WORCESTERSHIRE have played down fears that standards in county cricket are being eroded by the international fixture lists.

Four counties have still not signed overseas players for next season, as international tournaments and Test series' put a huge strain on their availability.

County sides are increasingly being forced to sign players that are unlikely to be selected for their countries in order that they play a full domestic season.

This denies English crowds the chance to see the world's leading players on the county stage.

But Worcestershire secretary Mike Vockins said: "The whole pattern of international cricket has changed. There is so much cricket that goes on in the northern hemisphere season that wasn't the case in days gone by. But that has sometimes worked in counties' favour.

"We signed Vanburn Holder before he was a Test player, and Glenn Turner before he was a Test player. Imran Khan had played only one game for Pakistan before he played for us, so I think there are lots of merits to it."

The New Road side had Glenn McGrath as their overseas player last season, who has been replaced by fellow Aussie Andy Bichel.

There was alarm amongst Worcestershire officials in November when Bichel was called up for the Test series against the West Indies in Australia.

But Vockins added: "We think he was called up as a result of the injury situation so at the moment we're still looking to him to come here. He could still be called up, but we are certainly not looking elsewhere at the moment.

"We did well with Glenn McGrath last year, he was absolutely brilliant. We missed him for a couple of weeks while he went back for a tournament, but he came back and put everything in, and our folks enjoyed having him around enormously."

Vockins was upbeat about Worcestershire's chances next season. "I'm very encouraged. We've signed Bichel to step into McGrath's boots, he comes with a very good recommendation from Glenn and Tom Moody."