4:21pm Thursday 16th July 2009
Oxfordshire's women will ring the changes – on a daily basis – as they seek some home comforts in County Week.
The team, who have steadily slipped down the ladder having been in Group 1 earlier this decade, will this year play their Group 4 matches on North Oxford’s grass courts.
And they have a new captain in Emma Tolson. She will seek to revive the fortunes of the side who have gone through a dramatic change in the last few years.
Those changes continue this year, with Tolson facing an administrative nightmare.
Only herself, Viveca Valimaa, Kelly Hazelwood and Jo Muddle are around for all five days, with the other squad members available for one or two days.
Out have gone all the old faces – Lizzie Jelfs, Caroline Jones, Lucy Collinson, Imogen Wyatt, Claire Taylor and Cressida Henderson – and in come a new batch of up-and-coming youngsters.
But Tolson is confident that their freshness can work to their advantage.
“People are going to be coming in and will be able to give their all,” Tolson said.
“It is a long week, and several teams by the end of it are tired, but hopefully we will have fresh legs and that will be in our favour.
“We’re definitely looking to go up this year.
“We have a strong team and although it will change a lot, we are confident.
“It will also help playing at home. We don’t have to worry about hotels and eating out – we can all go home and relax after our matches.”
Meanwhile, the Oxon men's captain Jonathan Maskens says his side face a tough task in Group 7 at Bexley Heath, Kent.
Despite being on the bottom rung of the ladder, Oxon must take on some strong sides.
They open with what should be a comfortable win against Isle Of Man, but then face Wiltshire and Bedfordshire, who will be tough.
The top two teams then go through to a four-team super league, carrying with them the result of their group-mates, where the top two get promotion.
Tom Greenland and Iain MacDonald are unavailable due to work commitments, but Joe Cartledge has handed Oxon a big boost by declaring himself available for all five days.
He played only twice last year.
“It will be tough, but our teams is probably as strong as it can be,” Maskens said.
“We have had an unlucky draw because Wiltshire and Beds will be strong, but if we can come through the first part of the week, we’d have a good chance of going up.
“We lost matches 5-4 last year because we didn’t have the strength in depth, but we have this year.”
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