The Norfolk Cricket Festival starts on Sunday with the visit of Cumbria to Manor Park (11am).
After a great day for the county last Sunday when they reached the final of the National Counties Trophy where they will play Cheshire at Wormsley on August 25, it is back to the reality of three-day cricket, in which Norfolk have made a disappointing start to their campaign.
The final day of the first game at Bishops Stortford against Hertfordshire was washed out with Norfolk taking nine points from a draw. They suffered a much worse fate at Jesmond when they were skittled by Northumberland on the first day for 89 and, despite a better showing in the second innings, lost by 10 wickets.
This will be Northumberland’s final game. Play was abandoned on the last day of their opening game against Cumbria when they needed 241 to win and they up with defeats against Hertfordshire and Cambridgeshire.
Norfolk currently prop up the table on 13 points, eight behind Cumbria from one less game. Hertfordshire head the table with 45 points, 14 ahead of Northumberland with Cambridgeshire third on 30.
Norfolk make one change to the starting line-up due to the unavailability of Jordan Everett because of work commitments. Ryan Findlay steps in to make his seasonal debut after not being available for white ball cricket. The vastly-experienced Findlay will add balance to the side with his slow left arm bowling and powerful batting. Callum Metcalf, who played in the semi-final last Sunday, is unavailable for selection because of work.
Josh Cobb is missing as Worcestershire have vital games in the Metro Bank Trophy coming up where they aiming to qualify for the knockout stages. This means that Nottinghamshire’s Sammy King retains his place at number four in the batting order. King battled hard in the first innings at Jesmond on a challenging first-morning wicket and played an excellent knock of 84 in the second innings, demonstrating his true quality.
Norfolk coach Tom New said: "It is great to have Finners back in the side as he can be a match winner on his day with bat or ball. We are pleased that Kingy is with us again. He showed why he has a first-class contract with Notts in the match at Jesmond. He fits into the group very well which is important for our team ethos.”
The second festival match is on August 18 when Norfolk’s opponents will be Cambridgeshire.
This weekend's action gets underway at 11am.
Norfolk: Sam Arthurton (cpt), Ethan Metcalf, Ben Wilcox, Sammy King, Charlie Hood (wk), Arthur Wilcox, Ryan Findlay, Joe Everett, Brett Stolworthy, Andy Hanby, Cameron Graveling.
Northumberland: Reece Irving, Will Fraine, Ben Walkden, Greg Platten, Sam Dutton, Matthew Semple (cpt), Freddie Fallows, Nico Watt, Ed Moulton, Josh Brown, Matthew Reed.
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