Natwest Trophy: Minor counties cast nets overseas (24 June 1997)

Tuesday 24 June 1997

Natwest Trophy: Minor counties cast nets overseas

By Mike Berry

THREE of the 11 minor counties sides participating in the first round of the NatWest Trophy today have shortened their odds of possible giant-killing glory with the recruitment of overseas players.

The trio of hired imports are Stuart Macgill, the New South Wales leg-spinner picked by Devon for their tie with Leicestershire, the West Indies Test batsman Keith Arthurton, who plays for Buckinghamshire against Essex, and Lesroy Weekes, an opening bowler from the Leeward Islands who turns out in Lincolnshire`s tie with Derbyshire.

With no minor counties side having pulled off an authentic upset since 1988, Peter Roebuck, the Devon captain, believes the other eight counties are missing the boat in failing to utilise the option of an overseas player. While minor counties sides are banned from using non English-qualified players in their own competitions, they are allowed to field them in the NatWest Trophy.

Macgill, who is playing for Tiverton Heathcoat, becomes an adopted Devonian for the day and Roebuck said: "I think all minor counties should do it. The first-class counties have an overseas player and having one ourselves makes us more competitive."

The argument against revolves around the omission of a bona fide home-grown player. Tim Scriven, the Buckinghamshire captain, explained that Arthurton`s selection has been influenced by the nonavailability of several key players, notably Malcolm Roberts, their prolific opening batsman.

They are also without Neil Mallender, who is one of the umpires at the Devon v Leicestershire tie.

Scriven said: "All the players who helped us get into the NatWest Trophy have been given the chance to play. But Keith Arthurton is turning out locally for High Wycombe. He`s keen to be involved and he`s a potential match winner."

Lincolnshire name Weekes, who collected a record 88 wickets for Rotherham in the Yorkshire League last season, in their side to face Derbyshire in place of Neil Gill, their left-arm opening bowler, who has a club commitment.

Mark Fell, their captain, said: "I`ve played with Lesroy and he`s capable of bowling very briskly."

Neal Radford and Kevin Cooper, two bowlers with a combined age of 79, play for Herefordshire against Somerset, Wayne Larkins is in the Bedfordshire side who meet Glamorgan, while Shropshire pin their hopes against Sussex on the blossoming pace pairing of Adam Shimmons and Gavin Byram, and the experience of Kevin Sharp, Asif Din and Ian Payne.

Source :: The Electronic Telegraph (https://www.telegraph.co.uk/)