Keith Arnold returns from injury to captain Oxfordshire in their three-day Minor Counties Championship clash with Wales at Swansea, starting on Sunday.

The veteran seamer has not played for Oxon this season because of a pelvic injury sustained when he fell from a horse last autumn.

Darryl WoodsIt had been feared that Arnold would be out for whole campaign, but his condition has improved in recent weeks, and he came through a gentle fitness test in the nets during Oxfordshire's ECB 38-County victory over Bucks on Sunday.

Arnold will lead the side in the absence of unavailable skipper Rob Williams. Also out for Oxfordshire are batsmen Stewart Laudat and Charlie Knightley.

Into the team come Bicester & North Oxford captain Darryl Woods and Banbury Twenty youngster Richard Hawkins, the latter making his county debut.

Hawkins was skipper of the Oxfordshire Colts in 1999.

Making his first appearance in the Championship will be Oxford & Horspath spinner Ian Evans, the son of former county captain Rupert Evans.

Evans junior's twin brother Philip, a seam bowler, is also in the Oxon side. Philip made his Championship debut in last year's game with Wales at Banbury.

The Evans brothers played in the Cheltenham & Gloucester Trophy defeat to Huntingdonshire earlier this season, but have since been unavailable because of A-levels.

"It's great to have Arnie back," said Oxon coach Jack Potter. "We need him because it will be a pretty inexperienced side.

"It seems like I say it every time we play, but I am excited to see how the young guys shape up.

"But, hopefully, we will have a more settled side from now on if Arnold gets through the game and if the Evans boys perform."

The wicket at St Helen's is expected to turn, something Potter recalls from his last visit there - as a player in the 1964 Australian touring party.

"We got murdered there by Glamorgan," he said. "It was really turning and Don Shepherd and Jim Pressdee went right through us.

"Speaking to Keith Arnold about it, he says that it hasn't changed much."

Oxfordshire (v Wales, Swansea, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday): K Arnold (Leamington Spa, capt), K Mustow, R Eason (both Oxford & Horspath), A Cook (Cumnor), D Woods (Bicester & N Oxford), R Hawkins (Banbury Twenty), I Hawtin (Bicester & N Oxford), I Evans, P Evans (both Oxford & Horspath), P Jeacock (Bicester & N Oxford).