CAPTAIN Joe Leach has dismissed claims from some members that Worcestershire’s spirit has been affected by the abrupt loss of batsman Tom Kohler-Cadmore.

The 22-year-old Kohler-Cadmore was released from his contract at New Road earlier this month just a week after informing the County he planned to sign for Yorkshire next season.

Since Kohler-Cadmore was dropped - and then his contract terminated by the County - Worcestershire have suffered three heavy defeats.

Worcestershire crashed to a 153-run loss against Surrey in yesterday’s Royal London One-Day Cup semi-final, while Kohler-Cadmore hit an unbeaten 191 for Driffield Town in the Yorkshire League.

Worcestershire will be aiming to return to winning ways against Kent in the Specsavers County Championship Division Two at New Road, which starts tomorrow (11am).

In response to some members’ claims that Worcestershire’s players had been unsettled by the Kohler-Cadmore episode, Leach said: “I think that’s a bit unfair to be honest.

“I am not going to stand here and say it has had any effect on the team.

“As a side you are going to take knock-backs and this (loss to Surrey) is one of them but hopefully we can draw a line under it and move on.

“Surrey came out and played well and I think Jason Roy probably did exactly what he didn’t do in the Champions Trophy.

“It was a very good pitch and 360 wasn’t insurmountable by any stretch of the imagination although you might look at the scorecard and think it was.

“It was a good pitch and maybe Surrey were 30 runs above par and we never really got going with the bat.”

Worcestershire are third in the County Championship, just one place and eight points behind rivals Kent.

Leach believes there’s no need for anyone connected with the club to panic after three losses.

“I don’t think there’s any need to panic,” he said.

“We’ve had a very good start to the Championship and won our 50-over group with some brilliant teams in it.

“Of course people will be disappointed.

"We didn’t want this to happen and we didn’t want the last couple of weeks to happen.

“But the Championship is a marathon and we’ve won our fair share of games so far this year.

"Watch this space because we are a good side and we will be challenging.”