PEARS pace bowler Adam Finch will make his comeback from injury playing grade cricket in Australia.

Finch flies out to Australia on Thursday, December 28 to link up with a side who have been in excellent form during the three-month period leading up to Christmas.

The Worcestershire bowler is joining Sturt CC for the second successive winter after recovering from his back problem.

Sturt compete in the South Australia Cricket Association Premier Cricket two-day, 50 over and T20 competitions and have been beaten only once.

They are unbeaten in the West End first grade two dayers and are through to the quarter-finals of the One-Day Cup.

Sturt also reached the last eight of the T20 tournament after being unbeaten in their group but then lost to Port Adelaide.

Finch will taste his first match action since the County Championship triumph over Gloucestershire at Cheltenham in late July when he picked up seven wickets.

He has been building up his fitness since Worcestershire reported back for pre-season training in mid-November and been back bowling in the nets.

Finch said: “Really looking forward to getting some match action in and Sturt have certainly been in excellent form and hopefully I can play a part in helping them to continue that form.

“The training has gone well for the past few weeks, but you can’t beat being out in the middle.

“I want to do well for Sturt but also make sure I’m in the best place for when I return to New Road in the middle of March for the pre-season matches and ultimately the start of the season.”

Finch joins fellow Worcestershire players Josh Baker, Ed Pollock and Ethan Brookes in playing grade cricket in Australia this winter.

There have been positive noises coming from New Road recently regarding some of Worcestershire’s other injured players.

Head coach Alan Richardson has said he is optimistic club captain Brett D’Oliveira will be fit for the Pears’ return to Division One of the County Championship following a shoulder injury.

All-rounder Matthew Waite is expected to start bowling in the New Year after missing the end of last season with a groin problem.