WHEN your county hands you a benefit year, the last thing you expect to is go out on-loan once, let alone twice.

Yet that is the position that Worcestershire new boy AJ Harris finds himself in.

The 35-year-old is on loan at New Road for the remainder of the season as the County’s bowling department resembles Gordon Brown’s fan-mail in-tray.

With injuries to the trio of senior seamers — Simon Jones (knee), Matt Mason (chest) and Kabir Ali (back) —director of cricket Steve Rhodes made contact with Nottinghamshire to bring in Harris.

The Lancashire-born bowler has already been out on loan from Trent Bridge at Gloucestershire, but this was hardly the campaign that Harris envisaged.

“It’s a slightly unusual season for me,” Harris said. “You wouldn’t normally expect this to happen in a benefit year. But I just want to play cricket for a few more years and unfortunately I haven’t be able to break into the first team at Notts.

“I just want to get myself out there and play for anyone who will take me. This is my second opportunity after getting injured at Gloucester.”

While his Worcestershire debut was less than impressive as Durham cruised to an eight-wicket Pro40 victory, Harris’ second outing at Somerset Sabres last Thursday was a dramatic improvement.

On a batting-friendly, shiny, flat track, the former Derbyshire seamer claimed four wickets in his eight overs for 48 in a dramatic last-ball tie.

That match at Taunton was as topsy-turvy as Harris’ past 10 days as he answered Rhodes’ SOS call.

“It all happened very quickly,” he explained. “I played club cricket on the Saturday then played for Worcestershire on the Sunday, its been a little bit hectic, but I’m here and enjoying my time. My feet haven’t really touched the ground yet.

“I had a bit of time off after the Durham game as I had one-day international hospitality at Trent Bridge on Tuesday as part of my benefit.

“But I’m here on a permanent basis for the remainder of my loan spell. Hopefully I can a make a difference and help get promotion in the championship and not get involved in any relegation battles in the Pro40.”

Harris is in the final year of his contract at Trent Bridge and he is hoping that his time at New Road will either persuade Notttinghamshire to keep him on for a further year or force another county to sit up and take note.

“I’m open to all offers,” he joked. “I haven’t sat down with Notts yet. It will become evident at the end of the season what will happen there.

“The chances are I’ll be searching for a new contract either with Notts or elsewhere, but I just want to keep taking wickets so that I can show somebody that I’m worth gambling on.”