Three youngsters will make their Oxfordshire debuts in the Western Division opener with Cheshire at Great & Little Tew, starting on Sunday.

Batsman Curtly Slatter and seamer Matt Woods get a chance to shine on their home ground, with Aston Rowant bowler Karl Penhale completing the newcomers.

Their opportunities come with Oxon hit by a spate of unavailability including Richard Kaufman, Lloyd Sabin, Nathan Hawkes, Richard West, Jamie Perkin, Chad Keegan, Daniel Rowe and Patrick Foster.

Captain Luke Ryan said: “Availability is always the issue and that has hit us.

“But we have got some talented cricketers coming in who deserve a chance and now they have got it.

“I hope they make it difficult for the players missing out to come back in.

“It is their place to lose in effect.”

Also coming in for their first competitive outings of the summer are Banbury’s Michael Beard, Horspath’s Robbie Eason and Oxford’s Francois Vainker.

Slatter and Woods have come up through Oxfordshire’s age groups, while Penhale has joined them in the county’s new academy side.

“We have had particularly good reports about Matt’s bowling, both for Tew and in New Zealand during the winter,” said Ryan.

Tew captain Andy Harris added: “It is great news for our club.

“Matt’s bowling has been incredible. He has had so much control and exerted so much pressure.”

Oxfordshire came second in the Western Division last year after a strong finish.

“I think we definitely can challenge this year,” said Ryan.

“We were robbed by the rain last year. We we lost a whole session of cricket where we needed just one wicket to win against Cornwall.

“I am confident and excited by a few of the players who are coming in.”

Cheshire captain James Duffy is unavailable, so Danny Woods leads the side.

They include Northamptonshire-contracted batsman Rick Moore.

Oxfordshire: Ryan (Banbury, capt), Shirazi (Aston Rowant), Beard (Banbury), Eason (Horspath), Cater (Banbury), Smith (Bromley), Slatter (Great & Little Tew), Penhale (Aston Rowant), Vainker (Oxford), Geeson-Brown (Oxford), Woods (Great & Little Tew).