Hinds had been signed as an overseas replacement for Chris Rogers for the Twenty20 Cup while the Australian opener took a short break but the Jamaican is now expected to stay for the rest of the season.

Derbyshire originally signed the 31-year-old last year but his registration as a Kolpak player was refused by the England and Wales Cricket Board after he took part in the rebel Indian cricket league.

But events last week have once again opened the door for Hinds to join the county on a Kolpak registration following a successful appeal by three South Africans.

Justin Kemp, Johannes van der Wath and Andrew Hall had also been banned from taking up their contracts with Kent and Northamptonshire respectively but they have now been cleared to play.

Although Derbyshire did not appeal, the ECB cannot prevent Hinds playing as a Kolpak signing and the county have reacted by offering him a contract.

Hinds is now expected to play in the match against Worcestershire which starts at Chesterfield on June 6 and that could be a significant boost for Derbyshire's prospects this summer.

With 45 Tets and 114 one-day internationals appearances behind him, Hinds will bring quality and experience to the squad which had looked a batsman light.

With Charl Langeveldt already making an impact, there are grounds for optimism that the team can compete on all fronts this season.

Two victories in the Friends Provident Trophy have given Derbyshire a decent chance of making the quarter-finals and this week they had a chance to guage their progress with a championship match against Warwickshire.

Langeveldt arrived with a good reputation in one-day cricket and the former South African pace bowler has lived up to it in his first appearances.

A three-wicket burst in five balls against Durham was followed by 4-28 in Sunday's victory over the Scottish Saltires.

''That's why he's here,'' head of cricket John Morris said. ''That is what having the better players in your side does for you.

''If you have got a team that can turn a game with a couple of individuals, you've got a team that's developing.

''The other lads can learn from that. It makes us more competitive and, hopefully, it can also win us more games.

''Charl has played three Friends Provident games now and, for me, he has bowled brilliantly in all of them.''

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