BEN Smith has called on his team-mates to keep faith in their ability in order for Worcestershire to climb the league tables.

The former New Road captain is one of several County players who have struggled for form this season but believes the team's poor start has been a "wake-up call".

Middle-order batsman Smith, who looked back to his best in the match-winning 131-run partnership with Graeme Hick in the Friends Provident Trophy win over Derbyshire a week last Sunday, insists his colleagues are determined to put things right.

He said: "If we can win and win well in our next few games we should be alright. We know we have to perform better than we have done so far this year.

"We have to train longer and harder and that's what we're prepared to do. We know we've got the ability and we've got to trust in that.

"You cannot question our commitment. You can question the ability now and again if we're not playing well enough. But when we start firing, we'll start winning."

Smith has also urged his team-mates to follow the example set by Hick and Kabir Ali - the County's two stand-out performers of the campaign to date.

Hick is the leading run-scorer this term and tops the averages, while Kabir has carried Worcestershire's injury-ravaged bowling attack and is close to the form that saw him win international recognition.

Smith added: "I think that the form we showed against Lancashire was something we've been crying out for.

"Kabir Ali bowled really well in the first innings and we backed him up in the field and with the ball.

"Then we tried to bat in partnerships, batting around Graeme Hick who scored a good hundred.

"However, it's difficult to say, Well if Hicky can do it, why can't we?' He's unique and we have to actually set our own standards and goals because he's just way ahead of everyone else."

Smith refuses to blame Worcestershire's pre-season preparation for their disappointing results and insists a bit of old-fashioned hard work will see them right for the rest of the year.

He said: "l think with some hard work and good application, we'll turn it around for the rest of the season.

"We can't just say it took a while to adjust to playing Division One cricket because we did the preparation that we thought was right to start the season.

"It was quite important to have our first three games out of four at home but we didn't come out on top in those, so it's maybe more of a wake-up call than just adjusting.

"Even when we've had days off, plenty of the lads have been coming in for training because those days off are maybe more for the bowlers, but us batters always want to hit balls."