ALAN Willows has insisted that Dorset will not make the trip to Booths Park this weekend if there is any chance the game could be decided on a bowl-off or the toss of a coin.

This weekend’s forecast has put the Knockout Trophy quarter-final against Cheshire in serious doubt and it is expected an early postponement will be announced at lunchtime today.

Head coach Willows told Echosport: “I have already had a call from Cheshire saying the forecast up that way is pretty bad and as people are probably aware if we do travel and the game gets washed out, it would then be decided on a bowl-off out or if that wasn’t possible, the toss of a coin, which neither side wants.

“We have also made hotel reservations as well so it has been decided that if we don’t think there is much chance of it being played we will look to try and delay it for a couple of weeks’ time – we will just have to see what it is like.”

If the game does get the green light, which appears unlikely, Dorset will travel without frontline strike bowler Steffan Jones and their king of spin Jack Leach, who are both unavailable, but Willows is still confident his side are fully prepared for that and any other eventuality.

He added: “It is disappointing that Steffan and Jack are unavailable but we have good replacements in the likes of Chris Jones and Rupes Kitzinger.

“Chris currently plays for Somerset but was brought up in Dorset and will no doubt add strength to our batting, while Rupes used to play at Booths Park for Toft Cricket Club and knows exactly what we can expect.

“So there is no doubt we will still have a strong side out and our bowlers have even been doing bowl out practice to ensure we are ready for whatever eventuality comes our way.

“We are two games away from reaching the final so this is a very big game and hopefully it will be played out in the right way rather than coming down to a lottery.”