MARK Harrity, the South Australian left-arm quick bowler, has no regrets about giving-up first class cricket in his native Adelaide to play for Worcestershire.

Together with Nantie Hayward, the former South African Test bowler, Harrity, 28, will ensure that there is no shortage of firepower in the Worcestershire bowling attack.

Harrity toured England as a 21-year-old back in 1995 with the Australia 'A' team.

Several of his team mates from that trip, including Ricky Pon-ting, Adam Gilchrist, and Mathew Hayden, have since progressed to form the backbone of the current Australian Test and one day sides.

After struggling to establish himself in the South Australian team this season, coached by former Australian captain Greg Chappell, Harrity insists it is time to follow the advice of his captain Darren Lehmann and move on.

"I mentioned to Darren that I had a British passport, as my father is English. Darren suggested that I should consider playing county cricket and my coach Jeff Hammond, who now coaches Glamorgan, approached them on my behalf last year.

"Unfortunately, I did not receive any indication that Glamorgan were interested in me, but Tom Moody found out that I was looking for a county.

"Now the opportunity to work with Tom and be a part of the Worcestershire team is a dream come true," he said.

Harrity's decision to move to England was not taken lightly. Due to employment and immigration laws in Australia, he can no longer play first class cricket for an Australian state team, unless he is sponsored as an overseas player.

Harrity has initially signed a two-year contract with Worcestershire, and will spend the English winters playing for his local club, West Torrens, in Adelaide.

"Having played ten years of first class cricket in Australia, I needed a new challenge. It has been very frustrating this season to be in and out of the South Australian team. I think I will improve as a cricketer by gaining the experience of playing in English conditions with Worcestershire."

Harrity, is looking forward to meeting his new teammates at New Road, and admits that other than Graeme Hick, he knows very little about the other Worcestershire players.

"I remember getting Graeme Hick out when I played for an academy team against England, during the 1994-95 Ashes series in Australia. I have spoken to him on previous occasions.

"I am also looking forward to bowling with Nantie Hayward, whose pace can be very hot, while Andrew Hall, the other South African is also a good player. Hopefully as a team we will have a good season at Worcester. "

In the early stages of his career, he was regarded as being 'injury-prone', but he feels he has shed this tag by remaining relatively injury-free for four seasons.

At the age of 28 he insists that now is the right time for him to stand up to the rigours of a congested county fixture schedule.

Harrity's two-year-old son Lachlan and fiance Laura will accompany him to Worcester.

Laura has already bought a Worcester tour guide and is eager to undertake some major sightseeing expeditions:

"She has already planned the places she wants to visit. I don't think she'll be home very much!"