WORCESTERSHIRE director of cricket Steve Rhodes says it is easier for players to accept losing their place when internationals return to the County rather than being left out through lack of form.

Rhodes shuffled his line-up with England’s Moeen Ali released to play for the New Road outfit during June ahead of the Ashes and spin wizard Saeed Ajmal coming back for a third spell with the county.

The duo have already played in the NatWest T20 Blast matches with Northamptonshire Steelbacks, Notts Outlaws and Durham Jets.

They are now facing Warwickshire in a LV= County Championship Division One derby at New Road, which started yesterday.

Rhodes said: “People talk about selection headaches. They are not really selection headaches. Leaving players out when international players come back, that’s life.

“It is far easier for a player to take missing out because you are bringing in an international player.

“It is never easy but you are bringing an international player back and they understand.

“The hard way of leaving people out is when they are not scoring runs or not taking wickets or not contributing.

“They know that themselves and that is almost like another bitter pill to swallow – the fact they have lost their place.

“People worry about selection and they often talk to myself and Daryl (captain Mitchell).

“But they are not issues as you are simply dropping a player because you’ve got an international coming back.”