Shropshire make five changes to the side selected for Sunday’s final NV Play One Day Trophy group game against Suffolk at Sudbury Cricket Club (11am).
After securing an exciting one-wicket final-ball victory over Cambridgeshire at Shifnal last weekend, Shropshire were then beaten by 10 runs in a high-scoring match at Cheshire 24 hours later to leave the county in third place in Group One of the 50-over competition, with the top two teams qualifying for the quarter-finals.
Worfield spinner Harris Ajaz will make his Shropshire debut on Sunday, while Shifnal opener Joe Johnson and Shrewsbury batter Seb Scott, as well as seamers Clark Haddrell and George McCormick all return to the team.
They replace Amrinder Brar, Ravan Chahal, Lewis Evans, Ben Lees and Connor Marshall, who all featured in the Shropshire side against Cheshire earlier this week.
Shropshire first-team coach Ed Ashlin said: “Harris attended all the winter nets and signed for Worfield at the start of the season. He’s a talented leg spinner with good skills who was on Derbyshire’s Academy and played second team cricket for them.
“Harris was really keen to get involved with us and showed his commitment by attending the nets, so we are looking forward to having him in the team for the first time. It’s a good opportunity for him.”
The Suffolk game will be McCormick’s first Shropshire appearance of the season after impressing with the ball for the county last season.
Positive note
“We know what we’re going to get with George,” added Ashlin. “He came into the T20 team, which was probably not his preferred format, and then he was outstanding in red-ball cricket in terms of his control and taking wickets for us as well. We’re looking forward to what he’s going to bring to the side on Sunday.”
Ahead of the long trip to Sudbury, Shropshire will be striving to end their group fixtures on a positive note.
“We’re going there looking to try and win the game,” said Ashlin. “Every game at this level now has something on it because it contributes to the overall National Counties standings at the end of the year.
“Obviously, we wanted to qualify after being so successful last year in the group stages and going on to reach the final, but every game counts and we want to make sure that we’re going into the T20 competition with some momentum, and it’s opportunities for players as well ultimately.
“Suffolk have got some experienced cricketers and no doubt it will be a tough assignment, but we’re looking forward to it.”
Shropshire: Joe Johnson (Shifnal), Theo Wylie (Milford Hall), Tom Fell (Shifnal, captain), Andre Bradford (Hallam), Seb Scott (Shrewsbury), Harry Chandler (Wem, wicketkeeper), Joe Stanley (Wolverhampton), Clark Haddrell (Milford Hall), Ben Roberts (Shifnal), Harris Ajaz (Worfield), George McCormick (Bowdon).
Pictured: George McCormick will make his first Shropshire appearance of the season against Suffolk on Sunday.