Worcestershire cricketing legend Daryl Mitchell is to retire at the end of the season after nearly two decades with the club.
Mitchell, 37, will take to the field for the final time on September 21 for the Pears’ final County Championship match of the season.
The opener made his senior debut in 2005 and has gone on to make more than 500 appearances for Worcestershire in all formats.
Mitchell has scored 13,874 first class runs at an average of 38.75 and with 38 100 plus scores, he is in the top six of century-makers at the club.
Mitchell has scored 3,874 and 2,310 runs in one-day and T20 competitions respectively while he remains the only county player to have taken 100 wickets in the 20-over format.
Badsey-born Mitchell became Worcestershire’s first captain to be born in the county since Maurice Foster in 1925, when he began a six-year stint as skipper in 2010.
He has been the chairman of the Professional Cricketers’ Association since 2017 and will take up the role full-time, starting in October.
Mitchell confirmed: “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.”
Fanos Hira, Chairman of Worcestershire CCC, wished Mitchell well in his new role.
He said: “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.”
Cricket Steering Group Chairman, Paul Pridgeon, added: “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.”
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