WORCESTERSHIRE have awarded a benefit to captain and opening batsman Daryl Mitchell for 2016.

Mitchell, who supported the County as a youngster, made his debut 11 years ago and has led the side since taking over from Vikram Solanki at the tail-end of the 2010 season.

The 31-year-old has been a reliable and consistent performer for a decade and has scored more than 9,000 first class runs at an average of nearly 40 with 21 hundreds.

He has topped the 1,000 run mark in a season on three occasions with his best return in 2014 when he scored 1,334 runs with five centuries - the second highest tally in Division Two of the LV = County Championship.

Badsey-born Mitchell, a product of Worcestershire's Academy, achieved his highest score of 298 against Somerset at Taunton in 2009.

Mitchell has also amassed 2,572 List A runs at an average of 33.40 and has become a major force in T20 cricket during the last two seasons since being promoted to the top of the order, finishing as the County's top scorer in 2014 and 2015.

Mitchell had led Worcestershire to promotion in the LV = CC on two occasions - in 2010 after replacing Solanki for the last five games, and in 2014.

He has shouldered the responsibility of opening the batting and captaining a young and inexperienced side with great aplomb.

Mitchell also seldom misses games through injury and played in 68 successive LV = CC matches until missing the recent game against Nottinghamshire with a hamstring injury.

He said: "I would like to thank the club for awarding me a benefit and I feel very honoured. It is a club that I love, that is very dear to my heart and to now be honoured in this way is special to me.

"I used to watch the club from the seats in front of the old pavilion and to go onto play for Worcestershire and then to captain them was a dream come true.

"It doesn't seem five minutes since I was walking out to bat for the first time! This is my 13th season just finished and I've enjoyed every minute of my time here.

"I am looking forward to the benefit year, will try and do a lot of events and have a lot of fun along the way. I'll have my hands full but it is important cricket remains the priority for me and make sure everything is right on the field first.

"I suppose I am now nearer the end than the beginning of my career but hope to play for many more years to come yet."

Worcestershire director of cricket Steve Rhodes said: "No-one deserves a benefit more than Mitch who has become an integral part of this club, not only as a player but also as a captain in charge of predominantly a young side.

"He is Worcestershire through and through, supporting the club, coming through the academy and becoming one of the most reliable and consistent opening batsmen in county cricket.

"Throughout the game Mitch is a highly respected person and character.

"We see him having a key role to play for many years to come and we wish him all the best in 2016 with his benefit."