Devon Cricket Board - Devon face champs in first outing

Devon face champs in first outing

CORNWALL team manager Godfrey Furse has warned that last season’s achievements count for little or nothing when the new campaign starts against Devon at Exeter tomorrow (11am).
Cornwall will arrive at the County Ground as Minor Counties Champions – with a penant fluttering from the flagpole to prove it – having beaten Buckinghamshire at Truro last September to lift the title for the first time.
A new season brings new challenges and some new faces in the Cornwall team as well.
Furse agrees that last season’s success has whetted appetites for more, but knows Cornwall will be the scalp everyone wants this season.
“There are no poor sides at this level of cricket and most of the other counties will be thinking they are capable of winning it as well,” said Furse.
“We will do what we have tried to do over the past ten years, which is play competitive cricket and make sure when the game is there to be won we win it.
“That was the secret last year. We forced results in two days against Wiltshire and Wales when we had them by the throat and wouldn’t let go.
“All you can do is aim to be there or thereabouts with two games to go – and if you are go all out to win it.”
Jake Libby, David Roberts, Chris Hunkin and Rob Harrison all featured in the win over Buckinghamshire, but aren’t in the squad at Exeter. Harrison has to work while the other three are carrying knocks.
In come Scott Harvey, Christian Purchase, Dan Davis and Kelvin Snell.
Davis and Snell have played before, but Harvey and Purchase a both newcomers.
Harvey, ex-of Suffolk and Notts IIs, has moved to Cornwall and caught the eye playing for Truro.
Purchase – the son of former Cornwall all-rounder Barry Purchase – has impressed for Redurth this season. Taking a ton off Cornwall captain Tom Sharp’s Truro side last Saturday won’t have done any harm.
Devon’s preparations for the game have been overshadowed by selection problems as players pull out of the 13.
Opener James Burke has been recalled by Somerset who have seen his form in league cricket for Budleigh Salterton and decided to involve him in their 2^nd XI again.
Devon were already without Rob Woodman at the top of the order, so Seb Benton will go in first with Rob Holman. Pete Bradley becomes the extra batsman.
Seamer Matt Kidd is required by Oxford MCCU and has had to pull out of the squad.
Devon did invite Sidmouth opener Matt Cooke, thinking his back-up off-spin may be handy, but he is moving house and had to pull out.
Devon have a couple of new faces in their 12, one batter and one bowler.
Will Squire bowls spin for Bradninch and has come up through the youth ranks.
Rhys Davies is a Tavistock product, who has also played for Exmouth and Taunton Deane.
Davis has an uncomplicated approach to batting, which has attracted the selectors’ attention.
“Rhys may be a teenager but there is nothing schoolboy about his batting – he hits it like a man,” said director of cricket Keith Donohue.
Devon: R J Holman (Exeter), P Bradley (Bovey) D F Lye (Exmouth), J J Bess (Sidmouth), S R Benton (Exmouth), R W Davis (Tavistock), M W Thompson (Torquay), M C Golding (Bovey Tracey), T C Anning (Exmouth), C Bradley (Bovey), M A Orchard (Exmouth), W D Squire (Bradninch).
Cornwall: T G Sharp (Truro), M L Robins (Callington), S A Harvey (Truro), D F Davis (Callington), T Williams (wk) (St Austell), N S Curnow (St Just), C B F Purchase (Redruth), T P S Hughes (Grampound Rd), K J Snell (Paul), Shakil Ahmed (St Just), S C Hockin (Werrington).
Umpires: S F Bishop & J Wheeler

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