KIDDERMINSTER Victoria hope to make up for last season's late collapse by staying the distance in this season's Birmingham League division two promotion race.

The Chester Road men get their campaign under way with a home clash against relegated Cannock on Saturday, with the visitors something of an unknown quantity.

Other than the arrival of new team manager, there have only been minor changes on the playing side with he and KVCC senior coach Ross Edwards largely keeping faith with last season's squad.

Barrett arrives after many years as Evesham's first team manager and he will be responsible for the day-to-day running of the team.

The ECB Senior Coach (Level Two) has been playing cricket for 40 years and in 1997 was appointed player-manager of the Worcestershire Over-50s side.

He has also planned and managed overseas tours to such places as the West Indies, South Africa, and Australia.

Edwards, an ECB Level Three coach who joined KVCC last season, will step up to succeed to Rob Wood who is taking a break from senior cricket but remaining with the junior section.

Big things are expected of new South African star Divan Van Wyk, 20, who has replaced compratriot Matt Friedlander as the club's overseas player.

Left hand bat and right arm off spinner Van Wyk, arrives with an impressive reputation having captained his country in the under-19 world cup last year.

Van Wyk, who is with the Free State club back home, made an encouraging debut with a knock of 66 in KVCC's pleasing warm-up win at Bridgnorth last weekend.

KVCC ran out winners by five wickets in the 45-over friendly after restricting Bridgnorth to 215- 5 and steadily knocking off the runs for 218-5.

As well as bolstering their batting with the capture of Van Wyk, KVCC, whose scheduled friendly with Worcester was cancelled because of heavy overnight rain last weekend, have also increased their bowling options with three new faces.

Leg-spinner Chris Powell, 20, has arrived from Cheltenham with Gloucestershire 2nd XI expereince, while former Evesham quickie Warren Irvine is also on board along with ex-Moseley all-rounderAndy Morley.

Jonathan Wright will remain as skipper, although Barrett will take some of the burden of organisation off him, while the club are hoping to call on the services of exciting youngsters Will Gifford and Josh Knappett from time to time.

University and county commitments permitting, Gifford, who now captains his Loughborough University side, and wicketkeeper Knappett, who is studying at Oxford, are both on Worcestershire's books so any appearances at Chester Road will be a bonus.

Aussie batsman Kyle McAllister is another new face - but with only one overseas player allowed per team in the Birmingham League, the North Melbourne Grade club man will turn out for the club's Worcestershire County League first team.

There has also been a change behind the scenes with groundsman Sean Lloyd leaving to take on a new job at Worcester Royal Grammar School, but staying on in a playing capacity.

His successor Adrian Dudok is settling in well having plied his trade as groundsman at Telford United Football Club as well as tending the pitches of Shrewsbury School and Wroxeter Cricket Clubs.

There has been a good response at nets, with coach Edwards commenting that long-serving batsman Mark Mansell looks in very good form.

l With cricket returning to Chester Road for the 135th year, there will be plenty of action there and at Winterfold School where KVCC's top two Worcestershire County League teams will play.

The club will field two teams in the Birmingham League, the firsts in Division One and seconds in the 2nd team Premier League.

There will be three sides in the Worcestershire County League with the firsts in Division Two, seconds in 2nd team Division Two and thirds in Division Six.

l The seconds played to a winning draw with Harborne at the weekend. They batted first on a slow wicket with Mark Edwards leading the way with 35 as they made 172-8. Also contributing were Fern Bagley with 18, Ian Sadler 32, Glen Thomas 31, Dan Webb 19, and 16-year-old Andy Cavendish 11not out.

In reply Dan Webb and Anthony Burkes each took three wickets, Lee Daniels took two, and Cavendish also bowled well as they restricted Harborne to 145-9.

KVCC 2nd 172-8, Harborne 145-9.

KVCC's young Worcester County League firsts started as they mean to go on with a five wicket victory over Harborne at a damp Winterfold on Saturday.

With seven players aged 21 or under, they won the toss, elected to bowl and skittled Harborne out for 77.

KVCC had early problems in their reply but recovered well to win through with 78-5 to bag 20 points.

l The club will also have two teams in the County Sunday League, along with a side in the Wilden Industrial Estates Wednesday competition.

Added to this there will be lots of Junior Cricket as well as Girls Cricket.

It will be rather busy on the cricket front this week.

On Thursday and Friday, a combined Worcestershire & Somerset 2nd XI will play against Durham. An 11 o'clock start with free admission.

On Sunday, Worcestershire 1st XI will commence a 3 day match against Loughborough University. 11 am start each day.

KVCC FIXTURES

Saturday

Birmingham League

1st XI v Cannock (h) 1pm.

2nd XI v Coventry and North Warwickshire (a) 1.30pm.

Worcestershire County League

1st XI Netherton (a)

2nd XI Netherton (h)

3rd XI West Malvern (a)

In the County League, the 1st & 2nd XIs play at Winterfold School, with the 3rd XI fixtures at Chester Road.

Sunday

National Knockout first round: Birmingham League 1st XI v Old Hill (a).