CURRENT England Test captain Alastair Cook is among many star names to pay tribute to Worcestershire skipper Daryl Mitchell in his 2016 benefit brochure.
Cook got to know Badsey-born Mitchell when the pair were room-mates for the MCC-Yorkshire match in Abu Dhabi 11 months ago.
The Essex opener admitted the pair of them “got on like a house on fire”.
Cook said: “Benefits are designed for players like Mitch – people who put their heart and soul into a club and turn out performances over and over again for their side. Playing against Mitch for almost 15 years going back to our second-team days. We would always say hello on the circuit without really getting to know each other.
“But in those 10 days (in Abu Dhabi), we made up for lost time. We even went shopping together.”
England and Worcestershire all-rounder Moeen Ali recalls the battles in league cricket the pair had – for Worcester Norton and Halesowen versus Water Orton and Moseley respectively.
He has immense respect for the contribution Mitchell has made at New Road during the past decade.
Moeen said: “Mitch has gone on to become one of the top opening batsmen in the country and his record speaks for itself.
“We are very fortunate to have him at New Road and he is so professional and one of the best captains I have played under.
“One of his best qualities is how he deals with every individual. He knows how to handle different people and that is a good quality to have in a leader.”
Another England player, James Taylor, acknowledges the help he received from Mitchell when part of the Worcestershire Academy before moving to Leicestershire and then Nottinghamshire.
He said: “Mitch really helped me in terms of my cricket. He was the senior guy, the second-team captain, and the guy I looked up to. I kind of aspired to be like him.
“We developed a good bond and had a good catch up at the last PCA dinner and joked about old times at Worcester and me coming back at some point!
“We will see what the future holds.”
The benefit brochure is packed with contributions including from Graeme Hick, Tom Moody, Steve Rhodes, Vikram Solanki, Nick Compton and a host of Worcestershire players past and present.
It also contains a detailed list of the many functions being hosted during Mitchell’s benefit year and can be purchased for a donation of £5.
E-mail [email protected], call 07506 747619 or visit www.mitchbenefit.co.uk for more details.