Key Man Mitchell Will Be The Main Worcester Source

DARYL MITCHELL made his debut for Worcestershire in 2005. In his 13 seasons as a first-team cricketer he has enjoyed five promotions and suffered four relegations. Unlike some English professionals he knows his way around all 18 first-class counties.

- Paul Edwards

 Yet the winter currently meandering damply towards the exit door has presented Mitchell with a different type of change from that he has faced at the end of nine of his championship campaigns.

When Joe Leach’s side defeated Durham and thus clinched the Second Division title late last September, Steve Rhodes was director of cricket at New Road, Matt Mason was bowling coach and Tom Scott was chief executive.

Now Kevin Sharp has taken on the head coach’s role following Rhodes’ much-publicised departure in December, while Alan Richardson has been appointed lead bowling coach in succession to Mason, who has since taken on a similar role at Leicestershire. And on March 1, Worcestershire’s new chief executive, Matt Rawnsley, takes up his duties at a club keen to establish itself among the elite.

Even for the equable and experienced Mitchell, it has been a remarkable few months, yet also a close season in which he and his colleagues have had to get on with preparing for the challenges which begin with a visit to the Ageas Bowl on April 13.

“It’s certainly been interesting and very different to any winter I’ve experienced,” he acknowledged. “There’s been a lot of change, but from a player’s perspective you just go about your business. The training hasn’t changed too much. We still do our strength and conditioning work before Christmas and then the cricket comes into it a bit more in the New Year.