New-look Berkshire set for Trophy defence

There may be an unfamiliar look to Berkshire's side this season but their coach, Tom Lambert, has warned that does not mean they should be written off as they begin their defence of the National Counties Trophy. Four key members of the squad that won eight pieces of silverware in five seasons — brothers James and Richard Morris, Stewart Davison and Chris Peploe — all retired at the end of last season but Berkshire still have a core group of players who contributed to a bulging trophy cabinet.

Ad/> «We worked out during the winter that even without the four players who retired we still have 121 winners' medals between us, so it's wrong to keep saying we are missing people we still have a very good core of a side,» Lambert said. CricketAndrew Symonds dies aged 4615/05/2022 AT 08:22 Dan Lincoln, who has played for Middlesex and Kent in recent seasons, has taken over as captain from the Morris brothers and he can still call on the experienced quartet of Savin Perera, Euan Woods, Andy Rishton, Tom Nugent and Luke Beaven as Berkshire prepare for Sunday's opening group match against Devon at Henley.

Berkshire also have a reputation for developing talented youngsters with Toby Albert (Hampshire), Tom Scriven (Leicestershire) and Jack Davies and Toby Greatwood (Middlesex) all contracted to first-class counties. Pace bowler Mungo Russell, who has been trialling with Northamptonshire, is fit again having missed most of last season with a stress fracture of the back and leg-spinner Jafer Cohan made a favourable impression when he was given his chance in Berkshire's recent National Coounties T20 campaign.