More to come from Swanepoel - Richardson

Worcestershire head coach Alan Richardson says there is "a lot more to come" from all-rounder Beyers Swanepoel following the South African's solid start to his time at New Road.

After the 27-year-old's move to the Pears was put in doubt following a delay over the granting of his No Objection Certificate (NOC), he took 3-51 and 2-73 in his debut match as Worcestershire hammered Kent by an innings and two runs.

Swanepoel was due to start the season at New Road having signed a red-ball contract for 2026 but the deal came under threat as he left a domestic cup final early without permission from his South African club, Lions, and flew to the UK without an NOC in place.

After parting company with Lions, Swanepoel's move to England was rubber-stamped enabling him to begin his Pears career.

"I think he was quite nervous," Richardson told BBC Hereford and Worcester.

"With everything that's gone on and, not only that, just being in a new team as well, I thought he bowled really well.

"He applied himself excellently well. I think he thinks there's a lot more to come and I believe that that would be the case.

"It wasn't quite clicking for him but what the Worcester members and supporters would have seen was someone who charges in, gives it absolutely everything so I'm really looking forward to seeing how that continues."

Worcestershire's win against Kent continued their promising start to life back in Division Two following relegation last season.

After a battling final-day draw at Derbyshire in their opening match, the Pears have beaten Middlesex at Lord's and Kent in their first home game of the summer to stand third in the table, six points behind Durham and nine shy of leaders Lancashire going into their match at Northamptonshire, which starts on Friday.

"The performances, apart from probably the first two days at Derby, have been really good," Richardson said.

"The boys have showing a huge amount of spirit and character which they're going to need at times.

"A game of four-day cricket can be a bit of a rollercoaster in that they've stuck together really well. So, yeah, it's been really pleasing so far.

"Middlesex was a bit of a shootout on an interesting wicket and we did that really well and I thought it was a really good display against Kent - we gave ourselves a real chance by bowling superbly in the first innings, and then managed to get a long way past them, so then we always felt like we had an element of control."