KABIR Ali has lost his race to be fit for today's Liverpool Victoria County Championship division two game against Derbyshire at Chesterfield (11am).

The England paceman has been struggling with a side strain, affecting his intercostal muscle.

As it is a delicate area for a bowler, director of cricket Steve Rhodes has decided to give him more time to fully recuperate.

Rhodes said: "You have to be very careful with the intercostal area so we have decided to give Kabir more time for the injury to heal properly.

"We will take the same team to Derbyshire that won against Gloucestershire, with the addition of Nadeem Malik as 12th man."

The good news on the injury front is that Malik is well on the road to fitness after having surgery on a shin injury. The fast bowler has had a run-out for the second XI this week so is named in the squad for today's match.

Rhodes added: "Nadeem has managed to get a game in for the second team and he just needs to get some game-time under his belt now."

The game will also be Lou Vincent's last Championship appearance for the County as Phil Jaques is set to return against Glamorgan at Colwyn Bay on August 2.

Jaques has been in fine form recently for Australia 'A' during the Top End Series, scoring 240 and 117 against India 'A' in a four-day game last week.

For Derbyshire, all-rounder Ant Botha returns with Andy Gray making way. They retain the other 10 players that drew with Leicestershire.

Left-arm seamer Kevin Dean is due to take the 12th man duties.

Worcestershire: L Vincent, SC Moore, VS Solanki, BF Smith, GA Hick, SM Davies, GJ Batty, RJ Sillence, RW Price, Z Khan, MS Mason, N Malik.

Derbyshire: MJ Di Venuto, SD Stubbings, CR Taylor, MJ North, Hassan Adnan, G Welch, DJ Pipe, GG Wagg, A Botha, PS Jones, ID Hunter, KJ Dean.