WORCESTERSHIRE director of cricket Steve Rhodes may extend his search for a new wicketkeeper to foreign shores after admitting the County were now in the market for an overseas player.

Having previously said the New Road club would not bring in an overseas star next season, due to budget constraints, the high profile departures of Steve Davies, Gareth Batty and Stephen Moore has freed up cash for Rhodes.

With the most pressing vacancy in his squad behind the stumps, the director of cricket, who ruled out a move for released Gloucestershire gloveman Steve Adshead this week, could be tempted by an overseas keeper.

Seventeen-year-old prospect Ben Cox is ruled out for the first-half of the season with school commitments, and it is increasingly likely Rhodes will have to look overseas.

“There is a chance that Ben could play the second half of the season or I may look for him to serve an apprenticeship with the seconds.”

Keeping his cards close to his chest, Rhodes admits that Worcestershire are moving into the overseas market ‘late in the day’ but he is still hoping he can find players of the right calibre for the new season.

The director of cricket has said he would prefer to bring in a leg-break bowler or a slow left-armer as he looks at his spinning options with Moeen Ali his preferred canididate for off-breaks.

That could mean Rhodes may return for Indian leg-spinner Amit Mishra for the second-half of the campaign.

Worcestershire came close to bringing in the 26-year-old last summer, but pulled out when it was realised the County needed to make cash cutbacks.

“I wouldn’t like to say what my plans are at the moment,” Rhodes said. “There were several incidents over the summer where names got into the media and it made life difficult.

“We have got some money from players leaving, it is not a huge pot though and we won’t be bringing in Ricky Ponting! I’m going to see what is available and at the right price.”

Having only signed experienced seamer Alan Richardson so far, Rhodes insists his shopping list for new players isn’t a long one.

Despite the departures of Davies, Batty, Moore and Simon Jones, Rhodes has reiterated his stance at looking within his squad to fill the gaps.

“There is an opportunity for the likes of Dave Wheeldon, Alexei Kervezee and Richard Jones to make their mark.”