Registration problems have prevented Shamilal Mendis making his Unicorns Counties Championship debut for Oxfordshire this weekend.

The 31-year-old Oxford CC spinner was originally selected to play for the county’s three-day Western Division fixture against Dorset at Aston Rowant, starting on Sunday.

He was picked a replacement for leg-spinner Will Beer, who could not play due to his Sussex commitments.

But Oxon’s attempts to register the Sri Lankan-born Mendis encountered unforeseen problems.

“He is not eligible at the moment,” said Oxfordshire secretary Peter O’Neill.

“It’s all rather complicated, but we hope he might be able to play for us in the future.”


Mendis’s place goes to his 17-year-old Oxford clubmate Harvey Eltham – also an off-spinner– who will be making his Championship debut.

Seamer Karl Penhale has withdrawn as he is requiored by Northants 2nd. Andy Harris, who played in Oxon's opening 40-run defeat by Berkshire in the Championship, has been brought Oxfordshire will have to bounce back from last Sunday’s two-wicket loss to Northumberland in the quarter-finals of the Unicorns Counties Trophy.

As well as Dorset, Oxfordshire also have to face Wales, Herefordshire, Cornwall and Wiltshire, and skipper Luke Ryan sees no reason why his side cannot win all of their remaining matches to make up for their early exit in the trophy.

He said: “We know we have not done very well in the Championship in the last three or four years so it is a great opportunity to focus on that competition.

“We have got decent availability as well which has always been a challenge for us.

“We did not get off to a great start against Berkshire, but we have got an opportunity to win the next five games and still probably go through so that is our target.”

Oxfordshire: L Ryan (Banbury, capt), M Beard (Rockhampton), J Cater (Buckingham), H Darby (Banbury), H Eltham (Oxford), A Harris (Great & Little Tew), R Kaufman (Old Northamptonians), C Keegan (Henley), W Rooney (Oxford), L Sabin (Banbury), J White (Great & Little Tew).