Devon Cricket Board - Bess back from Oz to give Sidmouth lift in top-of-table clash

Bess back from Oz to give Sidmouth lift in top-of-table clash

FORMER Devon captain Josh Bess could make a surprise reappearance for Sidmouth this weekend in the top-of-the-table Premier clash with North Devon.
Sidmouth were not expecting to see their influential all-rounder for a couple of years after he moved to Australia last autumn to live and work.
Sad news on the home front – a death in the family – is bringing Bess (pictured) home for the funeral and he is over here for a fortnight.
With Sidmouth having to manage without Kiwi opening bowler Andy Mathieson for the next couple of weeks – he has been co-opted into the Black Caps one-day squad for the last lap of their tour – having Bess back helps.
“Obviously it is a sad time for the family and none of us would have wanted Josh back this way,” said Sidmouth skipper Will Murray.
“I will check with Josh when he gets back that he is happy to play and fingers crossed he will be.
“Andy Mathieson will probably miss the next two games for us before he is sent back, which leaves us a bowler short at an important time of the season.
“There could be no better replacement than Josh, who has been a fantastic player for Sidmouth and Devon for many years.”
North Devon are back to full strength this weekend with Jack Popham, Western Province youngster Dan Da Costa and Matt Dart back into the fold.
“It is a massive game for us against Sidmouth who, in my eyes, have to be favourites for the league,” said North Devon skipper Barney Huxtable.
“Sidmouth having Josh Bess back for the weekend is going to give them a great lift, but I'm very confident we can cope with him and grind out another good performance.
“If we keep on improving like we have done the last three weeks, we will give ourselves a great chance of getting a win down in the valley.
“If we want to win the league beating Sidmouth at least once this summer is a must.
“It's going to be a great game but we are up for it.”

DCB Ltd, University of Exeter Sports Hall, Stocker Road, Exeter, Devon EX4 4QN Company Registration Number: 7024773