Ed Foster expects tough test for Shropshire’s cricketers

Captain Ed Foster is eyeing a rapid start for Shropshire’s cricketers when they launch their Minor Counties one-day campaign tomorrow.

Foster will lead the side out at his home ground of Shrewsbury when they entertain Norfolk in the opening MCCA Trophy round-robin clash.

And Foster knows how important it is to get off to a winning opening in the five-team group – which also involves Wiltshire, Suffolk and Lincolnshire – and from which the top two will qualify.

“You can probably just about afford to lose one game in the group and still qualify,” said Foster, whose side won the competition in 2010 and reached the quarter-finals last year. But we don’t want to be doing that, especially the first one.

“We have got a tough group and we know we are going to have to be at our best to get through. It’s a good surface at Shrewsbury and it will play to our strengths as a side.”

Tomorrow’s 50 overs per side clash starts at 11am.

Shropshire officials have received ECB clearance for professional Bilal Shafayat to play the entire season, starting tomorrow, while committee member Brian Foxall has been named chairman of selectors.