WORCESTERSHIRE skipper Daryl Mitchell has rubbished claims of a “mediocre” English NatWest T20 Blast competition.

Mitchell says the domestic T20 is full of excitement with an array of overseas stars and admits it is near the top of Rapids’ priorities this summer.

But Colin Graves, chairman of the England and Wales Cricket Board, believes it is “mediocre” compared to other domestic leagues around the world.

Graves claimed the current tournament did not compare to the Indian Premier League or Australia’s Big Bash League, either by standard of cricket played or commercially.

Mitchell said: “In our eyes, the T20 Blast is up there with County Championship Division One as one of the main competitions. The T20 is a very close second to getting into Division One.

“It’s a very tough group and there are some terrific players in this season’s T20 Blast.

“Progressing beyond the quarter-finals and reaching finals day is not something we have been able to do before and we are desperate to get there for the first time.”

Worcestershire, who reached three quarter-finals in the past four years, have won their first two games against Durham Jets and Birmingham Bears.

Last season, Rapids lost a weather-affected last-eight tie to Hampshire in front of a 5,000-capacity crowd at New Road.

They slipped to a 17-run defeat under the Duckworth-Lewis Method after bad light halted their innings on 58-2 in reply to 196-4.

Mitchell said: “As a club, making progress in the T20 is very important and we have been working hard on all aspects of our cricket.

“T20 requires a completely different skill set and hard work. As a batter, you could be working hard on hitting the ball straight or working on reverse sweeps and scoop shots.

“As a bowler, the work could involve getting the ball in the block hole or a slower delivery and as a captain you could be coming up with different plans and fields.

“Being innovative is something Bumpy (Steve Rhodes) and I have done over the past few years and it’s really important to be versatile when we’re out on the pitch.”

Rapids host Yorkshire Vikings on Thursday (5.30pm) and visit Northamptonshire Steelbacks on Friday (6.30pm).

Mitchell said: “It’s important to get on a good run, get through to the quarter-finals and progress to the final but there’s still a lot of cricket to be played.

“Looking back at last year, Lancashire finished fourth in our group and went on to win the competition, so it highlights the quality of the group and the sides in it.

“We know it will be tough but we are confident and our aim is to finish in the top four.”