Worcestershire all-rounder Nathan Smith will be heading back to his home country of New Zealand because of an injury. The 26-year-old Otago native, who was signed for the entire 2024 season, currently leads the club in wickets taken in the County Championship with 27 from seven matches.
Smith also participated in nine T20 Blast games. Pears' chief executive Ashley Giles praised Smith, stating that he had been an excellent addition to both the team and the dressing room.
Meanwhile, Worcestershire remains hopeful that captain Brett D'Oliveira will be fit to play when the Championship resumes later this month. The 32-year-old all-rounder has been dealing with a persistent shoulder issue despite undergoing surgery last winter. He hasn't played since the T20 Blast game against Derbyshire on July 18 and is averaging 25.25 in this season's County Championship Division One.
Head coach Alan Richardson commented on the club website that D'Oliveira had been suffering from a frozen shoulder post-surgery but is now undergoing effective rehabilitation. Richardson explained that the shoulder is "defrosting," allowing D'Oliveira to make significant progress and prepare for the season's latter stages. Despite the pain, D'Oliveira has managed to play a substantial amount of cricket.
Worcestershire currently sits ninth in the Division One table, following their promotion last summer, with just one win from nine matches. They have five games left to secure their top-flight status for 2025, with three of those games at home. The crucial fixtures begin against bottom-placed Kent at New Road on August 22, followed by matches against Essex, Warwickshire, Hampshire, and Lancashire.