Worcestershire Club captain, Brett D’Oliveira is stepping up his training programme as he continues his comeback from a dislocated shoulder.
D’Oliveira, who last week signed a contract extension until the end of the 2027 season, confirmed he is back batting and now also able to do some bowling as part of the winter training programme at Malvern.
He is feeling “very positive” and optimistic of being able to play a full part during the March training camp at Desert Springs.
D’Oliveira bravely defied the shoulder problem to play in the final three County Championship matches of the season and skipper Worcestershire to promotion, scoring a superb century against Yorkshire at Headingley.
He said: “It is still very positive. It is going to take a bit of time to get that confidence back, to still get the strength and power in the shoulder.
“But I’m back hitting cricket balls and batting on the machine and last week started going through some bowling, and I think the next layer of that is just upping the intensity of it all.
“The last sort of bit will be diving in the field, but I’m hoping when we go to Desert Springs that I will be ready to fully participate in everything. All is going well at the moment.
“I’ve got another check up to come with the surgeon but hopefully that is the last one that will be needed.
“All went well the latest scan and was healing properly and was going in the right direction.
“It’s a bit of a long process, but that’s why we tried to get through the back end of the season and then got things done in the off season. All is well.”
D’Oliveira paid tribute to the work of Andy Powell, Worcestershire’s Head Of Sports Science and Medicine, and Zak Bess, Strengthening And Conditioning Coach, in enabling him to make such encouraging progress.
He said: “It was quite painful at the time and we managed the way through the back end of last season and credit to Andy Powell, and Zak Bess as well.
“They were great for me, Andy especially who is really clued up in that field. He did a Masters in shoulders so I’m lucky to have him on board.
“The original dislocation was painful and getting it back in was painful and then I had a couple of injections and had to wear a brace when I was playing at the end of the season.
“It was quite painful at the time but we are through that now hopefully. It just feels nice to be back around the group and not on the side-lines trying to keep busy.”
