IS Chris Gayle the right man to help Worcestershire achieve their end-of-season objectives? Supporters certainly hope so.

Following the innings and 56-run thrashing of Somerset in the Frizzell County Championship, promotion from Division Two is certainly back on for the County.

And although Worcestershire sit at the bottom of totesport League Division One before today's New Road clash with Hampshire, winning more than half of their remaining games could prove good enough to stave off relegation.

The task in both one and four-day is formidable, however, and the County must look at themselves if they fall short of their targets.

A comparatively poor season from several recognised top-order batsmen and the team's huge blip in form following Tom Moody's defection to Sri Lanka have been factors in Worcestershire's struggles.

But another small part of their downfall has been the misfiring overseas stars.

Aside from the steady wicket-taking of Chaminda Vaas early in the campaign, Worcestershire have otherwise hit problems with Zander de Bruyn and Shoaib Akhtar.

Despite the promise, all-rounder de Bruyn just hasn't produced this season. He finally achieved his wish of bowing out of England with at least one century under his belt.

But a dashing 146 against Somerset last week cannot disguise what has been a distinctly low-scoring County stint for the 30-year-old Springbok.

Only once before did de Bruyn register a half-century in the County Championship. Wickets also rarely materialised through his medium-pace bursts, ensuring a mediocre return for a player harbouring hopes of regaining his Test spot in the South African side.

Meanwhile, Shoaib's contribution has, so far, been curious to say the least.

The 'Rawalpindi Express' checked in at the New Road platform with the reputation as one of world cricket's controversial characters. And so it has proved.

Nobody can deny that, on his day, Shoaib remains a fearsome strike-bowler. His devastating spell at Northamptonshire that led to a 6-47 haul is one of the season's highlights.

But the Pakistani's wicket-splattering exploits have been in short supply, due to his infrequent appearances on the pitch.

From one match to the next, it has become a lottery whether or not Shoaib takes to the field. Although he stays on a pay-as-you-play deal, County spectators deserve better.

So will West Indies star Gayle make a much more positive impact? If he settles in quickly to England's late-summer conditions, he should do.

While Shoaib and de Bruyn are struggling to find their way back to the Test arena, Gayle is at his peak after tasting success on the international stage this year.

The Jamaican left-hand opener became the 20th player in history to score a Test triple-century when he bludgeoned a career-best 317 against South Africa in April.

Gayle also arrives from the Caribbean with respectable first-class bowling figures, especially in one-day cricket, so his off-breakers could prove an effective weapon to complement Worcestershire spinners Gareth Batty and Ray Price.