ZANDER de Bruyn admits he would love to return to Worcestershire next summer -- despite failing to make a huge impression.

The 30-year-old South African brings his County stint to a close when he jets out of England 24 hours after the totesport League clash with Hampshire on August 21.

All-rounder de Bruyn checks out a month before the end of the season to try and resurrect his international career.

He is part of a 16-man South Africa 'A' squad selected to tour Sri Lanka in September for two four-day matches and seven one-day internationals.

But while the good-natured Springbok prepares to say goodbye to Worcestershire and hello to the turning wickets of Colombo and Kandy, the former Test star is hopeful of a New Road comeback.

"There's a lot of talk about next season," he explains. "I would love to come back to Worcestershire. I've really enjoyed living in the region with my wife.

"The Worcestershire people have been nice and the club has also been nice.

"I've never had a problem being here. It's up to the club to decide which overseas players they want to sign. The club must look at what team they want to put together and what players suit them."

If the Johannesburg-born right-hander is offered another County opportunity, he will hope to make a better fist of things in the four-day environment.

From 12 innings, de Bruyn posted just one half-century in the Frizzell Championship and averaged a lowly 20.75.

His medium pace fared little better, with only five scalps at 113.20 apiece.

It is a different story in the one-day arena as he tops the club's totesport League averages on 45.50, including four 50's, while a season's top score of 82 came against Yorkshire in the C&G Trophy.

De Bruyn said: "It's been one of those seasons. It's hard to explain my form this season. I've been trying to figure it out myself.

"I started off well and I've been high in the averages all season in one-day cricket. But it has not happened in four-day cricket. I just couldn't get on a roll.

"As a batsman, I try not to dwell on it too much. But I did start to think, 'Was I doing something different in the four-day game?' The answer is no.

"I was trying to spend as much time at the wicket because I thought runs would come. When you get to 30 or 40, you can start to dominate the bowlers. But it didn't happen often.

"I still want to get a century this season. I've got three more knocks before I leave and I'll be trying hard to get there."

De Bruyn has appeared in three Tests and played the last of those against England at Port Elizabeth in December.

He regards next month's South Africa 'A' tour as an ideal stepping-stone to claiming back his Test all-rounder spot. Other stars included in the squad include captain Jacques Rudolph, Paul Adams and Dale Steyn.