It is no coincidence that Worcestershire’s last three promotions in the County Championship have gone hand in hand with major contributions from evergreen opener Daryl Mitchell.
The 2010, 2014 and 2017 triumphs have seen Mitchell top the 1,000 run mark on each occasion and provide that solidarity at the top of the order that is vital in laying platforms for success.
Seven years ago Mitchell totalled 1180 runs with four centuries and four fifties at an average of 42.14.
Only Moeen Ali (1260) and Alexei Kervezee (1190) scored more Championship runs that season for the County.
In 2014, Mitchell produced his most prolific season to date in terms of runs with 1,334 at an average of 58.00, hitting five hundreds and four half centuries.
Kervezee (829) was the next highest run-getter.
Then this season the 33-year-old has scored 1266 runs at an average of 55.04 with seven tons and three half centuries.
Mitchell was also part of the 2006 and 2008 promotion winning teams.
He was just breaking into the side in 2006 when playing four matches and scoring 282 runs at an average of 47.00.
But by two years later Mitchell was starting to become firmly established in the team and accumulated 856 runs at 38.90 with one century and three fifties.
Stephen Moore (1288), Vikram Solanki (1127) and Ben Smith (1004 with ten half centuries and no hundreds) were the other main contributors that summer.
