Oxfordshire's record-breaking bowler, Keith Arnold, will make his debut for the county’s over 50s side this Sunday.
Seamer Arnold, who took a record 682 Minor Counties Championship wickets for Oxfordshire, will play in the ECB 50+ Championship quarter-final against Hampshire at Standlake.
Arnold turned 50 in May, but had previously indicated that he would not play for the over 50s until he stopped playing in the Minor Counties.
The Banbury Twenty player announced in June that his body would no longer allow him to perform in the three-day game.
Bob Boyles, the Oxon 50+ manager, said: “Arnie was adamant that he did not want to push out a regular member of the side, but it so happens that the captain, Andrew Wingfield Digby, is unable to play this Sunday because of church commitements.”
The replacement of Arnold for Wingfield Digby is a straight swap and the only change from the side that trounced Dorset in the previous round, when both Tony Munsey and Alec Cunningham scored centuries.
Oxfordshire, the 2008 champions, will be captained by Ian Caunce (Oxford Downs) on his home ground for the quarter-final, which starts at 1pm.
Asked if Arnold would keep his place once Wingfield Digby became available, Boyles said “We’ll have to see.”
Oxfordshire 50+ (v Hampshire): I Caunce (Oxford Downs, capt), P Tew, A Cunningham (Sandford St Martin), T Munsey, M Evans (Cumnor), A Manger (Horspath). M Thomas, K Arnold (Banbury Twenty), R Willis (Uxbridge), M Pond (Cropredy), S Kelly (Witney Mills).
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