DIRECTOR of cricket Steve Rhodes believes the current Worcestershire squad can take further strides forward in developing and improving their game.

Rhodes saw the group, who are currently on a pre-season trip to Abu Dhabi, make big leaps in 2014 with promotion back to LV= County Championship Division One.

The former England wicketkeeper is optimistic they can make further steps forward this summer, particularly after so many impressed this winter in Australia while playing grade cricket.

Rhodes said: “I think what it tells us, which gives me optimism for the season as well as for the future, is they are still a young, developing, growing group of players.

“What I mean by that is they are at the stage in their careers where you expect and should get improvement.

“They are not at the stage where they can’t improve any more or, if anything, they are going to drop off.

“This lot could improve more and more from last year so, if they do, that’s got to be a good thing for us.”

Rhodes added: “Richard Oliver played seven championship games last year, averaged 39 and he has come straight from league cricket.

“He hasn’t had a pre-season ever. The improvement he could show again is exciting.

“Mitch (Daryl Mitchell) is going to struggle to have as good a year as he had last year, but he is still at an age (31) where he can improve.

“With Giddo (Alex Gidman), you could argue he is not going to improve masses but, if he can do anything like he did last year, that is going to be a good thing.

“For Tom Fell and Tom Kohler-Cadmore, if they improve at the rate they should, there is more to come.

“Alexei Kervezee had a better year and, if he can improve even more, is going to put himself to where he should be — knocking on the door of the England Lions.

“With Ross Whiteley, potentially, we all know what fantastic talent he has. He could progress and do even better.

“Charlie Morris could grow more, as could Joe Leach, Joe Clarke, Ed Barnard, Coxy (Ben Cox), Shants (Jack Shantry) and Chris Russell.

“It is all about getting better and they’ve got room to get better.”