By Ben Smith Worcestershire batsman

Smith has scored more than 18,000 first-class runs

It has been a disappointing time for everyone at New Road in four-day cricket but I think, as a team, we have identified areas we need to improve on as a group - batting, bowling and fielding.

I would like to think we have addressed where we have been going wrong and it has made a difference as we go into a few days' break.

Against Somerset, we didn't bowl in the right places. If there is a pair of batsmen you have to bowl well to it is Marcus Trescothick and Justin Langer. You can't give them chances or they will punish you.

The Somerset lads pushed hard all the way and didn't ease up until we finally came off at the end.

We have worked harder in the last week at certain things and, being a busy man in the last few months, it was nice to be successful individually. I like to think I played my part on a good solid draw.

There are two reasons why we have not won games. We have lost wickets in clusters when we have batted and, secondly, we haven't built enough pressure when we have bowled. But we have played some good cricket at times.

It would be fair to say though that, in general ,we have not played as well as a 'team' as the opposition. We have had only three or four good individual performances in four-day cricket so I think that if we can get our heads down, even now, we still have a chance of turning it around.

We started well in the Pro40 at home to Yorkshire, when we only scored what I would describe as average at New Road. We then squeezed them with the two spinners - Moeen (Ali) and Garth (Batty) - and although Gareth didn't take wickets, he helped put Yorkshire under a lot of pressure.

The game at Old Trafford against Lancashire rather personified our season. We played well at times, got into a good position, but then lost wickets and they went about showing us how to bat on that pitch Worcestershire batsman Ben Smith

We will have to play well against Warwickshire when we get back to four-day cricket on Friday and we are well aware we have to win two games in the next month. If we don't, it is going to run away from us and we will lose the opportunity to stay up.

The game at Old Trafford against Lancashire rather personified our season. We played well at times, got into a good position, but then lost wickets and they went about showing us how to bat on that pitch.

They did the basics well, kept the good balls out, and punished he bad ones. It sounds simple but that is what batting is all about. It's possibly down to our preparation. It might sound daft but we have to expect the unexpected as it were.

Our benefit games have been hit by the weather but has not stopped us having some excellent days out.

We just about got a 10-over game in at Weybridge, by playing in the rain, and also managed some cricket at Elmley Castle. Despite the rain, we had a couple of fantastic days out due to the great efforts made by the clubs.

Old Hill was a real shame as the club had gone to a massive effort to get the game on. A vast amount of work had been done but it was impossible to play any cricket and we could not get out of the clubhouse.

But we did a Q and A with some of the lads and hope we provided a bit of entertainment. There really is nothing more you can do on a day like that.

Looking ahead we have some exciting events. We are at Wolverhampton next Friday and have a golf day and theme night to come. We had a great quiz night here in the new pavilion and it's very important for me to make sure people not only get value for money but have a lot of fun at these events.

You can catch up with all the events on www.bensmithbenefit.com.

Ben Smith was talking to BBC Hereford and Worcester's Dave Bradley.

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version