Worcestershire bring strong cricket squad for Shropshire match

Worcestershire will unleash their international stars on Shropshire tomorrow on one of the showpiece occasions of the host county's cricket season.

Former England ace Vikram Solanki is named in the Pears squad of 12 for the Twenty20 challenge match at Wellington.

Dutch international Alexei Kervezee, who represented Holland at the World Cup, will captain the county in the absence of club captain Darryl Mitchell.

Experienced Australian allrounder Damien Wright - who has played for Victoria and Tasmania - is also named in the squad as Shropshire prepare to take on a professional team for the first time in six years.

And Worcestershire have vowed to treat the game seriously as they prepare for their first Twenty20 Cup clash against Lancashire at Old Trafford on Friday week.

"We want to win every time we go on the field and tomorrow will be no different," said Mitchell.

"We are expecting a competitive game against a good Shropshire side.

"There are some decent sides in Minor Counties cricket and Shropshire won the one-day tournament last season so they will be strong.

"We haven't had great success in Twenty20 cricket in the past so hopefully we can get it right this time and the warm-up games are important for that."

Worcestershire will also include a players familiar to the Shropshire public.

Jack Shantry played club cricket for Shrewsbury and represented Shropshire at Minor Counties level, while James Cameron is Wellington's contracted player.

Tomorrow's clash begins at 3pm with entry £5 and pay on the gate.

The likely Worcestershire team is: Alexei Kervezee (captain), Vikram Solanki, Neil Pinner, Jack Manuel, James Cameron, Shaaiq Choudrey, Damien Wright, Ben Cox, Chris Whelan, Jack Shantry, Alan Richardson.