Shropshire cricket duo poised for Lord’s debuts
Two Shropshire cricketers will be Lording it up at the home of English cricket over the next 48 hours.
Opening batsman Richard Oliver and all-rounder Ed Barnard, who made his Shropshire debut in the drawn Minor Counties game with Devon at Whitchurch this week, will both play representative games at Lord’s.
Former Whitchurch batsman Oliver, who now plays his club cricket for Reigate Priory in Surrey, has been selected for the Minor Counties side to play the MCC in a 50-over game tomorrow.
“They said they had been monitoring my performances throughout the season and I got the nod,” said the left-hander, who was left stranded unbeaten on 86 when torrential rain halted yesterday’s Minor Counties Championship match on the final lunchtime.
“I’ve been to Lord’s a couple of times and played on the Nursery ground but never on the main ground so I can’t wait.”
Barnard will also make his maiden appearance at the historic ground on Friday when he plays for England Schools’ Cricket Association against MCC Schools.
The Shrewsbury 16-year-old has been part of the England Development Programme for the last 12 months and is hoping to earn a place on the Under-17 tour to South Africa this winter.