LANCASHIRE launch their South Africa tour in earnest today with a clash against Benson and Hedges Cup rivals Durham.

The game at Cape Town ground of Bellville gives manager Mike Watkinson an early chance to assess Lancashire's B and H chances against one of the sides who helped to knock them out at the qualifying stage last season.

But Watkinson was not expecting too much, saying: "This is our first game and Durham have already been out here for a week. They will be in good shape but we will give it our best shot."

Ex Yorkshire captain David Byas, who has come out of retirement to play for Lancashire, was set to make his debut with Watkinson picking from a squad of 16 -- all of whom will get several outings on a 12 day tour incorporating possibly eight one day matches.

Lancashire take part in a triangular tournamet with Holland and Western Province in the first half of next week before facing a series of club and academy sides.

TOM Moody hopes he has put together the right recipe to lift Worcestershire out of Division Two cricket.

The former Australia Test all-rounder has put his faith in the international ambition which still burns within new signing Ben Smith and the relatively unmined talent of his other new recruits Steve Peters and Gareth Batty to help Worcestershire into the top flight of the county championship.

Add in the overseas talent of Australian pace bowler Andy Bichel, and the omens are there to suppose the New Road director of cricket may have come up with the necessary ingredients to complement captain Graeme Hick et al.

"We were aware at the end of last season that we had a need in our squad for some extra depth with bat and ball," Moody admitted as he reflected on a campaign which saw Worcestershire finish sixth in the second division of the championship and promoted from the National League.

"I am very keen to help the team play in Division One in both competitions. To try to achieve that we have had to make necessary changes."