WORCESTERSHIRE skipper Daryl Mitchell’s fine season has been recognised by the Professional Cricketers’ Association.

The 30-year-old was chosen as captain after being named in the PCA team of the year.

Mitchell and Kent’s Darren Stevens were the only representatives of LV= County Championship Division Two.

The County star led by example as he guided a young side to promotion to Division One. Mitchell scored nearly 2,000 runs in all competitions, including more than 1,300 in the Championship with five centuries.

The awards have been coming thick and fast for the Badsey-born player, who also lifted the County’s Dick Lygon Award at their awards ceremony.

It is awarded to the best team player in all forms of cricket who also made significant contributions off the pitch.

Meanwhile, Worcestershire director of cricket Steve Rhodes praised the “tremendous work” of head groundsman Tim Packwood and his staff after the horrendous floods last winter.

They had to contend with more than 10 feet of water on the square less than two months before the start of the campaign and large areas of grass were destroyed.

The County had to practice pre-season at Kidderminster after returning from Abu Dhabi.

But cricket got under way as scheduled in April at New Road and there was no problem with the standard of wickets which Rhodes believes actually suited the attack at his disposal.

The outfield also slowly but surely recovered after inevitable early-season bare patches after the flood battering.

Rhodes said: “The first two months really were very difficult for Tim and his staff because there was a lot of silt on the square.

“It did affect the wickets in the sense they became slower with less grass so it didn’t carry as much.

“But I think it suited our bowlers who are obviously quite organised and disciplined in the way they bowl regarding the seamers.

“With Saeed Ajmal at the other end, I think on slow and low pitches spinners are difficult to face because it means they can catch you on the crease a little bit and then Saeed is very dangerous with the doosra.

“I’m so delighted Tim and all his staff have worked so well with the square and the outfield.

“Let’s just hope now we can have a flood-free winter because that will be nice for Tim and just reward for the hard and tremendous work he has put in.”