Steve Leach demands fast start from Shropshire

The county face Staffordshire, runners-up in last year's competition, in their opening group game at Shrewsbury's London Road ground on Sunday.

Shropshire memorably won the one-day competition for Minor Counties clubs in 2010 and were then beaten in the 2013 final by Berkshire, but they have been knocked out at the group stage in the last three years.

Leach is hopeful Shropshire can perform better in the 50-over format this season and is encouraged by the number of talented young players pushing for selection.

Leach said: "In the not too distant past, we have won the competition and also been to the final again, but with the four group games it makes it very tough. Once you get out of the group, you probably feel like you can win the competition really.

"We seem to say the same thing every year, but it's so important to get off to a good start and we've installed it in all of the players that we have to peak for April 23.

"That can't be a rusty game, we can't be brushing off the cobwebs, we need to be ready for playing Staffs at Shrewsbury.

"Within the group, we've got a Cheshire team that's always very strong and have made some additions, both of last year's finalists in holders Herefordshire and Staffordshire, while we also play Wales, so without doubt this is the strongest group out there.

"We need to make sure we're all systems firing from the first game onwards."

Staffordshire, again captained this season by former Worcestershire and Gloucestershire batsman Kadeer Ali, beat Shropshire by eight wickets in a group match at Leek last year when Leach's side did not do themselves justice.

"That was one of the major disappointments from last year," he stressed. "It seemed to be a season of extremes, big highs and big lows, and that was certainly one of the big lows."