Worcestershire meet Leicestershire at New Road in the first quarter-final of the C & G Trophy

CricInfo23-Jul-2001Worcestershire meet Leicestershire at New Road in the first quarter-final of the C & G Trophy.It is the first time that Worcestershire have reached the quarter-finals of what was previously the NatWest Trophy since 1994, when they went on to beat Warwickshire in the final.They are currently top of the second division of the NUL, and desperate to put the disappointments of their B and H exit behind them.Warwickshire sent them crashing out of that competition with a last wicket partnership of 37, when victory had seemed assured.Graeme Hick is, as ever, the lynchpin of the Worcestershire batting but Phil Weston is also in good form. The bowling will be led by Alamgir Sheriyar – back to the form he showed in winning an A tour in 1999 – and Australian all-rounder Andy Bichel.Bichel is particularly keen to play in a showcase Lord’s final and insists that the team have learnt the lessons of their B and H exit.”We learnt a lot as a side in the Benson and Hedges Cup,” Bichel said. “Of course it was disappointing that we didn’t go into the quarter-finals, especially the way it happened.”We let ourselves down a little bit in a couple of games but in hindsight it was probably good for us to lose the way we did so that we could learn from those mistakes and I think we have rectified them.”We’ve improved in the one-day game and have been going about our cricket in a good manner. Our batting and bowling has been quite handy and steady.”Fielding has been the area which has let us down at certain times but everyone has worked hard to improve it. If we can field well in the one-dayers, then we have to be in with a shout in the Trophy.”Leicestershire meanwhile are boosted by the arrival of Pakistan player Shahid Afridi. He hit a whirlwind 70 against Kent in the NUL at the weekend, and is always capable of a match winning performance with bat or ball.The club are in good form in the one-day game, having won eight consecutive NUL games.England veteran Phil DeFreitas and Jimmy Ormond will spearhead the bowling attack for the visitors while in form Trevor Ward will be looking to cap his resurgence this season with a big match at Lord’s.Bichel is taking nothing for granted.”We have every respect for Leicestershire, who are doing well in the National League and have a lot of good all-rounders,” he continued.”But to play in a Lord’s final would be fantastic. I’ve had one experience of going there this season for the county game with Middlesex but most of it was rained off.”Lord’s is the home of cricket and to be involved on a major occasion would be special.”31-year-old Bichel, who has played five Tests and 17 one-day international games for Australia, has enjoyed his experience of county cricket, and believes he has been able to adapt his game to the different conditions in this country.”There is no doubt that you’ve got to bowl a fuller length over here,” Bichel confirmed. “The wickets are slow and you have to pitch the ball up more. It was one of the first things mentioned to me when I came to England.”It’s nice to get into a new batsman. You might want to bowl a few short deliveries just to unsettle him but in England the conditions don’t allow that. The ball just sits up. But I’ve felt I’ve adjusted quite well to the conditions and as a whole I feel I’ve done alright and it’s been nice to get a few runs as well.”I’ve always prided myself on my batting and when I was a youngster I was more of a batsman than a bowler and I enjoy every innings I play and try to contribute.”