CUMBERLAND bring in two new faces for their Minor Counties opener against Staffordshire at Knypersley.

The three day game starts on Sunday and introduced into the Cumberland line-up for the first time are Phil Holdsworth and Chris Thompson.

Batsman Holdsworth (batting left) plays alongside Cumberland captain Gary Pratt at Bishop Auckland in the North Yorkshire South Durham League.

So far this season in eleven innings for Bishops he has made 391 runs at an average of 43.44 and with a top score of 110.

Last season from 32 innings he amassed 1,226 runs with a highest score of 115 not out and finished the campaign with an average of 43.79.

Dan Conway, who will help spearhead the Cumberland attack, is another tem-mate at Bishop Auckland.

The second newcomer Chris Thompson plays in the Bradford League for Bradford and Bingley where he is a useful all-rounder, batting in the middle order and often being used for his medium pace bowling.

The full side is: J A Lowe, J Miles, Ikram Ullah, , G. Pratt (captain), D J Hickey, J A  Smith, G N Dawson, C P Miller, D O Conway, P Holdsworth, C Thompson.
 
The two sides have already met in the one-day competition when Cumberland lost by 114 runs at Leek.

The home side made 261-7 in their 50 overs when Conway was the most successful bowler with 3-58 from his ten overs.

James Lowe and Gary Pratt both made 41 in a disappointing Cumberland response of 147 all out.

After that Staffordshire crashed out of the Minor Counties Knock-Out Trophy after sustaining a second defeat in two weeks. Shropshire triumphed in the winner take all out match at Audley to ensure a home tie in the quarter final stages.

After starting the group stages with convincing victories over Northumberland and Cumberland, the season was turned upside down with successive defeats against Cheshire and Shropshire after Staffs struggled to field their strongest side due to injury, ill health and unavailability.
 
Staffordshire haven’t announced their side but former Cumberland batsman Alex Stead is expected to be included in the line-up.

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