Staffordshire will field at least one NCCA debutant in this weekend’s Championship game against Cambridgeshire.
Milford Hall batsman Niall McHale and Stone SP spinner Jack Batchelor, who are both yet to make their senior county bows, have been named in a 12-man squad for the Division One East three-dayer at Peterborough, which starts on Sunday.
All-rounder Tom Moulton is unavailable for the journey across the country.
Staffordshire know they need beat Cambridgeshire and hope Bucks fail to beat Lincolnshire if they are to retain their divisional crown.
So it’s a big game for either McHale or Batchelor – or possibly both – to feature in NCCA cricket for the first time.
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Both players have been in action for Staffordshire Under-18s against Norfolk this week.
McHale hit a century in Staffs’ first innings at Manor Park, on the outskirts of Norwich, while Batchelor claimed five wickets in Norfolk’s opening dig.
Staffordshire (from): James Kettleborough (cpt, Checkley), Matt Morris (Burslem), Niall McHale (Milford Hall), Reeve Evitts (Wolverhampton), Michael Hill (Wombourne), Jack Redman (Audley), Callum Hawkins (Moddershall & Oulton), Sam Atkinson (Moddershall & Oulton), Jacob Garlick (Moddershall & Oulton), Liam Hurt (Flixton), Jack Batchelor (Stone SP), Tom Brett (Finedon Dolben).
Main image: Matt Morris is in the Staffordshire squad to play Cambridgeshire this weekend. Picture: David Peters
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