APRIL 2, 2009
TORQUAY skipper Justin Yau gets an early chance to impress Devon's selectors as he has a place in the warm-up game against Cardiff UCCE on Sunday.
The 50-over friendly at Exeter (noon) is one of three pre-season games booked by Devon. The others are Streets2Arena CC – a development team drawn largely from the Asian Community in the West Midlands – and the University of Exeter.
Devon start the serious business of defending the Minor Counties KO Cup they won at Lord's last season when Cornwall visit Exmouth on April 26. So Devon only have three games – weather permitting – to hone their plans for the season.
That's why wicketkeeper Yau gets an early chance to impress as there are not too many opportunities for Devon to look at possibles for the season.
Budleigh Salterton's Sandy Allen is Devon's No.1 stumper, but if he is injured or not available, the county has a problem.
Opening batsman Chris Mole used to keep wicket for the England Board XI, but skipper Bob Dawson does not like asking him to double up.
Former Exeter keeper Will Hanson has been brought in before, but he now lives in London and is work commitments limit his availability in the first half of the season.
Yau, who has come up through the Devon youth ranks while with Torquay, is an obvious candidate given his county pedigree.
Barton seamer Jack Porter is another player who has the chance to stake a claim for a problem position in the Devon ranks.
Devon are going to be a seamer short for the first month of the season as Budleigh's Ian Bishop has to serve a five-match league ban. Devon won't pick him during the league ban, but will play him before the league season starts.
As Minor County-qualified opening bowlers are hard to find in the Premier and A Divisions of the league due to the proliferation of overseas players, it is no surprise that Porter has been drafted in.
A third newcomer in the side is Bradninch batsman Dan Hardy who, like Porter and Yau, is a graduate of the county youth network.
Devon: R I Dawson (Budleigh), J Yau (Torquay), N D Hancock (Sidmouth), L Gregory (Plympton), J J Bess (Sidmouth), I E Bishop (Budleigh), S Barlow (Sidmouth), J Porter (Barton), D Hardy (Bradninch), C L Metters, T S Anning (both Exmouth).
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