APRIL 17, 2009
DEVON skipper Bob Dawson is looking for a batsman and a bowler to push themselves forward from the ranks of the possibles in tomorrow's game against the University of Exeter at Exmouth (11am).
The team contains the usual mixture of established players in search of match practice and those judged worth a look for future reference.
Dawson has a pretty good idea what his side will be for the Minor Counties KO Cup opener against Cornwall next Sunday: it will feature at least 10 of the players who won the trophy by beating Berkshire at Lord's last August.
Once Cornwall are out of the way the situation is a lot less straightforward, which is why the three pre-season warm-up matches (this is the last of them) are so important.
“Once we get into May we have three cup games on successive Sundays – and I need a batter and a bowler for all of them,” said Dawson.
“James Hudson can play in this game and against Cornwall, but starts at a new college in early May and I have no idea when we will see him again. He's the batter I have to replace.
“Ian Bishop is banned throughout May, which leaves me short of my most experienced seam bowler.
“Anyone who scores runs or takes wickets in the warm-up games will be at the front of the queue when we start looking for replacements.”
Among the players given a chance are Bradninch opener Richard Foan, whose form at county level cost him what had been a regular place last season.
North Devon batsman Dan Bowser gets a game having graduated through the county youth set up.
Neil Hancock, Andy Procter, Chris Mole Scott Barlow and David Court, all of whom played in the Lord's triumph, aren't available for selection tomorrow but will feature against Cornwall if available.
Barlow isn't available to Devon tomorrow as he is required by the university, where he is a third-year student.
Part of the purpose of tomorrow's match is to look at players who will be required over the season, not just for one-day cricket but three-day action in the Minor Counties Championship.
Court, Procter and Hancock are all unlikely to feature in the longer version of the game, which is why youngsters like Dan Bowser (North Devon) and Gary Chappell (Bradninch) are being looked at.
For the students the game part of their preparations for the start of the looming BUSA Championship, which begins with a game against Leeds-Bradford next Friday.
New skipper Chris Travers, who played a handful of times for Exmouth last season, has targeted a place in the BUSA semi-finals as a minimum requirement this season. A good performance against Devon will set the team up nicely.
The University generally has some interesting players in its line-up and tomorrow's is no exception.
Players Devon may be interested in are opening batsman Matt Surry, recently of Essex 2 nd XI, and seamer Richard Stevens who is attached to the Surrey Academy.
Stevens comes highly recommended by Gareth Townsend, the former Devon batsman who is academy director at Surrey.
Devon: R I Dawson, A P W Allen (both Budleigh), J M Hudson (Paignton), D F Lye (Exmouth), J J Bess (Sidmouth), G Chappell (Bradninch), I E Bishop (Budleigh), T S Anning (Exmouth), R J Foan (Bradninch), D J Bowser (North Devon), N Gingell (Sidmouth).
University of Exeter: M P Surry, R V Rai, A H L Fellows, D R J Cranfield-Thompson, H A Barton, C G Travers, P B C James, S Barlow, R F Stevens, A W H Carroll, N James.
Umpires: J Hicken & C Shelton.