PROLIFIC batsman Bruce Ellison returns for Oxfordshire's Minor Counties Championship match against Herefordshire at Aston Rowant on Sunday and Monday.

The Oxford opener missed the rain-affected draw against Dorset earlier this week as he was playing for Rugby Meteors, who lost to the Old Tonbridgians in Sunday's final of the Cricketer Cup for public schools old boys teams.

Skipper Rupert Evans, who missed the Dorset game through injury, is named in the 12 which also sees the return of Horspath's 17-year-old skipper Ben Thompson.

Rover Cowley all-rounder Graham Savin is unavailable due to work commitments and Bicester and North Oxford batsman Gary Palmer, who came in as a late replacement for Thompson against Dorset, is omitted from the side which played at Bournemouth.

Former Banbury player Ben Gannon is in the Herefordshire squad for the clash.

Oxon are still seeking their first win in the Western Division, and the match sees a return to the experimental 'grade' style of cricket which the county were scheduled to take part in for their opening two games of the campaign.

This form of cricket allows the team batting first to have a maximum of 144 overs.

However, should the one-innings per side game finish early there are bonus points for the second innings.

Oxon crashed to a 105-run defeat against Shropshire in their opener which went the distance, but the scheduled 'grade' game against Cheshire had to be reduced to a 40-overs match after the first day was washed out.

Oxfordshire: Evans (Oxford, capt), Hawtin (Bicester & NO), Ellison (Oxford), Mustow (Bourton Vale), List (Oxford Downs), Knightley (Bourton Vale), Thompson (Horspath), Arnold (Walsall), Williams (Bicester & NO), Bellhouse (Oxford Downs), Curtis (Oxford), Jeacock (Bicester & NO).

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.