Oxford captain Ian Crosby is backing his side to come good after recent batting disasters, when they visit Division 1 derby rivals Banbury in the Serious Cricket Home Counties Premier League tomorrow.

In their last two innings, Oxford have been bowled out for 58 and 40 and now stand 20 points adrift at the bottom of the table.

While Crosby accepts that the 58 against Henley was a poor display, he says the 40 – a Division 1 record low score – at Welwyn Garden City last Saturday was achieved in freak conditions.

“The game should never have started at 11am.

We had all day to play the game. In the end, it was all over by 2pm.

“I’ve never known a wetter pitch and whoever won the toss was going to win the game.

“Batting was virtually impossible against some admittedly excellent bowling.

“Even after the game was over, the outfield was still very soft.”

Crosby says he is still confident that the quality of players in the side will produce runs.

“We need to back ourselves, but I’m aware we’ve got to get our act together pretty soon.

“It’ll be dificult playing catch up if we fall further behind.

For the Banbury game, Oxford welcome back strike fast bowler Stuart Hole, while another seamer Tom Geeson-Brown is also brought into their squad of 12.

Jaimie Noble is unavailable, while Brad Sutherland is again absent after his wife gave birth.

Banbury’s acting skipper Jimmy Phillips is not taking Oxford’s plight lightly.

“We know they’ve got a lot of quality of players,” he said.

“Their bad run is going to end some time – let’s hope it’s not against us.”

Currently placed second, Banbury look like being strong challengers this season.

Phillips said: “I don’t think I’m putting too much pressure on us by saying that we are serious title contenders.

“So far this season we won three times and were so close to winning the others.”

Banbury make one change to the side that scraped home by eight runs in a low-scoring match at Henley last week.

Young seamer Josh Megson, who missed the game after being taken ill, returns.

TOMORROW'S LINE-UPS.

Banbury (v Oxford, home): L Sabin, Tew, Haupt, Hawkes, West, Cater, Ryan, Blanchard, Wright, Megson, J Phillips (capt).

Oxford (Banbury, away): from King, Sandbach, Laudat, Canning, Perkin, Crosby (capt), Stuart Hole, Van Dyk, Mendis, Vainker, I Evans, Geeson-Brown.

Aston Rowant (Harefield, away): Morrick (capt), Watling, Morgan, Cooper, Muttit, Harris, Carlton, Leaney, Eaton, Mills, AN Other.

Shipton-under-Wychwood (v Thame Town, home): Cha Brain, R Barrett, Simon Hole (capt), Senior, Oliver, G Newhook, Seacole, Gurney, Miller, R Newhook, Wood.

Thame Town (v Shipton, away): Neilson, Higgs (capt), Jivrajani, P Patel, Rooney, Parmar, Barnett, N Patel, Lachlan, S Patel, Desai.