Devon Cricket Board - Hall urged to tie down six slot

Hall urged to tie down six slot

CORNWOOD’S Jason Hall has been urged to make the number six slot his own in Devon’s side this season.

Hall has been training with the county all winter and is in the Devon Lions XI for tomorrow’s friendly against a Devon XI at Axminster (1pm).

Devon had a look at former Cornwall and Somerset 2nd XI all-rounder Hall last season, but a combination of injuries and a league suspension derailed his chances.

A new season with some old faces gone brings a new chance for Hall, as Devon’s director of cricket Roger Newman was quick to point out.

Said Newman: “As Neil Hancock and Bob Dawson have both retired from county cricket, there is space for a batter or two.

“I think I know what the first five will be, but there is a space at six and Jason is a real candidate.

“From a technique point he has what it takes to play Minor Counties cricket. He needs to transfer that potential into runs on the board.

“I want Jason to show me he is a batter batsman than Liam Lewis, Dan Bowser or Seb Benton, who are also contenders for a place.”

Hall is one of two Cornwood players in tomorrow’s warm-up match. Mike Wood, who featured in the friendly games last season gets another chance to show what he can do.

Wood has been working in the winter nets with former England fast bowler Peter Lever, who is attached to Devon’s coaching team this summer.

Newman said it will be interesting to see how Wood has improved since last season.

“Mike swings it and what we want him to do is bowl a full length as that is how he will take wickets,” said Newman.

Plymouth’s Sam Stein gets a game in the Lions XI having been recommended to Newman by clubmate and former county player Dave Burke.

“Sam has been in the nets, he has come through a couple of assessments well and we would like to see what he can do on grass,” said Newman.

Tavistock’s Rhys Davies is included in the Lions XI, potentially as one for the future rather than straight away.

Davies keeps and bats, a department Devon are well blessed in with Matt Thompson, Cameron Grainger and Rob Holman among the candidates.

“Rhys is one for the future, but with a specialist spot like keeping you never know when you might have a crisis and this is an opportunity to see how he performs in match conditions,” said Newman.

James Burke (pictured), the former Plymouth College player who was a virtual ever-present in Devon’s Minor Counties Championship winning side last season, was due to have a knock tomorrow.

However, Somerset have re-registered Burke after releasing him midway through last season and picked him to play in a 2nd XI game against Cardiff MCCU, which started on Saturday. Sidmouth’s Luke Bess comes in as cover.

Devon: T S Anning (Exmouth), S R Benton (Paignton), C Bradley, R Bougourd (Bovey Tracey), L Bess (Sidmouth), R J Holman (Exeter), B G Huxtable (Exmouth), L J Lewis, P J Randerson (both Sidmouth), M W Thompson, N S Watkin (both Torquay), M J Wood (Cornwood).

Devon Lions: D J Bowser (North Devon), C Bryan (Paignton), M Curtis (North Devon), R Davies (Tavistock), M Golding (Bradninch), J S B Hall (Cornwood), W B R Murray (Sidmouth), M I J Plowman (Budleigh), E Rice (Budleigh), J P Richardson (Exeter), S Stein (Plymouth).

DCB Ltd, University of Exeter Sports Hall, Stocker Road, Exeter, Devon EX4 4QN Company Registration Number: 7024773