CRICKET: Wormsley will be final venue (From The Oxford Times)

10:30am Wednesday 8th September 2010 in

The ECB 50+ County Championship final between Oxfordashire and Middlesex will now be played at Wormsley.

It looked as if the September 19 match would be at Derby despite the distances both sides would have to travel.

But the organisers have switched the game to Sir Paul Getty’s ground near Stokenchurch, Bucks.

This should help ensure a larger crowd, although it is expected that spectators will be charged for entry.

Meanwhile, Keith Arnold says he will be happy to be a spectator at the final.

Arnold has played in Oxon’s quarter and semi-final victories after appearing in the Minor Counties Championship earlier this summer.

But Oxon’s record wicket-taker will have no problems stepping aside on September 19.

Arnold said: “I’m enjoying it, but I don’t know what will happen in the final because I have come in when people have not been available.

“It was the captain, Andrew Wingfield Digby, in the quarters and Mickey Thomas in the last round.

“I have said all along that I don’t want to take someone’s place.

“I don’t want to come in for the glory.

“I would rather be on the sidelines watching than have people say ‘what’s he doing there?’ “We have got a good side and will take some beating.”

Reflecting on their seven-wicket semi-final victory over Kent at Cumnor, Arnold felt one unsung player deserved much credit.

“I have to say that Mick Pond, the keeper, is superb,” said Arnold.

“Standing up, he is as good a keeper as I have seen.

“In my view he turned the game.

“It makes the bowlers so much more confident with someone like that behind the stumps. He is so sharp.

“Those two stumpings he took made all the difference.”

Cricket RSS Feed