GEORGE Scrimshaw is looking forward with relish to his first winter as a full-time professional with Worcestershire - and eager to improve all aspects of his game.

Academy product Scrimshaw is primarily a pace bowler and after injury setbacks the previous two years was able to complete a full summer unscathed in 2016 including a sizeable batch of Second Eleven Cricket.

It led to him being included in the Young Lions squad for their trip to the UAE this December when he and fellow Worcestershire player Josh Dell will link up with the England Lions for three weeks.

But Scrimshaw says he is also no mug with the bat, classifies himself as a "bowling all-rounder" and is keen to also polish up that part of his game at New Road and Malvern College when the players report back for winter training next week.

He said: "Everything has gone according to plan this year, I've got a contract and hopefully a winter behind me will do me the world of good.

"Dewsy (strength and conditioning coach Ross Dewar) will give me a programme and hopefully that will help me to get a lot stronger and more consistent when I'm bowling as well.

"That is one thing I've had to work on massively this year and I've put in a few performances as well for the second team.

"Staying fit all summer, that was a big thing for me.

"Last year, I had a couple of injuries. An ankle operation put me out for two months and the year before I had a shoulder operation.

"Worcestershire have invested the money in me and I'm very thankful for them to enable me to get those operations done."

Scrimshaw added: "What are my aims this winter? To build up body strength and maybe put on a couple of miles an hour of pace.

"That would be great, get bigger and stronger and work on all my attributes as well, seam, swing movement, and batting as well and fielding which is a big one.

"These days if you can't field that really does affect you in terms of selection especially in the one day format.

"Pace and bounce are strengths for me and I just need to work on a bit of swing as well and also be more consistent so I can group balls together to get wickets.

"I have always been a pace bowler but I'd sort of classify myself as a bowling all-rounder because I can hold a bat, get runs here and there."

Scrimshaw has had a link with Worcestershire for six years but had to wait to be given his opportunity with The Academy.

He said: "I wasn't on the academy at 13 but I'd come down (to Worcestershire) every Sunday to try and speak with all the coaches and try and get as much knowledge as I could.

"Four years down the line, I finally got on the academy."