Worcestershire coach praises D'Oliveira's 'immense' leadership

Richardson said D'Oliveira played a key role in achieving the 2024 pre-season goal of a top-six spot in the Vitality County Championship Division One.

He believes this would have been "incredibly difficult" without D'Oliveira's guidance in his third season with the armband since taking over from Joe Leach.

'Dolly', who battled a shoulder problem throughout the season, made a significant impact with four successive half-centuries when he returned for the Championship finale in late August-September.

Richardson said: "I think the way Dolly leads the players is immense.

"He is really positive and he has got some real positive people in and around him and I think that was really important for us, continually looking in that upward direction rather than just survival.

"If you do that, you can get yourself into quite a negative mindset and we certainly didn’t want that."

He added: "Dolly talked about a huge amount about enjoying the moment as much as possible and, if you are trying to play positive cricket, and always trying to look at it in a way of looking forward rather than looking at what’s behind you, I think that helps.

"Brett does that amazingly well and he certainly shifts the players' mindsets."

Richardson believes D'Oliveira should be credited for his hard work and the environment he creates on and off the field.

He said: "I think it is a huge statement, but I think it would have been incredibly difficult to do what we’ve achieved without Dolly being captain.

"I don’t think there are many people, if any in the squad, that would have played through what he has, put himself through.

"That is the sign of a great leader.

"He speaks well in the group but his actions are so powerful and so loud.

"It is almost screaming at you what he is prepared to do."

He added: "When the lads see a leader who is prepared to do what he does, I think that goes a long way for the impact and the influence he has on them."