Rhodes considers keeper options

Steve Rhodes kept wicket in 11 Test matches for England

Worcestershire director of cricket Steve Rhodes says he is considering his options as he looks for cover for wicketkeeper Ben Cox.

The 17-year-old is unavailable for selection until July as he is studying for his A-levels.

Rhodes said: "We could go down the overseas route, there are plenty, and we could go down the loan route.

"There are a lot of decent keepers who are not going to get a start in the first team of their counties."

He added: "If you look at football, it happens quite a lot with keepers. Joe Hart is on loan at Birmingham and Ben Foster did the same at Watford.

I do admire Jayawardene. He is a wonderful keeper and can certainly score runs, but it is news to me Steve Rhodes

"There is only one goalkeeper and one wicketkeeper that can play.

"Sometimes some counties and clubs have got more than one decent one so you can pick up some decent loan keepers."

Worcestershire can bring in an overseas player for the first half of the season as their new signing, Bangladesh all-rounder and captain Shakib Al Hasan, will not join them until July.

But Rhodes also confirmed that he is not looking to sign Sri Lankan keeper Prasanna Jayawardene.

"I do admire Jayawardene," he said. "He is a wonderful keeper and can certainly score runs, but it is news to me."