Malcolm, in his benefit year, has been a free agent at Derby since Nov 1 and he has expressed an interest in a move to Worcester, though Northamptonshire have been keen to partner him with Paul Reiffel, their Australia seam-bowler, in a high-quality opening attack.

Fearnley said: ``Our captain, Tom Moody, made it known that he wanted a strike bowler who could knock nine, 10, jack over, because we often got down to six or seven wickets and then couldn't polish things off.

``We finished third in the championship despite that, but if we had had someone like Devon Malcolm, we could have won it.''

Steve Coverdale, Northamptonshire's chief executive, said they were ``hopeful'' of signing Malcolm.

Stephen Priest has become the first player to be given a life ban by the Hampshire League in their 25-year history.

Priest has been suspended for an incident during a match, playing for the Southampton side Wildern Mansbridge in August, when he allegedly assaulted a Farehaven player, Fred Selman.

Colin Savage, the Hampshire League's chairman, said: ``We don't enjoy taking this sort of action but we're not afraid to do it, and we hope the message gets through to players about what they can expect if they overstep the mark.''