Simon Hole has called on Shipton-under-Wychwood’s batsmen to stand up and be counted following a slump that has seen them slip from second place to the fringe of the relegation zone in Serious Cricket Home Counties Premier League Division 2.

Shipton may be fifth, but they are only nine points clear of second-to-bottom Aston Rowant to whom they lost by eight wickets last week.

“We’re just not getting enough runs,” said skipper Hole. “Batsman are getting into the twenties and then getting out, when they should be making eighties and nineties to make us competitive.

“It’s time for each batsman to put his hand up and not rely on others to get the runs.”

But Hole, whose side visit mid-table side Cove tomorrow, is not worried about relegation.

“We are just going through a bad run at present. I’m sure we’ll get out of it,” he added.

Hole will be without his brother Stuart, who is on holiday, while Charlie Miller is out after damaging a finger in the warm-up for the Rowant game.

Craig Wood and Matthew Brown, a left-arm seamer who plays for Oxfordshire Under 17s, come into the side.

Aston Rowant are in confident mood after moving to within six points of safety.

“We bowled really well against Shipton, and held our catches, which is key,” said skipper Josh Smith.

Rowant make two changes ahead of their match at home to Finchampstead.

Opener Andrew Tolson, who top-scored last week, is away, while Chris Watling drops down. In come seamer Gordon Harris and left-arm spinner Sasha Barras.

Great & Little Tew skipper Andy Harris hopes to have recovered from a finger injury in time for their match at home to Amersham.

He expects to play as Tew bid to extend their 46-point lead.

They make three changes with Curtly Slatter, Markus Jeacock and Ashley Hubbert replacing Robbie Shurmer (holiday), Rob Catling and Harry Smith (both dropped).

TOMORROW’S TEAMS

Shipton-under-Wychwood (v Cove, away): Hemming, Si Hole (capt), Perkin, Wood, Sanklecha, Brown, Jones, Seacole, Senior, Brain, S Miller.

Great & Little Tew (v Amersham, home): White, Clarke, Coetzee, Garrett, Hubbert, Slatter, Harris (capt), Jeacock, Woods, Thomas, Brock.

Aston Rowant (v Finchampstead Tn, home): Shirazi, Matthews, Smith (capt), Morrick, Cook, Condon, Barras, Bethell, Muttitt, Leaney, Harris.