VICE-CAPTAIN Jonny Cater believes Oxfordshire are showing signs they can end their winless start to 2016 sooner rather than later.

Oxon travel to Usk on Sunday to take on Wales in the Unicorns Counties Championship, looking to end a barren run of six games in all competitions.

They sit bottom of the Western Division following a rain-affected 57-run defeat to Shropshire last week.

Cater, skippering the side in the absence of Luke Ryan, who will be at a wedding in Sweden, feels there are reasons to be optimistic.

But he is under no illusions Oxon can ill-afford to keep making the same mistakes.

The 27-year-old said: “There were really promising signs against Shropshire.

“We bowled really well on the first day, but we just need to make sure we finish innings sharply.

“Twice now they (Cornwall and Shropshire) have got 100 in the last two or three wickets and that has cost us, big-time.

“There were also some promising signs with the bat, but we are losing wickets in clusters at the moment.

“We need to try and steady that, but we are not too far away.”

The wicket-keeper added: “We have had some good moments, but when it has been bad it has been catastrophic.

“We need to be more consistent.”

It will be the first time Cater, who captains Buckingham Town in the Home Counties Premier League, has skippered Oxon and he is ready for the challenge.

He said: “Keeping and captaining is a difficult job, but I look forward to giving it a good go.

“There are plenty of guys who can help me at the key moments and it is a big honour to captain Oxfordshire.”

Richard Kaufman is also unavailable, so Horspath left-arm spinner Lloyd Belcher and Great & Little Tew batsman Joe White come in for their first minor counties appearances of the season.

Cater said: “Lloyd is a natural straight swap with Luke, they are a very similar type of bowler.

“Joe has been scoring consistently for two seasons and it is great to have him in the team.”

Oxfordshire: Cater (Buckingham Tn, capt), Beard (Thame Tn), Belcher (Horspath), Brock (Great & Little Tew), Darby (Banbury), Keegan (unattached), Rooney (Thame Tn), Sabin (Banbury), Thomas (Great & Little Tew), Ward (Horspath), White (Great & Little Tew).