BOSS Alex Gidman wants to “raise the bar” for Worcestershire’s players on the standards required to secure and maintain a first XI place.

The first-team coach believes lifting expectation levels on the demands within the squad is an important factor moving forward.

Worcestershire are 43 points off the top of County Championship Division Two after six games on the back of an encouraging display in the home draw with Sussex.

Gidman believes continuity is important but he will consider making changes if it helps to produce a winning formula.

He said: “We’ve got to raise the expectation levels a little bit of what are the results that keep a place in our first team and what the second-team players are doing to push the first team.

“I think it is really important we just raise that bar a bit. No one has a divine right to be in the team and stay in the team.

“We are in professional sport and if things aren’t quite working out then we will make the changes we feel we need to.

“We have a few of us who discuss how we feel we need to move forward.

“Obviously you have some players that have a bit more wriggle room than others due to experience, quality and stats and there are some others that are learning their trade and need to learn quite quickly.”

Worcestershire are next in action in the Championship from Sunday against surprise leaders Glamorgan at Cardiff (11am).

Gidman continued: “It’s not about trying to be the tough guy that makes the changes. It’s about trying to get the best XI we can.

“I said the week before last that I believe in continuity. It is very easy as a coach, captain and support staff to make changes every week because it is not working.

“That is not how it works in my opinion. We need to give guys continuity and consistency and if after three, four or five games those combinations aren’t working then we will look to change them.

“But right now I believe we’ve got our best balance and our best players playing and those guys, barring injuries, will get the opportunities to carry on.”