Trougton hails courage of his misfiring attack

WARWICKSHIRE’S One-Day Cup hopes may be over but Jim Troughton is refusing to criticise his team.

After beating Northants in their first fixture, the Bears have been well beaten by Durham, Leicestershire, Notts and Lancashire.

They failed to keep any of those four below 300, and their bowling has been questioned.

But coach Troughton insists he is proud of his bowlers, who must put in the hard yards again today as they travel to rivals Worcestershire. “People put their hands up to bowl at a particular time of the game and take some stick,” he said.

“But the stats don’t show the technical and mental skill and the courage that goes into doing that job week-in and week-out.

“Limited-overs cricket is a very different game these days. If, as a bowler, you are missing by any margin you are going out the park.

“Sometimes it’s going to work and sometimes it isn’t and you can be a hero or villain but as long as guys are learning and improving I will take my hat off to them.

“In terms of the effort and support the guys are giving, I am very proud of them.”

Despite a flying start to their one-day campaign, Worcestershire have a point to prove after Lancashire dismantled them on Wednesday. They were second after four matches, but slumped to a 152-run defeat at Old Trafford.