Worcestershire CCC head coach Alex Gidman is pleased with his side’s start to their LV=Insurance County Championship season, with the county sitting in second place in Group One thanks to their 15-point haul from the draw with Nottinghamshire.

The County are yet to win a match in the 2021 season but are undefeated thanks to three straight draws, in which they have acquired more batting points – 10 – than any other side in the division.

Worcestershire host Essex this week, having drawn with the reigning county champions in the opening game of the campaign.

Head coach Alex Gidman is delighted with the start made by Worcestershire in the 10-game group.

He said: “I’ve always said you can never predict what is going to happen in this game, so we keep taking it a game at a time.

“If they keep trying to repeat their skills over and over, the game will look after them, and they will get that win or two that will give them a real fighting chance.

“It’s very early days. Conditions have been different to what we expected because there has been no rain, so it’s been brutal cricket for everyone around the country.

“But the players are taking it face on, adapting to conditions and applying themselves well, and if we keep doing that, then we will keep picking up points.”

The draw with Nottinghamshire will have frustrated Worcestershire, given their strong position halfway through the four-day match.

Jake Libby had posted his second century of the season on the first day of the fixture at New Road and Worcestershire managed to post a decent knock of 436 by the second day.

They then bowled superbly to reduce the visitors to 276 and forcing the follow on but openers Haseeb Hameed and Ben Slater batted through the final day, with both completing centuries, as they dug in and gained a draw. Gidman said: “It was tough. Once again, I thought the boys applied themselves well and consistently were doing the right things over and over again.

“I’m sure if we keep doing that for more extended periods over these next few weeks, we will get our rewards at some stage.

“I think the players can be really satisfied with their efforts and discipline throughout the game.

“It was tough to try to force a result, but I can’t knock the effort and application at all. I thought they were outstanding.”

Essex sit in third position in Group 1, a place behind Worcestershire, and travel to New Road on the back of a seven-wicket defeat to Warwickshire, which followed a 44-run win against Durham.