RUPERT Evans believes Oxfordshire can match last year’s successful three-day campaign and put a winless start to the year firmly behind them.

Oxon, who won the Western Division of the Unicorns Counties Championship in 2015, before losing out to Cumberland in the final, start their season against Cornwall at St Austell on Sunday.

But it comes off the back of a disappointing one-day campaign, where they finished bottom of their group.

Having lost by 108 runs to Cornwall a fortnight ago in the Unicorns Counties Trophy, head coach Evans is fully aware of how difficult a match it will be on the south-west coast.

However, the former Oxon off-spinner believes his players can deliver.

He said: “In terms of the way we played last year we set the bar quite high.

“The opposition will be trying very hard to ensure they play well against us and we will be trying very hard to repeat the performances we put in last season.

“Cornwall away is a difficult start, mind you.

“After playing league games on Saturday it is not ideal and they are very strong at home.

“We really do need to perform better than we did in the one-dayer two weeks ago, but also ensure we get a good result.”

He added: “We are looking forward to a three-day game just to actually get a run of matches and get people playing together, because we certainly did not play as well as we can do in the shorter format.

“Hopefully we can perform to our ability.”

Great & Little Tew all-rounder Lloyd Brock is rewarded for his performance against Cornwall a fortnight ago with a call-up to the championship side for the first time.

Oxford bowler Harvey Eltham, Tew batsman Jordan Garrett and Buckingham’s Jack Wilkins are set for their first minor county appearances of the season.

All-rounder Harry Stephens makes his championship debut for Oxon after making the switch from Berkshire.

Banbury batsman Lloyd Sabin played a major role in last year’s campaign and echoed Evans’s thoughts.

“The one-day competition did not go as well as we would have liked,” said the 21-year-old.

“All of us felt one-day cricket favoured us and we had a strong side, but it did not work out.

“We have got a pretty strong team out this weekend so we will look to bounce back quickly.”

SUNDAY’S TEAM.

Oxfordshire: Ryan (Banbury), Brock (Great & Little Tew), Cater (Buckingham), Eltham (Oxford), Garrett (Great & Little Tew), Kaufman (Old Northamptonians), Keegan (unattached), Rooney (Thame Tn), Sabin (Banbury), Stephens (Oxford), Wilkins (Buckingham).