WORCESTERSHIRE are to return to Abu Dhabi in March as part of their preparations for LV= County Championship Division One.

The County spent 11 days there ahead of the 2014 season and played 50-over and T20 games plus a two-day match against the likes of New Zealand, Derbyshire, Holland and Ireland.

Batsman and bowlers enjoyed time in the middle and overs under their belt ahead of the domestic season, which ended with promotion from Division Two.

Now Worcestershire are to make a second visit from March 4 until 14 and will again play county opposition with the itinerary being finalised.

There may also be the opportunity for supporters to be part of the attractive trip and combine a mixture of sun and cricket.

Worcestershire chief executive David Leatherdale said: “We will definitely be going to Abu Dhabi.

“We will have an itinerary for both players and potentially spectators. A number of people have said they would be interested in going.

“The dates we will be going are March 4 until 14. That is commited.

“The games will be a mixture of one-day, T20 and a two-day match. There will be potentially eight days of cricket in 10 days.”

Leatherdale feels the County reaped the benefits of this year’s trip to Abu Dhabi.

He said: “For seven years, we hadn’t been anywhere so it was a big decision to go and it is not the cheapest thing in the world to do.

“But I think it has borne its fruits of getting some early cricket. Next year we will go again. It was really successful. It was 10 days away with a group of young guys and they matured quickly.

“We played some decent cricket against Netherlands, Ireland, New Zealand, who were warming up for the World T20, and Derbyshire.”

n Former Worcestershire second XI player Tom Harrison is the new chief executive officer of the England and Wales Cricket Board.

Harrison, who played for the County seconds in 1993 and then at senior level for Derbyshire, joins the ECB from international sports marketing agency IMG, where he was head of cricket and responsible for media business.