Positive Shrewsbury captain Ed Foster hopes his side will throw off the shackles and spring a surprise on Birmingham League leaders Knowle & Dorridge as the premier division’s top and bottom teams meet at London Road on Saturday.
Foster is aware Shrewsbury are major underdogs but feels it’s a challenge to relish to kickstart their campaign.
“It’s a difficult game on paper with Knowle top, but we’ve got to take something from how well we played in the abandoned National KO game at Walsall last Sunday and hopefully surprise them,” said Foster.
“We had some good comments from the Walsall captain and the two umpires who know the league well, and they all agreed we’re not a bottom of the league side. Knowle have an experienced couple of ex-pros but nothing we can’t cope with.”
One Knowle player Foster knows plenty about is his big-hitting Shropshire team- mate Atiq Chisti. “He can be destructive when he gets going so we’ll be looking to restrict his time at the crease.”
Foster insisted he was not getting despondent about Shrewsbury’s league position just yet as the halfway point of the season looms. “There’s a long way to go and we just need to get performing like we know we can,” he said.
Shrewsbury are boosted by the return of paceman Tom Allin and allrounder Joe Leach for this weekend’s clash.
Allin arrives fresh from helping Cardiff University beat Leeds/Bradford at Lord’s in the MCC University Challenge final earlier this week alongside another Shrewsbury player Ryan Bishop. Will Parton is unavailable and Jon Anders drops to the seconds.
Meanwhile, skipper Foster, his brother Rob and Mike Barnard are joined in the Shropshire squad for the Minor Counties Championship match against Devon by clubmate Alex Blofield, the young spinner having received a first call-up. The three-day game starts at Shifnal on Sunday.
Shrewsbury have rearranged their National KO regional final at Walsall, abandoned with the London Roaders on top, for Sunday, July 12.
SHREWSBURY (v Knowle & Dorridge): E. Foster, T. Cox, W. Robinson, R. Foster, J. Leach, T. Allin, D. Manders, A. Blofield, M. Barnard, E. Green, J. Gale.
