And the 2002 champions are bringing almost an full-strength side as they get in some useful practice for the new campaign.

That includes England inter- nationals Martin Bicknell, Alex Tudor, Mark Ramprakash, Adam Hollioake, Jimmy Ormond and Ian Salisbury, plus hard-hitting one-day star Ali Brown.

The squad is led by former Oxfordshire wicket-keeper Jon Batty, who will be making a return to The Parks, having won a Blue in 1996.

Batty, who learned his cricket at Thame CC and Wheatley Park School, played through the age groups in Oxfordshire until he made his Minor Counties Championship debut for the county's senior side in 1993.

He takes over the captaincy this year from Hollioake.

The UCCE team warmed up for the match by beating Northants 2nd by 51 runs in a limited overs match at the Oxford University Sports Ground, Marston, on Thursday.

Luke Parker (68no) and Omar Anwar (56) helped the students to a total of 175-8 off their allotted 50 overs, but that did not look enough as Northants reached 78-1 in reply.

The introduction of off-spinner Paul McMahon and seamer Ollie Hutton, grandson of the late Sir Len, swung the match Oxord's way.

They claimed three victims each as the last nine Northants wickets fell for just 48 runs, one of them to Oxford Brookes Freshman Mali Richards, who is the son of the West Indian star Viv.

Scores: OUCC 175-8 (50ov, L Parker 68no, O Anwar 56), Northants 2nd 124 (43.2 ov, T Huggins 56, O Hutton 3-20, P McMahon 3-29).