PEARS head coach Alex Gidman believes Brett D’Oliveira is “approaching the peak time of his career” after the all-rounder signed a new three-year contract.
D’Oliveira had one year remaining of his current deal but has put pen to paper until the end of the 2024 season.
He becomes the SEVENTH player to sign a new contract since the end of last summer and follows Joe Leach, Dillon Pennington, Josh Baker, Charlie Morris, Adam Finch and Mitchell Stanley in committing their futures at New Road.
D’Oliveira enjoyed an excellent 2021 campaign in all formats. He received the Supporters’ Association Player Of The Year and T20 Player Of The Year awards at the end of season Presentation Evening.
The 29-year-old was the Rapids leading scorer with 358 runs in the Vitality Blast and the most economical bowler, conceding just 5.90 runs per over.
D’Oliveira also scored nearly 500 runs in the LV=Insurance County Championship and did an excellent job, particularly in the first block of games, in providing control and support with his leg-spin to the four seamers.
Gidman said: “Brett is starting to get into what we believe is the peak time of his career. His performances are improving year on year.”
“He has always been an integral part of the group off the pitch, so absolutely delighted he has agreed to stay and extend his contract with us.
“Last summer, he had as good a season as anyone could have hoped for.
“Brett has been around the club for a long time which is really important. He understands the club, and he understands the values of the club.
“As we go through a small transition with some younger players being introduced, the likes of Brett are crucial in moving forward.”
D’Oliveira made his debut for Worcestershire a decade ago and is pleased to extend his time at New Road further.
He said: “Delighted to sign another three-year deal and commit myself to the club.
“It will be good to see where it takes me, and the team, in that period.
“Am I coming to my peak? It takes a few years to learn your role and your style of play, and I think I’m getting there now.
“Hopefully, I can put that into the game and start producing some more results for the team and getting those wins.”
D’Oliveira relished his new roles in both red-ball cricket, as a prominent part of the attack, and in the Vitality Blast, in the opening batsman role.
He said: “I had a bit more opportunity last season with the ball, and I sat down with Joe Leach (then Club Captain) at the start of the year, and he had those plans moving forward with Alex (Gidman).
“It was about me getting some more overs under my belt and how I could stay in the game for more extended periods to give the seamers a break and also be a threat.
“I got the opportunity, and I probably took it in some ways, and it’s just about me producing those performances over the next few years and hopefully beyond.
“In T20, I had that opportunity to go up to the top of the order, which myself and Alex (Gidman) spoke about and also Moeen (Ali) when he was around.
“Moeen gave me a call and thought I had the potential to do it and would be good at it, so I grasped it and managed to get a few runs.
“Moving forward, it is just about recreating those performances and trying to get better and better.