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The crucial first win of the season in the bag after two strong performances, Worcestershire now face the stern test of a visit to Trent Bridge to face promotion-hunting Nottinghamshire. Though their 2021 campaign went a long way towards exorcising the demons of nearly three years without a first-class victory, the East Midlanders aren't invincible, as Glamorgan demonstrated with a seven-wicket win in the Robin Hood county a fortnight ago. But Notts remain a formidable package despite that blemish, balancing bat and ball with a top four never far from England contention in Ben Slater, Haseeb Hameed, Ben Duckett and Joe Clarke, and an attack which has propelled 23-year-old slow left-armer Liam Patterson-White to the top of the Championship wicket chart, with 18 scalps so far at an average of 15.11, including two five-fers. The prospective inclusion of a Stuart Broad miffed at his recent England snub is almost overkill for the home side.

Worcestershire aren't devoid of threats by any means, with skipper Brett D'Oliveira closing in on 300 runs and still yet to lose his wicket this year, while Ed Pollock is providing a potent attacking threat at the top and Jake Libby has yet to hit top gear. On the seam-friendly Trent Bridge wicket it'll be vital for the Pears pacers to hit the mark right from the off, but hopefully an in-form Worcs can dig deep for a positive result in this crucial encounter.

Probable Worcestershire XI: Libby, Pollock, Azhar, Haynes, D'Oliveira, Barnard, Cox, Baker, Leach, Pennington, Morris