ALL-ROUNDERS Ed Bartlett and Jon Legg have been handed call-ups for Dorset’s Unicorns Championship clash with Shropshire tomorrow (11am) after impressing for Dorset Leopards.

Wimborne & Colehill’s Bartlett will be used as a bowler and is joined in the squad by brother George, who will fulfil 12th man duties at Chapel Gate.

Meanwhile, Cattistock’s Legg, who plays in County Division One, becomes the first player based in a level below the Southern League or Dorset Premier League to feature for the county side this season.

Speaking to Echosport, Dorset’s Ian Bradley felt the selections demonstrated a willingness to reward good performances from homegrown talent in the Leopards’ development outfit.

He said: “If they perform consistently in the Leopards’ system and show the right ethos and the right attitude we will pick them – that is what we have done in this game.”

Commenting on his maiden call-up, Ed Bartlett described the announcement as a “huge honour”.

“I’m pretty nervous. It will be a tough challenge. I’ve had a couple of chats with Bradders – it was a bit of a surprise to get called up, but I’ll take it.

“It’s a huge honour. I just want to do what I do every Saturday with Wimborne – consistency. I’m not looking for anything specific.”

“Hopefully it’s a good opportunity for me to open – that’s what I do all the time.”

Legg, who also earns his Dorset debut, said his call-up was “the biggest honour I’ve had”.

He said: “It’s the biggest and best achievement of my career so far. To represent my county is the biggest honour I’ve had.

“I always try to push myself to be the best I can and now I get an opportunity to perform for the firsts after playing a few games for the Leopards.”

Both men felt the switch from limited-over cricket to the three-day arena would be a step up.

Bartlett said: “It’s quite tough fitness wise and will be tough on the legs.”

Legg added: “It’s definitely going to be tough on the legs, especially when you can bowl longer spells than you can on a Saturday.

“I’m not sure I can really prepare for it, but I know I’ll be ready.”

Dorset: Arnold, Digby, Webb, Eckland, Ellis, McCoy, Naik, Park, Wolstenholme, Legg, E Bartlett. 12th man: G Bartlett