PROFESSIONALS will continue to be allowed to play in the Worcestershire League.

A proposal to ban players who had featured in first-class cricket in the last three years was rejected at the league’s annual meeting.

It means clubs can keep on recruiting professionals, as long as they have not played Test or one-day internationals in the last five years.

Jamaican fast bowler Andre Russell, part of Barnards Green’s promotion-winning side this year, would therefore be ineligible for the competition after making his Test debut for West Indies against Sri Lanka last month.

The proposal was one of eight defeated at Kidderminster Victoria’s Chester Road North ground.

Moves to abolish Bank Holiday fixtures, winning and losing draws and not awarding points for abandoned matches were also rejected.

League administrator Chris Marsh believes professional players have helped strengthen the league.

He said: “We believe our league has been getting stronger and been benefitting from some of those players.

“We believe we are the strongest of the four feeder leagues to the Birmingham League and are confident for the future. The fact that all the proposals were defeated, most heavily, and that the committee’s suggestions were adopted unanimously shows everybody seems to be of the view that the league is well-run.”