Devon Cricket Board - Cardiff MCCU place for Thompson

Cardiff MCCU place for Thompson

TORQUAY cricketer Matt Thompson is set to be playing First Class cricket next season after topping the batting averages for Devon in the Minor Counties Championship.

Thompson (pictured) averaged 43 in the Devon side that beat Cambridgeshire in the play-off game to clinch the Minor Counties title outright.

The former Torquay Boys’ Grammar School pupil is in his second year studying at UWIC in Cardiff.

UWIC feeds players into the Cardiff MCCU, squad as does Glamorgan, and Thompson learned this week he will be one of them.

There are five MCCU operations – Durham, Cambridge, Oxford and Loughborough are the others – who play a selection of games against First Class counties between early April and late May.

Thompson, who at 18 became Devon’s youngest centurion in Minor Counties cricket when he took a ton off Herefordshire in 2010, played for UWIC last season and will continue to turn out for them when other commitments allow.

Thompson has revealed those commitments could include turning out for the Unicorns in the Pro40 competition.

The Unicorns – a side made up of players from outside the professional game – compete against the major counties in the national one-day tournament.

“I have been told to expect a call from the Unicorns about a trial in the near future, which is encouraging,” said Thompson.

Having had six weeks off since the domestic season ended, preparations for 2012 start in early November.

“Training starts next week with two strength and conditioning sessions,” said Thompson.

“The it is three hitting sessions as week, a well as fitness most weeks, all the way through to next June.”

Thompson (20) is a product of the Devon youth system, having been talent spotted for the U10s team back in 2002. He played all through the age groups for Devon, graduating to the full county side in 2010.

Jim Wood, chairman of the Devon Cricket Board, said he was delighted to hear Thompson had been elevated to the MCCU squad.

“Matt has worked hard on his game and deserves everything that comes his way,” said Wood.

“He is a smashing lad and is already putting something back in by coaching one of the younger age-group sides.”

Thompson is the second of Devon's young cricketers to win an MCCU place in recent weeks. The other is Budleigh's Charles Morris, who has been invited to join the Oxford squad for 2012.

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