For the first time in the competition’s history, Northants Bowling Federation will field two teams in the national inter-county Derbyshire Trophy indoor competition.
They will meet each other, as the competition rules determine, in the opening fixture at Peterborough IBC on Sunday, October 22 (10am).
The ‘A’ team, which finished narrowly behind Lincs in the southern area group last season, is again captained by James Harford, while Malcolm Squires will look after the ‘B’ team.
Played as a two-bowl triples format, each team will field four rinks with points awarded for each winning rink and a further six points for the overall winners.
Harford is playing his cards close to his chest by initially only naming a squad of players from which his final 12 will be selected but Squires has named his team plus reserves.
Says Harford: “I have picked my players from around the county (all have to be affiliated to outdoor clubs to qualify) based on form and compatibility and I am confident we have the ability to once again challenge for a place in the national finals at Newark in April.
“The first fixture against Malcolm’s team could be our toughest test. They know the surface as well as we do so we don’t expect anything less than a really hard game but no doubt with plenty of banter.”
His squad includes Tris and Ean Morton and Mike Robertson, who won the EBA national outdoor triples for Parkway at Leamington in the summer.
But the ‘B’ team also has serious experience, chosen chiefly from those with previous knowledge of the slick Peterborough surface where they will play all their home games.
Northants A squad: James Harford (captain), Tris Morton, Simon Law, Roger Martin, Martyn Dolby, Paul Dalliday, Phil Afford, Neil Wright, Howard Shipp, Brian Martin, Tony Scarr, Bob Warters, Ean Morton, Stephen Harris, Mike Robertson, Adam Warrington.
Northants B team: Michael Humphreys, John Holroyd, John Earl;
Les Sharp, Mick Linnell, Graham Agger; Brian Bassam, Mick Greaves, Rod Maplethorpe, Cliff Watson, Dick Noble, Peter Brown. Reserves: Mike Ramsden, Steve Roden , Malcolm Squires.
