HAVING hung up his bowling boots for the final time last week, Matt Mason believes that Worcestershire players have everything they need to succeed.

The 37-year-old will now concentrate on mentoring the bowlers at New Road as one of four full-time coaches.

Having combined the role with playing for the past two years, Mason now joins director of cricket Steve Rhodes, academy manager Damian D’Oliveira and assistant coach Ben Smith on the full-time backroom staff with Worcestershire.

The Western Australian is looking forward to being able to dedicate his time beyond the first team throughout the year instead of just the winter.

“I will be working with the first team down to the seconds, academy, satellite academies and also looking for talented cricketers to keep the progression going,” Mason said.

“We have got some talented young guys who have taken up the Malvern College scholarship. I will get to see them more now and I’m looking forward to that.

“In the past I have only seen them in the winter — in the summer I didn’t really get the opportunity to do that, so that is something I’m keen to do.

“It is going to be very busy and I’ll be working quite closely with Ben, Bumpy and Damian.

“I think with the four of us, all the players will get everything they need to become really good cricketers.”

With Mason retiring, a big hole has been left in the Worcestershire attack, but he believes there is already enough talent in the New Road dressing room to cope with the loss.

He says the quality is there to give veteran Alan Richardson the support he needs in the fast bowling department.

Jack Shantry and all-rounder Gareth Andrew have made themselves regulars in the first-team at New Road across all forms of the game.

But Mason believes there is much more to come from Chris Russell and Richard Jones.

“I think Jones, Shantry and Russell are ones to keep an eye on,” Mason said.

“I also believe Gareth Andrew has got a lot to offer. He is getting better all the time and we’ve seen him really step up this year.

“There is also a young guy in our academy called Tom Underhill, who is very much in the mould of Steve Magoffin who played here a few years ago.

“There is depth coming through, we just need to make sure when they come up to first-class cricket they are ready.

“I have now got a lot of time to work with those young guys and bring them on.”