WORCESTERSHIRE begin the final week of their eventful season with leading officials piling praise on two players at contrasting stages of their New Road careers.

Thirty eight year-old wicketkeeper Steve Rhodes has again been a key figure in the County side this term while talented 19-year-old batsman Kadeer Ali did not make a first team appearance.

Both, however, have been mentioned in despatches as Worcestershire prepare to end their battles in the Frizzell County Championship Division Two against Derbyshire, starting at New Road on Wednesday, and in the Norwich Union League Division One on Sunday when they entertain Leicestershire.

Regarding the loyal Rhodes, who made his Worcestershire debut in 1985, New Road chairman John Elliott said: "I think the whole team has contributed this season but the one guy I do admire tremendously is Steve.

"He is coming to the end of his career, but the guy will not give the gloves up.

"He wants to play and play and play and I think he's the best keeper on the circuit today.

"He performs with the bat and with the gloves is marvellous. Okay, he's a player who has been with us a long time, but my God you have got to admire him for the way he performs."

At the other end of the career scale is England Under 19 campaigner Kadeer whom County Director of Cricket Tom Moody sees as an exciting New Road star of the future.

He said: "We just hope in the next 12 months that he develops and really starts putting pressure on the top order in the first team."

Moody, meanwhile, had paid tribute to his troops for their dedication to duty during what has been a tough and tiring season.

"We have worked very hard on our fitness. We were very conscious of making sure that we stood out in that area.

"We pride ourselves on being a physically strong and fit side and I think that has been reflected in the way that we field as a team.

"It's certainly something that has worked well and we will continue to improve that so next summer we are better than what we are this year."

With this week's final round of Championship matches coming up, Moody has been reflecting on the three up and three down system involving the two divisions.

He said: "I probably would be in favour of two up. I think three is a few too many because after you gain promotion it's a bit of a penalty to drop back down again if you finish third from bottom. It does take a little bit of time to adjust to the first division.

"If it takes a season or two it would be a shame to be popping up and down.I think that's been a trend over the last two years.

"I think teams who have gained promotion, particularly in the Championship, have found themselves back down in the second division very quickly."