Chris Watling captains Oxfordshire Development XI today when they take on Northants Academy in a two-day match at Bicester & North Oxford.

The Aston Rowant and Oxfordshire all-rounder, who played for the MCC in their 120-run defeat to Scotland National Academy at Stirling last week, leads a side featuring several new faces.

Wicket-keeper Jonny Cater (Buckingham), off-spinner Ryan Hill (Bourton Vale), leg-spinner Daryl Johnson (Oxford Downs), all-rounder Joe Barrett (Shipton-under-Wychwood) and batsman Nick Hands are all included.

Oxon have got clearance from Buckinghamshire to play Cater, who has committed himself to his new county.

Oxford resident Hands, 18, is the son of Magdalen College School headmaster Tim Hands, and is expected to join a local club this summer.

Oxfordshire Development XI: Smith (Great & Little Tew), Hamid (Oxford), Watling (capt, Aston Rowant), Cater (Buckingham), Woods (Great & Little Tew), Hill (Bourton Vale), Johnson (Oxford Downs), Geeson-Brown (Oxfprd), Alam (Oxford), Rafiq (Oxford Downs), Hands (unattached), Barrett (Shipton-under-Wychwood).

  • CHARLBURY CC will officially open their new pavilion at their annual President’s XI match on Sunday – almost three years to the day after the old one was destroyed by the devastating 2007 floods.

Henry Olonga, the former Zimbabwean Test bowler and opera singer, will don his whites and open the pavilion.

Oxfordshire’s cricket development officer Rupert Evans is also playing. The formal opening is at 4.30pm, with the match starting at 2pm.