NCCA 50-Over Knockout Trophy 2024 - Preview Week 1

Berkshire will be boosted by the return of all-rounder Rhodri Lewis as they begin their attempt to extend their record-breaking run of National Counties Trophy titles to five in a row against Devon at Wargrave on Sunday (11am).

The Cardiff UCCE prospect has played in Berkshire’s last two final victories over Cumbria but missed the first six weeks of the season because of a hamstring injury.

Lewis made his comeback for the Cardiff students against their Cambridge counterparts last week and has now been included in Berkshire’s squad for the first time this season having missed all their T20 group matches.

If Lewis does play in the Group Three match he could line up alongside his younger brother, Rhys, for the first time for Berkshire.

Rhys first played for Berkshire in 2021 and reappeared in Monday’s T20 victory over Bedfordshire at Ampthill.

Captain Dan Lincoln, off-spinning all-rounder Euan Woods, batter Jonny Connell and seamer Toby Greatwood all return to county action having played for the newly-formed Challengers side in this week’s T20 matches against Leicestershire.

Devon travel without all-rounder Elliott Hamilton who is unavailable this weekend.

Sunday’s match has been moved to Wargrave from Henley as the Brakspear Ground is still recovering from the wet winter.

Former Berkshire off-spinner Max Uttley will make his first National Counties appearance since the 2022 Trophy final when he makes his debut for Buckinghamshire in the other Group Three match against Oxfordshireat Wormsley.

Oxfordshire include home-reared Sussex pair Harrison Ward and Zach Lion-Cachet with Ward also having played for the Challengers against Leicestershire.

Cumbria, beaten by Berkshire in the last four Trophy finals, set on the road to Wormsley with a Group One match against Bedfordshire at Keswick.

Lancashire pair Steven Croft and Harry Singh are again available having helped Cumbria to book their place in the Super 12s stage of the T20 competition last weekend.

The other Group One match sees Northumberland hosting Lincolnshire at Jesmond where Durham Academy wicketkeeper/batter Haydon Mustard will make his seasonal debut for Northumberland.

Mustard, the son of former Durham, Gloucestershire and England wicketkeeper Phil, is an England Under-19s international who made his first-class debut for Durham on their pre-season tour to Zimbabwe.

Former Leicestershire batter Jacques de Toit will captain Northumberland with former Durham pair, Ross Whitfield and Harry Crawshaw, returning to the squad.

Former Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Surrey left-arm paceman Mark Footitt is set for his first appearance of the season for Lincolnshire along with batter Qundeel Haider.

Norfolk will be missing Josh Cobb and Freddie Fairey for their Group Two opener against Herefordshire at Sprowston.

The pair were concussed when they collided in the field during last week’s T20 match against Suffolk at Sprowston. Both were taken to hospital and although they were soon discharged they now have to go through the concussion return-to-play protocols.

Norfolk have decided not to sign a locum professional to replace Worcestershire batter Cobb but they have called up Fakenham’s Luke Caswell.

Herefordshire have included Imaad Mohammad, an off-spinner and middle order batter from Dorridge, and seamer Sam Keeling-Wright in their side for their seasonal debuts.

Former Worcestershire and Leicestershire all-rounder George Rhodes will make his first appearance of the season for Suffolk against Staffordshire at Mildenhall.

Rhodes helped Suffolk reach the Trophy final last season but he missed their winless T20 campaign.

Staffordshire welcome back slow left-armer Tom Brett, who would have missed Monday’s washed out T20 double-header against Cumbria, and Zen Malik, who made a century in each innings of Glamorgan’s drawn Second XI Championship match against Warwickshire this week.

Wiltshire, who had five of their six T20 group matches washed out, will hope for better luck with the weather when they take on Hertfordshire in their opening Trophy Group Four match at Marlborough College.

Wiltshire have named a much-changed squad to the one that was beaten by Cornwall in their only T20 match to be completed with experienced off-spinner Joe King making his seasonal debut along with Keron Bennett-Thomas, Dylan Church and Matthew Falconer.

Hertfordshire have again named former Glamorgan batter Callum Taylor in their squad for a possible debut.

Taylor was included in the squad for last weekend’s T20 double-header against Bedfordshire but did not play and Monday’s matches against Buckinghamshire were washed out.

Dorset have called up left-arm seamer Simon Woodruff for the first time this season for their match against Cheshire at Dorchester.

Former Leicestershire batter Harry Dearden takes over Cheshire’s captaincy from T20 skipper Sam Perry with Flowery Field wicketkeeper Owen Feakes and Oulton Park seamer Andy Dufty set for their first appearances of the season.

National Counties Trophy

Sunday May 12 (11am)

Group One

Cumbria v Bedfordshire (Keswick), Northumberland v Lincolnshire (Jesmond)

Group Two

Norfolk v Herefordshire (Sprowston), Suffolk v Staffordshire (Mildenhall)

Group Three

Berkshire v Devon (Wargrave), Oxfordshire v Buckinghamshire (Wormsley)

Group Four

Dorset v Cheshire (Wimborne), Wiltshire v Hertfordshire (Marlborough College)