Steve Rhodes has revealed the desire of paceman Mitchell McClenaghan to impress in red ball cricket for Worcestershire and to force his way into the New Zealand Test side.
Worcestershire have extended McClenaghan's stay until the end of the campaign after being given permission by New Zealand Cricket.
McClenaghan finished as Worcestershire's leading wicket-taker in the Royal London One-Day Cup with 10 victims in six matches.
But now the 28-year-old is available for the final three LV = County Championship matches – starting with tomorrow's (Sunday's) clash with Derbyshire at Derby.
Director of Cricket Rhodes said: "Mitch hasn't played (much red ball cricket) and that is one of the reasons he wanted to come here in the first place and, now he has extended, he knows we've got red ball cricket coming up.
"He wants to be a Test bowler and if he is going to be a Test bowler then he needs to produce the goods in his own domestic first class cricket as well as being on show and in the shop window here in county cricket.
"There is a method behind the madness and that is to try and impress the people with the red ball."
As regards the extension, Rhodes said: "It was something we knew we could have a possibility of doing when we signed him.
"We talked about the flexibility of staying longer.
"Thankfully New Zealand Cricket have been excellent in allowing him to do so and Mitchell was keen.
"He's enjoyed his time here like most overseas players.
"We are a club that is very welcoming to all players but overseas players do enjoy their time here and he was very happy to carry on until the end of the season."
Skipper Daryl Mitchell said: "It is good to have Mitch to the end of the season. He is a proven match winner and a top bowler.
"He's slowly got up to match fitness by shedding a few pounds and he's really raring to go.
"We've got three more games and hopefully he'll get plenty of wickets and get us over the line in one of the matches."
