Worcestershire Director of Cricket Steve Rhodes has explained the role played by Moeen Ali after a whole host of players recently signed new contracts.
England all-rounder Moeen himself signed a new five year contract at New Road just before the start of the 2014 campaign.
And the 28-year-old spoke to the players about the importance of "sticking together" and how they could enhance their own England prospects by being given opportunities to impress at New Road.
Joe Clarke, Ed Barnard, Tom Fell, Joe Leach, Ross Whiteley, Brett D'Oliveira, Tom Kohler-Cadmore and Charlie Morris all put pen to paper between August and late September.
Rhodes said: "If you look back at our best players, Mitch (Daryl Mitchell) and Moeen were two players who put pen to paper for a reasonable amount of time (four and five years) before all this has happened this year.
"I think it was pretty apt that I try and get Moeen involved in that. He is an England player now and a centrally contracted England player and so well respected in the dressing room.
"For the lads to try and work out why he put pen to paper at Worcester….people questioned his decision and he had very good reasons for that which was opportunities and, if he can get opportunities, he can impress and if, he can impress, he can play for England.
"That was the reason for getting him involved.
"He added a little bit extra, talking about some of the lads in the England dressing room who at various stages throughout the year had commented about some of the standards of some of the individuals we have got and our young players.
"Hearing that, the lads really did grow some confidence, and their chests stuck out.
"That helped towards the guys sticking together which was the message both myself and Moeen spoke about in that meeting, that we will be stronger if we all stick together."
