Devon Cricket Board - Two set for Devon debuts against Oxfordshire

Two set for Devon debuts against Oxfordshire

DEVON are likely to hand one-day debuts to Liam Lewis and Matt Kidd in the side facing Oxfordshire at Bovey Tracey tomorrow in the first Minor Counties Cup pool game.
Director of cricket Keith Donohue and captain Chris Bradley have pencilled in a 12-man squad for the first of four qualifying games.
Kidd and Lewis have been on the periphery of the county side for a while – both have played in three-day games in the past – without getting a permanent place.
Having seen Sidmouth all-rounder Lewis and Budleigh Salterton pacer Kidd perform well in pre-season games, Donohue has promoted them to the squad.
Having brought the pair into the squad, it is hard to see either being left out as Donohue is clearly impressed by both of them.
“I have known about Matt Kidd for a while and in the two warm-up games he has not done a lot wrong,” said Donohue, who has replaced Roger Newman as Devon’s director of cricket this year.
“Matt seems to have come on significantly since last year. He is a lot stronger and seems to have acquired a level of consistency he didn’t have before.
“Although I hadn’t seen much of Liam Lewis before winter nets started, I had been told he is a handy player.
“What I have seen so far indoors and in our two warm-up games have confirmed what others have said.
“Liam strikes me as the sort of player I would like in my team. Batting, bowling and fielding he contributes in all aspects of the game.
“I know it can appear daunting going into a side like Devon where there are many established players who have been doing it for several years.
“I think Liam feels he is under pressure to perform and will feel happier when he has taken some wickets and scored a 50 or 60.
“That’s understandable. What I would say to him though is if we didn’t think he was capable of that and more he would not be in the side.”
Former captain Neil Hancock made himself available for one-day cricket this season having not played county games at all in 2012 and he comes straight in.
Devon (from): R J Woodman (Taunton Deane), R J Holman (Exeter), D F Lye (Exmouth), J E Burke (Budleigh), J J Bess (Sidmouth), N D Hancock (Bovey Tracey), M W Thompson (Torquay), L J Lewis (Sidmouth), T S Anning (Exmouth), C Bradley, R J Bougourd (both Bovey Tracey), M J L Kidd (Budleigh).
Oxfordshire: R I Kaufman, D C Shirazi, L M Sabin, N P Hawkes, J J Perkin, J R C West, J A Cater, D T Smith, L C Ryan, C B Keegan, D T Rowe, A R Blanchard.
Umpires: T F Boston & R C Hampshire.

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