Tilt’s back as county seek pride

Thursday 31st July 2008, 9:17AM BST.

Wicketkeeper Matt Tilt has earned a Shropshire recall for this weekend’s Minor Counties Championship trip to Wales.

Tilt, a regular gloveman in recent seasons, has been overlooked to date this season but will replace Shifnal’s Anthony Parker for the three-day game at Abergavenny from Sunday.

Tilt’s St Georges’ team-mate Steve Taylor is also back in the side after unavailability as Shropshire attempt to restore some pride following a disappointing campaign.

With Shropshire now out of the western division title race, chairman of selectors Trevor Sheperd admitted the prospect of leaving out the professionals had been considered.

But he reasoned: “We felt it was only fair to to the other teams still in with a chance of winning the title that we put out the strongest possible team.”

Full team: James Ralph (Shifnal, captain), Andy Gray (Walsall), John Maunders (Sunbury), Steve Taylor, Matt Tilt (both St Georges), Atiq-ur-Rehman (Knowle & Dorridge), Jack Shantry, Ed Foster, Rob Foster, Michael Barnard (all Shrewsbury), Ted Bayliss (Kidderminster), 12th man – Bruce Thomason (Shifnal).