SEAMER Jack Shantry feels the introduction of Saeed Ajmal will make Worcestershire a strong one-day force.

The Pakistan spinner, currently the world’s top-ranked one-day bowler, is returning to New Road for another spell as their overseas player.

Along with Moeen Ali, who is playing for England in the World Twenty20 in Bangladesh, Shantry, 26, feels there are reasons to be positive.

Although they will have to fill the large void left by Alan Richardson in the four-day format, he reckons there are exciting times ahead.

He said: “Richo was a great player for this club and had four very successful years. I grew a lot under him as well as the other young bowlers.

“It’s time to step into his rather big shoes, it might take a while but I think we’ve got a great chance of success this year.

“We’ll miss Richo in four-day cricket, he didn’t really play in the one-day or T20. We won’t be too affected in that but I certainly think our team is stronger than it was last year in one-day cricket.

“With Saeed and Mo, that’s two world-class players. But, with others like Gareth Andrew, Daryl Mitchell, Ross Whiteley and myself, we’ve got a very exciting team – one that can win things.”