Alex Gidman reunion a major draw as Gareth Roderick joins Worcestershire

Roderick has signed a three-year deal at Blackfinch New Road until the end of the 2023 campaign and will leave Gloucestershire at the end of the season

Gareth Roderick is relishing the opportunity to be reunited with Worcestershire head coach Alex Gidman.

Roderick has signed a three-year deal at Blackfinch New Road until the end of the 2023 campaign and will leave Gloucestershire at the end of the season.

He played under former Gloucestershire captain Gidman during the early part of his career and says he was a massive influence.

Now the pair have been reunited with Roderick joining Jake Libby – recruited last winter from Nottinghamshire – as part of a reshaped batting line-up.

Roderick said: “One of the big draws was that I always valued what Alex had to say about the game (of cricket) and my game.

“He understood my game from when I first got to Gloucestershire and was a big influence on me and I loved batting with him.

“To work with someone that you trust with your game, and someone you know is going to help you, is a very attractive thing.

“It’s going to be good to work with him again and next year can’t come soon enough.”

Roderick is determined to help Worcestershire as they aim to overcome two disappointing seasons of red-ball cricket in contrast to their white-ball triumphs, most notably the 2018 Vitality Blast title.

He said: “It’s about getting in there, settling in with the lads, getting to know everyone, and showing to Alex and the team I deserve to be there and win my spot and earn my stripes.

“It’s about putting in one performance at a time and fingers crossed those will accumulate into something good at the end of the first year. Hopefully I can get some big scores at the top of the order.

“I’ve not been as consistent as I would have liked and the last couple of years I’ve done okay without stamping my foot on the season.

“Hopefully a new challenge and a move I’m really looking forward to is that kind of refresher to start again and a get a little bit more consistent and make a big impact on the park.”

Long-serving opener Daryl Mitchell says the recruitment of Roderick, aged 28, and Libby, 26, is an encouraging trend for Worcestershire.

He said: “Traditionally we have signed people who are either very young or getting older but what excites me about both Jake and Gareth is that they are both coming into their prime.

“For Worcestershire to attract players in their prime and still on the way up is a real coup and hopefully we can get the best years out of both of those guys at Worcestershire which is exciting.”

Save 30% when you subscribe to The Cricketer’s print & digital bundle. £35 for 12 issues