NCCA 50-Over Trophy: Week 4 - Preview

England Under-19 batter Noah Thain has been included in Cambridgeshire’s squad for Sunday’s National Counties Trophy Group One match against Lincolnshire at Sawston.

Earlier this week Thain was named in the England Under-19s squad for the forthcoming Youth One Day International series against Sri Lanka and he will get in some useful white ball practise with Cambridgeshire.

Thain, a product of The Leys School in Cambridge, made his Cambridgeshire debut as a 17-year-old two years ago and has since broken into Essex’s first team squad, playing three Vitality County Championship matches earlier this season.

He comes into a Cambridgeshire side that was beaten by Northumberland last weekend along with off-spinner Henry Wilson, who made his debut against Cumbria two weeks ago.

Lincolnshire have included two debutants, batters Nafis Shaikh (Grantham) and Alex Winiarski (West Bridgfordians) in their squad with Lewis Graham to set to play his first county match of the season and second in all.

Cumbria host Northumberland at Kendal in the other Group One match and they will give a debut to former Nottinghamshire and Yorkshire batter Will Fraine.

Fraine has previous National Counties experience with Herefordshire but his last appearance for them came eight years ago.

He was released by Yorkshire at the end of last season and is now playing club cricket York and will make his Cumbria debut in the absence of Lancashire pair Steven Croft and Harry Singh.

Northumberland give a debut to Tynemouth’s 16-year-old wicketkeeper Robbie Bowman and have recalled seamer Matty Scott for his first appearance in two years.

Another 16-year-old, Herefordshire seamer Toby Cox will play alongside his elder brother Olly against Shropshire in their Group Two match at Whitchurch.

Toby impressed on his debut against Staffordshire last weekend and also against Gloucestershire in two T20 Showcase matches on Wednesday.

Olly will make his first appearance of the season for Herefordshire as he is not required by Worcestershire this weekend.

But former Worcestershire left-hander Taylor Cornall and the experienced Nick Hammond are unavailable so all-rounder Imaad Mahmood has been added to the squad.

Shropshire welcome back former Worcestershire batter Jacques Banton and Jack Home – who played for Worcestershire Second XI this week – with Ben Roberts and Peter Clark missing out.

Norfolk, the unbeaten Group Two leaders, face an East Anglia derby against Suffolk at Sudbury

Suffolk have named the same side that beat Shropshire two weeks ago as they attempt to deny Norfolk a fourth straight win which would secure a home tie in the quarter-finals.

Norfolk have called up Ashmanhaugh & Barton Wanderers batter Jordan Everett who will make his county debut and play alongside his younger brother Joe.

Ethan Metcalf returns from medical exams but Alfie Cooper has been released by the county to play for Swardeston in an ECB Club Championship match.

Josh Cobb and Saif Zaib are required for Vitality Blast duty by Worcestershire and Northamptonshire respectively so Norfolk will cross the county border without a professional.

Defending champions Berkshire have also decided to stick with a winning formula for their Group Three match against Oxfordshire at the Falkland club in Newbury.

Berkshire have started their title defence with wins against Devon and Cornwall and have named the same 12-man squad that was on duty at St Austell two weeks ago.

Oxfordshire have made five changes to the side that defeated Cornwall at Banbury with Zach Lion-Cachet and Seb Stuart-Reckling rested ahead of a busy week of Second XI cricket with Sussex and Surrey respectively.

George Tait returns from university commitments, Luke Maslen has recovered from injury and George Ealham, Tom Hinley and Henry Welch are recalled.

But there is no place in the squad for Tristan Rossouw who made his maiden half-century last week.

Cornwall host Buckinghamshire at Redruth and have recalled the home club’s Tom Whiteford for his first county appearance in five years. As well as enjoying home comforts, Whiteford will play alongside his brother Ellis.

Buckinghamshire welcome back AJ Woodland who was unavailable for the home defeat by Devon.

Wiltshire have included Hampshire Academy batter Tom Cheater in their squad for a possible competitive debut against Dorset at Warminster in Group Four.

Cheater played for Wiltshire in their pre-season T20 friendlies against Berkshire but has to appear for them in any of the National Counties competitions.

Batter James Degg is set for his seasonal debut for Wiltshire while Dorset are able to include Hampshire batter/off-spinner Felix Organ.

Ben Chaffey has also been included in the squad and will make his first county appearance of the season if he plays.

Wales NC may give a debut to Tom Norton, a 16-year-old Glamorgan Academy all-rounder, againstCheshire at Panteg.

Cheshire are missing former county pair Joe Cooke (Glamorgan) and Mike Finan (Leicestershire) but Lindow all-rounder Dan Newton is a likely debutant.

National Counties Trophy

Sunday June 16 (11am)

Group One:

Sawston: Cambridgeshire v Lincolnshire. Kendal: Cumbria v Northumberland.

Group Two

Whitchurch: Shropshire v Herefordshire. Sudbury: Suffolk v Norfolk.

Group Three

Falkland CC: Berkshire v Oxfordshire. Redruth: Cornwall v Buckinghamshire

Group Four

Panteg: Wales NC v Cheshire. Warminster: Wiltshire v Dorset.