STAND-IN skipper Jigar Naik has urged his Dorset charges to embrace the challenge of taking on a star-studded Somerset line-up, in their t20 friendly at North Perrott on Tuesday (5pm).

The former Leicestershire playing professional insists it is an “honour” to take on the captaincy of the Minor Counties side for the clash, with Chris Park unavailable for the showpiece event.

Asked for his reaction when he found out he would be skippering the side, Naik, Dorset’s leading wicket taker with 28 victims across all formats so far this term, told Echosport: “It was a little bit of a shock to be honest, because I didn’t expect it.

“It’s an honour really after only a few games playing for Dorset to take on the role and bring on the youngsters, it’s brilliant.

“It’s something that, for me, shows they are backing me all the way. In my time at Dorset they have made me feel really welcome.”

Naik himself has good memories of taking on the Taunton-based side in the game’s shortest format.

He was a member of the Leicestershire team who beat Somerset in the final of the 2011 domestic t20 competition by 18 runs, in an enthralling day’s cricket at Edgbaston.

Both Somerset’s James Hildreth and Peter Trego played in that game and are set to go head-to-head with 32-year-old Naik once again.

Describing his memories of that day, the Dorset off-spinner said: “It was absolutely phenomenal. On the finals day itself, both semi-finals went to a super over, which is unheard of.

“My heart was pumping every second I was on that pitch. To win it and take it on from there and go on to the Champions League was such a great experience.

“They are the moments you live for and you play cricket for.”

Somerset, winners of the English domestic t20 competition in 2005 and three times runners up, also include big-hitting New Zealand international Corey Anderson in their line-up against Dorset.

Naik added: “The (Somerset) squad was put up on one of the Whatsapp groups and I just said we don’t have to worry about it and take it as it goes.

“If you get hit for a six you get hit for a six. There is nothing you can do about it, especially in this day and age where boundaries are getting smaller and bats are getting bigger. We just have to embrace it.

“Somerset are usually known to reach the finals day quite a lot and they have their full strength squad out. It’s a great opportunity for the Dorset youngsters to put their hands up and see what that level is all about.

“We have nothing to lose in the game and Somerset will have all the pressure, we are not expected to win but hopefully we will give them a good run.”

Naik is set to lead a number of different faces returning to the Dorset fold in the limited overs contest.

Bashley batsman Tom Jacques is set to come in for his first game of the season, there are also returns for leg-spinner Jem Warner, batsman Luke Matthews and all-rounders Josh Digby and Simon Woodruff.

Martinstown’s Ed Nichols is also set to be 12th man for the contest, in which North Perrott’s Gordon Whorlow and Alex Eckland are included on their home ground.

Dorset (from): Whorlow, Jacques, Matthews, Ellis, Eckland, Woodruff, Naik, Wolstenholme, Digby, Hayman, Warner, Nichols

Somerset (from): Allenby, Myburgh, Davies, Trego, Hose, Hildreth, Anderson, R Van de Merwe, Gregory, C Overton, Davey, Groenewald, Waller

n Dorset are still looking for match and match ball sponsors for the game, if anyone is interested, contact Adrian Hopper by emailing ahpublications@sky.com