CHESHIRE skipper Andy Hall is relishing the prospect of playing against Australian spin king Shane Warne.
Hall and his Cheshire team entertain Hampshire in the second round of the Cheltenham and Gloucester Trophy on Wednesday at Alderley Edge.
And Hall knows that, although he has every respect for Warne's world-class status, he and his fellow batsmen will be looking to shine and compile enough runs for a shock victory.
If Cheshire do win, they will play either Gloucestershire, the defending champions, or Holland away in the next round on May 29.
'It will be a great occasion for all the players,' said Hall. 'To play against someone like Shane Warne is a real challenge'.
Cheshire chairman Gerry Hardstaff has made sure his county have used the cup rules to their advantage by recruiting the maximum two over-seas players.
He has enticed Guyanan paceman Barrington Browne to play and Australian batsman Clinton Perren.
Browne plays for Nantwich in the Murray Smith Cheshire County League Premier Division and started his season with a three-wicket haul against Chester Boughton Hall.
Perren, meanwhile, has had a splendid winter playing for Queensland, and has settled well in England as Littleborough's professional in the Central Lancashire League.
In first-class cricket, Perren has scored nearly 2,000 runs at an average of 34.84, which includes a highest score of 224.
But Perren is a specialist one-day player and averages an impressive 41.80 with the bat having scored nearly 1,500 runs in the limited overs format.
Hampshire will be without former Lancashire and England batsman John Crawley, who is injured.
But with Warne, fellow Australian Michael Clarke and former England international bowlers Alan Mullally and Shaun Udal among their ranks, Cheshire know Hampshire have enough quality in depth to give them a thorough examination.
Cheshire team: Alexis Twigg (Harrogate), Danny Leech (Oulton Park), Andy Hall (Bramhall, captain), Nafees Din (Mobberley), Clinton Perren (Littleborough), Simon Renshaw (Kibworth), Jason Whittaker (Oulton Park), Stephen Ogilby (Chester Boughton Hall , wicketkeeper), Dave Pennett (Harrogate), Barrington Browne (Nantwich), Robin Fisher (Chester Boughton Hall). 12th man: Barnie Cutbill (Macclesfield).
The match starts at 10.30am and tickets are £8 on the day for adults (£7 in advance) and seniors, and U16s £4 on the day and £3.50 in advance.
