Published: 10/02/2010 10:38:44 | Modified: 10/02/2010 10:41:57
Author: Paul Bolton | All Contributors
Sussex and Worcs get 'home' Unicorns fixtures
Worcestershire will be playing at Kidderminster’s Chester Road ground again this year, although they will technically be the visitors when they take on the newly-named Unicorns on July 25.
Kidderminster was pressed back into service as a county venue in 2007 and again in 2008 when New Road was unplayable because of severe summer flooding.
The well-appointed Birmingham League ground is again back on the county fixture list as one of six venues chosen by the Unicorns, the re-branded ECB Recreational XI, for their home games against county sides in the ECB 40-Over League.
The Unicorns, named after the Minor Counties Cricket Association badge and a less cumbersome title than that initially suggested by the ECB, will also play Glamorgan at Dean Park in Bournemouth (May 16), Sussex at Arundel (May 23), Somerset at Exmouth (August 8) Surrey at Wormsley (August 22) and Lancashire at Colwyn Bay (August 30).
Former Warwickshire batsman Phil Oliver has been appointed coach of the Unicorns and training is currently underway with regular sessions at the Edgbaston Indoor Centre.
An initial squad of 46, selected after a nomination process, has been trimmed and will be further reduced in the weeks before the start of the season.
The players will be selected from the Minor Counties, Premier Leagues and the MCC Young Cricketers and MCC University Centres of Excellence.
Former Somerset all-rounder Keith Parsons has been confirmed as captain of the Unicorns and two former Gloucestershire players are among those who hope to make the final cut.
Wicketkeeper Steve Adshead, who was released by Gloucestershire at the end of last season, has been nominated for selection along with all-rounder Mark Hardinges who played Minor Counties cricket for Buckinghamshire last year as well as some one-day games for Essex.