Oxfordshire skipper Keith Arnold will try to pick his troops up ahead of their three-day Minor Counties Championship clash away to Herefordshire, starting on Sunday (June 29).

The nine-wicket Western Division defeat by Cornwall at Challow & Childrey earlier this week means that Oxon have now lost all three competitive games this season.

But while Arnold admits to being disappointed by his side's poor start to the campaign, he says he is as enthusiastic as ever about the challenges ahead.

"I'm not going to dress it up," said Arnold. "It was a very poor performance against Cornwall, apart from two players.

"Rob Williams batted brilliantly to be not out in both innings.

"He was a different class from anything else we had, and I hope our batsmen can look at him and see what it takes to make runs at this level.

"Simon Launder was also superb. We saw the raw ability in him last year, but he's now got fit, has put on a yard or two of pace and is starting to look a very good bowler."

Arnold believes that the current Cornwall side are easily the best the Duchy has produced during his time in the game - but he says it should not disguise the fact that Oxon lacked application.

"We've got a lot of young players, and I am not sure they are quite aware yet of what it requires to make the step up in standard from the Home Counties League to Minor Counties cricket," he added.

"But they're going to get another chance to find out in Hereford, because Williams and Richard Kaufman are unavailable.

"We are going to be lacking in experience, which is all very frustrating, but I'm still relishing the prospect.