Wolverhampton captain Simon Lycett reckons his side must learn to cope without star bowler Sairaj Bahutule as they continue to wait for the Indian’s arrival.

The spinner, who led the Danescourt attack last summer, has signed up to return for a second season.

But Bahutule is not scheduled to arrive in England until the end of May and Lycett insists Wolverhampton must press on without him.

The skipper said: “He is a big loss to us at this time of the season, but we are confident that we can pull together.”

Bahutule chipped in with a mass of wickets and useful runs last season, but his cricketing commitments in India have meant him missing the opening month of this Birmingham League campaign.

Lycett will be missing another key performer when his side return to action against Shrewsbury at Danescourt on Saturday, with seamer Jack Snape missing due to his final exams at university.

His place goes to all-rounder Chris Lowe, while Lycett has opted to change the balance of his side with bowler Guy Williams replacing batsman and former captain Andy Mackelworth.

That decision comes despite a batting collapse last week, when they were dismissed by Knowle and Dorridge for 146.

Lycett admitted the total was at least 50 runs below-par but he was pleased with his bowlers, who took just two wickets but ensured K&D had to bat for 36 overs.

He said: “It was a tough game for us and we performed poorly with the bat.”