WICKET keeper-batter Gareth Roderick flies back to his native South Africa later this week to spend a second successive winter captaining Green Point CC in the Western Province Cricket Association Premier Division.

The Worcestershire keeper-batter will spend the next five months in Cape Town playing at weekends and training throughout the week.

Durban born Roderick says it is an ideal way to keep him ticking over with his skills before he returns to New Road to prepare for the 2024 season, his fourth with the Club.

He enjoyed a successful first spell with Green Point, taking over the captaincy mid-way through the campaign for the weekend 50 over competition.

Roderick said: “The first winter away in Cape Town was very enjoyable and I got to play for a really nice club out there.

“We are going to go back, take the whole family out for their whole summer, and play out there. It was good for my cricket to keep playing.

“I felt like it helped me, that I really wasn’t away, have much of an off season, which kept things ticking over before the season started again with Worcestershire.

“It is different for everyone but for me certainly, I find it helps. It is not incredibly taxing, it is only one game a week, one 50 over game every Saturday.

“It is not like you are demanding a huge amount of your body while you are out there, but you are doing enough, with the training you are doing during the week.

“It keeps you engaged, keeps you honest and doing the right thing.”