PRANKSTER Riki Wessels hopes to be a calming influence in Worcestershire’s dressing room — even if he does like to throw in the odd bit of chaos.

The 33-year-old winter recruit from Nottinghamshire is happy to provide New Road with a sensible head for when the going gets tough but insists keeping things light will be just as important ahead of a push for honours on three fronts.

“I am a pretty young 33-year-old who does some stupid stuff at times, throwing cold water on the guys in the shower and hiding boots,” said Wessels.

“It sounds silly but those things keep the vibe in the changing room in a good place.

"When you spend as much time together as we do things can get a bit tetchy at times.

"If we can keep the fun going, we won’t get too many issues.

“I cannot dress like the youngsters in these tight jeans or listen to the music they like but I like being part of the group and am quite calm and relaxed to be around most of the time.

“I have two kids at home so not too much gets on my nerves.

"Hopefully I can bring that calmness to the dressing room whatever is happening, whether things are good or bad.

“We have a good mix of guys here and hopefully I can learn from them too.

“Having played against the Worcestershire players over the past couple of years, I felt I had an understanding with them.

"I enjoyed their vibe so it was a pretty easy decision to come here.

“They tend to have a young group of guys.

"At times inexperience has shown but those guys have been playing for a good number of years now and hopefully, having learned what it is to win a trophy and be relegated, we can all push forward from here.

“It is always difficult to do but with the younger guys coming through I believe it is something we can strive to achieve.”

Wessels continued: “Relegation is heartbreaking at the time, it hurts and there is no pain like it.

"The disappointment of playing all those games of cricket and not getting what you want out of it stays with you.

“But once it all settles down it cannot get any worse. Where do you go from there?

"There is only one way and that is up.

"Hopefully that bittersweet moment of knowing you have won a trophy but that you won’t be in Division One will give the guys that hunger to push to get back this year.”