ALL-rounder Andrew Hall will be joining his new team-mates later this week to add weight to a Worcestershire attack which was battered by Northamptonshire's Phil Jaques in the rain-hit Frizzell County Championship Division Two draw at New Road.

The 27-year-old has missed the start of the County's season because of his involvement in South Africa's two-match Test series in Bangladesh.

"He swings the ball both ways, bowls a really lively medium pace and he will add some depth to our attack," said Worcestershire's director of cricket Tom Moody.

Hall is set to make his debut in the four-day match against Zimbabwe which opens at New Road on Friday.

The County could well have done with his capabilities when Northants newcomer Jaques laid on a 24th birthday celebration by completing a marathon maiden century on Saturday.

The rain-ruined fixture, however, then tapered off into an inevitable draw with left-hander Jaques unbeaten on 149 and his side 76 ahead at 312-5 in their first innings.

Moody, frustrated by the untimely grim weather, said: "We were very lucky in pre-season but when we need to be collecting points -- and getting up into the First Division -- then the bad weather comes through.

"If felt that we didn't bowl as well as we could and Northants took full toll of it. We have not got the points we would like to have but we must learn by experience and make sure the problem is not there in the next game."

Jaques had slept for two nights with his score on 86 before reaching three figures.

A nudge to mid-wicket raised his hundred from 171 balls, and when the rain made a terminal re-turn on Saturday lunch-time, he had scored a century in boundaries -- 24 fours and a six in his side's first innings 312-5.

Jaques dominated everything else in a match hit by the loss of 254 overs.

The main support came from David Sales, with 33 in a stand of 108, before paceman Kabir Ali flattened his middle stump and Worcestershire failed to add to their bonus points despite a further wicket for Gareth Batty.

The New Road off-spinner quickly spotted Gerard Brophy's charge and fired the ball through for a stumping by Steve Rhodes.