Former Afghan refugee Ali Morteza makes his Oxfordshire Development XI debut in their clash with Berkshire at Thatcham Town starting today.

The Cumnor all-rounder is the only new face in the squad and manager Neil Pearson says they have been charting his progress for a while.

"Ali has definitely been coming to the fore," said Pearson.

"I went to see him at Shipton recently where he scored 55 and took a five-for as well.

"He has done enough now to get a bit of recognition.

"It just shows that, even if you don't have a county history at junior level, if you perform well for your club, nobody should feel they don't have a chance of being selected."

Aston Rowant's Chris Watling will again captain the 12-man squad, which features three Oxford, three Oxford Downs and two Kidlington players.

Oxfordshire Development XI: E Phillips (Banbury), Barrett, Stern (both Oxford), Shahbaz Ali (Kidlington), Watling (Aston Rowant, capt), West, Sandbach, Perkin (all Oxford Downs), Faisal Khalid (Banbury Twenty), Jamil Faruq (Kidlington), Morteza (Cumnor), J Evans (Oxford).