In-form Middlesbrough opener Paul Johnston will make his Cumberland debut against Lincolnshire in the three day match starting on Sunday.

Johnston (seen batting left) will open the Cumberland innings with his Middlesbrough team,-mate and skipper James Lowe.

So far this season in 20 innings Johnston has rattled-up 945 runs, with a top score of 151 not out and has a current batting average of 55.59.

Cumberland, who put-up a bold performance against Northumberland in their last match, have had to make changes for the final match of the season.

Several players are unavailable because of club commitments, including skipper Marcus Sharp, so Gary Pratt will lead the side again.

Ex-Durham star Pratt made 149 against Northumberland, his second century in successive games when Cumberland posted 401 in their second inning, the highest score ever recorded by the county.

Cumberland have also called-up Ryan Nelson, a batsman from the Northern League who has played for Carnforth and Lancaster.

At the moment they have only named ten players as they are still looking for a third pace bowler.

Team: J A Lowe, P Johnston, A Roberts, G J Pratt (captain), R Nelson, J Miles, J A Smith, C J D'Leny, D O Conway, D R Wearing, A N Other.

The match is being played at Carlisle’– the first County game for over four years at Edenside.

Club secretary Dick Scott believes it has been overdue and said: “Its a great honour to be able to host such a match, we are delighted.”

Carlisle have not hosted a county game since the floods of 2005 and Scott sees the game as a credit to the hard work which has gone in to restore the ground.

“We’ve spent a lot of time and money improving the ground for the long term with the objective of attracting more games like this,” added Scott.

A Cumberland spokesman said: “Poor weather has not helped the Carlisle club prepare for their first Minor Counties game since the floods that wreaked havoc on the Edenside ground, but hopefully the persistence of the groundsmen will pay off.”

Meanwhile, for the opposotyion director of cricket Mark Fell believes Lincolnshire's "transitional period" has contributed to their season of underachievement.

Fell accepts the Imp County have been below par in three-day cricket this season, but warned their remaining Minor Counties Eastern Division opponents that "someone is going to pay" when they rediscover top form.

Lincs' title hopes were finally ended on Tuesday when they could only manage a draw with Cambridgeshire at Grantham.

Lincs, who are winless in Championship cricket this season, were forced to install a new skipper, Oliver Burford, in June after Rob Cook stood down to pursue a career in rugby union.

Fell has also been forced to tinker with the side in the face of injury and unavailability.

"It's been a transitional period. There are a lot of things that have happened that everyone knows about," said the former county skipper.

"We're not playing to our full ability, but in these last two games (the draws against Cambridgeshire and Northumberland), we've played a lot better.

"What you've got to remember is when we won the league last year we used 12 players. This year, we've used 17 or 18 already.
"It is difficult to keep changing, even if you change two or three.

"Overall, the bowlers have bowled well in patches, but that's not good enough at this level.

"And the batsmen have only batted well in patches and that's not good enough at this level, either.

"Over the next year or 18 months we will maybe have to start over again.

"As I say, we're not performing to our ability, but when we do, someone is going to pay."

Fell has heaped praise on new skipper Burford, who has shone with the bat since taking over from Cook.

"Burf has batted brilliantly all year, that's the one massive positive to have come out of this season," declared Fell.

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