Michael Hill will captain Staffordshire in their opening NCCA Championship Division One East game of the season.
The 34-year-old steps up to take the reins from James Kettleborough, who is unavailable for the match against Lincolnshire at Checkley, which starts tomorrow (11am).
Hill has previously had a taste of captaining the senior side, leading Staffordshire on the final day at Norfolk in 2023 after Kettleborough suffered a hand injury.
Hill will have a debutant in his side after Berkswell’s Amir Khan was called into the XI.
Khan, aged 19, spent time contracted to Warwickshire before leaving at the end of last season. He has also played for Staffordshire’s development side.
A top-order batsman, Khan is also capable of bowling right and left-arm spin.
Audley all-rounder Jack Redman makes his first Championship appearance for the county in three years. Ironically, his last three-day game for Staffs was also at Checkley against Suffolk in 2022.
Moddershall & Oulton seamer Jacob Garlick is also included to spearhead the attack alongside Liam Hurt.
Staffordshire had hoped to name all-rounder Joe Hawkins and Rory Haydon in their squad.
However, the pair are required by Derbyshire for their Showcase Game against Bedfordshire in the build up to the Metro Bank 50-over competition.
The Staffordshire pair have enjoyed successful seasons, with Hawkins being named in the England Under-19 squad, while Haydon has earned a white-ball contract with Derbyshire after impressing in second-team cricket.
Staffordshire: Michael Hill (cpt, Wombourne), Tom Moulton (Leek), Matthew Morris (Burslem), Reeve Evitts (Wolverhampton), Amir Khan (Berkswell), Jack Redman (Audley), Callum Hawkins (Moddershall & Oulton), Sam Atkinson (Moddershall & Oulton), Jacob Garlick (Moddershall & Oulton), Liam Hurt (Flixton), Tom Brett (Finedon Dolben).
Main image: Moddershall & Oulton seamer Jacob Garlick is in the Staffordshire side to play Lincolnshire at Checkley. Picture: Alfie Shenton