Mike Hendrick: Shropshire enlist help of former England bowler

Mike Hendrick (second right) has also coached Scotland at youth level

Shropshire have called on former England seam bowler Mike Hendrick to help with their pre-season coaching.

"Hendo's been down four times and has a couple more sessions to do," said Shropshire coach Karl Krikken.

"He also coaches at Nottinghamshire and it's great for our seamers to have the chance to work with him.

"They've read up all about him on the internet. He was the leading wicket-taker at the 1979 World Cup, so they're enjoying learning from him."

Krikken, about to embark on his second season with Shropshire, has also invited former England spinner Jack Birkenshaw to pre-season training.

"Birky's now going to come down for a couple of sessions and work with the spinners so that will be a good experience for them," said Krikken.

"I've known both of them a long time and worked with them in the past when I was with Derbyshire.

"Pre-season's going great. The lads are working hard and are very receptive to trying things so hopefully it will help us hit the ground running when the season starts."

Shropshire's season is scheduled to start with a Unicorns Trophy game against Cumberland at Shrewsbury's London Road on Sunday 19 April.

They will chiefly be looking to improve on last season's Minor Counties Championship campaign when they rallied from an unsettling start.

As well as losing skipper Richard Oliver to Worcestershire, they had to undergo a second change of captaincy when Anthony Parker stood down, but bounced back well from defeats in their first two games to emerge as outside challengers for the Western Division title under new skipper James Ralph.