Worcestershire's new coach Tom Moody has no intention of pulling on his cricket boots again if the county's overseas player, Andy Bichel, is called up by Australia for this summer's Ashes tour.

Moody - playing days over Photo Paul McGregor

The right-arm fast-medium bowler from Queensland has been touted as an outsider to make the Australian squad for the trip to England.

But Moody, the former Western Australia captain who had such a fine playing record at Worcestershire, says he will not come out of retirement as an emergency replacement for Bichel.

He said: "There is no option there for that to happen in terms of me playing. I've retired and I'm totally comfortable with the fact that I've finished my playing career.

"I've enjoyed every bit of my playing career but it's someone else's turn to have a go.

"There are no contingency plans at the moment in case Andy is called up. He played Test cricket in the winter but since then two strike bowlers have come back into the fold in (Michael) Kasprowicz and (Damien) Fleming.

"If he is called up then it happens, but I think that Andy Bichel is totally committed to Worcestershire.

"I've had a couple of long discussions with him and he would rather have a big season for Worcestershire than carry the drinks for Australia throughout an Ashes tour."

Bichel joined his new team-mates yesterday and is set to play in next week's opening County Championship match against Middlesex at Lord's.

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