Director Of Cricket Steve Rhodes is relishing the prospect of Ravichandran Ashwin joining Worcestershire’s Specsavers County Championship promotion battle.
Indian star Ashwin has been brought in to replace the injured John Hastings as the County’s overseas player for the final four Championship games.
He flew into Birmingham yesterday evening to start his spell at New Road after obtaining a visa and No Objection Certificate from the Board Of Control For Cricket In India.
Ashwin is set to make his debut in Monday’s home clash with Gloucestershire and becomes the third international spinner to link up with Worcestershire this summer after Nathan Lyon (Australia) and Mitchell Santner (New Zealand).
Rhodes said: “He is such a terrific international bowler. We are very lucky to get him and I only hope people don’t put too much pressure on the guy. He is only human.
“But he is a wonderful all-rounder, someone who gets hundreds in Test cricket batting at number six, and we are very pleased he has chosen to come to Worcestershire.
“We are delighted to have someone of his skills and stature in the game playing for us in this crucial last four games.
“The plan is for him to get a day or two for practice and get to know the lads and get over a bit of jet lag and then be up and running for Monday.
Rhodes admitted: “You could easily not sign someone for this period and go with what we’ve got.
“But we are second in the table, and we desperately want to be in that top two.”
