Devon Under 17s
2000 Season 's Report
Played 4 Won 0 Lost 0 Drawn 1 Lost on First Innings 3
The ECB Under 17 County Championship
v SOMERSET at North Perrott C.C. – Match Drawn
SOMERSET 227 all out (T.Wright 3-32)
DEVON 168-9 (S.Edmonds 67, J.Gibson 56)
v CORNWALL at Tavistock C.C. - Devon lost on first innings
DEVON 152 all out (N.Price 42*)
152-3 (R.Foan 49, S.Edmonds 33)
CORNWALL 201-8 dec (D.Field 3-46)
v DORSET at Dean Park, Bournemouth - Devon lost on first innings
DEVON 351-5 (S.Edmonds 84, T.Wright 156)
DORSET 353-9 (S.Edmonds 4-51)
v HAMPSHIRE at Budleigh Salterton C.C. - Devon lost on first innings
DEVON 225 all out (R.Foan 86, T.Beer 34)
HAMPSHIRE 268 all out (N.Price 3-54, S.Edmonds 3-35)
The 2000 Squad S.Edmonds (Captain), R.Foan (vice captain) T.Beer, M.Bettis, N.Bettis, E.Buckland, D.Field, J.Gibson, N.Gingell, B.Glover, I.Jack, G.Larcombe, C.Lanyon, D.Lobb, N.Price, D.Waistell, T.Wright.
Despite the fact that the under 17’s suffered no outright defeats this has to be put down as a very disappointing season as no wins on first innings were achieved and, perhaps even more depressing, there was no discernable improvement over the season. This side more than most has to start accepting responsibility and not attributing lack of success to outside influences. Having recently heard Bob Woolmer for the second time, there is no doubt that this squad can take something from his thoughts. Individuals will have to start looking at themselves and replace we were poor today with I was poor today. In addition it becomes increasingly tiresome to hear the umpire the continual villain of the piece. From my very limited experience of umpiring, I would say that without doubt the leg before decision is one of the easier ones to give but also the one that is most disputed by batsmen. If a batsman is continually out leg before, he should perhaps look at his technique rather than blame the umpire! If the side is to develop and, more importantly progress, there has to be a change in attitude. Sermon over - they are actually a very decent group of blokes. In their defence the elements, in particular the rain, was a reason that they did not perform so well in the first two games. They were involved in a two-day thriller at Bournemouth, which in the end could have gone either way, but, with the exception of the openers, the batting against Hampshire was abysmal!
The season started when rain was more prevalent than sunshine and we travelled to North Perrott Cricket Club in Somerset. The ground is well appointed having been recently refurbished and offered a fine venue to start the season. When play started 12 minutes late due to heavy rain, Devon immediately got stuck in. A catch by the skipper at mid-off removed his opposite number, Gange, and Tom Wright bowled the other opener to leave an under strength Somerset 15-2. This brought together at the crease the King’s leading batsmen, Webley and Hudson, who had been murdering School attacks all season. The Somerset management was interested to see how they responded against a county attack and to Devon’s great credit the answer was with difficulty, as Webley dug in but worked the ball well in the mid-wicket area and Hudson fought hard. The very promising Nat Price, who joins the Somerset Academy this year, knocked back Hudson’s off stump and Somerset were in real trouble at 50-3. Webley showed the ability that has resulted in a contract with his county by grinding out the runs but rarely looked in any difficulty. His fifty took 164 minutes and shows how well Devon were bowling, with Gary Larcombe (19-16-22-1) and his left arm partner Richard Foan (20-5-27-0). The fourth wicket partnership put on 67 when another fine Somerset prospect, Gareth Andrews, was well held by a diving Larcombe off the recently introduced James Gibson. The fifth wicket fell at 125 and Devon was well and truly in the driving seat at 152-6. The vital wicket was always going to be that off Webley and he featured in a key seventh wicket partnership of 44. He was eventually the eighth batsman to fall at 198 having batted with great character for 4 hours 28 minutes for his 104 off 258 balls. Tom Wright extracted some revenge for being put over the pavilion by the batsman in reaching his century by trapping him leg before (no complaints from the fielding side!!). The ninth wicket fell at 204 and the game was interestingly poised. Devon attacked and went for the jugular but sadly gave away 23 runs in the process, which psychologically was not good as Somerset ended on 227 off 588 balls which to the visitors credit included no wides or no balls. Tom Wright bowled well for his 3-32 off eighteen and Chris Lanyon's spell of 2-15 off seven was perhaps his best for the county.
A tricky 30 minutes batting was the product of a reasonable bowling and fielding performance and after the ten overs that night Devon had lost both openers for seven runs. Not encouraging! An horrendous overnight storm left the ground sodden the next day and the start was delayed with 1 hour’s play being lost. After one over Somerset discovered that their keenness to enter the fray was optimistic as they could not get any footholds. The game then restarted properly after lunch at 1.30pm. Richard Foan only lasted eight minutes and Devon were now in crisis at 9-3. A wide slash by Tom Wright resulted in the side facing a huge uphill task at 17-4. The skipper led the way and, in the company of the under 16 captain James Gibson, batted with great resolution on an awful, rain-affected track and against a very fine bowling attack. The pair put on 130 (198 minutes; 427 balls) in a very resourceful fashion, running well and displaying great technique. The partnership was taking the side to a position of safety as they both looked in total control of the situation. After facing 225 balls and batting for over three hours for his 56 Gibson gave a catch and Devon were 147-5 and had 26 overs left to either score the 80 runs for a first innings lead or more realistically to avoid losing the last five wickets. Edmonds then completed the sin of sins, getting out four balls after his partner when he was caught behind for 67. He had shown great patience and skill in batting for 228 minutes, facing 223 balls, hitting 9 fours and had shown a wonderful example to his side. He must however learn to bat on as this is not the first time that he has got out when really well set. The danger bell was now ringing as Nat Price fell at 149 but Daniel Lobb batted very well for 52 minutes when Somerset reintroduced their leg spinner into the attack and Lobby started to work him to backward square and at the third attempt gave a catch, 161-8 with ten overs remaining. Chris Lanyon batted 48 balls for his one but fell with twenty balls left. Edward Buckland battled away, finishing 2 not out off 34 balls and, in spite of having great difficulty in reading the googly, with some luck survived but set the heart pounding in the pavilion. Gary Larcombe, one of the all time great corridor leavers, did it out in the middle and survived his eight balls as Devon struggled to a draw. It was a great effort particularly by Edmonds and Gibson. The home side went on to win the group and quarterfinal, only to fall at the semi-final stage when they were beaten by Essex.
Rain was in the air virtually throughout the two-day game on the moor at Tavistock where we were exceptionally well looked after and they could not have been more helpful in extremely difficult weather conditions. Steven Edmonds lost the toss and his side was inserted as Cornwall were out to reverse their close defeat on the same ground the previous year. With Buckland putting school before county we drafted Daniel Waistell late into the side and express our thanks to him for coming to the side’s rescue. He was seventh out as Devon collapsed to 52-7, with rain having interfered in the innings more than once. Nat Price who in the previous game had shown his great potential with the ball now showed the side that he was no mean batsman. With Chris Lanyon the pair put on 44 invaluable runs. Lanyon was unfortunately run out when he was starting to dominate for a 75 ball 21 which had taken 72 minutes and taken the score to 96. Price was then joined by another under 16, David Field, who showed everyone that he was not a number eleven (see under 16 report). The pair was exceptional as they fought for over an hour to put on 56 runs off 108 balls. Field was the first to depart for an excellent 25 (55 balls; 63 minutes) at 152. Gary Larcombe lasted seven balls before he was trapped leg before at the same score. Nat Price had shown his elders what was needed on such a track and had batted for 145 minutes facing 120 balls for an undefeated 42 that was probably worth a hundred in the conditions. Devon all out for 152 off 72.4 overs. Now it was time to take a couple of wickets in the 39 minutes before close of play. No wickets were to fall that night as rain curtailed play after four minutes play and Cornwall left to spend their third night at their hotel as they had arrived a day early for the fixture!
Next day conditions were certainly better than the first day as the Cornwall opening pair had put on 99 when Field took the first of his three wickets as he took a caught and bowled. Nat Price in his second spell took two wickets in six balls as Cornwall rocked to 105-3 and Devon were fighting back. James Gibson removed the dangerous Pearce and Field took two more wickets but by now Cornwall had taken first innings lead. With our short leg in for nearly the entire innings Foan and Larcombe took a wicket a piece as Cornwall declared in four overs less than the home side with eight wickets down one run past 200. Price finished with 2-21 off twelve and Field 3-46 off sixteen overs. It was now time to try and restore some reputations as Devon batted again. With newcomer Nick Gingell injured, last year’s opening pairing of Beer and Foan were reunited and they put on 72 in 69 minutes. Foan was to go first, one short of his 50. He had hit six fours and faced 53 balls. Tom Beer and the captain took the score to 113 when Beer was trapped in front. James Gibson was given licence to let rip and hit a six and two fours in a twelve-ball undefeated 18. The captain was leg before for a useful 33, which had taken three minutes short of an hour, and he had faced 57 balls. Daniel Lobb played a couple of delightful shots as Devon equalled their first innings score for the loss of three wickets in 41 overs. Some reputations restored.
Our first visit to the fine Dean Park ground was to provide two decent days of weather and a very close encounter with Dorset who were owed one after their one sided victory in 1999. Edmonds called correctly and his side were to have first use of a belter. Foan and Beer put on 34, Beer and Edmonds 66, Edmonds and Wright 137. This was another fine partnership and with the benefit of hindsight, if it had lasted another ten minutes would have won Devon the game. The partnership lasted 107 minutes and the pair faced 202 balls as they destroyed the attack of Dorset who looked only a shadow of the vibrant side of the previous year. After batting for 166 minutes facing 154 balls and hitting eight deliveries to the boundary, Edmonds was run out when he was in complete command, falling sixteen runs short of his elusive second county century. Wright was now past his fifty, which had taken 86 minutes and 85 balls. James Gibson and Nick Gingell gave Wright support as he advanced to his hundred. His second fifty took 45 balls and his hundred had taken him 158 minutes. Gingell was out at 297 and it was Daniel Lobb’s turn to help the side reach a declaration total. The two left-handers batted well together as they put on 54 in 30 minutes. Wright passed his second one hundred and fifty in three under 17 innings and was undefeated on a county best 156 (183 balls, 219 minutes, 22 fours). This was another major innings from Wright and if only he can remove the shot he played against Somerset two years running from his repertoire he will complete many more. Edmonds declared at 351-5 off 94 overs leaving Dorset hopefully an uncomfortable eight overs batting. It was important that wickets were taken in this spell but Dorset hung on to be 2-0 at close of play.
The openers put on another forty runs before both fell at the same score as Foan and Edmonds took wickets. A third wicket partnership put on 62, the fourth 72 and the fifth 118. So at 294-5 Dorset needed 57 runs off 78 balls with the track playing beautifully. Dorset may well have the upper hand but the skipper had other thoughts as he started to pitch the ball up and bowled his first really telling spell of the season. In four overs he took three wickets (two bowled, one caught behind) for 16, this only because his penultimate over went for 10, and Dorset suddenly realised they were no longer cantering. After 120 overs with just one ball left Dorset needed one run and Devon one wicket, an amazing climax to a two-day game, the record sadly shows that J.Elliott Square scored a two. Disappointment all round but Devon had at least clawed their way back into a game which by mid afternoon had appeared to have been lost. Edmonds finished with 14-1-51-4.
The last under 17 game of the season was to be played at Budleigh Salterton who continued their fine reputation of being first class hosts to the county. Edmonds made it three toss wins out of four and his side batted. Richard Foan and Tom Beer produced a century opening partnership, although both would concede that lady luck was on their side as the ball seamed around in and out of hands. Foan was at his majestic best and that maiden county century beckoned. However shock horror Hampshire held a catch and Foan departed at 86. With Beer he had put on 121 (168 minutes; 286 balls) and he had faced 147 balls with fourteen fours. Two runs later his partner was also caught and the slide had started. Gingell, Price, Lanyon, Field and Lobb all contributed scores in double figures but Devon lost all ten wickets for only a meagre 104 runs more with Field out leg before first thing on the second day – not a great team batting performance. Hampshire were 42-2 and then 126-3 with Snell and Faulkner both out but most of their batsmen chipped in and they gained first innings points in the 94th over. Devon never gave in and Price and Edmonds bowled well both taking three wickets whilst Lobb picked up three fine catches behind, one a memorable one-handed effort. Hampshire batted on for another batting point allowing Devon to pick up another bowling point which was not to have much affect on our final placing well down at the bottom of the table picking up the wooden spoon.
It is sometimes difficult to be positive after a poor season but there were encouraging signs. The under 16 players made important contributions although it was unfortunate that Neil Bettis only made one appearance. Experience at under 19 level was gained by a number of players and this will put them in good stead. The batting was perhaps the biggest disappointment and players should be looking for big scores and not be satisfied with 50 or even 80. Partnerships remain key and the more decent partnerships that can be strung together the better the final total will be. Batsmen have got to learn to bat on particularly after a reasonable partnership when they must make a determined effort to bat on in another decent partnership. The spinning options at this age group are encouraging and there should be keen competition in 2001. The seam bowling competent, the keeping good and the fielding acceptable although we must take a higher ratio of chances. To continue the recent success of the under 19 squad it is important that we stick to the basics of bowling straight, giving nothing away in the field and batting in a positive manner. There is sufficient talent in this group and this year’s under 16’s to be optimistic of turning around this poor season but it will be down to determination, fight and commitment. The captain Steven Edmonds set the right example on several occasions with both bat and ball and must be wondering why his side has not been more successful in the past few seasons, something that has crossed most of our minds.
The annual thanks to our two excellent host clubs Tavistock and Budleigh Salterton, our ever reliable and impartial umpires and to two key members of the squad –coach David Gibson and the scorer. David has made a huge impact on the side and is a vital link. The scorer approaching her tenth season undertakes much of the unseen spadework that is so vital.
The D.H.Watkins Trophy for the Young Cricketer of the Year was awarded to Steven Edmonds.