CHRIS Park has shuffled the Dorset pack ahead of their next threeday clash at Cheshire, starting tomorrow at Grappenhall CC.

Bashley seamer Jake Lilley gets his first go of the campaign in the squad, Parley’s Jamie Price returns and batsman Curtis Blakemore also comes into the squad at the top of the order.

Rupes Kitzinger is unavailable for the Dean Park side, Swanage spinner Jem Warner is set to travel as 12th man and Michael Porter has been left out of the travelling party all together.

Speaking about the changes, skipper Park, whose side have been in dismal form all summer, told Echosport: “Having lost these games as a side, as the selection committee we wanted to freshen things up to give others a chance and get that confidence and winning mentality back.

“We have some new faces and we need to get that team spirit among the group again.

“It’s hard because so many people have opinions at the moment, whether we have made the right or wrong decisions I think everyone agrees that we need to freshen things up, make changes, and try and get that first win under our belts.”

Quizzed on the decision to leave Bashley batsman Porter out, Park insists it was a tough call to make.

He claimed: “We have spoken to him over the last couple of days and it’s not a case of him being dropped or forgotten about.

“We just felt it was time for a change and maybe give him a little bit of freshening up really.

“His scores over the last couple of years have not been consistent enough and I think as a young batsman he just needs to find himself.

“Technically he is very good and he is a fantastic fielder but I think, as we all know, it’s the stats at the end of the season that people look at.

“We want him to go and score some runs for Bashley and come back, whether it’s the next game or in two games’ time, more confident that he is going to succeed at Minor Counties level.”

And while Park admits he is picking slightly blind in selecting paceman Lilley, it’s a gamble he is willing to take.

“He (Lilley) is a young lad, I actually haven’t played with him or seen him bowl but we have had people go to the last couple of games for Bashley and heard good things,” the skipper added.

“He comes recommended from people that have watched him, people that have played against him who I trust and we think it’s a good opportunity for him.

“We will live by our decisions, of course we will, but the 11 players that take to the field on Sunday have to have a strong mentality, must want to win and dig in and fight for each other.”

On new man Blakemore, who is set to open the batting in place of Porter, Park added: “He comes recommended from Jake Lintott, James Hayman and Mas Khan who have played against him. By all accounts he is a top quality batter, which is the step up we need to make in this game.

“We have to score 300 to 350 runs in the first innings as a side.”