Assistant Coach Matt Mason has praised the contribution of Alex Gidman in helping with advice to the young members of the Worcestershire squad despite his own challenging first season at New Road.
Mason was delighted to see Gidman score an unbeaten 60 on the second day of the LV = County Championship match with Sussex at New Road.
He helped ensure 93 runs were eked out from the last three wickets of Jack Shantry, Saeed Ajmal and Charlie Morris after registering his third LV = CC half century of the campaign.
Mason said: "It is great for Giddo to get some runs. We all know how terrific a player he is. By his standards he has had a tough year.
"If he is in there scoring runs, that is great for our dressing room and great for him as well.
"He has been brilliant to have around the club. We have really enjoyed having him on board.
"The young cricketers in our dressing room feed off him all the time. "He is a very positive guy and, despite his own difficulties this year, he has stayed very positive and upbeat and been more than a help for our young lads.
"He showed again with the way he shepherded Charlie (Morris) through that difficult period, it was terrific Giddo stuff."
The other plus point in a demanding day for Worcestershire was Jack Shantry picking up his 50th LV = CC wicket of the summer.
Mason said: "He has got to 50 wickets again. He has done well again. You can never rule Shants out of any game.
"He finds a way, it's his way, and he has had terrific success with the ball over a long period of time now."
