Evans to lead Bedfordshire attack

New signing Luke Evans should open the bowling for Beds, while Northamptonshire IIs batsman Zak Khawaja is also due to play, with the match at Dunstable Town CC.

On the acquisition of 6ft 7in Evans, 27, who started his career at Durham, opening the bowling with Steve Harmison, new Beds first team manager Paul Oakins said: “I’m very excited to see how Luke Evans goes.

“I’ve heard a lot of good things and hopefully he can keep fit and replace Andy McGarry who is captain at Sawbridegworth CC now and couldn’t commit to both.”

Meanwhile, Khawaja, 20, also has two half centuries for Northants, while Andy Reynoldson will skipper the side due to Jamie Hewitt’s Middlesex commitments.

Martin Weightman has been promoted to opener with the loss of Hewitt and George Thurstance named as vice captain. The one-day competition is to be known as the Unicorns Trophy this season and it got underway last weekend although Bedfordshire were not involved.

On his hopes for the campaign, Oakins said: “We finished bottom of the KO group both last year and in 2012 and didn’t win a game in the championship in either year also, so we are looking for a marked improvement from that.

“I’d like to get more players that are playing in Beds exposure to minor counties cricket and we are still looking whilst keeping our strong ties with northants.

“The message is keep scoring runs, keep taking wickets and we will have to sit up and take notice.”

The other counties in their group are Cambridgeshire, Suffolk, Hertfordshire and Norfolk.

Norfolk started with a 95-run defeat by Cambridgeshire on Sunday so Beds will be keen to get off to a winning start.

In the other match, Suffolk overcame Hertfordshire by two wickets.

Probable team: Luke Thomas, Martin Weightman, Matt Barnes, George Thurstance, Andy Reynoldson, Zak Khawaja, Alex Martin (wkt), Alex King, Tom Brett, Colin Griggs, Luke Evans.

Meanwhile Oakins is keen to integrate youth in the side this season, while will also be calling on players from the local leagues too.

He added: “The twelth man is Adam Dagless, a Bedfordshire Youth Cricketer from Biggleswade Town CC.

“We are looking to get some of the young lads around the squad and involved for the experience.

“I’m also hoping to get both Luke and Sam Cherry back into the fold, who are both Dunstable Town CC men.”

Beds are looking for a main kit sponsor. Any other sponsorship opportunities, contact Oakins on 07957 716200.