WORCESTERSHIRE are set to draft in former South African Test star Allan Donald as a possible temporary replacement for pace ace Andy Bichel.

Bichel could miss a batch of matches for the County next month because of international duties and I understand deadly Donald is being lined up to plug the gap.

If the move goes ahead, official confirmation of the deal could be announced at New Road tomorrow lunchtime.

Worcestershire officials are tight-lipped about the rumours that have been sparked by the belief that Bichel will be selected for Australia's Super Challenge II series between Australia and Pakistan in Melbourne and Brisbane.

The squad for the three one-day internationals on June 12, 15 and 19 is due to be announced tomorrow and if he is included, Bichel will miss a number of Worcestershire matches between June 4 and 21 inclusive.

These would include three Norwich Union League Division One matches, one Frizzell Championship Division Two game, a possible Benson and Hedges Cup semi-final and a possible Cheltenham & Gloucester fourth round tie.

No official comment about the Donald situation has been made at New Road except for Chief Executive Mark Newton saying: "We are aware of the situation and if Andy Bichel's selection is confirmed we have put plans in place for a replacement."

Thirty-five-year-old Donald, who retired from Test cricket earlier this year, is currently playing Birmingham League cricket for Knowle & Dorridge.

Once known as 'White Lightning,' he played for Warwickshire for 11 seasons between 1987 and 2000. He was on the books at Edgbaston in 1990, the same year as Worcestershire's Director of Cricket Tom Moody, the former Australian Test batsman.

Donald played in 71 Tests for South Africa, taking 329 wickets.

Meanwhile, Gurdeep Kandola cracked a fine century for Worcestershire in their Second Eleven Championship match against Yorkshire which got under way at Barnt Green yesterday.

He piled up 116 to help the County make 362-7 declared and at the close last night Yorkshire's reply stood at 21-1 off eight overs.

Kandola was in the middle for 297 minutes, hitting 13 fours off 255 balls. He put on 120 for the fourth wicket with Kadeer Ali who made 52.

Kandola then added a further 182 for the fifth wicket with James Pipe who made 97 which contained one six and 13 fours off 137 balls in 165 minutes.