ALL-ROUNDER Joe Leach will be looking to continue his form for Worcestershire when he heads to Australia this winter.

The 23-year-old is joining North Canberra Cricket Club once the current campaign is over, following opening batsman Richard Oliver and England Under 19 wicketkeeper Joe Clarke in playing Down Under.

Leach, who has previously had a spell playing club cricket in Auckland, New Zealand, has played a key part in Worcestershire’s LV= County Championship Division Two promotion campaign after replacing Gareth Andrew following his back problem.

He has picked up 33 wickets at 27.45 runs apiece, including a career-best 5-36 against Kent at Tunbridge Wells.

Leach has also scored 408 runs at 24.00, including three fifties in the last four innings batting at number seven or eight.

He was part of a vital century stand with Jack Shantry in the promotion-clinching win over Surrey last week.

Leach said: “This will be my first time playing for them. It gives you that extra experience playing abroad.

“You’ve got to constantly find ways to improve and going overseas, that’s hopefully what the lads, including myself, are trying to do. I’ll be trying to string together all-round performances over there.

“I’ll be batting up the order and that will give me a chance to get some runs and hopefully take wickets.”

Oliver is set to play for Geelong and Clarke for South Perth with all three Worcestershire players returning by the start of March to prepare for the new county campaign.