CRAIG Burrows insists he is solely focused on getting Oxfordshire out of the County Championship Shield group stages and is not thinking about winning the competition.

Oxfordshire, who were beaten 52-12 by champions Surrey in the semi-finals last year, begin their Pool 1 campaign against Berkshire at Chipping Norton tomorrow (3).

Topping the four-team group, which also consists of Leicestershire and Buckinghamshire, would ensure a home tie in the last four and head coach Burrows, who led Grove to the Oxfordshire County Cup last month, is taking it one game at a time.

“At this stage the aim is to get out of the group,” he said.

“It is about managing each game and hopefully winning the group, but a lot of things could happen between now and then.

“With Surrey out of this competition, it opens a door for other counties to come forward, progress to the final and win it.

  • Sport

“I would like to think we can, based on last year, but until we know who is representing each county, it is a bit of a lottery.”

Grove skipper James Eckert returns as captain.

Burrows added: “James leads by example and is a very good motivator.

“He’s got experience and has played county championship for many seasons.”

Eckert is joined by teammates Cash Chilvers, Brendan White, Joe Chilvers, Paul Miles, Simon Peel, Martyn Walsh, Huw Lewis, Joe Bellinger and Guy Nicholl in the squad.

Players from Oxford Harlequins and Witney (both 4) as well as Bicester (2) and Banbury (3) make up the 23-man team.

Burrows added: “There are no players with big egos, they just want to be part of a successful county season.

“The start is very important.

That is where it is going to be crucial, not only for morale but for a springboard for the other two games.”

TOMORROW’S SQUAD

Oxfordshire (v Berkshire) from: J Eckert (Grove) capt, P Boulton (Ox Harlequins), C Chilvers (Grove), L Brown (Ox Harlequins), B White (Grove), J Chilvers (Grove), P Miles (Grove), J Monks (Witney), R Haire (Witney), F Wiese (Bicester), E Phillips (Banbury), S O’Dwyer (Banbury), K Borthwick (Ox Harlequins), S Peel (Grove), S Collins (Witney), J Horwood (Bicester), M Walsh (Grove), J Mills (Banbury), H Lewis (Grove), M Clarke (Witney), A Purchase (Ox Harlequins), J Bellinger (Grove), G Nicholl (Grove).