TOM Moody has described Alamgir Sheriyar's loan move to New Road as 'win, win, win' situation.

The Australian yesterday snapped up the former County pace ace on a month's loan as cover for injury-hit Kabir Ali and put him straight in the side to face Derbyshire today.

It meant Worcestershire had made history in county cricket as the first club to use the new loan system which was agreed by the Professional Cricketers Association and the England and Wales Cricket Board last week.

And Moody believes that Sheriyar, who moved from New Road to Kent in 2002, is the perfect replacement for Kabir who has a calf strain.

"It's a win situation three ways," said Moody. "We're getting a player who, for one, is familiar with Worcestershire.

"For two, he's a proven first-class performer and, for three, it gives him an opportunity to make an early-season impact. He may not have had the chance at Kent.

"Kabir has a slight calf strain which is going to set him back a few days. Given our position with Nadeem Malik, still recovering from shin surgery, and our overseas players not available, we weren't really left with any other choice but to take advantage of the loan system.

"Alamgir was the perfect choice for us. He's left-arm over which gives us natural variation and his record, early season, has always been very good."

Under the new loan system, initial periods will be four weeks but a county can recall a player if a first-team place is guaranteed.

The new rules are aimed at giving English players, currently out of a first-class 11, a chance to get some cricket at another county.

Concerns are growing within the sport of the amount of overseas players, with European Union passports, creeping into the game.

"It's an excellent vehicle," added Moody. "A lot of counties might look to this as an option for the second-half of the season.

"The big incentive is to encourage players who, for whatever reason, aren't getting the opportunities at the county they are at."

Worcestershire seamer Chaminda Vaas took 6-108 for Sri Lanka in their Second Test with New Zealand as the hosts declared on 522-9 in the third day of the Wellington clash.