WORCESTERSHIRE'S cricketers went before the cameras today for their pre-season photo-call at New Road.

The picture opportunity was a break in the County's hectic build-up to the new campaign which starts in earnest next Wednesday, April 21, with a Frizzell County Championship Division One match with Kent at Canterbury.

The first Championship action at New Road will be seven days later when skipper Ben Smith and his men launch their game against Sussex.

Before then, however, director of cricket Tom Moody will be running the rule over the players in a three-day fixture against Essex which gets under way at Chelmsford tomorrow.

It comes hot on the heels of their three-day friendly with Cardiff UCCE which ended in an innings and 224 runs victory for the County at New Road.

Don't miss next Monday's Evening News for an eight-page special looking forward to Worcestershire's 2004 season.