Devon Cricket Board - Devon have selection issues for Cornwall Cup trip

Devon have selection issues for Cornwall Cup trip

DEVON look like having some late fine-tuning to do before settling on a side to face Cornwall at Redruth in the Minor Counties Cup.

Missing from the team which lost to Hertfordshire at Instow last time out are opening batsman Rob Woodman and all-rounder Neil Hancock.

The return of all-rounder Liam Lewis and opening bat Rob Holman to the original 12 named to go to Redruth, which also included Instow 12th man Matt Kidd, appeared to put Devon back on an even keel.

Then Lewis was forced to pull out due to work commitments, leaving director of cricket Keith Donohue with a headache.

“We are left with the bare eleven at the moment, and don’t have the balance of the squad quite right,” said Donohue.

“Losing Liam again is a bit of a blow as he does a good job with either bat or ball in his hand.

“With Hanks out of this one anyway, ideally we need another bowler for the middle overs.

“I am waiting for a couple of players to get back to me about their availability – and keeping my fingers crossed no one else drops out!”

High on Donohue’s list of players to sound out will be Ryan Bougourd, the miserly Bovey Tracey medium pacer who featured all last season. Work commitments have prevented him playing so far this term.

Sidmouth’s Will Murray has his supporters and certainly wouldn’t look out of place bowling the middle overs.

Donohue hasn’t ruled out adding an extra batter to the squad as well, recognising where Devon have been going wrong this season.

“We have lost both previous games in the cup – and for the same reason every time,” said Donohue.

“Against Oxfordshire we were20-30 short and against Hertfordshire at Instow we needed at least 240.

“In both games we were 80 for five give or take – and that’s why we haven’t scored enough runs.

“Matt Golding and Matt Thompson have gone well down the order, but we need a few more before they do their bit.”

Donohue may be tempted to shunt Golding up the order – he is a batter who bowls in club cricket for Bovey Tracey – or bring in an additional player such as Exmouth’s Seb Benton.

Devon against Cornwall is usually a spicy game – border skirmishes can be like that – and Donohue expects another.

“We probably can’t qualify now unless it rains on everyone else for the next two games and we beat Cornwall and Bedfordshire,” said Donohue.

“Cornwall are still very much in it and will want to beat us to boost their chances,” said Donohue.

“You always like to put one over on your neighbours though and that’s what we will be aiming to do.”

Devon: J E Burke (Budleigh), R J Holman (Exeter), D F Lye (Exmouth), M J Wood (Plumtree), J J Bess (Sidmouth), M W Thompson (Torquay), G R Chappell, T S Anning (both Exmouth), M C Golding, C Bradley (both Bovey Tracey).

DEVON Lions are off to Oxfordshire on Friday for a T20 double header.

The opposition are Oxfordshire MCCU in their picturesque ground The Parks.

It’s a long trip to Oxford and to make it worthwhile two games have been arranged.

Devon will have a different captain in each one with Luke Bess and Jack Dart taking it in turns.

Oxford MCCU will be led by Charlie Morris, the former Devon fast bowler who played for Budleigh Salterton last season.

Devon (squad): L F O Bess (Sidmouth), J F S Dart (Budleigh), C Evans (Exeter), R Bennett (Plymouth), J E Burke (Budleigh), R W Davies (Tavistock), M C Golding (Bovey), M H Curtis (North Devon), J P Richardson (Exeter), J H J Mailling (Plympton), M J L Kidd (Budleigh), M W Thompson (Torquay).

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