There's a surprise selection for Cornwall's Minor Counties Championship fixture against Oxfordshire at Truro tomorrow (11am).
One of the county's all time leading batsmen, St Just's Gary Thomas, will captain the side. With Tom Sharp, and his deputy Matt Robins, both unavailable 39-year-old Thomas makes a surprise return to lead the county. He did the job for three years before Sharp took over in 2002.
His last game in charge was the 95-run success against Wiltshire at Salisbury in July 2001. He went only to play regularly in the championship side until the 2010 season, becoming the fourth highest runscorer in county history.
He did make a one-match return last year, against Cheshire at Truro, after a number late withdrawals. Tomorrow will be his 110th championship appearance to move one ahead of team manager Godfrey Furse. It takes him to equal eighth in the all time listings, level with Noel Dorning.
Thomas has fond memories of Oxfordshire having hit his highest county score of 164 at East Challow, almost 19 years ago to the day. Thomas is not the only player making a comeback as Neil Ivamy also returns.
The Redruth, and former Newquay, slow left-armer made the last of his 17 appearances in 2010. He made his debut seven years earlier.
The rest of the Cornwall line-up played in the defeat to Devon at Exeter in the opening game. Scott Harvey and Christian Purchase both their made debuts in that game.
Alex Smeeth is unavailable and the ever lengthening list of injuries include Jake Libby, David Roberts and Chris Hunkin. Added to this, Rob Harrison has retired from three-day cricket.
Like Cornwall, Oxfordshire lost their opening game, when Cheshire won by 135 runs at Great Tew. Having been virtually level on first innings, Oxfordshire were set what seemed a modest 190 to win, but were shot out for 54 inside 19 overs.
They have made four changes with Richard Kaufman, Lloyd Sabin, Jamie Perkin and Daniel Rowe returning. Slow left-armer Luke Ryan skippers the side.
Last year Cornwall's last-wicket pair of Harrison and Sam Hockin survived for a crucial draw at Great Tew.
Cornwall: G M Thomas (capt) (St Just), S A Harvey (Truro), D F Davis (Callington), T Williams (wk) (St Austell), N S Curnow (St Just), C B F Purchase (Redruth), T P S Hughes (Grampound Rd), K J Snell (Paul), N Ivamy (Redruth), Shakil Ahmed (St Just), S C Hockin (Werrington).
Oxfordshire: L C Ryan (capt), R I Kaufman, D C Shirazi, L M Sabin, J J Perkin, J A Cater (wkt), D T Smith, D T Rowe, F W Vainker, K W Penhale, M C Woods. 12th Man C P Watling.
