Kabir ready to return

Kabir Ali is set to make his comeback after two months on the sidelines when Worcestershire take on Sussex

Kabir Ali is set to return to action for Worcestershire when they host Sussex looking to move off the foot of the LV= County Championship Division One table.

Kabir picked up an injury in Worcestershire’s opening game of the season at Hampshire and has had to look on from the sidelines as Steve Rhodes’ men have slipped to three defeats in four first-class outings.

The former England bowler’s return means a four-pronged pace attack with Matt Mason, Chris Whelan and Ashley Noffke, with Gareth Batty providing the spin option, so Gareth Andrew looks likely to miss out and act as 12th man.

Sussex could hand a debut to Sussex spinner Piyush Chawla if the Indian spinner arrives in time.

Chawla has arrived for a two-month spell as a replacement for Yasir Arafat.

Carl Hopkinson is pressing for a place in the team after making a ton for the second XI last week, with opener Michael Thornely most likely to miss out.