Trophy target to heal Shropshire's scars
Skipper Richard Oliver insists Shropshire must win the Unicorns Trophy for the pain of last year's final defeat to heal.
The county side launch their 2014 campaign when they host Lincolnshire at Shrewsbury tomorrow (11am).
The Cats' last game in the trophy saw a thrilling season come to a hugely disappointing end with defeat to Berkshire at Wormsley last August.
Shropshire had been in contention to lift both the trophy and the Minor Counties Championship until the final day of each competition, having racked up wins in their opening 10 games.
But Oliver says their near-misses last year will only add fuel to the fire.
He said: "It has been a long winter, and a few scars have healed after the final last year, but I don't think we will get over it until we win a trophy.
"It was such a long season and the margins were so fine that to not carry on and win one was disappointing.
"Until we do win one we will just be concentrating on the job in hand. We've got a good side, good camaraderie and it is exciting that the season is starting again."
Shropshire will be hoping for a repeat of last season's opening game, which saw them defeat the same opposition at the same venue by six wickets.
It was Oliver's first game as county captain, and the team have amassed plenty of happy memories at Shrewsbury over the last couple of years.
Oliver said: "We seem to have a good record there. I remember we won a bowl-out at Shrewsbury in the quarter-finals of the trophy against Suffolk when we won it in 2010 and we won there last year twice."
The Cats have had to make one late change to their team with Ben Sanderson (rib) forced out injured to be replaced by Oswestry's Dan Bowen.
The change sees one right-arm seamer in for another and Oliver said that Bowen, who took 30 wickets in 10 matches in both competitions last year, will be a more than adequate replacement.
He said: "They are both good players and whether its Dan or Ben I'd expect them to bowl their 10 overs for as few runs as possible."
New coach Karl Krikken will be leading the team for the first time since he replaced Kevin Sharp, who has joined Worcestershire's staff, in the close season.
New players include ex-Yorkshire professional Gurman Randhawa, England Under-19 talent Joe Clarke and Shifnal's left-arm seamer Jack Edwards.
