The cancellation of the first days play at Exmouth without a ball being bowled confirmed that the 2008 season was the worst ever for the three elder age groups of Devon Youth Cricket as this was the sixth’s complete days play washed out. The cancellation of the second day was nothing short of ridiculous. On Wednesday there was again optimism from the coach, indeed the warm ups were commenced with a scheduled 11.30am start with David Fouracre at last able to start preparing the pitch. Ten minutes later all were back in the pavilion, lunch was brought forward to 12.30pm and within another half an hour of heavy rain play had been abandoned for the day. A further hour’s persistent rain put the second day in some doubt and for the second game running telephone numbers were exchanged with an 8.00am inspection planned for the next day. Both sides need to play, Wales to extend their lead and Devon to wipe off the eight point difference, both needing the fifth game in their schedule to count for more that the mandatory five points a no play abandonment provides. (at least that was what we thought so at the time!) Lunch was taken and the Ingham shortcut to Knowle learnt for future reference. Axminster Tesco’s self service till was experienced for the first time and wine purchased to drown the sorrows which are a result of the most depressing period of youth cricket experienced by players and management alike.

Dave Fouracre was at the ground before seven, busily working away, cutting new tracks. The good news was relayed to all before 8.30am and we were about to experience one of the best days of the summer (weather wise if not cricket), blue skies, bright sunshine, drying breeze the umpires had inspected, start 11.00am, 120 overs in the day, real optimism. Discussion with Joe Smith reveals they are not keen –surely not. Wales asked for a further look at 11.00am. The sun was beating down; all was right with the world. In this awful summer any day’s play has got to be what it is all about, young players playing cricket. How naivé we must be in Devon. A young welsh voice states an opinion, as the inspection is about to be undertaken, that it is too dangerous. One can only construe in Wales at the first hint of moisture all cricket is cancelled. The inspection determines that there will be no play! As no toss had been made the umpires are unable to intervene. One can only surmise the five guaranteed points for a non starter are the total ambition of the leading side in the table playing against the strongest Devon team of the summer. It might be poetic justice to any aspirations that Sussex/ Berkshire got in a game in to enable Sussex to now place pressure on the top sides. Having been involved in cricket for more years than one would care to remember this was the most farcical situation, a total waste of scarce resources. David Fouracre and Exmouth had done everything in their power to ensure that 24 young cricketers would get in a days play. The sun of course shone for the rest of the day, the Archers lunchtime edition heard for the third successive day, a cream tea was enjoyed in the brightest sunshine of 2008 and presumable some of the Devon players had a decent game on the beach. Wales returned home for some practice!! It had been a travesty.