Devon Cricket Board - Burke looking to seize second chance

Burke looking to seize second chance

JAMES Burke is looking to make the best of a second chance with Somerset after the county offered him an extended trial.

The Budleigh Salterton all-rounder (left) was attached to Somerset from 2008 to the middle of last season.
Somerset released Burke back to Devon before the end of last season with a message to come back again after proving his fitness.
Burke had back surgery in November 2010, but was struggling to get back to his bowling best.
After a winter playing league cricket in Cape Town, Burke feels he is close to his best again, and Somerset agree.
Said Burke, who played for Somerset in the six-wicket win over Devon at Sidmouth on Sunday: “The winter in South Africa worked out really well for me.
“I played league cricket for a club called Victoria, took good wickets and scored some runs and had no problems with my back.
“Somerset wanted to see me when I came back and gave me a First Class game to see how I got on.
“They have said they would like me to play regularly for the next couple of months and review the situation then.
“It is a second chance and I intend to make the best of it.”
Burke was an integral part of the Devon team that won the Minor Counties Championship last season, playing in six of the seven games including the win over Cambridgeshire in the final.
Somerset have to come first for Burke for the time being, but he will play for Devon when available.
“I got a lot out of playing for Devon last season and enjoyed playing,” said Burke.
“Somerset have first call on me now, but if I am available for Devon I would love to play.”
Devon will certainly want Burke to play if he can. Last season he was the counties leading run getter with 456 and finished second in the averages with 41.
Devon batted first against Somerset at Sidmouth and made 245 for six in 50 overs with Rob Holman making an unbeaten 118.
After Devon collapsed from 137 for one to 142 for five. Holman and Peter Randerson (41), stopped the rot with a stand of 85 for the sixth wicket.
Somerset knocked off the runs with more than three overs to go on the back for knocks of 93 from opener Max Waller and 94 by Tom Abell.
Trevor Anning took a couple of early wickets, but a stand of 159 between Waller and Abell broke the back of the chase.
Devon 245-6 (R J Holman 118, P J Randerson 41, M W Thompson 39; J B Lintrott 3-36), Somerset 2nd XI 246-4 (M T C Waller 93, T B Abell 94, J A Regan 41; T S Anning 2-28). Somerset bt Devon by 6 wkts.

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