Veteran seamer Keith Arnold could be ruled out of Oxfordshire's opening Minor Counties KO Group game against Wiltshire at Westbury on Sunday by a horse-riding accident.

The Banbury Twenty paceman injured his neck after falling off a horse several weeks ago, and it is still proving troublesome.

Skipper Ian Hawtin said: "He was out riding his horse and fell off it, and he has a bit of a neck problem.

"He has been having treatment, but I'm not sure how successful that has been."

Arnold is due to have a net session at The Parks today when Oxfordshire take on Oxford University in a one-day warm-up game to assess the injury.

Oxford duo John Will- iams and David Slade have been drafted into a 14-man squad for the Wiltshire game as cover.

Banbury's teenage left-arm spinner, Luke Ryan, is in contention to make his competitive county debut, but Charlie Knightley and Joe Porter are unavailable due to work commitments.

Young Oxford pace bowler Stuart Hole is also missing as he is playing in a memorial football match.

Standing in Oxfordshire's way could be their former batsman Rob Cunliffe, who went on to play for Gloucestershire.

Minor Counties are only able to field one player, who has played 40 or more first-class games and as Oxfordshire decided to strengthen their bowling by signing Jamie Hewitt, the ex-Middlsex and Kent seamer, they were unable to offer Cunliffe a spot.

Wiltshire approached Oxon for Cunliffe's registration, which they reluctantly agreed to.

Hawtin said: "It seems ludicrous to me that we can't benefit from a player that Oxfordshire have produced.

"We have produced a number of players for the pro game in the last ten years, and it is disappointing that we can't get something back from that when they have finished their professional careers."

Meanwhile, Oxford's Johnny Nambiar plays for Oxfordshire against Oxford University today.

The county are hoping to be able to register the Indian-born all-rounder, who has English parents and grandparents and holds a British passport, for this season's Minor Counties programme.

Oxfordshire also play Banbury tomorrow (11am).