DIRECTOR of cricket Steve Rhodes says Worcestershire skipper Joe Leach "will be smart" when it comes to determining the length of spells he bowls as the season progresses.

Leach led from the front in reeling off almost 10 overs on the trot at the climax of Worcestershire's 20-run win over Northamptonshire in the Specsavers County Championship Division Two.

It was a typically lion-hearted effort and the 26-year-old finished with 5-62 and career best match figures of 10-122 as the County sealed back to back wins.

Rhodes said: "Joe looked very determined. I don't think the lads could prise the ball out of his hand.

"It worked out well but we will have to be careful and at times he is going to have to listen to the rest of the boys.

"But in this situation his determination to win and do the job outweighed possibly what the other guys were thinking and taking himself off."

Rhodes added: "Is it a case of you can do this in April but August will be a different scenario? Exactly that - but he is a real workhorse.

Joe has got to be smart and he will be smart. He is a smart person.

"He has got good skills for the early season. He is not an easy bowler to face. His delivery to get rid of Ben Duckett early on was an absolute snorter.

"This time of year he is really difficult to face.

"That's not to say he isn't at the back end of the year and he has got some good reverse swing skills and we all know he has got one-day skills."