WORCESTERSHIRE have swooped to sign world-class all-rounder Chris Gayle for the rest of the season.

The elegant West Indian opener, one of a select band to have reached 300 runs in a Test match, arrives to replace Zander de Bruyn after next Monday's totesport League clash against Hampshire.

De Bruyn leaves New Road after a disappointing season with Worcestershire to join up with the South African 'A' squad.

Jamaican Gayle, 26 in September, will make his County debut in one-day colours for the televised totesport League fixture at Lancashire Lightning next Wednesday.

He is then available for the last four Frizzell County Championship matches and five totesport League encounters.

County supporters will hope that Gayle brings to the fore the performances that elevated him to one of world cricket's genuine high class all-rounders.

In 52 Test matches, Gayle averages 39.39 with the bat and achieved his highest score in April this year with a stunning 317 against South Africa at St John's, Antigua.

An effective right-hand off-break bowler, Gayle also has 38 Test victims to his name and during the West Indies' tour of England last year he collected his best bowling figures with 5-34 at Edgbaston.

Gayle's one-day international record is equally impressive, holding a batting average of 39.29 from 120 matches and 100 wickets at 30.95.

The County were dealt a blow before the start of today's Championship fixture with Somerset at New Road when experienced batsmen Vikram Solanki and Greame Hick both failed late fitness tests.

Solanki is struggling with a hairline fracture to his right thumb, while Hick is suffering from back spasms.

But Worcestershire made a bright start, reducing Somerset to 31-2 in the 16th over after the visitors won the toss.

John Francis fell for two in the ninth over, trapped lbw by Matt Mason, and fellow opener Matthew Wood flashed Kabir Ali to Ben Smith at second slip when on 21.

Worcestershire: S D Peters, S C Moore, B F Smith, Z de Bruyn, S M Davies (wkt), D K H Mitchell, G J Batty, (capt), Kabir Ali, R W Price, M S Mason, M N Malik.

Somerset: M J Wood, J D Francis, A V Suppiah, W J Durston, J C Hildreth, K A Parsons, I D Blackwell, (capt), C M Gazzard (wkt), A R Caddick, S R G Francis, R J Woodman.