Griggs returns for Bedfordshire as Kettleborough is ruled out

Opening bowler Griggs has not played since he broke a finger and damaged a wrist during the warm-up before the one-day game with Hertfordshire at the end of May.

“No-one is more keen to play for Bedfordshire than Griggs and it is good to have him available for selection again,” said chairman of the selectors Mike Archer.

Unfortunately though, the county will be without opening batsman James Kettleborough who is required by Northamptonshire.

Kettleborough himself broke a finger at the start of the season and made his comeback in the last game against Staffordshire, scoring 60 before being unluckily being run out at the non-striker’s end by a deflection on to the stumps.

Dan Simpson has been brought in as skipper Jamie Hewitt’s opening partner for the trip to Newcastle.

Bedfordshire were a bit top heavy with batsmen for the Staffordshire game at Luton and Griggs returns at the expense of Matt Goss who is unlucky to lose his place.

The match ended in a dull draw when the Staffordshire captain declined to make a game of it - batting on until tea on the final day.

Although they had been bowled out for 101 in their first innings and conceded a lead of 250, Staffordshire lost only two wickets in knocking off the deficit and the scores were level at the start of the final day.

The opportunity was there for Staffordshire to push on and set a target, but a draw turned out to be the height of their ambitions, even though they took only seven points to Bedfordshire’s 12.

After two drawn games then, Bedfordshire need a win to get back into the race for the title.

Beds: Jamie Hewitt, Dan Simpson, Luke Thomas, George Thurstance, Andy Reynoldson, Alex Martin, Alex Walker, Martin Weightman, Ziggy Arshad, Colin Griggs, Tom Brett.