Steve Rhodes has highlighted the importance of Tom Fell to the Worcestershire side and dressing room.
Worcestershire's Director of Cricket admits it was a "massive blow" to players and staff when news of Fell suffering a second bout of cancer was revealed the day before the pre-season tour of Abu Dhabi in early March.
Fell was finally able to return for the second half of the campaign in June after getting the all-clear and scored his first century since his comeback in the Royal London One-Day Cup clash with Lancashire at New Road.
One of the emotional moments of recent years at New Road was greeted with a standing ovation all around the ground.
Fell also scored 530 runs in eight Championship matches at an average of 35.33 with four fifties, including a top score of 85 against Sussex at Hove.
Rhodes said: "It was just great to have him back playing and it should not be under-estimated how I feel he is really important to the team and the dressing room because he is a very popular member of the dressing room.
"He gets on well with everyone, is a character who when he is not there, we miss him. At the start of the season, we missed him, his personality the way it is.
"The day before we left for the pre-season tour is the day he had his confirmation that the cancer was back and that was huge blow to the team and everyone concerned and Tom himself.
"But he has fought through it and we have seen a hell of a lot of cricket from Tom this year which was great."
