Worcestershire resume their season against Kent at Canterbury today, barely a week since the tragic death of their young spinner Josh Baker. The Pears were already among the most resilient of counties - annual floods at New Road, thin resources, often losing their brightest talents to rivals - but this trait is being tested like never before.
"Guys are still trying to process it," says Alan Richardson, the head coach now trying to shepherd his flock through the worst of times. "A lot of them have never experienced grief before. There is still shock and a lot of sadness that will keep coming to the surface as we hit different milestones along the way."
The first of these came on Tuesday, players resuming training at New Road - flood waters now receded - just five days after Baker, 20, died unexpectedly. His parents, Paul and Lisa, also attended the nets to spend time with their son's friends and teammates, despite their own unimaginable pain.
It was an optional session, needless to say, made more difficult when testers from anti-doping authorities unfortunately arrived. Selection to face Kent was also left to players to decide if they could return to action so soon but to a man they have put their hands up to play on in the memory of their teammate.
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der May 10, 2024-Ausgabe von The Guardian.
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Diese Geschichte stammt aus der May 10, 2024-Ausgabe von The Guardian.
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