Shropshire are facing a selection nightmare as they prepare for the start of their Minor Counties Championship challenge with the visit of Herefordshire tomorrow.
Skipper James Ralph and his fellow selectors have had to contend with several of their star names being unavailable for the Western Division clash at Shifnal.
The situation got worse during the week with the withdrawal of Ted Bayliss through injury and they have now lost spinner Mark Robinson, too - while bowler Jack Shantry’s availability is in doubt.
That has made Shropshire’s task all the tougher as they look to bounce back from the disappointment of their exit from the MCCA Trophy by launching on an assault on the championship title that they have won just once before, in 1973.
“The list of people who are unavailable this week is quite extraordinary,” said an exasperated Ralph.
“There’s no Ed Foster, no Rob Foster, no Bruce Thomason, no Simon Harding and Ted Bayliss is injured.
“Mark Robinson’s had to pull out through work and now it looks like we might be losing Jack Shantry too, because Worcestershire want him (for a second team game which starts on Tuesday, the last day of Shropshire’s game).”
Shantry impressed for Worcestershire 2nds this week taking 7-34 against Leicestershire.
County colleague Ed Foster, playing for the Foxes, top scored with 48.
Young Shifnal spinner Asif Sultan has already been drafted in to replace Robinson, and another new face could be called up if Shantry does pull out.
One youngster now looking a dead cert for his debut is Wrekin College and Woore batsman Richard Oliver.
And the skipper is fully behind the new recruit, adding: “He’s got a lot of runs for his club side and his school. He’s been 12th man a couple of times so it seemed quite natural to bring him in.”
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