Morris added to Devon squad
DEVON will be hoping to get a full game in for a change when they start a three-day Minor Counties Championship game against Herefordshire at Sidmouth a week today.

Devon, the defending Minor Counties Champions, managed to beat Wales by five wickets at Exmouth last month in their opening game, which was reduced to one innings per side after the entire first and second days were rained off.

They were not so lucky at St Austell last Sunday, Monday and Tuesday against Cornwall where there was no play on day one due to rain, or day three due to fog, rain and bad light.

Devon did get to bat - Rob Holman (79) and Matt Thompson (77no) the leading run scorers in a total of 294 for eight - but that was it.

It isn't just Devon who are struggling as all the other counties in the Western Division have issues with the weather, with the exception of Shropshire.

Shropshire defeated Cheshire in the only game to go the distance so far and are top of the table on 28 points. Wiltshire (21) are second with Devon (19) third.

As Devon still have Shropshire to play this season, they have the chance to claw some of those points back.

What Devon could do with is picking up some points against Herefordshire to stay in touch with the teams above them.

Roger Newman, the county club's director of cricket anticipates just one change of personnel in the 12 to face Herefordshire.

Fast bowler Charlie Morris wasn't available for the Cornwall game - he was training and playing with Worcestershire for the week - but he will come in for Jack Dart.

Who gets left out is a decision Newman isn't relishing.

'The batting did pretty well at St Austell with Holman and Thompson holding it together and Josh Bess and Peter Bradley supporting them,' said Newman.

'Bradley had a pretty good debut with the bat and it would be a brave man who changed the side.

'Josh Bess has been bowling as well as I can remember recently, Morris took wickets at Worcestershire against Warwickshire 2nd XI and we need Trevor Anning to keep going at his best.

'Our fast bowling is something we may look at, but as I said it would take a brave man to change the team.'

Devon have no game this weekend at senior or Lions XI level, which allows Newman to go talent spotting.

Devon Under-19s are in action against Worcestershire at Wolverhampton today and Newman intends to take that game in.

Devon v Herefordshire (from): J E Burke (Budleigh), R J Woodman (Taunton), R J Holman (Exeter), D F Lye (Exmouth), J J Bess (Sidmouth), S R Benton (Paignton), M W Thompson (Torquay), C Bradley, P Bradley, R J Bougourd (all Bovey Tracey), T S Anning (Exmouth) C T Morris (Budleigh).

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