Kabir return boosts Worcs attack

Kabir Ali returns after two months out with a hamstring injury

Worcestershire director of cricket Steve Rhodes says Kabir Ali's return to fitness will provide the county's attack with a greater cutting edge.

The pace bowler is set to play in the County Championship game against Sussex after two months out with injury.

Rhodes said: "Without being rude to a couple of the younger guys, the attack will now have a little more potency.

"It will now be a four-pronged attack with Chris Whelan, Ashley Noffke and Matt Mason."

It has been a frustrating time for Kabir who has had to watch his team-mates struggle to come to terms with the increased demands of first division Championship cricket.

With Simon Jones also on the injury list at New Road, Rhodes said the temptation of playing Kabir earlier was a risk not worth taking.

He has played in the last two second XI matches, gradually builing up his workload, and Rhodes said his form in his most recent outing suggested he is ready.

"He had four good spells of five overs and found his rhythm," he told BBC Hereford and Worcester.

"I am sure he is looking forward to catching up as he doesn't like sitting on the sidelines.

"He will certainly want to get a decent wicket tally in the remaining 12 games of the season."

While Kabir's foremost role will be to take the wickets to give Worcestershire a chance of bowling out sides twice in four-day cricket, his undoubted ability with the bat should also prove useful.

Worcestershire's long tail has often been evident in recent Championship matches and, while acknowledging that Kabir's batting will clearly be rusty, Rhodes feels his return will also help resolve this issue.

"He'll be a useful guy down the order and that gives us a little bit of strength down there," he said.

"Kabir will probably bat at nine in this game so that will give us more depth to the batting and a shorter tail."

BBC Hereford and Worcester will carry full commentary on the County Championship match against Sussex on 738 AM and online from 1055 BST on Thursday 11 June.