Worcestershire’s in-form keeper-batter Gareth Roderick is delighted to have signed a new contract until the end of the 2025 season after a prolific 12 months at New Road.
He thanked “everyone at the club” for helping him overcome a challenging first season and now hopes the best years of his career are ahead of him with Worcestershire.
Roderick was in the final year of his initial contract after moving from Gloucestershire for the 2021 season.
He has been a model of consistency since regaining his place in the LV=Insurance County Championship side mid-way through last season.
During that period, the 30-year-old has scored 901 runs in 22 Championship innings at an average of 47.42 with three centuries.
He hit a career best 172 not out against Glamorgan at Sophia Gardens last summer and, in the next game, scored a superb 102 in the innings win over Division Two Champions Nottinghamshire at New Road.
Roderick topped Worcestershire’s 2022 batting averages and finished in fifth spot in Division Two with 447 runs at 74.50.
After recently being promoted to open, Roderick struck another century to help draw the game with Derbyshire at New Road.
Roderick has also been a capable and reliable performer behind the stumps, and this summer, he has clocked up 32 dismissals to lift his first class tally to 347 during his career.
Roderick said: “Very happy to have signed this new contract. You always want to try and make sure you are contributing, and with a contract extension, it means you are doing your job and doing your bit for the team.
“Thanks to everyone at the club for their support and sticking by me when things weren’t going well, and that certainly helped me get back to a semblance of form.
“To get back from that, be at the top of the order now and contribute a little bit with the bat this last 12 months or so, it has been really nice.
“Are the best years ahead? I hope so. Throughout my career, the one thing I’ve lacked is a bit of consistency.
“I’ve tended to score runs in patches, and I hopefully am now starting to see a little bit more consistency, and fingers crossed I can keep that going. That is the thing we all strive for.
“You might not consistently be getting hundreds and match-winning performances, but if you are consistently putting scores on the board, as opposed to feast or famine, it is a lot more comforting if you are able to do that.”
Worcestershire Chief Executive Officer, Ashley Giles, said: “We’re all absolutely delighted that Gareth has committed to Worcestershire for another two full seasons until October 2025.
“He had a challenging first year here but has not looked back since he got back into the side last June at Durham.
“There have been many outstanding and crucial innings, and his half century spanning over five hours on the final day on a difficult pitch in the win over Leicestershire springs to mind.
“The other week to be on the field keeping wicket for a day and a half against Derbyshire and then to go straight back out as opener and score a century was a tremendous effort.
“He has also kept wicket really well and in an unfussy and reliable manner.”
Roderick spent eight seasons with Gloucestershire before joining Worcestershire for the 2021 season, and this winter returned to his native South Africa to captain Green Point Cricket Club and enjoyed a successful time with the bat.
