Rob Foster, Shrewsbury’s in-form batsman, is impressed how some of the club’s younger players have made the most of their chance to shine in the opening weeks of the season.

The likes of Lewis Evans and Bradley Thornton have helped Shrewsbury win all three of their Birmingham League premier division matches in the early weeks of the campaign.

Tyler Ibbotson, who was in and out of the club’s first and second teams last season, has also played a key role, with his displays earning him a call up to Shropshire’s new Twenty20 side.

Shrewsbury are 14 points clear at the top of the premier division ahead of Saturday’s home clash against Dorridge (noon start).

Foster, who hit a century in last weekend’s 148 run victory over Barnt Green, said: “We’ve lost some very good cricketers from last year’s team in Ollie Westbury, Tim Ward and Sam Griffiths.

“Dillon Pennington’s also progressing to bigger and better things, which is always good, but it’s nice to see lads like Lewis, Tyler and Brad come in and take their chance really, the opportunity to progress and do well.”

Foster now hopes Shrewsbury can maintain their high early season standards.

He said: “Momentum’s a big thing in sport, a feelgood factor, people want to play, so hopefully we can just keep it going as long as possible and you never know.”

Shrewsbury are now looking forward to hosting Dorridge, with Foster stressing the London Road side will need to play well against a team captained by influential Herefordshire allrounder David Ball.

“David Ball has been there a long time and he’s a good cricketer," he added. “Against any team in the premier, if you’re not on your game, you can come up short, so it’s just up to us to keep turning up and putting in performances really.”

Shrewsbury will make one change from the team which beat Barnt Green with leg spinner James Hulton-Harrop replacing unavailable skipper Ben Stebbings. Vice-captain Will Parton will lead the side.