31st May 2024
| Matt Thompson
The NCCA One Day Trophy begins in earnest for Wales this Sunday as they host Wiltshire in the group stage.
Whilst the T20 campaign will be one Wales will be keen to forget in a hurry, the 50 over competition - since the pandemic-curtailed 2020 season – has been a format that has seen Wales play some of their best cricket in recent years, reaching the semi and quarter finals in successive years before falling short of expectations last season.
Chasing totals was Wales’ achilles heel in 2023 as they succumbed to three losses in pursuit of attainable totals. Wiltshire exacted their heavy 2022 loss at Llandysul with a tightly contested 6 run victory at Warminster last season thanks largely to Jack Mynott (64), Ben Draper (58) and Ed Young (3-22). A stoic 74* from Brad Wadlan almost saw Wales over the line and now with the coaching reigns on, on top of his playing experience he will be hoping to go one better this time around.
2024’s edition of the trophy sees some changes to the teams in Wales’ group with Staffordshire and Buckinghamshire being replaced with Cheshire and Hertfordshire. It was Wales’ bye week last month which means they look forward to four successive Sunday’s of group stage action as they aim for a top two qualifying spot. Wiltshire’s opening victory against Hertfordshire leaves them in an initially strong position heading into Sunday.
CAPTION: Brad Wadlan on his way to an almost match winning 74*against Wiltshire in this fixture last season.
There are the usual faces across both sides coupled with a few new faces as is the norm with national counties cricket and the emergence of new players. The engine room of the Welsh side is built around Wadlan, Steff Roberts, Tim Moses (who makes a debut in white ball cricket having been a regular presence in the three day side), Tegid Phillips and Cameron Herring who will skipper the side in this format alongside his red ball commitments. There is a full Welsh debut for Oli Meadows who lines up against his former county – the Loughborough University left hander joined Wales during the winter after Cameron Hemp departed for Buckinghamshire. The destructive Milo Ayres, who endured a difficult T20 campaign, is afforded an opportunity in the longer white ball format whilst there is a place for Morgan Bevans at the top of the order after a string of early season knocks.
Seam duo Joseph Davies and Adam Sylvester were two of a handful that impressed during the early part of the season and will both make trophy. Pacer Sylvester in particular has been attracting the attention of Kent in recent weeks, having turned out on numerous occasions for the 2nd XI taking a 5 wicket haul and the prize scalp of former England world cup winner Jason Roy. Davies has also represented the NCCA Challengers XI against Leicestershire last month. They will be joined by Glamorgan staffer Ben Morris who returns to the Wales line up for the first time this season on his adopted home ground. T20 skipper Sam Pearce misses out as does left arm seamer Jack Harding whilst Glamorgan keeper/batter Henry Hurle and opening bat Harry Friend are both unavailable for the first game of the campaign. Youngsters Cian Davies and Ollie Rayner both make the 13 man squad but are not expected to feature.
When asked on his side’s approach Wadlan wasn’t prepared to give too much away. He commented: “We’re looking forward to getting our 50 over campaign up and running at Pontarddulais. It’s a ground we know well and I’m sure it will be a proud moment for Cam to lead the boys on his home ground in front of everyone. We showed glimpses last year of how good we can be in 50 over cricket, and we will need to show and build on that against a strong Wiltshire team high on confidence.”
CAPTION: Cam Herring will take the reigns for the 50 over competition alongside his red ball leadership commitments.
On leading Wales for the first time in 50 over cricket Cam Herring said: “Personally looking forward to being involved after missing the T20 campaign. Although results didn’t go out way we learnt a lot about some new players who, some of whom are involved in this first 50 over squad. I’m excited to be captaining the team with some new faces with the aim of going as far as possible in the competition. I think we’ve got a well rounded squad who can compete with anyone on our day but it’s key that we’re consistent to give ourselves the best chance of progressing.”
Ed Young’s side features many familiar faces such as Jake Goodwin, Will Naish, Jack Mynott and Joe King with the notable omission from last year’s team being former Glamorgan wicketkeeper Tom Cullen who has moved away from the area to take up a coaching role up North.
Play from Pontarddulais commences from 11am on Sunday with admission free of charge Live streaming will be available.
Wales NC squad from: OJW Meadows (Bedminster), MJ Bevans (Newport), SH Roberts (Swansea), BL Wadlan (Swansea), CL Herring*+ (Pontarddulais), MC Ayres (Bedminster), TH Moses (Cowbridge), TD Phillips (Cardiff), AR Sylvester (Swansea), JA Davies (Bridgend), BJ Morris (Pontarddulais), CR Davies (Ynysygerwyn), OB Rayner (Usk).
Wiltshire CCC from: DTP Church, JMA Mynott, J Goodwin, EGC Young*, JJ Kelly, BL Draper+, HE Broderick, ARJ Fairfax-Ross, WL Naish, JM King, AJ Sullivan, C Sandell.