The Under 17 2009 Season
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Played |
5 |
Won on first Inns |
0 |
Lost on first innings |
2 |
Lost |
1 |
Abandoned |
2 |
Cancelled |
4 |
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The ECB Cup Competition |
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v Hampshire at Totton & Eling C.C. – Devon lost by 9 runs |
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HAMPSHIRE |
113-7 |
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DEVON |
104 |
(A.Brown 40) |
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v Somerset at Sandford C.C. – Match abandoned |
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DEVON |
4-0 (1.4 overs) |
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Matches against Wales and Worcestershire abandoned without a ball being bowled |
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The ECB Under 17 County Championship |
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v Hampshire at Totton & Eling C.C. – Devon lost on first innings |
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DEVON |
122 |
(W.Gater 42) |
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209-6 (dec) |
(M.Thompson 49, A.Brown 53, B.Huxtable 51) |
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HAMPSHIRE |
245 |
(M.Hickey 3-54, Z.Bess 3-31) |
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v Somerset at Exmouth C.C. – Match abandoned |
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DEVON |
261 |
(Z.Bess 49, W.Gater 79, M.Cousens 53*) |
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SOMERSET |
119-3 (54 overs) |
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v Sussex at Blackstone – Devon lost on first innings |
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DEVON |
161 |
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92-2 (dec) |
(Z.Bess 34*, M.Hickey 44*) |
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SUSSEX |
208 |
(M.Hickey 4-54, W.Gater 3-27) |
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Matches against Wales and Worcestershire abandoned without a ball being bowled |
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The 2009 Squad
M.Hickey (captain); M.Thompson (vice captain); Z.Bess; A.Brown; C.Bryan; A.Carr; M.Cousens; T.Durman; C.Eaves; T.Field; W.Gater; M.Golding; B.Huxtable; T.Ingham; M.Lenygon; W.Matthewman; T.Mitcham, L.Tuckett.
Around fifty-three years ago I was taken by my mother to watch a film at the local Gaumont – “The Man that never was” - a story of war time espionage. It was rerun only recently on Channel 4. The 2009 Under 17 season was most certainly “The season that never was”. From some standpoints it could be viewed as a disaster. The fact that some productive cricket was played does not put it in the total bracket and in review some really good cricket was played. No under 17 winter now seems problem free – this year injuries appeared to rule out two key performers from the successful 2008 season – Ryan Stevenson and Jonathan Debenham. Their loss would have reduced the effectiveness of the side in all three departments if suitable replacements could not be found. Realistically Ryan was replaced but JJ was not, as the spin bowling department was a major worry all summer. It was also a new experience to have a captain not only taking his A levels but striving to get into Cambridge. He was of course successful at both but unsurprisingly his major priorities possibly lay outside the cricket field. The writer will be better prepared should a similar situation arise in the future but in so many ways Matt Hickey is a one off! “You never stop learning” is a vital lesson whatever your age!
The season started with the only three consecutive days of cricket in a summer that had four similar schedules planned. The seventeens were meeting at Axminster to travel to Hampshire, leaving immediately after the conclusion of the under 16 game with Wales. The rain that brought an early conclusion to the game enabled a prompt departure and a proper meal as opposed to the proposed stop at McDonalds. Thrifty had supplied a new LDV mini-bus (a short wheel base) for the week (Cornwall was the next stop for the sixteen’s) and with it came major logistical problems. Fortunately the luggage problem was resolved with the help of travelling supporters but an urgent request was made for Ford Transits for future trips. A rare thank you to the travelling families who proved invaluable all summer with their support and assistance. This was a “getting to know you” session as there were seven players who had not been involved in winning the Isle of Wight Festival the previous August. After a damp trip up through Judy Garland rainbows and a decent night and breakfast at the Ormonde House, it was an eleven minute journey to Totton for the 50 over knock out game. Things did not look good on arrival. An under 15 game the previous day had resulted in the track, that was to be used for all three days, not receiving full covering and the rain that had followed us overnight from the West country had added to the groundsman’s problems. He started preparing the pitch as soon as was practicable and handed it over to the umpires at 11.15am. Matthew Hickey then called correctly and this vital toss was won. Hampshire would bat. In ideal seamer conditions Hampshire lost wickets. On 25 their main man the outstanding Adam Rouse helped a catch on to Thompson off the impressive Ingham. He had scored 15 with two high pedigree leg side fours. Under 16 Gibson was next to fall thanks to the same combination and at 30-2 Devon was looking a very good unit. Seventeen runs later left arm seamer Craig Eaves bowled Jamie Miller for 12. Miller had played against the twenty-ones at Axminster for the Isle of Wight. Thirty-three important runs were added by Stone, who did not play in the two day game the next day as he had a West of England trial, and King. The fourth wicket fell on 80 when the impressive Brown caught Stone off Connor Bryan. Bryan bowled his six overs at 2, a very useful contribution. Stone had batted for 108 minutes and had been the home side’s cornerstone. Brown took another almost identical catch off Alex Carr to send King back to the pavilion. The game had been reduced to forty-one overs a side and Devon was well and truly in the driving seat at 85-5 after thirty four overs. Unfortunately they did not exert the coup de grace and, instead of pressurising, gaps were left in the field which the hosts could milk. There seemed no real intention by Hampshire to hit their way out of trouble but they did not need to as they picked up over four and a half an over when runs had been and were to be a premium. The home side only scored five boundaries all innings. This was the result of a combination of good bowling and damp conditions. Hampshire was 113-7 at the end of the fortieth, Huxtable having taken two catches off Eaves and Hickey. With the benefit of hindsight the game was lost in this final stage when the screw was not turned and the missing nine runs were conceded. It just drifted. Hampshire subsequently held everything whilst Devon had failed in the field to take a couple of half chances which was another contributory factor to the end result.
At tea the balance was most certainly in our favour but it would need some light and shade. The opening partnership had both. It was a brave but totally right decision to open with Gater and Thompson. Gater had an excellent three days; some real maturity had been added to his huge natural talent – one of the real plusses of the season. Gater was given the freedom to take the game away from Hampshire as early as possible and Thompson to anchor, a role he is superbly equipped to undertake. They had put on eighteen when Gater was well held by King. Devon continued to edge towards the target when Thompson fell to the second of three outstanding catches. He did not hit the ball hard enough to beat the infield and Devon was now 34-2. It quickly became 34-3 as Hickey’s poor week with the bat commenced. He was dropped and promptly next ball caught by Miller. Huxtable joined his mate Alex Brown, who was batting really well. He was at the time another of Devon’s top order with a slight confidence problem. He most certainly need not have one. With Barnie Huxtable, Brown got Devon back into the hunt. They put on 36 in a very sensible manner. The first spin of the match was introduced and Brown’s tried and trusted counter, the sweep of various varieties, looked ideal for the conditions. After 42 minutes at the crease Huxtable gave keeper Rouse his first catch and at 70-4 Devon would now have to start digging in again. Zak Bess, who by the end of the week was back to his best, had also been suffering with self belief and succumbed second ball to give leg spinner Miller his one wicket - caught and bowled. At 72-5 forty-two were now needed. It soon became 87-7 as first Brown was well held sweeping hard at mid-wicket for an exceptional seventy-eight ball 40 and Golding was the second caught behind. Under 16 Matthewman dug in while the under 15 captain Craig Eaves hit the bad ball for four (Devon hit twelve fours and a six) but was eighth out on 101 and the third caught behind. Hampshire was now turning the screw giving the batters nothing and it became too much. Matthewman batted 34 minutes but was out at 103 and it was all over one run later when his room mate, Connor Bryan, succumbed to the third top catch of the innings giving Wright his fourth wicket and the fine figures of 4-7 off eight. A match winning spell. It is always easy to pick up the missing nine runs after the innings (we also conceded more extras) but there was a huge lesson to be learnt as the game was most certainly there for the taking, just real faith was missing. Devon was actually as good as their opponents but there was unfortunately some carry on into the two dayer. This is the huge disadvantages of playing on the same ground for three days as any baggage is carried forward.
The Oak Inn at Bank proved another good choice. Craig celebrated his birthday and SuperGates one finger lifted the LDV. With the knowledge of the one dayer comments that “no one will score three hundred on that” sparked negative rather than positive thoughts. The inability to chase 120 will also have cast some self doubt so it was to be a difficult first day of two at the well appointed Totton ground. The toss was going to be critical in order to ease the side back in. Hickey of course reverted to type and Devon batted. Whether it was a minefield or not, the perception was that it was most certainly not a road. Connor Bryan’s batting had impressed and indeed was another high point of the summer and he agreed to open, enabling Will Matthewman to continue his specific marshalling role with the lower order. He looked competent until in the third over, ten minutes into the game Lilley (no relation to Dennis) jagged one back with Bryan more concerned about the ball hitting his gloves allowing the ball to strike his elbow. It looked painful from the side and his face showed the real pain. He was whisked off to Southampton General – Hampshire parent Kevin McDonnell acted as ambulance driver and could not have been more helpful. In the three hours he was away Devon was bowled out for 122. Two fell at eight – the previous day’s hero Brown and Thompson. Brown caught behind, the keeper leg before. Sixteen were added by the captain and Huxtable with the latter bowled for 8. Hickey, having decided the previous day that he fancied the spinner Miller, smote him for a four and after 42 minutes at the crease was caught off the leggie. Devon was now 30-4(5 if you count Bryan) when the two Williams - Gater and Matthewman - applied themselves to put on 62. Both were splendid performances with Gater providing the impetus and Matthewman provided his partner with the vital stability. On 42 out of 93 Gater was caught behind for another exceptional innings. Matthewman then committed a cardinal sin. He knows his role was to be a latter Thompson and bat through with the lower order. He was out the next over – this was really annoying. 100-6/7 became 122 all-out without a major wag apart from perhaps Zak Bess who looked as though his batting confidence was being restored. Alex Carr was undefeated on 8. The injured opener returned with news of a small cracked bone that fortunately only ruled him out for a short time. He was missed in this game with both bat and ball. Devon had batted for 44 overs leaving the visitors 58 overs to make some inroads and wreak havoc. In fact only one wicket fell, in the eighteenth over and first after tea, when George was neatly stumped by Thompson off Matthewman. It had been a disappointing second days performance from all. The boundary size of the ground (very short on one side) had restricted the opportunity of the captain of bowling both his spinners in tandem which proved a hindrance. When the opportunity was taken it was the unlucky Matthewman who had to deal with the short railway boundary and his otherwise solid figures were made somewhat misleading. Both the spinners bowled well but this performance resulted in a major rethink on the balance for the rest of the summer. The mindset seemed to be wrong as Rouse advanced to a very fine hundred off 156 balls. He received good support from Gibson as he led his side off at stumps with a lead of ninety. The visitors seemed reasonably happy at their standing in the game which was unsatisfactory from Devon’s point of view. The Oak had different staff, were out of apple pie but provided nourishment. No one could have predicted what was to happen next morning. It was suggested that the home sides game plan would be to rush to 300 get all the batting points and bowl Devon out before three so we could miss the rush hour.
What did happen was one of the best sessions put on by any under 17 side! They took the remaining nine Hampshire wickets in 19.3 overs for just 35 runs. The captain opened with Ingham and Gater and, with Zak Bess and Hickey, they put on the best spell of seam bowling of the summer. Having helped put on 146 for the third wicket, the captain was the first to depart in an identical manner to the one day game. Ingham has a proven ability to remove the opposition’s top batters and Thompson did the rest. It was then a procession as it was clear that Rouse was their truly exceptional player and the real difference between the two sides. Gater bowled Miller and then trapped King in front. His six over onslaught from his unfavoured end resulted in figures of 2-9. Bess replaced Ingham (6-0-14-1) and started with a double wicket maiden, both caught behind, the first being the second top scorer, Gibson. It was now 233-6 and the remaining four wickets added just 11. After trying Carr, Joe Smith suggested to the captain that he should take over. He took 3-3 in 1.5: caught behind, caught Golding, caught and bowled. Bess had chipped in with a third when he trapped Wright in front. This had been a remarkable turnabout and restored some real self belief that had perhaps been missing the previous day. Lunch was thirty-one minutes away and Zak Bess was the wise choice of third opener in three days. Devon was comfortably placed at 23-0 off nine at lunch. Thompson and Bess took the score up to 53 when Bess was caught and bowled for the second time but this time after 86 minutes at the crease and a vital contribution of 27. Anchor Thompson and Brown took the score up to 120 a partnership of 67 when Miller caught Thompson to the surprise of all. He was looking as if he could bat through. He had been at the crease for 171 minutes facing 139 balls falling one short of his fifty. The captain came and went, stumped off the leggie, indicating that a net or two might be beneficial before the next game. Brown and Huxtable then put on three short of fifty when Brown fell in a similar way to his keeper. He at least had passed his fifty off 135 balls. Gater sadly lasted only eleven balls before he repeated his 2007 Axminster exploits and was irritatingly also stumped. Huxtable was another batter who had turned the corner during the week and was the second half centurion before he got himself out. Matthewman obeyed instructions as he watched Eaves novel approach to blocking when the Brixham all rounder lifted Miller into the groundsmans store! Hickey called them in with a couple of unspent overs. The rugby was energetic clearly displaying the change in attitude and confidence. What a difference a day makes.
Thommo was an outstanding DJ timing the arrival to Moto to perfection. He would face stiff opposition from the returning Tuckett for the Welsh trip. The post Dorchester McDonalds–Exeter journey was the slowest on record with convoys and it seemed everything else under the sun. Confidence was restored. They had been confronted by a very talented cricketer in Adam Rouse.
After the momentum built up in Hampshire it was disappointing that it could not be built on in the three days’ play against Somerset. It was not for the sake of trying as Sandford did everything in their power to get the one day game on. Indeed at ten past three the game started but only five minutes later finished! For the record Matt Hickey won the toss Matt Thompson faced nine legal balls, two wides and a no ball and Devon was 4-0 off 1.4 overs whilst Will Gater watched at the other end. One casualty of the game was the captain who was not 100% and it was fortunate that Connor Bryan had been given the go ahead to play again by the breaks clinic and he was called up for the proposed two day game at Exmouth.
For the second successive year the fixture at Exmouth ended with some animosity again not created by the players. Somerset called correctly and inserted Devon. The stand-in captain, Matt Thompson, and the under 16 captain, Zak Bess, opened. Bess after his successful second innings at Totton and early good performances for the sixteens was now the first choice opener for the rest of the summer. It was slow progress, as they put on 30 in twenty-three overs ten of which were maidens, in typical 2009 bowler friendly conditions. However all the good work was undone in the space of ten balls as Thompson (90 balls, 62 minutes) was bowled for twelve. Alex Brown was then bowled fourth ball off the first ball of the returning Meshede, whose first six overs had cost him just six runs. This was a rare failure by Brown in a summer when he impressed both with the bat and in the field. It subsequently deteriorated further as five runs later Huxtable, who scored three of them, was caught. Thirty overs had produced thirty-five runs for the loss of three quality batters. Under 16 batsman of the year, Tom Mitcham, then nearly doubled the score with his age group captain, Zak Bess, who was playing his role superbly. However with the score now on 68 Mitcham was caught for 13. Devon was now rebuilding as Bess and Gater put on 50 off just 52 balls. This was pretty impressive particularly as Gater was really under the weather. He had resisted the opportunity of returning home but had his own personal paramedic available to whisk him off. Bess’s long vigil came to an end one short of what would have been a deserved maiden under 17 half century. He had batted ten minutes short of three hours. He faced 150 balls hitting seven fours and demonstrated what a versatile cricketer he has become. Under 14s captain Michael Cousens was next in, he had made a huge impact on his under 16 debut and repeated the exercise at this level. With Will Gater the pair added 79 vital runs off just 81 delivers taking Devon to some form of respectability three runs short of the second batting point. It was an outstanding performance from them both. Gater was visibly wilting and his medical advisor was warming up the car. He eventually fell after 84 minutes at the crease, facing just 64 balls and hitting seven fours and five sixes in a Lazarus performance in scoring a match saving 79. He was immediately rushed home by a concerned mother not to return the next day. The loss of his and the captain’s bowling the next day might have been critical if the weather had not intervened. Much credit must also go to Cousens who is one of the most mature and promising cricketers produced for a long time. Despite a lack of necessary wearing apparel that restricted his running, this was a monumental contribution. It did not end with the loss of his senior partner and the early demise of Luke Tuckett. Tuckett, who had fought his way back into the side, is usually the man for the crisis but this time did not play straight and was leg before for a first ball duck. The well used cricketing expression is “add on two wickets” so this was a prime example, 197- 5 had suddenly become a much more problematic 197-7 as Rouse wreaked havoc in the sixtieth over. The eight wicket pairing secured the second batting point but was broken at 214 when Connor Bryan’s normal solid resistance failed. Cousens found a resolute ally in Will Matthewman as the pair extended the innings by a vital 56 minutes putting on another 47 runs. This was an example of batting the overs in the two day game and Matthewman’s temperament was ideal for the situation. Ashburton’s Tom Durman was making his debut and bravely pushed his own batting ability. He lasted four balls against Lintott, an unorthodox spinner. Cousens, returning to a deserved ovation, had seen the score advance by 143 runs and Devon was in a reasonable position, posting 261 in 82 overs. Cousens was unbeaten on 53, having faced 104 balls in 135 minutes at the crease and hit 4 fours. His second debut of the highest quality.
Somerset had to face twenty overs before close of play. Zak Bess opened with Toby Ingham who, with the score on thirteen, took another valuable scalp in bowling the opposition’s captain, Barrow, for 6. Tom Durman made his county bowling debut and he and Bryan had each conceded just three runs in their four over spells, leaving Somerset 28-1 at close, requiring another 233 on the second day.
On Thursday the forecast rain was hovering and delayed the start by forty-five minutes. Somerset put on another 16 in nine overs when Bryan lobbed the ball over the head of the fortunately tall Durman who ran out Contreras. Walker and the highly rated Meschede took the score up 82 when Bryan removed Meschede with a catch from Huxtable. This could have been a critical wicket and certainly slowed up the visitors who scored at only 2.17 for the remaining twelve overs to lunch. Walker had anchored and reached his fifty in the second over after the break. This was to be the last over of the game as heavy rain brought yet another abandonment. Walker had faced 141 balls, batted for 153 minutes in reaching 54. Under 16 Ellison was undefeated on 6 having batted for 45 minutes and faced 38 balls. At 119-3 the game was evenly poised although the absent senior bowlers may have created some problems later in the day.
Don McLean’s American Pie, the day the music died, might have been an appropriate track for the trip up to Wales and the three lost days with Worcestershire were when the 2009 under 17 season died. The one day game was called off before we left Exeter Services so it was fortunate that, with Joe Smith representing the MCC, his replacement was Torquay’s captain Justin Yau. We arranged to book in early at the Travel Lodge and visited Cardiff for the first time to take in a film, an eye opener for all. The evening meal went well with, to the scorer’s huge surprise, her Godson working behind the bar. Luke Tuckett was good value revealing his intellectual side leading a discussion on a recent BBC 4 programme he had shared with an Ipplepen neighbour. It was still raining and, although we had been joined by a couple of the Welsh side for breakfast, their coach arrived early with the bad news. The Gower was considered along with Gavin and Stacey’s Island but, with our off spinner departing for his driving test, ten pin bowling was the choice with lunch thrown in. The rain had stopped and the districts played themselves at golf. Unsurprisingly as always Matthewman looked the part but it ended with a playoff. The East and North chose Miles Lenygon and the South the coach. Justin held his nerve. We had a final tour of Cardiff which took in most the tourist spots. Another acceptable meal as bags were packed in the anticipation that we would be back in Devon before lunch. So we were. Three incredibly disappointing days in wet Wales. The sun was shining on our trip home.
The following week was no better, an early call from Torquay avoided anyone travelling. Disappointingly our opponents felt a visit would be worthwhile, something we had deliberately not done in Wales and were of the opinion a game of some sort could have been played. Again the second day was called off early and arrangements made for Worcestershire to use the new centre. In view of Worcestershire’s comments all attended at Sandford when, despite a 6.30am appearance from the CDM and much work by the home side, there seemed little chance of play which was confirmed when the ground was drenched again. Lunch was taken and it was time for home…..again. Our position in the table, sadly based on abandonments as opposed to deeds, meant that we would return to Blackstone to play Sussex.
The excitement of real sunshine and Thrifty’s top of the range mini-bus lasted just thirty-five minutes. For this was all this six geared Ford Transit, with sound doors and no scratches, lasted. Those infamous words “Gater we have a problem” were issued at a roundabout close to the turn off to Lyme Regis as the bus free wheeled into a restricted hard shoulder. The MAYDAY call was made at ten past three and, after contact with a number of different organisations, the final eight members of the party were airlifted to Yeovil at ten past five. The A30/A35 Incident Support Unit was thanked and had provided much needed protection. Airlifted is a slight exaggeration as although Yeovil is a manufacturing base for helicopters it was a green VW with no SatNav nor an A-Z of the town. Thommo had won the sweep stake. Frantic calls were made to ensure that the Thrifty Yeovil branch would still be open – past six o’clock. This was not Christmas weather the sun was shining over Axminster with a faultless blue sky; it was never like that when we played there! It was hot and all that was needed was an eight hour journey. The replacement mini-bus was found, the Town were of course at home and we were back on the road by twenty to seven. An hour later we were back on our original route. The Sportsman was cancelled with the Little Chef as replacement. Miles Lenygon had won the guess the weight of the cake competition; the attractive brunette waitress was eighteen. We reached the Hickstead just before eleven – the players, as they have been all season in adversary, had been exemplary. Toby Ingham commenced his apprenticeship on the Ipod with real potential, just one major error, and compared with the homeward trip his selection was out of the top drawer.
The Hickstead won the acclaimed Breakfast of the Year 2009 award and the short trip to Blackstone was undertaken with little mishap. The delightful French groundsman had departed but crucially so had last year’s caterers! Matt Hickey won the toss and Devon batted. Zak Bess played an impeccable cover drive which disappointingly did not reach the boundary. The three resulted in him facing Glover for the first time. He nicked his first ball to third slip (yes third slip) and he was on his way back. A leave might have been more appropriate. From 6-1 Devon advanced to 33 against a pumped up attack with a side that had a well rehearsed appeal. Alex Brown was on the end of a couple and it was third time unlucky when he was leg before to Cooke to be his only victim of the game, as he was not to be involved after his eighth over. The anchor, Matt Thompson, fell next at 40 when he was also leg before to off spinner Parsons. Will Gater watched his captain add a run before he was caught off his second ball by Davies off Endersby - whose first name is Devon! Any disappointment Sussex might have had at losing the toss had now evaporated. Miles Lenygon and the captain advanced the score to 65 when the fifth wicket fell as Lenygon became Endersby’s second victim. Hickey and Huxtable batted to lunch and the Devon players ate their baked potatoes at 84-5 off thirty-three overs. Post lunch another three runs were added before Huxtable departed for 17, caught Endersby, bowled Glover. The sight of Luke Tuckett appeared to put real fear into the captain, who had been batting very sensibly, as he immediately gave Parsons the charge to give a catch to slip. Devon was now in it right up to their necks – 90-7 on what appeared to be a decent track. Luke Tuckett then demonstrated why he should have been one of the first names on the team sheet and not the 2009 standby player. In the company of the mature under 16 Connor Bryan he started a minor recovery. As has been proven in the past, occupation of the crease in the two day game is a vital ingredient in any batsman's armoury and both these two demonstrated what is a very important skill. They faced 70 balls in putting on 40 vital runs. After 58 minutes at the crease and facing 70 balls, Tuckett became the third leg before, this time to spinner Taylor, for an important 29. Devon was twenty short of a batting point. Occupation and support for Connor was now needed. Tom Field lasted ten balls hitting three fours, Tom Durman twelve balls for 5, leaving the gallant Bryan unbeaten after an hour and eight minutes diligence on 15. A bonus point was acquired but the final product of 161 on one of the year’s better days was well below par. Spinner, Jack Parsons, who had taken eight against Kent, took 4-41, the fourth wicket off the penultimate ball of his full day’s quota of 25 overs. Tea was taken early as the last wicket had fallen in the prescribed time.
Fortunately Sussex did little better and this was with the assistance of two regulation dropped catches – the beneficiary being the opener, under 15 captain, Kalidasan. He would have been a useful early dismissal. As last year it was a run out that set Devon up. Last year it was JJ Debenham, whose driving test failure had filtered down to Sussex by the sea, this year it was the senior pro Toby Ingham who got a finger on a hard hit drive from Kalidasan. His fellow opener Owain Jones was out of his ground. This was a reasonable scalp as Jones had taken Surrey for 197. He had been resting up all day icing an injury so he had not had the best of days and his only involvement in the game, apart from an over fielding, lasted six balls. The second wicket partnership put on 28 before Johnson was trapped in front by the captain. One run later the home side’s captain – England batsman keeper Davies - was back in the timber pavilion. Tuckett dived forward to take a splendid catch – a really important wicket off William Gater. The fortunate Kalidasan had helped take the score up to 48 when Gater made amends for the previous lapses and bowled him. Gater’s fine form with the ball continued, he was now one of the side’s most important bowlers. The captain turned to the two Toms – Durman and Field and the importance of taking all chances was demonstrated when Endersby smashed Field to short mid wicket for Gater to take a fine catch. A subsequent nod from batter to fielder demonstrated respect! Not the bravest though as Gater rushed off to have a minute cut, a result of the catch, attended too. He subsequently held his heavily bandaged finger for all to admire. The next day he removed the bandage but milked a bite! This is where Devon missed its first trick. In not ideal light Will Gater should have been brought back into the attack to help try and pick up another couple or more wickets before close of play. Rightly Hickey brought himself back at the top end with immediate effect castling Richards – Sussex were now precariously placed at 83-3. Concerted pressure in the form of Gater from the pavilion end might have squeezed further wickets. As it was Devon meandered for the final thirty minutes, making little impression and allowing Sussex to take their score up to 100. At close of play the coach voiced his justifiable concern, as shown by the subsequent developments the next day. This had been the critical period of the match.
The Sportsman, under new management, had opened that week – no specials yet but the board was up. Not as large meals as last year, perhaps they had been too generous, hence the ram raid but Tuckett was back in place for the ten minute drive. The rain of course followed us, it rained really heavily from around 5.00am and large puddles welcomed the early breakfasters. Huxtable and Brown though had not been caught out for a second time. The start was delayed by an hour and Sussex needed another 62 for ten points. It took them until five minutes after lunch. In the form of under 15 Finch and under 14 Willway and they progressed with little alarm in the two hour session. Unreasonably an umpire did not allow Gater to bowl what could have been a crucial spell as he had been off the field. This was the second important trick missed by Devon as they have played this cricket long enough to know that the twelfth player can play an immediate part. The issue should have been pressed and if necessary the coach or manager been involved. The need for an early wicket was shown when, as soon as the two overnight batsmen were removed by Hickey, there was nothing else. Thompson took three catches, Bryan another as Sussex was bowled out off the first ball of the ninety-ninth over for 208. If only.
The inner fear was that Devon when batting again might now cock up. At 4-2 the fear was no longer inner but at the forefront of thoughts. Thompson lasted 2 balls and was identical to the Bess dismissal the previous day, caught third slip - same bowler, same fielder. The promoted Lenygon then found Endersby’s bounce difficult to handle. Fortunately Bess and Hickey recovered the situation. The captain cleared the pavilion and landed well inside the second ground with a massive six. He was unbeaten on 44 and Bess reached 34. Gater was concerned about fantasy points as Hickey increased his personal haul. The management missed the final trick as they agreed to a 6.15pm close. They should have agreed a hundred runs – this would have allowed a personal milestone in his final appearance and another point which would have put us on the same number as Somerset.
The captain played his valedictory request hour, we sampled a different McDonalds. Tuckett exacted some revenge for the late calls ups by playing some absolute rubbish. Gater was bored by the manager’s farewell and departed whist he was in mid stream. Three days on the road reminded everyone what had been lost in the summer of 2009.
A wet summer such as 2009 creates a multitude of problems. It is simply a soul destroying experience for all - players, coaches, scorers and umpires, all that is wanted by everyone is cricket. The preceding ten months is geared to playing. Devon was incredibly fortunate to have an exceptional group of players that responded amazingly well to just 40% play in the planned programme. The team was lead by Matt Hickey and Matt Thompson, who although made some mistakes kept spirits alive. Joe Smith and Justin Yau had the nearly impossible and unenviable task of motivating and encouraging in very difficult circumstances but they both did a splendid job. The intensive warm ups at Blackstone showed a general level of commitment and desire that had the remaining 60% been played could have enabled Devon to make a reasonable impression on the top division. There were weaknesses but there was also some real competition for places from the 16s and 15s and in a full summer they would have been given an opportunity, The selection for the awards in such a limited summer could have been difficult but William Gater was the standout winner of all three, he has developed into a fine young all round cricketer and man. As with the other age groups all our host grounds could not have done more, making valiant attempts to get some play in. The ECB appointed umpires also played their part. The scorer completed her multi tasking in her normal efficient and conscientious manner. Please let the 2010 report tell a story of play and sunshine.
