IT may only be the start of November and the cricket season does not begin for another five months, but Worcestershire’s players are back in training.

No, director of cricket Steve Rhodes hasn’t called his team back early following their dismal campaign last summer — he could have been forgiven if he had — but the extended pre-season is here to stay with players on 12-month contracts.

The season gone is consigned to the history books and high-profile players have departed. So today signalled a new era for the County.

No more trips up the M5 to indoor schools at Edgbaston, Shrewsbury and Loughbor-ough, Worcestershire have a new winter training base at Malvern College.

The players got their first taste of life at the £14million state-of-art complex with new strength and conditioning coach Ross Dewar.

“This facility is top-class and we are looking forward to getting back into it all,” said skipper Vikram Solanki.

“I’m not looking forward to the fitness test, but that is part and parcel of having that break after the end of season.

“The fact that we have a new strength and conditioning coach is exciting too.”

Just in case any of the players decide they want to fall out of line during the next five months at Malvern College — there is a rifle range close by!