COUNTIES CRICKET Showcase preview & fixtures

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Created on Sunday, 21 July 2024 07:20

Last Updated on Sunday, 21 July 2024 10:54

Published on Sunday, 21 July 2024 07:20

Written by PAUL BOLTON Cricket Correspondent

The best of National Counties cricket will be again showcased over the next three days as relationships with the 18 first-class counties are strengthened and matches are played on some of the hidden gems of cricket grounds around the country.

Gloucestershire, who beat Herefordshire in two highly-competitive Showcase T20 matches last month, have already enjoyed the rural delights – and magnificent hospitality – of Eastnor.

The remaining 19 National Counties will face first-class opposition in 50 overs contests – the usual format for Showcase Matches - between today and Tuesday.

Hertfordshire, who travel to Arundel to face Sussex today, and Buckinghamshire, with a trip to Grace Road to face Metro Bank Cup holders Leicestershire on Monday, are the only two of the National Counties who will not have home advantage.

Last year Leicestershire were beaten by Staffordshire in a rain-affected match at Knypersley at the start of a 50 overs campaign that culminated in victory over Hampshire in the Metro Bank Cup final at Trent Bridge.

In 2021 Glamorgan were defeated by Wales NC in their Showcase Match in Cardiff but also went on to win the domestic 50 overs competition.

Durham have been beaten by National Counties opposition in each of the last two seasons with a narrow defeat against Lincolnshire in 2022 being followed by 29 runs reverse against Northumberland at Jesmond 12 months ago.

Durham return to Osborne Avenue on Sunday and Northumberland have again selected Durham UCCE and former Cambridgeshire batter Nikhil Gorantla, whose 118 was the centrepiece of last season’s victory.

Gorantla has been trialling with both Warwickshire and Leicestershire this season and he will again be hoping for another opportunity to showcase his talent today.

Northumberland have included Yash Vagadia, a batter/off-spinner who is on Yorkshire’s books, in their squad for the first time along with two former Durham batters, Harry Crawshaw and Ross Whitfield.

Yorkshire head to Wellington to face Shropshire 40 years after they were beaten by 37 runs by them in a NatWest Trophy match at the St George’s club in nearby Oakengates.

Yorkshire’s side that day included Sir Geoffrey – then just plain old Geoff – Boycott and Kevin Sharp, who later had a successful stint with Shropshire.

The current Shropshire side includes Shrewsbury seamer Alex Ollershaw who is set for his first county appearance of the season.

Lincolnshire have named contracted Leicestershire batter Sam Evans in their squad for Nottinghamshire’s visit to the Lindum club in Lincoln.

Former Nottinghamshire quick bowler Mark Footitt has also been included in a 13-man squad although he was a late withdrawal from last weekend’s three-day match against Bedfordshire at Dunstable because of injury. 

Suffolk have recalled Bury St Edmunds opening batter Alex Maynard and Copdock & Old Ipswichian batter Ollie Burle for their local derby against Essex at Woolpit.

Northamptonshire head to Manor Park at Horsford where they will face Norfolk at senior level for the first time since 1886. The last time the counties met on Norfolk soil was at Lakenham in 1885.

Dorset host neighbours Hampshire at Wimborne with Ed Ellis recalled at wicketkeeper for his seasonal debut as Joe Eckland, who made his maiden National Counties Championship century last weekend, expected to be in the visitors’ squad.

Captain Luke Webb, Matt Burton and Henry Dunlop all return to Dorset’s squad.

Wiltshire take county cricket back to the County Ground at Swindon for the first time since 2002 with Glamorgan the visitors and free entry to the match.

Batter Josh Kelly and slow left-armer Archie Fairfax-Ross return for Wiltshire in place of Toby Kershaw and Stanley Brown.

Somerset will again play two Showcase matches on a mini-South West tour as they face Cornwall at Truro today and Devon at Exmouth on Tuesday.

Cornwall have made four changes to the side beaten by Berkshire with Billy Taylor (Helston), Alfie MacDonald (Camborne), Matt Lawrence (Wadebridge) and Toby Whiteford (Redruth) called up.

But Cornwall will be missing their two professionals, Alex Blake and Will MacVicar, along with their Gloucestershire batter Joe Phillips all unavailable this weekend.

Staffordshire face Warwickshire at Knypersley for the first meeting between the counties at senior level since 2002.

There have been close links between the neighbouring counties for many years – the great Sydney Barnes played four games for Warwickshire in the late 19th century before going to make 177 Minor Counties Championship appearances for Staffordshire – right up to the present day with Warwickshire Academy seamers past and present, Rory Haydon and Sam Atkinson, appearing for Staffordshire over the past two seasons.

Wales NC host Worcestershire at the Sudbrook club near Caldicot hoping for better luck with the weather than 12 months ago when their scheduled Showcase match against Warwickshire there was abandoned without a ball being bowled.

Lancashire will be the visitors when they face Cumbria at Sedbergh School on Sunday but the home team when they take on Durham in their opening Metro Bank Cup match on Wednesday.

Having first played a County Championship match at the ground in 2019, Lancashire have since used it as a regular venue for List A cricket as well as facing Cumbria there in a Showcase match in each of the last four seasons.

Oxfordshire make a swift return to Thame, the scene of their crushing Championship victory over Cheshire on Tuesday, for the visit of Middlesex who were beaten by Berkshire in a Showcase match two years ago.

Cheshire face Derbyshire at Nantwich where police removed an illegal travellers’ encampment last week although the ground was quickly back in use for its intended purpose for a Cheshire County League match on Saturday.

Cambridgeshire take on Surrey at Fenner’s, a ground that the first-class side have been visiting since 1859 for matches against Cambridge University, the most recent of them in 2011.

Showcase Matches

Sunday July 21 (11am)

Fenner’s: Cambridgeshire v Surrey
Nantwich: Cheshire v Derbyshire
Truro: Cornwall v Somerset
Sedbergh School: Cumbria v Lancashire
Wimborne: Dorset v Hampshire
Lincoln (Lindum CC): Lincolnshire v Nottinghamshire
Horsford: Norfolk v Northamptonshire
Jesmond: Northumberland v Durham
Thame: Oxfordshire v Middlesex
Wellington: Shropshire v Yorkshire
Knypersley: Staffordshire v Warwickshire
Woolpit: Suffolk v Essex
Arundel: Sussex v Hertfordshire
Sudbrook: Wales NC v Worcestershire
Swindon: Wiltshire v Glamorgan FREE TO SEE! 

Monday July 22 (11am)

Leicester: Leicestershire v Buckinghamshire

Tuesday July 23 (11am)

Dunstable: Bedfordshire v Kent
Slough: Berkshire v Sussex
Exmouth: Devon v Somerset

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