THE injuries that have hampered Worcestershire's front-line bowlers this season will benefit the club in the long run, according to crocked paceman Matt Mason.

The Australia-born seamer, who has not bowled a ball this season after having shoulder surgery, believes it is good for the younger players' development to be thrown in at the deep end from time to time.

With Mason sidelined and overseas bowler Doug Boll-inger pulling out in the build up to last week's clash with Warwickshire, 20-year-old Ric-hard Jones was called up for his County Championship de-but.

Although the visiting batsmen made hay in the New Road sunshine, racking up 610-6 in their first innings, it would have been a good experience for the former England under-19 man.

Mason, who hopes to be fully fit in the next couple of weeks, said: "With me being out and Doug having missed the Warwickshire game it was a good opportunity for some of the younger bowlers. It has got to help them - they have to be exposed to it at some time.

"Someone like Richard Jones will have learnt a lot from playing in last week's games and it will be good for people like Roger Sillence to get more experience too.

"I think it is important the younger players get the chance to play or else they will never develop.

"Obviously it is tough when you lose your front line bowlers, but that is the test of a squad because injuries do happen.

"Throughout the country there is a lack of fast-bowling talent, so with blokes like Richard it is important that we get hold of them and look after their development.

"There is definitely talent at Worcester, though. Richard has got what it takes to make it and Stuart Wedge, who has played a couple of games, is getting stronger all the time and he has got a future too.

"It is good to have the blend of youngsters and older guys that we have got at Worcester. It keeps the older guys like me on our toes and enthusiastic to do well."

Mason has also been im-pressed with the manner in which Kabir Ali has stepped up to the plate as the County's main strike bowler in the absence of last year's overseas ace Zaheer Khan.

The 33-year-old added: "It has been good for Kabir to lead the attack so far this season - he needs that sort of thing to thrive on and it is a big thing for him.

"Doug Bollinger is not a Test player yet and he needs to learn the County game, so Kabir is going to be our main strike bowler."

Despite Worcestershire's slow start to the season, Mason still believes the team can challenge for the Division One title this year.

He said: "We have been a little bit slow out of the gates. We did all the right things as far as preparation goes - there have been a lot of positives but we have found it tough.

"I don't think we are out of our depth, we have just come up against some good sides who have probably played the better cricket.

"We are definitely good enough to stay in the first division. At the start of the season we spoke about challenging for top spot and I think we can push for the title, but obviously we need to turn things around pretty quickly.

"First division cricket is supposed to be tough, but we are learning quickly."