WORCESTERSHIRE made a watchful start after winning the toss and deciding to bat in their Frizzell County Championship Division One match at sunny New Road today.

Stephen Peters and Stephen Moore launched the innings against the pace threat of Jon Lewis and James Averis.

Lewis, operating from the Diglis end, began with a maiden to Peters while Averis conceded a quick single to Moore off the last delivery of his first over.

Lively Lewis was looking particularly menacing and beat the bat on a couple of occasions.

Bottom of the table Worcestershire, looking for their first Championship win of the season, were without Andy Bichel and Andrew Hall.

Australian paceman Bichel was ruled out with a groin strain, while the County were still waiting for the result of a scan on South African all-rounder Hall's injured back.

Their absence meant that Worcestershire made two changes from the side which performed in their last Championship match which they lost by 219 runs against Lancashire.

In came Vikram Solanki, following a dislocated finger, and paceman Mark Harrity.

With wicketkeeper Jack Russell still out with a back injury, Gloucestershire included Steve Adshead in their side along with another former New Road player, batsman Phil Weston.

Worcestershire: S D Peters, S C Moore, G A Hick, B F Smith, V S Solanki, Kadeer Ali, G J Batty, S J Rhodes, M S Mason, M N Malik, M A Harrity.

Gloucestershire: C M Spearman, W P C Weston, M G N Windows, T H C Hancock, C G Taylor, A P R Gidman, Sholiab Malik, S J Adshead, I D Fisher, J M M Averis, J Lewis.