Overseas star Reece O’Connell makes a timely first appearance of the season for Shrewsbury this weekend – with skipper Ed Foster hoping his return acts as a catalyst for an early season revival.
O’Connell flies in from Perth today and goes straight into Shrewsbury’s side for Saturday’s home clash against Stratford (1pm) in the Birmingham Cricket League first division.
O’Connell, who has ambitions of breaking into the Western Australia side back home, was a big hit in his debut campaign at London Road last summer and always topped the club’s wish list for an overseas player this term.
Shrewsbury will be hoping he can reproduce the rich haul of wickets his quality spin bowling produced last year when he snared 71 victims, a club record in the Birmingham League.
They will also be looking for him to weigh in with his fair share of runs to boost Shrewsbury’s anticipated promotion push as he averaged just under 29 last year.
O’Connell’s arrival has been delayed owing to work commitments but Foster is delighted that the allrounder will now be available for much of the season.
“Having Reece back is a massive boost,” said Foster. “He will get through a lot of overs and he brings an excellent record as a bowler, an ability to take wickets while keeping runs to a minimum.
“Everyone knows he can bat as well so he’ll be looking to get some runs.
“The pitches here are completely different to Perth but I’ve got no doubts he’ll have a better season with the bat for us this time. He’s a very good all-round cricketer, he has the right attitude and he’s a great example to the rest of the lads.”
Jack Brydon, back from university, also comes into Saturday’s side, with William Davies and Matthew Swift making way.
Shrewsbury find themselves joint bottom of the table after the opening two games, not that Foster is concerned: “The table makes terrible reading but we’re not worried about it,” he said.
Foster is hopeful Shrewsbury might have an even stronger look the following weekend as he waits to see whether his younger brother Rob and Warwickshire paceman Tom Allin will be available from their Cardiff University commitments.
Both players impressed for Cardiff in a game at Northamptonshire last week, Rob cracking 55 in the second innings, while the duo were also among the wickets.
Skipper Foster, meanwhile, is also currently in a rich vein of form for Leicestershire’s second XI as he pushes for a first team place.
He struck 76 and 90 in a three-day game against Glamorgan at Hinckley, his hopes of a century dashed when he was caught at deep square leg off the bowling of fellow local lad Adam Shantry, the former Perkins and left-arm paceman.
Shrewsbury are also in action on Sunday when they travel to Gloucestershire side Frocester in the second round of the Cockspur Cup.
SHREWSBURY (v Stratford): E. Foster, J. Gale, R. O’Connell, J. Anders, J. Shantry, W. Merrick, J. Brydon, D. Manders, T. Somerville, E. Green, D. Rees.