Devon Cricket Board - Bess installed as new Devon captain

Bess installed as new Devon captain

DEVON have asked Sidmouth's Josh Bess to skipper the team for the rest of the season following the sudden resignation of Chris Bradley.

Bradley handed in his notice after Devon lost by two wickets to Wales at Usk on Tuesday.

His reasons for going were not performance related – Devon defeated Cornwall in their opening game – but the age-old problems of balancing work, family life and cricket.

Bradley had also been playing on in increasing pain due to a shoulder injury that he requires surgery on.

Bess, who is 25 in August, has been virtually a permanent fixture in the side since breaking into it in 2007. He has played for the Minor Counties U25s and also triailled with Surrey and Gloucestershire.

A fast-bowling all-rounder who bats at five in the county side, Bess was man of the match when Devon defeated Cambridgeshire under Bradley’s leadership to win the Minor Counties crown in 2011.

Bess is the first to admit he hasn’t a huge amount of captaincy experience outside college and Devon age-group cricket, but neither he or the Devon committee who made the appointment see that as an issue.

“I am always thinking about the game during the match and like to think I have a good cricket head,” said Bess.

“Playing under previous captains such as Bob Dawson, Neil Hancock and Chris Bradley you watch and learn – and that is what I have been doing.

“I am looking forward to being more fully involved and helping Devon win matches.”

Keith Donohue, Devon’s director of cricket, said he thought Bess was the right man for the job.

‘There are certain qualities you need in a captain – an upright and solid character – and Josh clearly has those,’ said Donohue.

‘I don’t see Josh’s lack of captaincy experience as a problem as he has played a lit of three-day cricket.

‘If he brings to the job the same tenacity and determination he shows as a player, he will do a fine job.’

Departing skipper Bradley has said very little about his resignation, apart from a short statement.

‘Over the past two and a half years I have really enjoyed the opportunity to captain Devon and tried to do it to the best of my ability,’ said Bradley.

‘I want to say a big thank-you to everyone for their support, guidance, advice and company.’

Neil Gamble, Devon’s chief executive, threw a bit more light on Bradley’s decision in his statement.

‘Chris has found that increasing family and work commitments have made it impossible for him to give the time to the position that he would have wished.

Devon CCC is delighted that Chris wishes to continue playing for the county, and thanks him for his efforts in leading the team over the last two years, including the win over Cambridgeshire in the Championship final in 2011.’

One of the first jobs for the new captain is to select a side to face Herefordshire at Colwall starting a week today.

Batsman Rob Holman and Seb Benton both return to the selection picture, but keeper-batter Matt Thompson isn’t available. Callum Whittaker who played as a batsman against Wales and made 68 on his debut will almost certainly don the gloves.

One player guaranteed a place is Whittaker’s Plymouth clubmate James Toms, who marked his Devon debut with a second-innings century.

Only six players had scored maiden tons on their debuts before in the 112 years Devon have been in the Minor Counties Championship.

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