Devon Cricket Board - Devon step up search for seamers

Devon step up search for seamers

DEVON captain Chris Bradley has thrown the gauntlet down to aspiring seam and swing bowlers to show him how much they want to play for the county side.

Bovey Tracey spinner Bradley, who is embarking on his first full season at the county helm, has some rebuilding to get a side together.

The one-day MCCA Cup competition starts in little more than a fortnight with a trip to Welwyn to play Hertfordshire. By then Bradley needs to replace the players who have moved on since last season.

Scott Barlow, Ian Bishop and former captain Neil Hancock all provided medium pace options last term. None are around now.

If Bradley can get some overs out of opening bat James Burke – back bowling again after a successful winter in South Africa – that’s one less worry.

However, Burke has recently re-signed for Somerset and previous experience suggests they won’t want him overbowled by Devon.

The search is on for at least one more seamer and preferably another to get the bowling attack back to full strength.

Bradley will get the chance to look at a couple more candidates in the friendly against Somerset 2^nd XI at Sidmouth this Sunday (11am).

Ryan Bougourd, Mike Wood, Liam Lewis and Nick Watkin were among the possibles looked at in the warm-up against Devon Lions at Axminster last Sunday.

Three-wicket Watkin gets another chance and Lewis probably would as well had he not been suspended for a misdemeanour carried over from the end of last season.

Bradley had hoped to have a look at Budleigh’s Charlie Morris against Sidmouth, but he has been claimed for a university match elsewhere.

Sidmouth’s Will Gater (pictured) and Bradninch new boy Dan Milligan, a product of the Lancashire youth system, are under consideration to replace Morris.

Said Bradley: “The seam bowling is a lot shorter than last season and I am looking for players to put their hands us and say ‘pick me’.

“Nick Watkin did well at Axminster and it will be interesting to see how he does in different conditions at Sidmouth.

“Milligan is new to the area, but has a pedigree. The problem is he has to work on Sundays and that could be tricky.

“By the time we get to the first game Josh Bess (thumb) will be fit to play again and he is an option for a few overs, as is David Lye who did a good job when needed last year.

“We do have fill-ins, but first and foremost you need bowlers who can do all 10 overs.”

Devon’s batting line up against Somerset is probably not a long way from the one they will take into the Hertfordshire game.

Bess is missing, as is former Somerset and Notts batsman Matt Wood, who has made himself available for one-day matches.

Wood, who came up through Devon’s youth ranks, retired from First Class cricket in 2010 after leaving Notts and now works as a coach in the East Midlands. Last season he played for Plumtree and scored 869 runs in all matches at an average of 51.12.

Devon v Somerset 2nd XI (from): R J Woodman (Taunton), J E Burke (Budleigh), R J Holman (Exeter), D F Lye (Exmouth), S R Benton (Paignton), J S B Hall (Cornwood), M W Thompson (Torquay), P J Randerson (Sidmouth), G R Chappell (Bradninch), T S Anning (Exmouth), C Bradley (Bovey) N S Watkin (Torquay).

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