Devon Cricket Board - Allen in county's first squad of season

Allen in county's first squad of season

DEVON have named a 13-man squad for their pre-season friendly against Cardiff MCCU at Plymouth next Sunday (March 31).

The squad is a typical one for this stage of preparations for the season ahead with the team management keen to look at possible newcomers to the side.
And there’s also room for a familiar face who hasn’t featured for a while.
Plymouth all-rounder Rob Bennett – bats and bowls away swing – comes in for a first look at county level, Bennett (pictured) learned his cricket with Yelverton before stepping up to Premier level.
Mount Wise team-mate James Toms gets another chance to show his talents. Toms hits it hard and could be a candidate for the one-day side.
Back in the fold after a couple of years when cricket hasn’t been a priority is former county vice-captain Sandy Allen.
Allen was a regular in the one and three-day sides until 2010 when work commitments started to get in the way.
Torquay’s Matt Thompson has had a firm grip on the keeper-batter slot for the past two years, topping the averages both times.
Allen is now available on a regular basis having gone through a career switch and gets a chance to stake a claim for a place.
The selectors may well be looking at Allen in a pure batting role rather than his old one.
There are places for all-rounders Peter Bradley, Liam Lewis and Matt Golding – all of whom were in squads last season.
Matt Kidd, a seamer with batting ambitions, is another who has been part of Devon’s development programme.
Devon: C Bradley (Bovey Tracey), A P W Allen (Exmouth), T S Anning (Exmouth), R Bennett (Plymouth), R J Bougourd, P Bradley, M C Golding (all Bovey Tracey), R J Holman (Exeter), M J L Kidd (Budleigh), L J Lewis (Sidmouth), M A Orchard (Exmouth), M W Thompson (Torquay), J Toms (Plymouth).
Umpires: P Mallett & R W Tolchard.

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