Devon Cricket Board - Donners backs Lye to find run-scoring touch

Donners backs Lye to find run-scoring touch

DEVON’S new director of cricket Keith Donohue is backing batsman David Lye to put his nightmare 2012 county summer behind him in the season ahead.
The hard-hitter from Exmouth topped the Premier Division averages with 717 at an average of 55.15 – good shooting by anyone’s standards.
In Devon games it was a different story with just 14 runs in five Championship innings at an average of 2.80.
Lye fared better in the one-day MCCA Cup, where he hit 73 against Oxfordshire at Challow.
Lye has appeared more than 100 times for Devon in both forms of the game since 1998 and jostles with Trevor Anning for the honorific title of ‘senior pro’ in the team.
Donohue says he is looking for the senior players he has inherited this season to produce the goods and is confident Lye will.
“I am not one for chopping or changing the team on a whim as players are not going to score runs or take wickets every time they play,” said Donohue.
“It is what you do over a series of games or a number seasons that counts, not one iffy one.
“David is a good player who has proved himself at this level again and again over the years.
“You look to your senior players to lead the way and I am confident David will be one of them.”
While Donohue is comfortable with having senior men in the side, he is well aware the side that doesn’t develop new talent will soon start slipping backwards.”
Lye is one of the established players in the Devon side for tomorrow’s friendly against the Devon Lions at Sidmouth (12.30pm).
Donohue is again having a look at players who have been under the county radar in the past.
In come Sidmouth’s Matt Cooke, Cornwood’s Matt Butterworth and Bradninch’s Will Squire.
Squire is just the sort of young player the Devon Lions development programme was set up to bring on.
Left-arm spinner Squire stepped up from D Division cricket with Kentisbeare to Premier level with Bradninch a couple of years ago and has been making steady progress since.
Devon have struggled for a reliable left-arm spinner since Chris Metters left for Warwickshire in 2010 and Squire is on the latest short-list of replacements.
“Will is left-arm orthodox and gives it a big rip,” said Donohue.
“Clearly he is a player with potential and games like this will help us assess what he can do and how we can make him a better player.”
Devon: C Bradley (Bovey), R J Holman (Exeter), J Toms (Plymouth), L F O Bess (Sidmouth), P Bradley (Bovey), J F S Dart (Budleigh), M C Golding (Bovey), L J Lewis (Sidmouth), A P W Allen, T S Anning (both Exmouth), W D Squire (Bradninch), M J L Kidd (Budleigh).
Devon Lions: M W Thompson (Torquay), J E Burke (Budleigh), D F Lye, S R Benton (both Exmouth), R W Davies (Tavistock), M R Cooke (Sidmouth), M J Butterworth (Cornwood), H Booker (Exeter), W B R Murray (Sidmouth), M A Orchard (Exmouth), R Bennett, S Stein, (both Plymouth).
Umpires: P Bamber & C Shelton.

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