Shropshire set for T20 double-header against Staffordshire

Shropshire will select from a squad of 12 against Staffordshire in Group One of the NCCA Twenty20 competition at Wem Cricket Club on Sunday - with Shrewsbury batter Finn Jones called up for the first time.

Admission is free for spectators to attend the double-header, with the two T20 matches at Soulton Road starting at 11am and 2.30pm.

Jones, who has enjoyed a good start to the Birmingham League season, is part of the Worcestershire Academy. He recently hit an unbeaten century for Shrewsbury against Halesowen and has made a number of other notable contributions for his club in the early weeks of the campaign.

Former Derbyshire all-rounder Connor Marshall is selected by Shropshire for the second time after recently impressing on his debut against Cheshire in the NV Play One Day Trophy when he struck 90 not out.

Seamer George McCormick and all-rounder Matt Simmonds also both return for Shropshire, with Simmonds joining his Wellington team mates Morgan Ward and Ollie Smith in the county squad after the teenagers made the most of their opportunity to impress during their first-team debuts in last Sunday's T20 matches against Cheshire at Didsbury.

Andre Bradford, Seb Scott, Imran Tariq and Theo Wylie, who all featured against Cheshire, are not involved this weekend.

On the selection of Jones for the first time, Shropshire's head of cricket Ed Home said: "We are delighted to be giving Finn his debut for the county and his performances for Shrewsbury in the top division of the Birmingham League, including his first senior hundred in the last few weeks, have more than justified his inclusion.

“He has a strong family connection with the county with both his father Bryan and uncle Barry having represented Shropshire with distinction.”

Shropshire lost their opening T20 match of the season to Cheshire by eight wickets last weekend, but responded well to enjoy victory by the same margin in the day's second game.

Staffordshire were involved in a tied match in their T20 group opener against Northumberland last Sunday before getting the better of the north east county by 45 runs in the second game at Stone.

Home added: "One of the first dates you look for when the fixtures come out in winter is when you are going to face Staffordshire.

"They have over multiple years been the benchmark in National Counties cricket and have a long and rich heritage of success, so from our point of view we are thoroughly looking forward to locking horns with them again in these two T20 fixtures.

“We have an exciting team with a nice blend of youth and experience. I know the players will be ready for the challenges that will undoubtedly be put in front of them this Sunday.”

Shropshire

Joe Johnson (Shifnal), Finn Jones (Shrewsbury), Tom Fell (Shifnal, captain), Connor Marshall (Sandiacre Town), Roman Walker (Leicester Ivanhoe), Matt Simmonds (Wellington), Morgan Ward (Wellington), Joe Stanley (Wolverhampton), Ben Roberts (Shifnal), Anis Raza (Leek), George McCormick (Bowdon), Ollie Smith (Wellington).