Exciting paceman Mike Barnard faces a battle to play again this season after his injury jinx struck again.
Barnard had only just returned from six weeks on the sidelines to line up for Shropshire in last week’s memorable MCCA Trophy final victory over Lincolnshire.
But he picked up a leg injury while representing the county at Durham’s Riverside ground, and now Shrewsbury skipper Ed Foster is almost resigned to having to do without the strike bowler for the rest of the campaign.
It’s a real blow to the player and his club as they try and cut the 30-point gap between themselves and Birmingham League premier division leaders Knowle & Dorridge ahead of Saturday’s home clash against Himley.
“I don’t think Mike will be back playing any time soon,” said Foster.
“He thinks he pulled a couple of muscles in his leg in the Lincolnshire game.
“It’s a real shame as he worked hard to get himself back playing and produced a match-winning performance to help us beat Walmley a couple of weeks ago and then also bowled well for Shropshire in the final.”
Foster, whose side were washed out at Barnt Green last Saturday, has urged his team to keep the pressure on Knowle as Shrewsbury aim to finish strongly over the final five league games.
The London Roaders lost to Himley only last Sunday in the semi-finals of the Birmingham League’s Twenty20 KO, but Foster insisted this weekend is not about revenge.
“They’re just a side we want to beat as we want to finish as high in the league as we can,” he said.
“We’re only 30 points off Knowle and there’s a chance they could slip up so we’ve got to be ready to take advantage if that happens.”
Middle order batsman Tom Cox returns while Shrewsbury have also provisionally named Worcestershire’s Jack Shantry, currently involved in a County Championship match against Surrey, in their team.
Foster said: “We’ve selected him for now but I think it’s a long shot that he’ll be able to play with his commitments at Worcester.”
Meanwhile, Shrewsbury allrounder Rob Foster’s first experience of captaining Shropshire proved a tough one as the county were beaten inside two days by Cheshire at Alderley Edge in their final Minor Counties Championship match of the season.
Deputising for his unavailable elder brother Ed, Rob’s depleted Shropshire side lost by nine wickets after being bowled out for 143 and 207.
Shrewsbury spinner Elliot Green took three wickets in Cheshire’s first innings after receiving a late call-up.
SHREWSBURY (v Himley): E. Foster, R. Bishop, W. Parton, J. Leach, R. Foster, T. Cox, A. Blofield, S. Barnard, P. Donaldson, E. Green, J. Shantry.
By Stuart Dunn