CRICKET: Suffolk were without former Test star Bill Athey for their Cheltenham and Gloucester trophy match at home to Herefordshire at Bury St Edmunds on Thursday.

SUFFOLK were without former Test star Bill Athey for their Cheltenham and Gloucester trophy match at home to Herefordshire at Bury St Edmunds on Thursday.

He has taken up a new post coaching football and cricket at Dulwich College and this is his second week.

Athey took part in Suffolk's first round win over Denmark at Copdock a fortnight ago, and his place will be taken by Mildenhall batsman Andy Squire, who is captain of the Suffolk second X1.

This is the only change for a game where the winners earn the right to entertain a first class county in the third round of the competition next year.

Herefordshire sent shock waves through cricket when they chased 270 to beat Middlesex by three wickets in the third round of this year's competition.

They will be keen to beat Suffolk and have another go at first class opposition. The last time the teams met Herefordshire won a one-day game convincingly.

"We will have to be at our best to beat them," said Suffolk skipper Phil Caley. "But we certainly owe them one and we know the rewards that are on offer."

Suffolk went for experience with capped player Squire. He has not played for the county for a while but hit a century for Mildenhall in his last East Anglian Premier League fixture of the season.

Adam Seymour was considered but he has work commitments and was unable to play.

If the game is not completed today it will carry on tomorrow with another 10.45 am start.

Suffolk: P Caley, R Catley, A Brown, I Graham, A Squire, D Callaghan, C Seal, C Warn, R Pineo, C Swallow, G Kirk. 12th man: D Cross.

Herefordshire: H Patel, N Round, R Nagra, L Roberts, C Boroughs, I Dawood, K Pearson, N Davies, A Mason, K Cooper, P Thomas. 12th man: R Hughes.