STEVE Rhodes hailed an “amazing effort” by Worcestershire’s players after clinching the Specsavers County Championship Division Two title.

Worcestershire made sure of the title with their ninth win in 14 matches against Durham at New Road.

They sealed a fourth successive win to pip Nottinghamshire for the title.

Director of cricket Rhodes said: “It’s great to go up as champions. It is tremendous really.

"I spoke about the local talent we’ve tried to produce and mould into a team.

“But they’ve done outstandingly well. I can’t take anything away from what the players have done and what Joe (Leach, captain) has done.

“It has been an amazing effort from them to beat another nine teams in the league.

“They’ve got a lot of very strong sides out there with ex-international players so I’m proud of what all the lads have done, the home-grown talent and the overseas lads Nathan Lyon, John Hastings and (Ravichandran) Ashwin who has put in a nice, little tonic for the boys in the last month.

“We’ve got some really passionate supporters and members who turn in day in and day out and support us through thick and thin.

“Whether games are lost, drawn or won, they still turn up the next match and for them and other supporters all around the world who follow our game it is a happy occasion to pull off a Championship win for them.

“The coaches have worked hard, the support and medical team have worked hard but we can’t take anything away from the players.

“They are the ones out there doing the job. They’ve practised hard, developed skills and made mistakes which is always good because you learn.

“Now it's bearing fruit. It is going to be a really tough job in Division One but they know that.

“I know they feel they are a bit better equipped a few years on to where they were last time.”

Durham batsman Paul Collingwood said: “Worcestershire have deserved the Championship.

"They have been very consistent throughout the season as most champions are.

“They know the home conditions. They have been very good here. This was another very good performance here from them.

"They put us under a lot of pressure.

“Nottinghamshire looked as though they were going to win the title for most of the year but they have pipped them at the end which is good for them.”