There’s a chance for Cumbrian cricket enthusiasts to see some of the county championship stars of Lancashire on Sunday.
It’s a repeat of last year’s NCCA showcase game at Sedbergh School as Cumbria CCC play Lancashire CCC.
Both teams could probably claim this as a home game and both County captains will miss the match through injury. Cumbria’s Michael Slack is out with a broken toe.
Cockermouth all-rounder Matthew Sempill will be captaining Cumbria for the first time, and will lead a largely young inexperienced team including five teenagers.
In addition to missing their captain, Dane Vilas, Lancashire will be without former Cumberland players Liam Livingstone and Ric Gleeson who are currently on international T20 duty with England.
Other absences include Anderson, Parkinson, Mahmood, Salt, Buttler, Wood and Hartley so practically a whole team.
Nevertheless 10 of the side who played and beat Kent this week in the County Championship will be available for selection. Stephen Croft is expected to captain the side which will hopefully also include international players Washington Sundar and Keaton Jennings.
It will be the fourth time that the two clubs have met, not surprising Lancashire have won the previous three, the closest encounter being a List A game in 1989 when in a low scoring match Lancs only won by four wickets.
Team: Matthew Sempill (Cockermouth) captain, Gary Pratt (Richmondshire), Evan Williams (Greenmount), Nathan Waterston (Furness), Ben Walkden (Newton-le-Willows), JJ Fielding (Southport & Birkdale), Finlay Richardson (Netherfield) wk, Josh Stirling (Carlisle), Brodie Glendinning (Newcastle), Regan Jackson (Workington), Matthew Siddall (Cockermouth).
Only four of those played the corresponding fIxture last season and it is interesting to note that five of the side: Sempill (Lancashire Colts), Williams and Stirling (under 18s), Walkden and Fielding (Academy it) have played age group representative cricket for Lancashire, demonstrating the increased co-operation between the two counties.
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