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CRICKET: Veteran Arnold celebrates in Oxon's opener
2:56pm Thursday 24th April 2008
Veteran seamer Keith Arnold will celebrate his 48th birthday as Oxfordshire take on Shropshire at Wem in Sunday's opening MCCA Trophy clash.
And the Banbury Twenty man will look to be just as miserly as he was in Oxon's friendly five-wicket victory over Bucks.
Arnold keeps his place as one of four seamers in Oxfordshire's 12-man squad for the Group 1 match - the others are Jack Brooks, Ryan Newhook and Jamie Hewitt.
Captain and wicket-keeper Ian Hawtin said: "I thought the seamers bowled very, very well against Bucks, particularly Brooks and Newhook, who opened for us.
"They both looked sharp and put the ball in the right areas.
"Then Arnie came on and only conceded nine runs in his ten overs.
"In these early season conditions, seam bowling holds the key."
The records have it that Arnold was on May 27 1960. "In fact, it's a month out, as I was born on April 27. But I'm not complaining," quipped Arnold.
Star batsman Rob Williams and seamer Paul McMahon both return to the squad, replacing Chris Sandbach and Luke Ryan.
Kidlington captain Shahbaz Ali returns after missing last week's game with a hand injury. An X-ray on his injured thumb showed there was no break.
Hawtin added: "This season, two teams from each group qualify for the quarter-finals.
"We are certainly looking to get that far at least.
"This competition is a good opportunity for us to progress and get to a final at Lord's."
Oxfordshire: from Hawtin (Banbury) capt, Hewitt (Welwyn Garden City), Noble (Banbury), Haupt (Banbury), Williams (Leamington Spa), Cook (Oxford), Shahbaz Ali (Kidlington), McMahon (Wollaton), Crosby (Oxford), Newhook (Banbury), Brooks (Oxford), Arnold (Banbury Twenty).
OXON'S MCCA TROPHY FIXTURES
Group 1 - Apr 27: Shropshire (away, Wem). May 11: Cheshire (home, Great Tew). May 18: Cumberland (away, Workington). June 1: Bedfordshire (home, Challow). June 18: quarter-finals. July 13: semi-finals. Aug 6: final (Lord's).
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WRAPPED UP: Keith Arnold is well protected against the cold before the Bucks game last Sunday
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