Mitchell led Worcestershire to promotion in 2010

Worcestershire captain Daryl Mitchell says he is benefiting enormously from a winter spent playing in New Zealand.

The 27-year-old from Badsey is playing for Auckland side Cornwall.

The opening batsman told BBC Hereford & Worcester: "I am fortunate in that I am playing for a pretty big club and the lads have been fantastic.

"Both myself and my girlfriend have settled in well and on the cricket side I have got plenty of runs and got among the wickets."

While he admits that the level of cricket he is playing is well below first-class level, Mitchell says it is still very competitive.

"Club cricket out here is very much better than the club cricket you get at home," he said.

"There is a one-day competition, a Twenty20 and a two-day competition which is played on a Saturday-Saturday basis, so alternate weekends.

"The level has been mixed although you do get some very sides who have first-class players but you do get a range of abilities," he added.

You ask any batter and they love to bat so being out in the middle is better than any indoor net session Daryl Mitchell

Given the intensity of the domestic programme in England, there are those who question the wisdom of players then spending the winter playing in the southern hemisphere.

Mitchell appreciates the point they are making but says it is less of an issue for batsmen than it would be for fast bowlers.

"As batters I don't think the resting thing is such an issue," he said.

"I still had three or four weeks at the end of the season where I did very little to be honest other than a bit of recuperation.

"Playing club cricket here I am training twice per week and playing on Saturdays with the odd one-day game on a Sunday.

"Generally it is a bit of a rest while keeping your skills up and you ask any batter and they love to bat so being out in the middle is better than any indoor net session."

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