WORCESTERSHIRE all-rounder Ross Whiteley is experimenting with left-arm spin as a potential extra string to his bow alongside his power-hitting and dynamic fielding to boost his international aspirations.

Whiteley was encouraged to work on that aspect of his game when a member of the England Lions party in the UAE during the winter.

But he also sees this new possible weapon in his armoury as a way of becoming part of the County attack and to also help him in his aspirations to play in various T20 tournaments, including the Big Bash in Australia.

He has been put through his paces by Worcestershire spin bowling coach Norman Gifford, who picked up 2,068 first-class wickets during his career.

Whiteley, normally a seamer, said: "I've seen my bowling as a work in progress for a while. I'm 27 now. I wouldn't say I was too old but you are maybe past all the big changes you can make.

"With the bowling line-up we've got, I've tried to work out a few different areas where potentially I might fit into the Worcestershire side but also further down the line to make me more selectable for internationals or potentially any T20 competitions around the world.

"I've had some really big decisions. I've sat down with Mase (bowling coach Matt Mason), a couple of coaches and even on the Lions trip.

"There is a chance of me bowling a few left-arm darts (spin) and trying to get a little bit of one-day bowling in, whether it's just a couple of overs in T20 or a few overs in the 50-over competition.

"It's very fresh to me now but we will see where that takes me.

"England were the ones who sat me down and mentioned it to start off with. They saw a gap where I could potentially get myself in the side.

"They liked the big hitting side of my game and my fielding. They just wanted, because I'm not a top-order batsman, another string to my bow.

"Even if I could throw a few darts down there, then that could make me a lot more selectable.

"It is something I've taken a long time to think about and I've not taken the decision lightly because I've been bowling seam for years and all of a sudden to change now is a big decision.

"But if it is going to give me more opportunities, then I will throw myself at something like that.

"I have been giving it a go. I've been working with Giff (Gifford) and he is really keen to work at it.

"It's all very new to me and learning a new skill like that is going to take some time but I've got some good people to work with."

Whiteley added: "It's a new challenge, quite exciting, and in T20 cricket especially, you don't necessarily have to be a good spinner to take wickets or do a good job.

"You can get wickets with bad balls, especially the way batsmen are coming at you these days.

"I don't want to lose my seam bowling, I think I can still offer a bit, but whether I am going to get the opportunities with our bowling attack this year, maybe it is a time for me to try and find a way in with something else."