STEVE Rhodes says Worcestershire have been “looking around” for potential new signings but any possible additions to the squad have to be better than the current crop of players.

The County's director of cricket says he has his “eyes and ears open ready to move” if the right person becomes available.

But Rhodes also has faith in the squad assembled at New Road over the past few seasons.

He said: “We’ve been looking around. There have been people around but, for one reason or another, it hasn’t worked out and suited us.

“It is not like picking them off shelves. It is not as easy as that but we always have our eyes and ears open ready to move if we can.

“But they’ve got to be better players and we are very lucky to have guys in our set-up who have got terrific talent and also have come through our system.

“That is really important — to show loyalty to the guys we have developed and invested time in getting where they are at the moment.”

Rhodes added: “There are some terrific batters here like Joe Clarke and Tom Fell. We’ve got guys who are still pushing their way in.

“We’ve got plenty of guys who can bat. Coxy (Ben Cox) could be in the top five or six very easily. He is a superb batter.

“With the ball, if you are going to bring someone into a key position, then they’ve got to be better than what we have got.

“Joe Leach had a fantastic season. John Hastings is a wonderful signing I feel. So therefore they’ve got to be better than the others, the likes of Jack Shantry, Charlie Morris and Barny (Ed Barnard).

"If they are not as good as those guys, what is the point?”