COUNTIES CRICKET Championship final round team news
- Details
- Created on Sunday, 20 August 2023 10:00
- Last Updated on Sunday, 20 August 2023 10:00
- Published on Sunday, 20 August 2023 10:00
- Written by PAUL BOLTON National Counties Cricket correspondent
Oxfordshire, who host Cheshire at Banbury, and Devon, who entertain Herefordshire at Sidmouth, both go into the final round of divisional matches with the chance of overtaking Berkshire, who have a seven points lead but have completed their four-match programme.
Bizarrely, all four counties in action this weekend, are not yet mathematically safe from relegation although Herefordshire and Cheshire are the two most in peril.
Devon have added off-spinner Sam Read to the squad that was on duty for the victory over Cheshire.
Herefordshire are again missing their captain Matt Pardoe as the former Worcestershire batter is unavailable, but they can call on the services of Worcestershire batter Rehaan Edavalath who made his debut in the defeat by Berkshire.
The experienced Barney Morgan returns along with Conor Smith and Charlie Williams.
Oxfordshire are likely to be without batter Zach Lion-Cachet who made a century in each innings of their victory over Devon two weeks ago.
Lion-Cachet’s achievement in becoming the first Oxfordshire player to make a century in all three formats has attracted the interest of Sussex who included him in their squad for Friday’s Metro Bank One Day Cup defeat by Gloucestershire.
Although Lion-Cachet did not play in that game, Sussex are a batter down because Ali Orr has been sidelined by a dislocated finger and they have further Metro Bank matches against Worcestershire on Sunday and Warwickshire on Tuesday.
Cheshire have called up spinner Eddie Morrison for his National Counties debut. Morrison plays his club cricket for Castleford alongside Cheshire’s Championship captain David Wainwright.
All-rounder Nick Anderson returns to the side with Ali Chughtai and Sam Grant dropping out of the side beaten by Devon.
Cornwall have already won Western Division Two and completed their programme which leaves the four teams in action this weekend scrapping to avoid the wooden spoon.
Shropshire, who face Wiltshire at Whitchurch, currently occupy bottom spot but they are only one point adrift of the visitors and Dorset and Wales NC who meet at Wimborne.
Shropshire are without opening batter George Hargrave whose record-breaking efforts in the victory over Dorset – he was the first player in the history of the Championship to score a double century and century in the same match – have attracted Northamptonshire’s interest.
He has been selected to play for Northamptonshire’s Second XI against Glamorgan at Milton Keynes starting tomorrow so will miss the Wiltshire match.
Leg-spinner Sam Whitney is unavailable to all-rounder Lee Thornton and Joe Stanley have been called up.
Dorset have included two potential debutants, Kieran Laird and Ben Rogers, in their squad while Wales have named a much-changed squad.
Brislington batter Milo Ayres is in line to make his National Counties debut with Cardiff left-arm seamer Harry Robins, who played once for Wiltshire last season, likely to make his first appearance for Wales.
There is a seasonal debut for Pentyrch batter Todd Wilcox and first Championship appearance of the season for Morgan Bevans but opening batter Harry Friend is unavailable due to exam commitments.
Durant Cricket National Counties Championship
August 20-22 (11am)
Eastern Division One
Cleethorpes: Lincolnshire v Norfolk, Copdock: Suffolk v Buckinghamshire.
Western Division One
Sidmouth: Devon v Herefordshire, Banbury: Oxfordshire v Cheshire.
Eastern Division Two
Flitwick: Bedfordshire v Hertfordshire, Peterborough: Cambridgeshire v Cumbria.
Western Division Two
Wimborne: Dorset v Wales NC, Whitchurch: Shropshire v Wiltshire.
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