Captain Charlie Home makes a welcome return from injury as Shropshire open their National Counties Championship campaign this weekend.
Shropshire are preparing to make the long trip to Truro to face Cornwall in Western Division Two, with the three-day match starting on Sunday (11am).
Fit-again Home has played the last two matches for Shifnal in the Birmingham League after recovering from dislocating and breaking a finger during Shropshire’s pre-season nets in March.
The all-rounder is now looking forward to making his first Shropshire appearance of his fourth season as county captain.
Home said: “I’ve had a couple of games for Shifnal and we’ve had two wins, so that’s been very nice and I’ve enjoyed it.
“Having been on the sidelines since late on in the winter, and having watched a lot of cricket, it will be really nice to be back playing and contributing for Shropshire.”
Only four players who played for Shropshire in Tuesday’s NCCA Showcase Game against Worcestershire – Harry Chandler, Tom Fell, Joe Stanley and Sam Wisniewski – are in the team selected to face Cornwall.
Continue that momentum
Former Leicestershire all-rounder Roman Walker and ex-Yorkshire left-arm wrist spinner Wisniewski are both set to make their Championship debuts for Shropshire having played for the county in other formats.
Ahead of Shropshire’s Championship season getting under way, Home said: “The lads had a brilliant Twenty20 group campaign, making it through to the Super 12s, so I’m very excited for the three-day campaign and hopefully we can continue that momentum.
“It’s a long trek down to Cornwall, but I’m pleased with the side we will be putting out. It has good balance and I’m very much looking forward to getting going.”
Home added Shropshire want to be pushing for promotion to Western Division One this season.
“I think promotion’s always the aim,” he said. “I’ve had a chat with a number of our players and I think availability’s looking good, which is always half the battle, so I see no reason why we shouldn’t be aiming for promotion.
“It’s really important to start the campaign well with hopefully a positive result against Cornwall, who I’m sure will be a well organised side from having played against them before.”
Shropshire will follow up their Championship opener at Cornwall with a trip to Nantwich to play Cheshire next month, either side of home three-day matches against Wales at Bridgnorth and Dorset at Whitchurch.
Shropshire: Joe Stanley (Wolverhampton), Harry Chandler (Wem), Tom Fell (Shifnal), Theo Wylie (Milford Hall), Seb Scott (Shrewsbury), Charlie Home (Shifnal, captain), Roman Walker (Leicester Ivanhoe), Ben Lees (Shifnal), Ben Roberts (Shifnal), Sam Wisniewski (Wakefield Thornes), George McCormick (Bowdon).
Pictured: Charlie Home will make his first appearance of the season after recovering from injury in this weekend’s NCCA Championship opener against Cornwall.