WORCESTERSHIRE will field a “reasonably strong side” for their two-day match with Pakistan at New Road, starting tomorrow (11am).

Director of cricket Steve Rhodes is expected to rest all-rounder Joe Leach and wicketkeeper Ben Cox for the clash.

England Lions batsman Joe Clarke has recovered from a minor side strain and could wear the wicketkeeper’s gloves.

The County are smarting from a 23-run defeat to Northamptonshire in a high-scoring Royal London One-Day Cup match.

Pakistan will aim for a vast improvement in their batting after a 330-run battering by England in the second Test at Old Trafford.

Shot out for 198 and 234, they will need to work on that aspect ahead of next week’s third Test at Edgbaston.

Tom Kohler-Cadmore led the County reply against Northants with 119 but, in pursuit of 319-7, the hosts slipped from a strong position at 193-1 to 296 all out.

Kohler-Cadmore said of the Pakistan clash: “For us to play against people of Test match standard, it is always nice to see where you are at on the scale.”

After the Northants defeat, the County must win their final two North Group matches to stand a chance of qualifying for the cup quarter-finals.

They host Lancashire Lightning on Sunday (11am) before going to Nottinghamshire on Monday.

Rhodes said: “We will give an odd rest here and there but generally it will be a pretty strong side out against Pakistan.

“It is only a two-day game, which is a bit awkward because it’s a struggle to get a result.

“Let’s hope we can put up a good show against a good international side and similarly surprise them and make them think we’ve got some good young players.”