Cousens sets out his Stall

The omens were not good with rain forecasted but driving the mini-bus along the A31 the clouds were high and blue sky visible. This was an historic day in Devon’s history with the opening of the new cricket centre at Exeter University so first impressions of a real chance to get some play in were removing any disappointment about missing the opening. The new twelve man squad were all present and correct so for the first time in years the final eleven miles from Honiton had not taken any prisoners. Joe Smith worked the group well with the warm up exposing some deficiencies that were to be fully revealed later in the week against Haberdashers. Devon batted first and scored at 5.8 for the ten complete overs bowled. Having been present at David Gower’s test debut on the first June 1978 at Edgbaston when he classically pulled his first ball in test cricket it seemed déja vu as Michael Cousens repeated the feat. He played the Welsh attach with consummate ease. He lost his captain Zak Bess on 18 when he was bowled by Leering. The second wicket partnership with Barnie Huxtable added another 40 before the rains came. It most certainly was déja vu with regard the weather as the game was abandoned after an early tea. This at least allowed the seventeen’s to leave at 5.30pm with the Axminster 13s leaving to go off to beat their Sidmouth opponents at Bickley where rain had not affected the ground.

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