Serious Cricket Home Counties Premier League
Aston Rowant chairman Gary Condon is backing his players to come good after a poor start to their Division 1 campaign.
Rowant, who have lost all three matches so far, are unlikely to find it any easier when they visit second-placed Tring Park on Saturday.
But Condon said: “I don’t think we should be too negative about our start. Chris Watling has batted well.
“We have got proven performers who are taking a little while to get used to the higher standard.
“We have also got a some young players and I’m sure they will come good.”
Rowant are unchanged after their heavy defeat to Banbury.
Batsmen Dan King and Jamie Perkin, plus seamer Richard Gilbert are included in Oxford’s 12-man squad to host Henley.
Batsman Stewart Laudat and spinner Shami Mendis are both unavailable, but captain Jason Harrison is fit after suffering a slight calf strain last week.
Gilbert is available after missing the first three matches due to teaching commitments, while King is set for his first-team debut.
Harrison said: “Dan has been very patient and deserves his chance after getting a hundred and two 50s for the seconds.
“Jamie came to the fore on Saturday with 154 and showed how good he can be.
“We are really looking forward to testing ourselves against the champions.”
Richard West returns in place of Ollie Wright as unbeaten Banbury visit High Wycombe, so Todd Gutheridge and Ashley Blanchard will be their only front-line seamers.
Opening batsman Damian Shirazi is out with a back injury, but should return next week.
Second-from-bottom Wyc-ombe have lost three matches out of three so far, but Banbury captain Ian Hawtin is not expecting an easy ride.
“It is a bit surprising that they have lost all their three games,” said Hawtin.
“They have been a strong side over the years and are much better than that, so we will need to be at our best.”
Banbury (v High Wycombe, away): E Phillips, Tew, Haupt, Hawkes, West, L Sabin, Ryan, Hawtin (capt), Blanchard, J Phillips, Gutheridge.
Oxford (v Henley, home): from Harrison (capt), Van Dyk, Sandbach, King, Ferraby, Crosby, Perkin, Hole, J Evans, I Evans, P Evans, Gilbert.
Aston Rowant (v Tring Park, away): Todd, Morgan, Jewell, Watling, Morrick (capt), Lyon, T Needham, Lewis, Penhale, Humphreys, Davis.
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