COUNTIES CRICKET Western Division team news July 26
- Details
- Created on Sunday, 26 July 2026 08:00
- Last Updated on Sunday, 26 July 2026 08:05
- Published on Sunday, 26 July 2026 08:00
- Written by PAUL BOLTON Cricket Correspondent
Wiltshire were relegated in 2021, the first season of the new divisional structure, but secured promotion last summer when they edged out Dorset by a point to take the Western Division Two title.
They return to Division One with the spine of their 2021 team in captain Ed Young, batters Jack Mynott, Jake Goodwin and Will Naish and off-spinner Joe King all available to face Herefordshire.
There are Championship debuts for off-spinner Alfie Johnson and seam bowler Sam Freestone who have both featured in Wiltshire’s white ball side this season. Former Herefordshire batter Cyrus Shafi will face his old county having joined the Potterne club this season.
Herefordshire have made five changes to the side beaten by Devon in their Championship opener at Sidmouth with one former Worcestershire batter, Taylor Cornall, replacing another in George Rhodes.
Opening batter Hasan Mahmood, all-rounders Joel Cox and Roshan Venkataraman and Worcestershire Academy batter Seth Essenhigh also return.
Oxfordshire, who were beaten by Berkshire in their opening match, host Devon at Banbury where Sussex batter Harrison Ward returns from Vitality Blast duty.
Seamer Jack Warner is set for his Championship debut with Sravan Konidena, batter Julian Laird and leg-spinner Henry Welch also called up.
Devon have made just one change with Sam Elstone coming in for the unavailable Lawrence Walker.
Lancashire batter Kesh Fonseka will make his debut for Cheshire in their Western Division Two opener against Dorset at Wimborne.
Cheshire also give a debut to Toft wicketkeeper Liam Clorley and there are first Championship outings for seamers Archie Barraclough of Bradford & Bingley and Sandbach’s Jack Collett.
Former Yorkshire and Derbyshire slow left-armer David Wainwright will captain Cheshire on his seasonal debut.
Dorset make four changes to the side that beat Wales NC at Ebbw Vale with batters Finn Gordon, Dylan Church and Alex Eckland returning along with seamer Will Bere who makes his first appearance of the season.
Experienced Oswestry all-rounder Warrick Fynn is one of three changes for Shropshire for Wales NC’s visit to Bridgnorth.
Fynn will make his seasonal debut and Shrewsbury batter Finn Jones his first appearance in the competition.
Shifnal batter Joe Johnson is recalled having made 415 runs in six Championship innings last season.
All-rounder Theo Wylie is missing as he is required by Warwickshire for Metro Bank Cup duties and former Worcestershire batter Tom Fell and ex-Yorkshire spinner Sam Wisniewski are also missing.
Wales have made five changes to the side beaten by Dorset as none of their contingent of Glamorgan are available this weekend.
Batters Mathew Ryan and Hugo Caldicott, leg-spinner Alex Russell, seamers Matt Marriott and Jonathan Davies are called up with Davies in line for a Championship debut.
Buckinghamshire, the defending national and Eastern Division champions, make the long trip to face Northumberland at Benwell Hill.
NCCA CLUBERLY CHAMPIONSHIP
July 26-28 (11am)
Eastern Division One
Benwell Hill: Northumberland v Buckinghamshire. Checkley: Staffordshire v Cambridgeshire.
Western Division One
Eastnor: Herefordshire v Wiltshire. Banbury: Oxfordshire v Devon.
Eastern Division Two
Sprowston: Norfolk v Bedfordshire. Hitchin: Hertfordshire v Lincolnshire.
Western Division Two
Bridgnorth: Shropshire v Wales NC. Wimborne: Dorset v Cheshire
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