Richardson aiming for Pears 2023 promotion repeat

Worcestershire head coach Alan Richardson says last season's relegation in the County Championship was "incredibly frustrating" and not a "fair reflection" of the side's true abilities as they aim for promotion this summer.

The Pears finished bottom of Division One in 2025, winning only one game, despite some outstanding individual performances.

Seamer Tom Taylor's 58 wickets was the most in the top flight, while Ben Allison was one of only 10 bowlers to pick up 40 or more in red-ball matches.

Among the batters, only Sussex's John Simpson, Yorkshire's Adam Lyth, Nottinghamshire's title-winning captain Haseeb Hameed and Surrey opener Dom Sibley scored more that Worcestershire opener Jake Libby's 1,060 runs.

"It was incredibly frustrating last year," Richardson told BBC Hereford and Worcester.

"It probably wasn't a fair reflection of where we can be at, so it's [2026] another opportunity to show that."

The Pears open their Championship season at Derbyshire on Friday and Richardson is hoping his side can emulate their campaign from three years ago, when they finished a consistent season strongly to win promotion behind Division Two winners Durham.

"As much as we'd love that good start, it's more about the performance for me and make sure we put ourselves in a good position," Richardson said.

"In 2023 when we did get promoted, we started fairly slowly but our performances were strong and we built momentum as the season went along.

"I think as long as we give ourselves the best chance of performing in 14 games, results then should follow if we do the right things.

"The real challenge is to make sure we maintain that for as long as we can.

"Of course we'd like to win those first games. We'd like to win all 14, but we know that probably won't happen.

"It's how we respond from game to game, and make sure we have a really competitive year.

"We need to make sure that the supporters here are entertained as much as possible, and they are really proud of the boys and the performances.

Worcestershire's return to the second tier means a chance for Richardson to revisit Lord's, where he spent five season with Middlesex, in the second round of matches.

"When I looked at the fixture list I looked for Middlesex away and no offence to Merchant Taylor's school [a Middlesex outground], I was really hoping it wasn't going to be there, beautiful school that it is," Richardson said.

"I was lucky enough to play lots of games at Lord's. A lot of these guys have hardly played there, if at all. So to be able to give them that experience is amazing, and something you will always look forward to."

Seamer Allison will miss the opening match against Derbyshire because of a back issue and they could also be without all-rounder Beyers Swanepoel.

The South African left a domestic game early to catch a flight to the UK with Worcestershire chief executive Ashley Giles saying the situation was " in the hands of other people".

Richardson said the club always do their best to have "Plan Bs, Cs, Ds and Es" over all situations and added there will be "lots of conversations going on to make sure that we we put ourselves in a good position".