All change for North’s home soil encounter

NORTHUMBERLAND will have five players making their first appearance on home soil over the next three days, writes JEFF BOWRON.

North entertain Suffolk at Gosforth with a trio of players making their county debut.

Eppleton all-rounder Alex Simpson, Sacriston seamer Callum Appleby and Stockton batsman Tom Hewison all come into the side.

Lancashire-based wicket-keeper Brad Yates and Midlander Atif Sheikh play only their second game for Northumberland.

The pair featured in the Minor Counties Championship opener at Staffordshire where the last two days were washed out.

Northumberland hope that Sheikh, who has First Class experience at Derbyshire and Leicestershire, will feature regularly this summer.

The 26-year-old left arm seamer will be second professional alongside Jacques du Toit, who returns to the side.

Du Toit, also a former Leicestershire player, hit two centuries and two championship fifties last year and comes in for Durham batsman Jack Burnham.

“It’s good to have Du Toit back and for Sheikh to also play again,” said team manager Stuart Tiffin.

“The strength of the side is good. We bat well down and have four seamers and three spinners at our disposal.

“Losing two days to rain at Staffordshire was disappointing but we’ve now got the chance to get our home campaign off to a winning start.

“Apart from the last 10 overs we bowled well at Staffordshire and we were going alright with the bat when the rain came.”

Suffolk’s opener against Buckinghamshire was also rain-affected, but they had the much the better of the drawn game.

Martin Cull and Jaik Midleburgh produced a double-century stand for the first wicket, while seamer Hugo Douglas returned match figures of 6-41.