Monday, September 6th, 2021

WORCESTERSHIRE LEGEND DARYL MITCHELL TO RETIRE AT END OF 2021 SEASON

Worcestershire CCC legend and opening batsman Daryl Mitchell is to retire at the end of the season after nearly two decades at New Road.

Mitchell, 37, will hang up his spikes after the final LV=Insurance County Championship match of the season against Leicestershire at New Road beginning on September 21.

Mitchell made his senior debut in 2005 and has made more than 500 appearances for Worcestershire in all formats.

He has scored 13874 first class runs at an average of 38.75, and is in the top six of century-makers for Worcestershire with 38 to his name.

Mitchell has also totalled 3874 List A and 2310 T20 runs and, in addition, is the only Worcestershire player to have taken 100 T20 wickets.

Badsey-born Mitchell also captained Worcestershire for six full seasons and was the first born inside the County since Maurice Foster in 1925.

He also spent four years as chairman of the Professional Cricketers’ Association.

Mitchell confirmed: “I’ll be finishing at the end of this year. It’s been a great time for me here at Worcestershire. I will slip into the PCA role full-time as of October.

“I’m in a lucky and privileged position to be able to transition from playing to that role and really excited about that for the future.

“Hopefully, I can go out with a bit of a bang with a couple of hundreds and a couple of wins. That’s the plan.

“I have nothing but fond memories here at New Road. I’ve had a brilliant career here and played with some fantastic people and looking forward to coming next year as a fan.

“This place is very close to my heart, and I guess I’ll go full circle and bring the kids down next year just like my dad used to bring me.”

Cricket Steering Group Chairman, Paul Pridgeon, said: “We are all disappointed that Mitch has made the decision to retire. He has been a fantastic servant to Worcestershire CCC.

“He has been a role model to the other professionals over the years, and we wish him well in his new role with the PCA.”

Fanos Hira, Chairman of Worcestershire CCC, echoed these sentiments “Daryl has been an outstanding, loyal and committed player for our club.

“He has been supremely impressive on the field, and having dealt with him on many matters off the field, I am sure he has a very healthy future in sports administration.

“In many ways, he is a role model for elite sportsman as they transition to a new life after sport. He does and will continue to excel at the PCA, indeed in all he sets his sights upon. We wish him very well for the future.”

*Daryl will be looking back on his career at New Road in an interview with the Worcestershire CCC website.