The 1924 season saw Abell play 12 first-class matches: seven for Oxford University and five for Worcestershire. His batting produced nothing of note (his highest score that season was just 23*) but he held 12 catches and made two stumpings. The following year, however, he passed 500 runs for the only time in his career, this total including 124 for Worcestershire against Sussex. He also claimed 17 dismissals. From 1926 until 1928 he performed poorly with the bat, 50 being his highest score in 31 innings, but he continued to pick up victims behind the stumps.