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They may have secured promotion last year, but the hard work does not stop for Hampshireand Worcestershireas they look to secure their status in LV= County Championship Division One this season.
The two newly-promoted clubs returned to the top flight after impressive seasons last year, but both have acknowledged they face a big challenge if they are to survive this season.
For Hampshire, it is the first time back in Division One since 2011, and captain Jimmy Adams has admitted it will be a tough ask to establish their position after such a long time away.
“It’s been three or four years since we were last there and things have moved forward,” he told the latest ECB podcast. “The gap between the divisions has maybe increased, but I think we have a group who will embrace that challenge.
“It would be very naïve of us just looking to go in just looking to survive. On the flip side it would be naïve to think its not going to be a step up.
“We’re going to have to play like we did last year but to a slightly increased level of intensity and longevity. It will be a great challenge.”
Adam’s Worcestershire counterpart, Daryl Mitchell, is also wary of the increase in standard, but is relishing the opportunity to test a young side against some of the best players in the country.
He said: “In Division One now, you look at some of the sides now on paper and there’s some fantastic cricketers in the division and some extremely good sides.
“It will be very competitive but it’s up to smaller counties like ourselves to produce your own players and keep improving and striving to compete with the best.”
Mitchell’s director of cricket, Steve Rhodes, added: “It’s a tough challenge isn’t it? We all know that. We’re tipped to finish bottom.
“It’s nice to be an underdog because you can prove people wrong and I think we’ve done that in getting promoted and I think we’ll be trying to do that in staying in the division.”