NATIONAL COUNTIES T20 update on today's openers
- Details
- Created on Sunday, 16 April 2023 09:39
- Last Updated on Sunday, 16 April 2023 09:40
- Published on Sunday, 16 April 2023 09:39
- Written by PAUL BOLTON National Counties Cricket correspondent
Whiteley joined Hampshire from Worcestershire on a three-year white ball contract ahead of last season and has now been recruited by Dorset for white ball cricket as part of their close association with their first-class neighbours.
Whiteley will bring recent experience of both Big Bash and The Hundred cricket to the National Counties arena having played for Brisbane Heat and Southern Brave respectively within the past year.
The big-hitting former Derbyshire player will not be the only new face in the Dorset ranks as Paul Lawrence, a former national coach of Gibraltar, will take charge of the side for the first time since becoming the county’s head coach.
England Under-19 wicketkeeper/batter Joe Eckland, who recently signed a rookie contract with Hampshire is also included in Dorset’s squad along with his elder brother, Alex.
Although Herefordshire captain Matt Pardoe will be leading the visitors on Sunday he will be in very familiar surroundings as his day job is head of cricket at Sherborne School.
Former Northamptonshire and Glamorgan batter James Kettleborough will captain Staffordshire for the first time in their first-ever match at Checkley where Cumbria are the visitors for a Group One double-header.
Kettleborough, who plays his club cricket for Checkley in the North Staffordshire & South Cheshire Premier League, has joined Staffordshire from Bedfordshire for whom he was a prolific run-scorer.
Oxfordshire begin their title defence against Buckinghamshire at Wormsley in Group Four with Sussex batter Harrison Ward, who played a match-winning innings in last season’s final against Cambridgeshire, available for his native county.
Buckinghamshire have included Northamptonshire batter Saif Zaib, a product of their youth system, in their squad.
Zaib was named in Northamptonshire’s 13-man squad for the current County Championship match against Middlesex at Wantage Road but was left out of the final 11.
Northamptonshire Academy batter Aadi Sharma, who made 96 on debut against Hertfordshire in the National Counties Championship last season, is in line to make his T20 bow for Buckinghamshire.
Former Bedfordshire batter Ewan Cox, who captains Buckingham Town, and Gerrards Cross left-arm seamer Jon Denning are set for their Buckinghamshire debuts.
Four of Sunday’s scheduled double-headers have already been cancelled with Lincolnshire’s matches against Norfolk at Bourne the latest to fall victim to waterlogging caused by the recent heavy rain.
The other Group Three match between Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire at Wisbech was called off on Wednesday followed by Wiltshire v Devon (Group Two) and Berkshire v Wales NC (Group Four) on Thursday. Each county will take two points from the abandonments.
In view of the recent wet weather, spectators intending to attend matches on Sunday are advised to check with clubs before travelling.
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