Shropshire’s cricketers will tomorrow pit their wits against a glittering array of international stars as big-time Twenty20 cricket returns to Shropshire.A Lashings team crammed full of international stars will do battle with Minor Counties teams from Shropshire, Cheshire and Staffordshire for the Resource Bank Twenty20 Trophy.

South African batsman Herschelle Giibs is the headline name in the Lashings line-up, with former West Indies captain Richie Richardson and Australian all-rounder Greg Blewett also expected to feature in the showpiece occasion at Wrekin College.

Shropshire missed out on the chance to take on the all-star Lashings team 12 months ago when they were comprehensively beaten by Staffordshire in a one-sided semi-final.

And skipper James Ralph is eyeing a marked improvement tomorrow.

“It’s going to be a really good day,” he said. “We have got a strong side out there with plenty of big hitters so hopefully we can give the Shropshire public two games involving a Shropshire team because it would be great to get to the final.”

Wrekin College officials were today monitoring the heavy rain which has been forecast but had the pitch protected and were very confident there would be no problems.

Two semi-finals will be played, the first beginning at 10.15am, with the final scheduled for around 5pm. Tickets are available on the door for £10.

Meanwhile Shropshire were forced to settle for a draw in their Minor Counties Championship game with Berkshire at Bridgnorth, which had been reduced to one-day because of heavy rain.

Berkshire were set 240 off 46 overs, and Ralph admitted: “I was very surprised they didn’t go for them.”