BIG HITTING Pears all-rounder Ross Whiteley will leave New Road at the end of the season when his contract expires.
The former Derbyshire man will end his eight year stay with the county along with young wicketkeeper Alex Milton who has not been offered a new deal.
Whiteley was offered a new contract to play just Royal London One Day Cup and Vitality Blast games but rejected the offer in favour of a ‘different career path’, according to the club.
Although not confirmed, the 33-year-old could be set for a move to Sussex as the Hove side seek to replace all-rounder Chris Jordan who is moving to Surrey and big hitter Phil Salt who is joining Lancashire.
He shared a dressing room with Jordan, George Garton and Tymal Mills during the triumphant Hundred campaign for the Southern Brave earlier this summer.
Whiteley joined Worcestershire from Derbyshire mid-way through the 2013 season and was a member of the 2018 Vitality Blast winning side.
He became the first English player to hit six sixes in an over in an innings of 65 off 26 balls at Headingley in 2017 – a seven-ball over from Yorkshire leg-spinner Karl Carver.
“I have loved my time at Worcestershire. I’d like to thank all my team mates past and present and the wonderful supporters,” he said.
“I wish all at the club the very best of fortune in the future”
The club’s cricket steering group chairman Paul Pridgeon, said: “Ross has decided to take his career forward in a different direction and is moving to pastures new.
“We thank him for his contributions and wish him well in the future.”
Milton is also leaving the county after not being offered a new contract.
The 25-year-old scored a century on his County Championship debut versus Somerset at New Road in 2018 and made the last of his 14 first-class appearances against Gloucestershire in September 2019.