Oswestry star Warrick Fynn handed Shropshire debut

South Africa-born Fynn is the leading Birmingham League run scorer across all divisions, having helped the Morda Road outfit to the top of Division Two.

The 32-year-old is averaging 115.8 from six innings and has hit three centuries and three 50s.

And that outstanding form has been rewarded as Shropshire look to bounce back from a disappointing last day in the opening clash at Wales where they went close to defeat. Fynn’s Oswestry team-mate Joe Carrasco also comes in as James Ralph and Ross Aucott are both unavailable.

Skipper Steve Leach, who confirmed Fynn will bat at four, said: “He’s a quality player and hopefully he will strengthen our batting line-up.

“Now he has his residency here, he is someone we have been looking to get involved and we hope he will be available for Shropshire for the foreseeable future.

“He has almost 600 Birmingham League runs already and deserves his chance.

“We have a strong spin department but he can bowl a bit of left-arm spin and will have a role to play with that too.”

Meanwhile, paceman Alex Wyatt hopes history repeats itself when Shropshire face Herefordshire at Whitchurch.

The former Leicestershire man, who was part of the first-team squad at Grace Road for seven years, has fond memories of making his Championship debut for Shropshire at Whitchurch’s Heath Road ground last June when he played a starring role in a 10-wicket win over Dorset.

Wyatt claimed six wickets in Dorset’s first innings as Shropshire completed a convincing win with a day to spare.

“That was a very good game,” said Wyatt. “I enjoyed bowling there and it’s a very nice ground. I got six wickets in the first innings and then the spinners got all the wickets in the second innings. We won in two days so it was all very enjoyable.”