HEREFORDSHIRE County Cricket Club kick-off their Minor Counties Knock-Out Trophy campaign with a tough game against Shropshire this Sunday.

Key pace bowlers Will Barrett and Callum Stewart, who have both spent the winter in Australia, are out through injury, while batsman Ben Stebbings is also unavailable.

The game is at Shrewsbury, with an 11am start.

The seconds meanwhile, have a strong fixture list of 11 games, including first class academy sides Gloucestershire and Worcestershire.

Matches against Wiltshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire will also take place, as well as The Army's Development team.

The second XI are three years into a five-year development programme and the side are encouraging local clubs to recommend players to them.

You can do this by calling Tom Bevan on 07979 518268.

Herefordshire CCC fixtures

April 24: Shropshire (at Shrewsbury)

May 1: Cheshire (at Colwall)

May 8: Staffs (at Himley)

May 22: Wales (at Eastnor)

June 5-7: Berks (at Colwall)

June 19-21: Devon (at Eastnor)

July 3-5: Dorset (at North Perrott)

July 17-19: Oxon (at Great & Little Tew)

July 31-Aug 2: Wilts (at Brockhampton)

Aug 14-16: Wales (at Abergavenny)

Herefordshire CCC 2nd XI fixtures

May 21: Marches League (at Goodrich)

May 22: Berks 2nds (at Finchampstead)

May 29: Worcs League XI (at Bewdley)

June 12: Worcs Academy (at Colwall)

July 10: Oxon 2nds (at Aston Rowant)

July 21: Army Development XI ( at Tidworth)

July 24: Wiltshire 2nds (at Brockhampton)

Aug 7: Oxon 2nds (at Ross-on-Wye)

Aug 21: Glos Academy (at Eastnor)