SKIPPER Daryl Mitchell believes Worcestershire’s players must strive in 2015 to repeat the significant levels of improvement evident in their sterling performances during last season.

Mitchell is aware of the big test facing the county’s young squad in Division One of the LV= County Championship after eight wins in 16 matches secured promotion as runners-up to Hampshire.

But he has confidence in the squad to “give everything” to try and become even better after many players stepped up effectively to the challenge 12 months ago when the bookmakers wrote off their chances pre-season of going up.

Mitchell said: “The lads will be tested even more next season and the big thing in Division One is you don’t get those weak links in attacks.

“You have four seamers and a spinner coming at you from ball one in the morning until 6.30 at night. It is a big test for the guys.

“But the good thing with us having a young side is that the margins to improve are great. You saw that from 2013 to last year and I think we’ve got to strive to improve the same amount in 2015.”