It’s changes galore for county side

First class county and university call ups, work commitments and student examinations mean that no fewer than nine of the county’s squad of players are unavailable.

The county though are sticking with their policy of giving youth its chance and have brought in university batsmen Alastair Craig and Greg Evans for this game.

Craig, the former Bedford Modern School captain, will be making his debut while Evans played one game a couple of seasons ago and impressed in this year’s pre-season trial.

With Will Sneath among those unavailable, Bedfordshire have brought back Ziggy Arshad to supplement the pace attack.

On the horses for courses principle it is a good selection as Arshad took seven wickets on his debut for the county at Luton two years ago.

It was the possibility of some of the younger players interesting senior counties that prompted Beds to sign ex-professionals Steve Stubbings and Andy McGarry during the winter. Ron Keogh and Andy Reynoldson are both playing for Northamptonshire seconds, with Keogh taking 3-11 in last week’s match with Warwickshire, while George Bacon and Ollie Swann feature for Nottinghamshire seconds.

The game against Suffolk starts at 11am on Sunday and continues on Monday and Tuesday.

Bedfordshire’s selection: Ollie Clayson, Steve Stubbings, Dan Simpson, Greg Evans, Alastair Craig, Martin Weightman, George Arblaster, Ziggy Arshad, Chris Esh, Colin Griggs, Andy McGarry.

>> Bedfordshire went out of the MCCA Trophy on Sunday as rain allowed just 13 overs against Hereford at Eastnor.

Needing a big win to stand any chance of going through from the group stages, the match was abandoned with Hereford on 56-1, opening bowler Colin Griggs taking the only wicket, courtesy of Steve Stubbings’ catch.