Worcestershire 2026 T20 Blast Cricket Draft Preview
- 7 days ago
- 2 min read
Updated: 5 days ago
Overview
Despite winning four of their last five games, the Pears' late surge wasn’t quite enough to secure a qualification spot last season. They ended the campaign in sixth place with a balanced record of seven wins and seven defeats.
The 2018 winners have made key additions to their squad, including overseas stars Sikandar Raza and Usama Mir. Signing Mir is particularly astute, as he is expected to qualify as a local player in the future. With Ben Dwarshuis not returning, a domestic seamer will need to step up to fill the void. The side boasts a healthy blend of youth and experience, which they hope will lead them back to the knockout stages for the first time since 2023—a year they finished third before falling to Hampshire in the quarter-finals.
Key Picks: Banker, Wildcard, Young Gun & England Watch
Banker: Sikandar Raza (ALR)
High match involvement is the golden rule of The Cricket Draft, and Sikandar Raza is the focal point of this Worcestershire side. Raza brings vital tournament experience from his time at Northants and continues to improve with age. Expect him to bat in the top four and partner with Usama Mir to form a formidable spin attack.
Wildcard: Ethan Brookes (ALR)
Brookes was exceptional for Worcestershire last season, particularly with the bat. As the team's leading run-scorer, he tallied 380 runs at an average of 31.66 and a blistering strike rate of 166.66, including three half-centuries. He also chipped in with seven wickets and is poised for an even larger role this year in the absence of Dwarshuis.
Young Gun: Isaac Mohammed (BAT)
The 18-year-old seized his opportunity in the second half of the Blast last summer, scoring 154 runs across eight innings. Valued at just £4.9m, he offers a budget-friendly option for a player who could become a regular starter. With a strike rate of 154, he is expected to attack during the powerplay and build on the valuable experience gained last season.
England Watch: Tom Taylor (BWL)
While no one in the squad is currently at the forefront of England’s selection radar, being the leading wicket-taker in red-ball cricket last summer earns Taylor significant credit. He was also a standout performer in T20 cricket for the Rapids, claiming 15 wickets, the second-most for the team, at an average of 20.60 and a disciplined economy rate of 7.53.
Potential Strongest XI for 2026 T20 Blast
No | Player | Role |
1 | Isaac Mohammed | BAT |
2 | Brett D’Oliveira | ALR |
3 | Kashif Ali | BAT |
4 | Sikandar Raza (OS) | ALR |
5 | Adam Hose | BAT |
6 | Gareth Roderick | WKT |
7 | Ethan Brookes | ALR |
8 | Matthew Waite | ALR |
9 | Tom Taylor | BWL |
10 | Usama Mir (OS) | BWL |
11 | Ben Allison | BWL |
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