Devon Cricket Board - Overton twins in Devon's 16 for Cornwall

Overton twins in Devon's 16 for Cornwall

AVAILABILITY issues are behind Devon’s decision to name a provisional 16-man squad for Sunday’s Minor Counties Trophy group game against Cornwall at Instow.

The 16 includes England U19s twins Craig and Jamie Overton, who are Instow locals, plus North Devon club-mates Glenn Querl and Dan Bowser.

None of the four were in the squad for Sunday’s cancelled trip to Welwyn to play Hertfordshire.

Spinner Max Curtis, ex-of North Devon but now with Exmouth, has been added to the squad as well.

Missing from the Welwyn squad is early order batsman Rob Woodman, who has to work.

Devon’s problem is that there could be competing claims for the Overtons, Querl and possibly James Burke which they can do nothing about.

Querl, North Devon’s professional, may be England qualified but plays in Zimbabwe during the winter. He has been in the Unicorns Pro40 squad for the past three seasons and has been trialling with Somerset 2nd XI recently.

If the Unicorns come calling for Querl, Devon are obliged to release him.

The Overton’s are on the Somerset staff already, but are dual registered with Devon as their home county.

As England U19 players they need ECB clearance to play, which has been obtained, and Somerset are happy to loan them to Devon with strings attached.

The strings are both twins are in an extended Somerset squad for the LV=Championship game against Lancashire starting on Thursday.

As Somerset have injury problems, they could call on one or both twins to help out. And as Burke is also dual registered, there is a possibility he may be required as well.

“Because of uncertainties over availability and injury concerns, the size of the group is larger than usual,” said Devon’s chief executive Neil Gamble.

“By later in the week the picture should be clearer.”

Devon and Cornwall go into the game all square after both were rained off in the first round.

Cornwall were due to play Oxford at St Austell, but that match also fell foul of the weather.
Devon (squad): J E Burke (Budleigh), R J Holman (Exeter), M J Wood (Plymtree), D J Bowser (North Devon), D F Lye (Exmouth), J J Bess (Sidmouth), M W Thompson (Torquay) G R Chappell (Bradninch), T S Anning (Exmouth). C Overton, J Overton , R G Querl (all North Devon), P J Randerson (Sidmouth), C Bradley, R Bougourd (both Bovey)

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