Worcestershire County Cricket head coach Alan Richardson has revealed the extent of club captain Brett D’Oliveira's shoulder injury.

The head coach has revealed that his captain, Worcestershire's second-highest run scorer in the County Championship last season, is expected to be fit to lead the side at the start of the 2024 campaign.

Despite the injury, which was causing anguish during the back end of last season, D'Oliveira got back to the crease sooner than expected to compete in the final three Championship matches of last season, leading Worcestershire to promotion to Division One with a captivating century against Yorkshire in the season's finale.

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Read more: Worcestershire must 'embrace' return to County Championship Division 1

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His heroics got the team within a run of the 300 target, earning them two bonus points to secure promotion to the top tier.

Richardson said: "Brett had his surgery in November and he will be back for the start of the season by the looks of it.

“It is slow going for him at the moment, but hopefully in the New Year he will be back running again and slowly getting into some cricket stuff by the time pre-season."

He added: "I wouldn’t have backed many players in and around the country to come back and do it, but Brett was adamant he was going to give it a go at the end of last season.

"Brett takes great pride in leading the club and leading the boys out on the field which is one of the many characteristics which makes him such a strong leader.

“He gave himself a chance to do it. We always gave him the option, there was never any pressure to do it but Brett, being the character he is, and the pride he has in playing for the club, was amazing."

Worcestershire will begin its top tier return with a derby clash against Warwickshire at Edgbaston on April 5.