Royal London prospects

I have had a few comments about the availability of Shan Masood for the Royal London Cup and at this stage the answer is simple.

There is a Pakistan training camp ahead of the one-day tournament against the Netherlands, but the squad has not yet been selected for that, nor the matches to follow.

There is every possibility he may be selected and therefore miss a lot of the Royal London Cup. But until that squad is announced (supposedly next week) we won't know for sure.

I am going on the basis that, having been picked for the series against Sri Lanka yet not played, he really hasn't done anything wrong to miss out this time. 

So a Derbyshire side shorn of Masood, Madsen and Du Plooy will need to find the runs to compete in this competition, while also missing George Scrimshaw from the attack. In a small squad, the side thus comes close to picking itself, unless Mickey Arthur's Magic Book of Contacts finds someone at very short notice.

The twelve-man squad for the opener against Shropshire tomorrow is:

Godleman

Came

Guest

Reece

Wood

Dal

Wagstaff

Harrison

Potts

McKiernan

Aitchison

Conners

My understanding is that there is currently no one fit or available outside of that twelve. With other counties likely missing more players to the other competition, it will still be a competitive side, but loans are unlikely, with other counties needing their more sizeable resources too.

Archie Harrison has been in excellent form for Repton School, the age group sides and the second eleven. Only the other day he made a run-a-ball 35 against a strong Northamptonshire side and followed it with 3-24 in seven overs. Such performances perhaps have pushed him to the front of Academy products deserving opportunity.

Mitch Wagstaff is another option, but he has been a little short of runs in the second team. Meanwhile it is a case of playing catch up for Tom Wood, who has only recently returned to nets and playing. It would be unfair to expect him to pick up his best form straight away. 

Expectation for this competition, in light of the above, may need to be tempered. 

But as we all now know, Mickey Arthur has got an extra ten per cent out of his players so far. 

I expect that to continue, whoever takes the field.

Shropshire will be captained by our former all rounder Graeme Wagg tomorrow. They also feature the well-regarded George Hargrave, who followed centuries in his first three varsity matches for Oxford University against Cambridge with an unbeaten 322 in this year's match. It was the highest score in the history of that fixture and suggests a very talented young player.

It will be a good run out ahead of our first game in the Royal London Cup on Tuesday, when we entertain the reigning champions, Glamorgan.