NEW signing Adam Hose will make his Worcestershire debut on Thursday in the opening game of the 2023 LV=Insurance County Championship season at Derbyshire.
Hose, signed from Warwickshire following the conclusion of last season, has been named as part of Alan Richardson's 13-man squad for the trip to the County Cricket Ground as the Division Two campaign swings into gear.
Matthew Waite will also make his second debut for the club having played a few games at the back end of 2022 on loan. Recently retired Pakistan international Azhar Ali returns to the squad which will be captained by Brett D'Oliveira.
30-year-old Hose has become something of a household name in the 20-over format of the game but the prospect of playing more red-ball cricket was behind his decision to move to New Road.
"The outstanding factor of the move was that I wanted to play more cricket," he said exclusively to the Worcester News.
"I was sort of pigeonholed into the white ball format over last few years at Warwickshire and that's something that never sat well with me, there was a bit of frustration there, not being able to get into that side.
"It was a tough decision to leave (Warwickshire), I have a lot of people I care about there but when it came to cricket options it was a no-brainer.
"Hopefully I can make a good start on Thursday a big impact in the long format of the game and then just play as much cricket as I can across the season."
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Hose has spent the majority of the winter playing in T10 and T20 competitions around the world, including stints in Abu Dhabi and the Big Bash in Australia.
He arrived at New Road back in February and has settled into the environment quickly and despite a lack of game-time in the build-up to the red-ball season, Hose is ready to hit the ground running.
"It's been a really nice build-up. I got back from Australia a couple of weeks ago and now I have had some time to get to know the boys here and all the people in and around the ground," he added.
"It's been frustrating with the weather but it's still been a good atmosphere around the squad so we are just looking forward to Thursday.
"Every cricketer is looking forward to this time of year and there are plenty of nerves and excitement but as a domestic player this is the time of year you always look forward to."
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