Oxfordshire batting star Lloyd Sabin is away on holiday and misses Banbury’s trip to Welwyn Garden City in Division 1 tomorrow.

The 19-year-old opener is unavailable just days after hitting a career-best 155 in Oxon’s five-wicket defeat by Shropshire in the Minor Counties Championship on his home ground.

Banbury skipper Jimmy Phillips has been left to rue not having the in-form batsman in his side for a busy few days.

The north Oxfordshire club also face Slough at the Home Counties Premier League Twenty20 finals day on Sunday, before visiting Horspath in the Bernard Tollett Oxfordshire Cup on Tuesday.

Phillips said: “It was as if there was a big innings in him waiting to come, so I was not surprised he made those runs for Oxfordshire because I am his biggest fan.”

Ed Phillips comes in for Banbury, with Oxfordshire captain Luke Ryan facing a fitness check last night on the split webbing on his left hand.

He suffered the injury while effecting a run out in the 124-run defeat at High Wycombe last Saturday, and missed the county game.

Ryan said whether he got the all-clear or not for tomorrow, he expected to be back at the helm for Oxfordshire’s clash with Wales at Abergavenny, starting on Sunday, July 20.

Craig Haupt is unavailable for Twenty20 finals day at Slough, and with Brady Barends ruled out as an overseas player, Chris Thompson and Justin Lambden come into the side. Henley face Tring Park in the other semi.

Seamer Stuart Hole is away on holiday for two weeks and misses Oxford’s encounter with Cove in Division 2 West at Roman Way.

Andrew Clough and Tim Sutton return to the side, with John Barrett dropping down to the 2nd XI from the side which drew at Dinton last weekend.

Oxfordshire batsman Jamie Perkin suffered a back spasm after the county game and faces a late fitness test.

Aaron Huish, the 2nd XI captain, is on stand-by to take his place behind the stumps.

Captain Ian Crosby was frustrated by his title-chasing side’s inability to convert a winning position into 25 points against Dinton.

“There was no excuse for not getting 200,” he said. “It was a poor chase and it has got to be improved upon if we are going to win it.”

Linsey Smith, believed to be the first female to play in the league when she represented Aston Rowant last weekend, misses the home game against Farnham Royal as she is playing for Berkshire women.

Gordon Harris comes into the side along with Ricky Hopwood, with Chris Leaney in Switzerland. Batsman Ed Gross and spinner Ian Bryan return for Great & Little Tew’s trip to Harefield in Division 2 West.

The pair come in as a straight swap for Robbie Catling and Josh Garrett.

TOMORROW'S TEAMS

Banbury (v Welwyn Garden City, away): E Phillips, West, Haupt, Hawkes, Cater, Tew, Ryan, Blanchard, Barends, Wright, J Phillips (capt).

Aston Rowant (v Farnham Royal, home): Shirazi, Morgan, Watling, Hopwood, Ferraby, J Smith, Morrick (capt), Cook, Muttitt, Penhale, Harris.

Great & Little Tew (v Harefield, away): Smith, White, Hubbert, Slatter, Gross, Brock, Woods, Harris (capt), Megson, Bryan, Manley.

Oxford (v Cove, home): Sutherland, Clough, Perera, Laudat, Perkin, Sutton, Crosby (capt), Mendis, Godsell, Vainker, Ewen.