STEVE Rhodes hopes Worcestershire batsman Alexei Kervezee will reap the benefits of working on “the mental side of his game” during the winter after returning to the first-team squad.

Kervezee did not play any senior cricket after the home County Championship match against Durham last June.

But the departure of Richard Oliver, enforced retirement of Alex Gidman and the battle of Tom Fell against cancer have created space in the batting line-up.

Kervezee, 26, scored half-centuries against Oxford MCCU and Warwickshire to press his claims to be part of the side this summer.

Director of cricket Rhodes said: “Players go up and down with form and with stages they are in in their career.

“The good thing Alexei has done this winter is work extremely hard on the mental side of his game and worked very closely with Kevin Sharp (batting coach).

“He has come up with some good formulas, which look quite exciting regarding the summer ahead. It is important he sticks with what he has learnt this winter and hopefully he will carry on some good form.

“He played well at Oxford in the second innings and at Edgbaston against a reasonable attack.

“When Alex sadly had to finish his career through injury, Richard didn’t come back and, now we have the situation with Tom, doors do shut for some but they open for others.”