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WILTSHIRE'S initial concentration is on the one-day competition. We're a strong unit and our aim is to go through the group stages.

We had quite a good start against Cornwall on Sunday so we're on track for that. We've got to go down to Devon this weekend which is going to be a tough game but at least this year two teams go through to the quarter-finals.

We've got a squad of about 15 or 16 players we can call upon and with a weakened side against Cornwall we won which was quite encouraging. It's the old cliche, we're taking the one-dayers as they come.

As regards the three-dayers once we get there we will concentrate on that.

The availability for the three-dayers isn't so good because of the commitment it requires, but obviously we want to do well in that as well.

Our first game was against Corsham and it was good to get out and get a game under our belts. We did a couple of net sessions but nothing beats getting out on the grass.

We've got a couple of additions to the squad this year. Roger Sillence is a Wiltshire lad who has played first-class cricket so that's good from our point of view. We also felt within the three-dayers we were missing a bit of control within the spin department and there was no one coming through.

It was against our policy but we went outside the county to get Rob Travers.

Steve's up for the challenge

AT the end of last season there was space at Corsham for a youngster who fancied a crack at keeping wicket.

Steve Bullen has come to us this season and he's quite agile, has got good hands and is a good batter as well.

Steve is young and we're going to support him. We need someone who can keep wicket and it's better for the club. I've spoken to Steve and it's his first go at this level.

We're going to play it cool but if he were to struggle, which we hope he doesn't, I'm in the background if needed so we've got a couple of options there.

It's going to be a bit different for me but the knees are struggling now so I've got to take that into account.

I haven't been involved in the setting up of the new nets at Corsham but the guys obviously put a lot of time and effort into it.

Sillence has to start all over again

ROGER Sillence is having a busy spring after being released by Worcestershire at the end of last season.

He's had to sort a job out, he's just come back from Australia and playing some cricket over there and it's a little bit of a shock to him.

He's had to get a house and a job and he's had to start again.

It's likely Wiltshire will see him around for the one-dayers but we're not so sure with the three-dayers.

When the tyres were slashed on his car in Oxford on Sunday it was very difficult for him to get anywhere and he couldn't get down to Devizes for the game which was unfortunate.

We tried everything we could but nothing was open and eventually we were lucky Ollie Smith stepped into the breach and performed well.

1:36pm Friday 2nd May 2008

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