2023 cricket season signals the start of a new era for Worcestershire

Richardson, promoted from assistant to top-dog at the end of the 2022 season, replaces Alex Gidman at the helm and he will lead his side into the 2023 LV=Insurance County Championship opener at Derbyshire on Thursday.

The Pears' push for promotion last year came up short and now, without usual suspects such as Ed Barnard and Moeen Ali in the squad, a young and enthusiastic side are aiming to go one better this time around. 

Ed Barnard played for Worcestershire for seven years before departing to join Warwickshire last year.

Richardson believes his players "deserve" the chance to play Division One County Cricket.

"I would like to think so (promotion being the aim for the campaign). But life and sport are not always linear but it would be nice to think we can continue to improve," said Richardson.

"We showed some really good signs in red-ball cricket last year and we were probably just a couple of results away from being right in the mix for promotion.

"We played outstanding cricket at times so our ambition should be to continue that, keep entertaining the members that come along and give us that chance of getting promoted because I think the players deserve to have that chance of playing Division One cricket."

Ahead of Thursday's opener at the County Cricket Ground, The Pears' preparations have been heavily disrupted due to the weather. Warm-up matches with Gloucestershire and Oxford were cancelled and the three-day match with Warwickshire only lasted a couple of hours on the first day.

READ MORE | Worcestershire's pre-season campaign cut short after just a few hours of play

Despite the lack of game-time, Richardson remains confident his players are ready and insists there are no concerns of being under-cooked.

"It hasn't been the ideal preparation but everyone is in the same situation and I am actually quite pleased with where the boys are at because the majority of them have been away for a lot of the winter and have been playing consistent cricket," he said. 

"We got away to Spain together as well which was good. Ideally, we would probably have wanted a couple more days of cricket but I don't think it will affect us too much and it certainly won't be any excuse for poor performances. 

"I am really comfortable where we are at so we should be fine."

Despite the losses of Ali and Barnard to Warwickshire last summer, Worcestershire's squad has a nice balance to it and new signings will provide some fresh energy. 

Adam Hose spent time in Australia over the winter playing in the Big Bash (Image: PA)

Arrivals Adam Hose and Matthew Waite will begin the 2023 campaign on Thursday as Worcestershire players and Richardson is excited to see them take to the pitch later this week.

"Players leave clubs all the time, it's how you overcome those," he added.

"Ed and Mo have been fantastic for Worcestershire and I am sure they will continue to do so for Warwickshire, just hopefully not against us!

"But the players we have and the players we have brought in are more than capable of filling holes and you would like to think the team can do that instead of just individuals.

"Every year we lose players and we gain them, it's how the group evolves and becomes stronger through that.

"Adam (Hose) and Matthew (Waite) have been incredible acquisitions and are excellent characters to have around and their skills will speak for themselves.

"You can get caught up with losing certain players but we have to look forward and positively on the situation we are now in."