Moore considers future with Worcs

By Oliver Brett

Moore feels he needs to play Division One cricket

England Lions batsman Stephen Moore will seek a move to a Division One county if Worcestershire are relegated this season, BBC Sport understands.

Moore was approached by five counties last summer but stayed at Worcester and hit 1,451 runs, making him the leading first-class runs scorer in the country.

He hit 120 for the England's second string Lions against Australia in July.

A Worcestershire spokeswoman said: "Stephen is contracted until 2011. We don't comment on individual details."

But although the New Road club secured Moore's continued service with a new three-year deal last August, a clause was written into the deal allowing him to pursue a move should Worcestershire drop out of the top tier.

And after winning won promotion last term, they are rock bottom of Division One with seven defeats and no wins after 10 matches of the current campaign.

Moore, 28, has a first-class average of 41.26 and, although born in South Africa, is qualified to play for England. He is a right-handed opening batsman highly rated by former Worcestershire star Graeme Hick, among others.

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Hick said recently: "Having trained and played with Stephen over many seasons, I'm confident that he has both the game and the temperament to carve out a successful career with the full England Test team."

Moore has again been selected to play for the Lions against Australia in a two-day match starting on Saturday.

But despite the century against the tourists at New Road earlier this season, and another soon afterwards at Old Trafford against Lancashire, he has found facing Division One bowlers a much tougher prospect than those in the lower tier.

Moore began Tuesday's round of county matches with an an average of 29.93 in the Championship this season, and was dismissed for 28 by Sussex's Robin Martin-Jenkins at Hove.