Worcestershire Head Coach Alex Gidman was delighted for Daryl Mitchell to have the ideal send-off by being at the wicket when the winning run was hit in the ten wicket LV=Insurance County Championship win over Leicestershire at New Road.
Opener Mitchell was applauded all the way to the wicket in an emotional finale to his 17 seasons of first team cricket for Worcestershire.
He had time to hit two boundaries as he and Jake Libby knocked off the 12 runs needed for victory.
Mitchell then let the arena with applause again ringing in his ears, and he raised his bat all the way around the ground before making his way up the dressing room steps as a player for the final time.
He will become the PCA’s Director Of Cricket Operations on a full-time basis from October.
Gidman said: “Daryl Mitchell deserved it (to be at the wicket when victory was completed). He has been an amazing cricketer for this club for a long, long time.
“He is a wonderful man who put his heart and soul into this club for so long.
“It was very fitting he managed to be in the middle at the end and got the send-off he deserved.”
Leicestershire Head Coach, Paul Nixon, echoed Gidman’s sentiments.
He said: “Congratulations to Daryl Mitchell on a stellar career. He has lifted several trophies at Worcestershire and is a great journeyman of county cricket.
“The PCA is in a better place for having him as part of the organisation. He is a very balanced guy and has a tremendous passion for this great game.”
Gidman was pleased with Worcestershire’s overall performance in securing their second victory since the competition restarted at the end of August.
He said: “It was a superb wicket, a great cricket wicket, with something in it for everyone.
“If you could occupy the crease for long periods of time, you could score runs and, equally, if you could bowl enough balls in the right area, you could be threatening as well.
“We did the basics of the game really well. We were disciplined and accurate with the ball, and we caught really well.
“Most of our batsmen occupied the crease for good amounts of time and we managed to get some good runs.”
Club Captain, Joe Leach, who is standing down from the role after five years, bowled another decisive opening spell.
Gidman said: “By his own admittance, Joe was frustrated at times at the beginning of the summer, didn’t quite get the rewards for the effort he was putting in, but this September he has been outstanding.”
Worcestershire will have to find a replacement for Mitchell at second slip, but Jack Haynes (first) and Ed Barnard (third) showed a safe pair of hands as part of a new look combination.
Gidman said: “We work really hard on the catching. Obviously, we shelled a few this year, but speaking to coaches around the circuit, it has been an issue for most counties.
“They practice extremely hard, and it looks like we’ve got a couple there (in Haynes and Barnard) who can do a job.
“We will continue to work on that when we come back in November and hopefully have a solid group at the beginning of next year.”
