone but without New Road in the pre-flood season, the lads are grabbing at the bit to get back. They are looking forward to it, ”he stressed.
“We’ve had a couple of practices there since the start of the season, so it will be nice to settle back home and have a play there. Notts is a team we greatly respect.
“But having had two really good results away from home and fighting hard, I’m sure the lads are really looking forward.”