HEREFORDSHIRE will hand a competitive debut to top-order batsman Harry Sockett when they open their season by hosting Shropshire in an NCCA 50-over clash at Eastnor on Sunday.
Sockett, who began his career with Burghill, Tillington & Weobley now plays in the Birmingham League with Kidderminster.
He played in last season’s ECB Showcase clash with Gloucestershire but this is his first opportunity against National Counties opposition.
Also making their first appearances for the county side will be Sinel Gunurathne, formerly of Kidderminster who now bats at the top of the order for Ombersley, and Barnards Green seamer Ben Clements.
In the absence of skipper Matt Pardoe, who is not available, the Herefordshire side will be led by Ben Chapman-Lilley.
The match also marks the first game in charge for new coach Luke Sellers, who succeeds Richard Skyrme following his retirement at the end of last season.
Sellers, who is also director of cricket at Cheltenham CC, will be a familiar name to followers of Herefordshire cricket as he played for the county side as an opening bowler from 2008-2011.
Last season, Herefordshire went down by 21 runs in the corresponding game at Whitchurch in a match made memorable by a spectacular piece of hitting by James Rudge. The all-rounder almost led the side to an unlikely victory with 78 from 39 balls, including eight sixes.
Play at Eastnor on Sunday will get under at 11am.
Herefordshire: Ben Chapman-Lilley (Captain), Sinel Gunurathne, Ollie Walker, Callum Bennett, Luke Tulacz, Harry Sockett, Luke Powell, Roshan Venkataraman, James Rudge, Sam Keeling-Wright, Ben Clements.
