SKIPPER Joe Leach is delighted with the acquisition of Riki Wessels to reinforce an increasingly experienced-looking Worcestershire line-up.

Wessels linked up with his team-mates for pre-season training at Malvern College this week after signing a three-year contract at Blackfinch New Road.

The former Nottinghamshire player has shown he is a destructive batsman capable of destroying attacks at the top of the order in white-ball cricket.

He demonstrated this when hitting nine sixes in his 55 against Worcestershire in a Vitality Blast match last summer.

But Wessels will also bolster the middle order in red-ball cricket from this summer.

With Daryl Mitchell and Callum Ferguson also in their 30s and another newcomer in Wayne Parnell plus Ben Cox and Ross Whiteley having many years under their belts, it is a side with much know-how to call upon.

Leach said: “To bring in a player of Riki’s calibre shows where he thinks we are at which is a good sign.

“But it also shows the club’s ambition and we want to keep challenging for trophies and to get into the top end of Division One in the Championship.

“It is very easy to say it but the actions are showing that as well which is really nice to see.

“To have Riki at the top of the white-ball order will help us again to be very strong in that format.

“Then in red-ball cricket he gives us a bit of dynamism and a lot of experience. He is training with us now and has fitted in very well already.

“We’ve now got three 30-plus very experienced guys in that batting order with Mitch, Riki and Callum.

“Ross Whiteley is 30 now, I’m 28, Coxy, Brett, similar ages.

“It’s not a young, inexperienced team anymore and hopefully the Vitality Blast trophy was the first of many.”

Meanwhile, Worcestershire paceman Adam Finch has been included in the England Young Lions squad for their tour of Bangladesh.

Finch is part of a 15-strong party selected for the two Tests, three ODIs and one T20 from late January through to mid-February.

He first represented the under 19s against India during 2017, was then part of the squad for the 2018 World Cup in New Zealand and also featured in last summer’s series with South Africa.

Fellow County player Jack Haynes has been ruled out with a foot injury.

Ben Twohig has been furthering his cricketing education by training with Big Bash side Adelaide Strikers.

The Worcestershire slow left-armer flew out to Australia to play for Southern Districts during the next two months.

But he has also been afforded the opportunity to train with Strikers.

County coach Alan Richardson arranged for the link-up via their coach Jason Gillespie.

It has meant a reunion for Twohig with 2018 County overseas player Travis Head who plays for Strikers.