Devon Cricket Board - Wood will be an asset for Devon

Wood will be an asset for Devon

DEVON’S director of cricket Roger Newman is glad to have former Somerset and Notts batsman Matt Wood back on board with his native county for the rest of the season.

Wood, who retired from First Class cricket at the end of the 2010 season, had a ten-year career in the First Class game, clocking up more than 6,000 runs in all cricket.

He always retained close links with Devon though – giving up time in the close season to coach the youth squads – and was keen to go back to Minor Counties cricket when the time came.

Devon couldn’t pick Wood last season as competition rules only allow one former pro with more than 40 games – and they already had ex-Gloucesteshire batter Bob Dawson.

Dawson retired at the end of last summer, allowing Devon the option of selection Exeter-born Wood again.

Wood, who featured for Devon between 1998-2004, finally made his debut second time around in the rain-ruined game against Bedfordshire at Bovey Tracey on Monday. Two previous attempts fell foul of the weather.

Newman said Wood quickly settled into the time and didn’t waste any time showing his worth.

“In the first couple of overs he ran out Steve Stubbings with a superb piece of fielding,” said Newman.

“At first I thought he had taken too long over his throw, but he hadn’t. He was setting himself to make sure he didn’t miss – and he didn’t.

“It was a professional piece of cricket from an old pro and the other lads in the team took their lead from him.

“Other than one dropped catch in the slips, we didn’t put a foot wrong.

“The captain, Chris Bradley, had a word with Matt a few times and whatever advice he was given was clearly positive.

“Chris is his own man and isn’t afraid to make his own decisions, but when you have an ex-pro with Matt’s experience around you would be daft not to use it.

“From my position it is a win-win situation for everyone.

“Chris Bradley is a strong captain and he is being supported by a Devon-born ex-pro with a huge knowledge of the game.

“Both those things make my job so much easier. The team is in good hands on the pitch while I can concentrate on the bigger picture off it.”

Newman said although beating Bedfordshire would have helped Devon’s qualification chances, one thing had not changed.

“We can’t win the division now, but we can still qualify in second place,” said Newman.

“To do that we will have to win our game at Oxfordshire in two weeks time, which we would have had to do anyway had we beaten Bedfordshire.

“Either Cornwall or Hertfordshire will win the group as none of the rest of us can catch them. They have to play each other yet, which will decide it.

“So one of them, ourselves of Oxfordshire will finish second. By the time we get to Oxfordshire we will know what we have to do, which will help.

“If more than one of us are level on five points then it will be run rate which decides it.”

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