Devon Cricket Board - Devon up for date with leaders

Devon up for date with leaders

DEVON will need to up their game a notch or two for the tussle with Western Division leaders Cheshire starting at Bowdon tomorrow.

There is a three-way fight going on at the top of the table between Cheshire (92pts), Shropshire (91) and Wales (90) for this season’s title.

Devon are back in fourth on 61 points –respectable in a rebuilding season but to far behind to mount a serious challenge now.

Cheshire play Shropshire in their final match with the title potentially at stake for both sides.

Devon can expect Cheshire to be uncompromising – and director of cricket Keith Donohue is confident his side will be able to cope.

“I am really pleased with the progress we have made as team this season and with the decent cricket we have played in phases,” said Donohue.

“Even when things have not gone our way we have shown a lot of heart and fought back from difficult positions.

“Even when we can’t win we are difficult to beat. The only game we have lost was against Wales and we pushed them all the way.

“Cheshire will be a hard game but we are up for it.”

Devon will show at least one change to their starting line-up and possibly two, depending on pitch conditions.

James Burke is included in a three-day squad for the first time this season and with James Toms missing due to work commitments will open the batting.

Less certain is whether spinner Will Squire will get a start, Donohue said that will depend on what Devon find when they get to Bowdon.

“It is a long way to go with a team picked in advance without the option of tweaking the bowling attack,” said Donohue.

“We will look at the track and if it looks like we need another spinner we’ve got one. W are picking from 12 on the day.”

Burke was a permanent fixture in the Devon side for the past three seasons, but this year has been dual-registered again by Somerset, which has ruled him out of Minors action.

Burke is available for this game and with Toms unavailable Donohue had no hesitation bringing him back in.

“Somerset keep looking at James and you can’t blame the lad for going back there as it could be his career,” said Donohue.

“James is an improved player this season, and that is starting from a pretty strong position in the first place.

“He has played some dominant innings in the Premier Division for Budleigh and when you watch him bat he oozes quality.

“We went down to Cornwall early in the season for a cup game and his knock of 84 down there was top-quality stuff. That’s when I knew he had kicked on again from last year.

“I am gobsmacked he hasn’t been offered something concrete by Somerset as he is a very fine player indeed.”

Devon: R J Holman (Exeter), J E Burke (Budleigh), M W Thompson (Torquay), D F Lye (Exmouth), J J Bess (Sidmouth), R W Davies (Tavistock), A P W Allen (Budleigh), M C Golding, C Bradley (both Bovey), M J L Kidd (Budleigh), T S Anning (Exmouth), W D Squire (Bradninch).

Cheshire: W M Goodwin, J P Kettle, R A L Moore, J A Duffy, K Sawas, L F Dixon, D O Berry, J J Williams, A J Sydall, D A Woods, I J S Tait. 12th: N James.

Umpires: G Parker & K Fergusson

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