WORCESTERSHIRE'S supporters can look forward to seeing England paceman Stuart Broad in action for Nottinghamshire in the opening home match of the 2018 season.

Broad has been made available to face the County in the Specsavers County Championship Division One match beginning on April 27.

He went past 400 Test wickets during the first Test of the series with New Zealand.

James Vince, who hit 76 in England’s drawn second Test in Christchurch, has been given the green light to face the County for Hampshire in the campaign opener at the Ageas Bowl from April 13.

Then seven days later the England duo of spinner Jack Leach and paceman Craig Overton are available for the County’s fixture with Somerset at the Cooper Associates County Ground.

Six members of the England Test squad, who will shortly head home from New Zealand, have been made available to get straight back into action for the start of the County Championship season over the next couple of weeks.

Essex's Alastair Cook is free to play Worcestershire from May 11 until 14.

But Worcestershire's Moeen Ali is unavailable for the start of the season having signed to play in the Indian Premier League.