Worcestershire, relegated in the County Championship, have had two of their NatWest Pro40-winning team honoured by their fellow cricketers.

Kabir Ali and Graeme Hick were named, as was Warwickshire captain Darren Maddy, in the Professional Cricketers' Association’s team of the season at Monday night's end-of-season dinner.

Worcestershire coach Steve Rhodes said: "It's deserved reward for Hicky and Kabby and a reflection of the consistent season they've had. And it's not just been confined to one competition. They've played well in all of them."

Rhodes was particularly pleased for his old team-mate Hick, who plundered nearly 2,000 runs in all competitions at the age of 41. "He's a role model for our younger players," Rhodes said. "You can't cheat getting older but you can certainly help if you look after yourself.

"Hicky's benefited from having a few injections in his back but he's still worked harder than ever this summer on his fitness, and he's reaped the benefits. I know from my own experience not so long ago that you can't hide from the fact that you get older but, if you're still playing well, as Hicky is, then there's nothing to worry about.

"He knows he can call it a day whenever he wants to but he wants to extend his career and we're quite happy with that situation."

Rhodes believes that there could still be a lot more to come from England cast-off Kabir. "He's turned into a smart bowler," Rhodes said. "He's not just a young guy bowling with raw pace any more. He keeps things simple but he knows his action well enough by now and I think his best years could be over the next four or five summers.

"It's fair to say he got overlooked by England when others got the call and he did rightly feel hard done by. But, throughout the season, when we've had Doug Bollinger struggling, Matt Mason out all year and our fringe bowlers have not been getting the wickets they might have, he's taken full responsibility, and shouldered the burden manfully. He might have run out of steam over the last three weeks but he's only human."

As to Worcestershire's attempts to give Kabir some more support next summer, after signing Somerset youngster Gareth Andrew last week, they have confirmed an interest in injury-plagued former England paceman Simon Jones.

"I know Matthew Maynard well at Glamorgan," Rhodes said, "and we did things the right way. We got permission from Matt to speak to Simon Jones, we've had talks and we know there's interest from elsewhere but I can't comment any further."

Jones, a member of England’s Ashes winning side two years ago, made only limited appearances for Glamorgan this year.

PCA AWARDS — Player of the Year: Ottis Gibson (Durham). Young Player of the Year: Adil Rashid (Yorkshire). Team of the Year: Robert Key (capt.), Darren Maddy, Mark Ramprakash, Graeme Hick, David Sales, Phil Mustard (wkt.), Graeme Swann, Ottis Gibson, Kabir Ali, Andy Caddick, Mushtaq Ahmed.