HEREFORDSHIRE CCC have recruited former West Indies fast bowler Franklyn Rose and Aaron Barnes, a batsman from New Zealand, as the two overseas players for their C & G Trophy first-round match against Oxfordshire at Banbury on Sunday, starting 10.45am.

The winner of the tie between the Minor Counties rivals will be guaranteed a money-spinning home draw against First Class Championship opponents in the second round of the national competition next season - and Herefordshire officials are keen to be a part of it.

The two newcomers are the only changes to the side which lost their final Minor Counties match at home to Cornwall just over a week ago. They come in for all-rounder James Brinkley, who has returned to play for Scotland, and bowling stalwart Kevin Cooper, who announced his retirement at the end of the Cornwall game.

Herefordshire showed good form in their last meeting with Oxfordshire at Colwall at the start of July, but had to settle for a draw in a rain-affected championship game.

Now they will be hoping the overseas duo can help them through the one-day 50-overs-per-side encounter.

Rose, aged 31, is currently a professional with Sunderland in northern league cricket after a career which included 19 Tests for the West Indies, producing 53 wickets at an average of 30.88. In 27 One-Day Internationals he took 29 wickets at 36.06. Rose has also played professional cricket for Northamptonshire and for Gauteng in South Africa.

Kiwi Barnes has this season been bolstering the batting line-up as a professional for Colwyn Bay in North Wales.

Herefordshire (from): Harshad Patel, Rob Hughes, Chris Boroughs, Aaron Barnes, Ismail Dawood, Nick Davies, Matt Rawnsley, Martin McCague, Mark Horrocks, Simon Roberts, Karl Pearson, Franklyn Rose.