FORMER Durham star Gary Pratt (pictured) will lead Cumberland in their Minor Counties game with Staffordshire which starts at Barrow on Sunday.

Marcus Sharp is unavailable so Pratt takes over the captaincy as Cumberland go in search of their first win of the campaign.

Dan Conway is brought into the attack while Cumberland have added another batsman in James Lowe. Spinner James Beaumont, who took three wickets in the Cambridgeshire first innings, is also unavailable so Chris Miller will provide the slow bowling option.

Beaumont and James Smith established a new record seventh wicket stand for Cumberland when they put together a 204 unbroken partnership at March.

Well beaten at home by Hertfordshire in the opening Minor Counties game they almost forced victory over Cambridgeshire last week.

James Cole, from the Northern club, who made such a promising debut against Cambridgeshire retains the wicket-keeping role.

Staffordshire are bouyant after they overpowered Bedfordshire to reach their first Minor Counties Knock-Out Trophy final since 1993.

Before a large and enthusiastic crowd at a sun-drenched Knypersley ground, Staffordshire's bowlers performed admirably to dismiss the visitors for 140 in reply to their own total of 237 for 9 from their permitted 50 overs.

While Cumberland were being denied a win by Cambridgshire, Staffordshire were involved in a thriller with Norfolk at Horsford.

The match details -  Staffordshire 183 and 413/4d; Norfolk 279/9 and 317/8 – meant the match was tied – the second time in five years that the two sides have been involved in such a finish.

Cumberland will field: James Lowe, Carl Hey, Alex Stead, Andrew Gleave, Gary Pratt (Captain), James Cole (w/keeper), James Smith, Jonathon Miles, Dan Conway, Chris Miller, Daryl Wearing.

Eastern Division
Teams Mat Won Lost Tied Draw Aban Pts
Buckinghamshire  2 2 0 0 0 0 48
Norfolk  2 1 0 1 0 0 36
Northumberland  2 1 1 0 0 0 26
Hertfordshire  1 1 0 0 0 0 24
Suffolk  1 1 0 0 0 0 23
Staffordshire  2 0 0 1  0 0 21
Cambridgeshire  2 0 0 0 2 0 19
Cumberland  2 0 1 0 1 0 14
Bedfordshire  2 0 2 0 0 0 8
Lincolnshire  2 0 2 0 0 0 8

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