JOHN Hastings believes he will reap the benefits for the rest of the summer of his exertions with the ball during Worcestershire's four-wicket win over Kent in the Specsavers County Championship at New Road.

The Australian all-rounder admits he has so far had a "stop-start" campaign in terms of the amount of cricket he has played.

The 31-year-old was therefore delighted to bowl a combined total of 37.1 overs during the County's fifth Division Two win of 2017 which will stand him in good stead for what lies ahead.

He said: "It's been a bit stop-start. I've come into the season and had a month beforehand and played two Championship games.

"Then I went away for a month (with Australia for the ICC Champions Trophy) and only played one 50-over game in a month.

"I probably lost a bit of rhythm there and obviously got smacked around in the (Royal London One-Day Cup) semi-final the other day.

"It was nice to get some overs under the belt against Kent and the body was quite sore and tired towards the end of it.

"But I'm only going to be better for the run and hopefully the week of hard work will hold me in good stead for the rest of the summer.

"Having only played the three Championship games I would have liked to have played a few more but circumstances meant I was in the Australian squad and I'll happily take that. But I'm glad to be back now."

Hastings bowled a particularly impressive spell on the third morning of the Kent game and was unfortunate to pick up only one wicket.

He said: "That can happen sometimes and we always talk about, 'If someone doesn't get them someone else will'.

"As long as you keep doing the right thing then you will get your rewards at some stage and hopefully that is at Durham (from Monday)."