Oxfordshire make six changes following their Cornwall calamity for the the Minor Counties Championship Western Division clash with Shropshire at Great & Little Tew, starting on Sunday.

Oxford seamer Richard Gilbert replaces the retired Keith Arnold, while Damian Shirazi, Craig Haupt, Rob Williams, Jack Taylor and David Smith complete the six call-ups.

Bourton Vale paceman Ryan Newhook was chosen for the game, but had to pull out through injury, and the selectors then turned to Gilbert.

Banbury opening batsman Shirazi comes in for Oxford’s Chris Sandbach, Haupt replaces Banbury teammate Richard West and Williams returns in place of the unavailable Nathan Hawkes.

Gloucestershire all-rounder Taylor comes in for Banbury off-spinner Jimmy Phillips to play on his home ground, and Wollaton and ex-Oxford all-rounder Smith replaces Charlie Knightley (unavailable).

Oxfordshire captain Ian Hawtin said: “Richard Gilbert will be opening the bowling with Simon Hole and we are going with three seamers – those two and Daniel Rowe – and two spinners.”

Rowe was one of many to have a game to forget in the ten-wicket thrashing at Falmouth, with his four overs in the first innings going for 40 runs.

Hawtin added: “We want to bounce back on Sunday.

“It should be a better wicket at Great Tew and we want to bounce back with a victory.

“We are not out of it yet. If you look at what happened last year, we lost and drew our first two games – and still came close.

“We are not a million miles away from last year.”

Shropshire top the table after a win and a draw from their two matches, but only six points separate the top six teams.

They include former Surrey batsman Chris Murtagh, who has hit centuries in each of his two Championship appearances this season, and is averaging 156.

Oxfordshire: Shirazi (Banbury), Kaufman (Old Northamptonians), Haupt (Banbury), Williams (Leamington Spa), Smith (Wollaton), Taylor (Keynsham), Hawtin (capt, Banbury), Hole (Oxford), Rowe (Swansea), Ryan (Banbury), Gilbert (Oxford).