Devon Cricket Board - Martin takes over as South Devon plan for future

Martin takes over as South Devon plan for future

SOUTH Devon return to the B Division this season with a new captain following the resignation of promotion-winning skipper Ali Wright.
Wright took on the task of rebuilding South Devon’s 1^st XI following two successive relegations.
South Devon didn’t win a league game in 2012 or 2013 as they plummeted from the A Division into the C Division.
Former Devon captain Neil Hancock was recruited last season, Chudleigh duo Jon Martin and Sean Day arrived from Kate Brook and with one or two tweaks here and there South Devon made their stay in the C Division as brief as possible.
With his mission accomplished, Wright stood aside at the Newton Abbot club’s recent annual meeting and will concentrate on playing this summer.
The new man at the helm in 2015 will be Martin, who knows all about captaincy in the B Division having done it during his time at Chudleigh.
Martin (right) was Chudleigh captain between 2011-2013. He came up through the Chudleigh age-group teams then had a spell with Barton between 1999-2004 before returning to Kate Brook.
Martin said he was surprised Wright stood down, but needed little persuading to take on the job.
“I am looking forward to it immensely – especially as my first game in charge will be Chudleigh away,” said Martin.
“It was a surprise to us all when Ali said he was standing down, but he is very much part of the playing squad this year.
“Ali will carry on keeping wicket and could have a role opening the batting now he is free from captaincy.”
South Devon bowled their way to promotion last season with Martin (31wkts), Day (23), Hancock (25) and David Knowles (24) knocking sides over for fun.
No one in the C Division had more bowling bonus points than South Devon – not even champions Ipplepen, who had leading wicket taker in Caleb Gaylard (66).
Gaylard is poised to play in the Southern League this season for Bournemouth.
South Devon were solid with the bat – Hancock (486 runs), Mike Smith (375) and Day (314) leading the way – but no one made a century all season.
Martin is confident South Devon have bowling capable of performing in the B Division, - he would like to add a spinner through - but says the batting needs topping up.
“We need accumulators, batters who will bat time for 80s, 90s and beyond, as well as the batters who smash quick 40s or 50s,” said Martin.
“I have talked to a few players about coming to us, but nothing is definite yet.
“What I have found is it is quite hard to get players to come to clubs outside the Premier Division.
“The younger ones at lower-division clubs want to have a go in the Premier Division – and having done that myself I understand that.
“Some of the older ones think they should get paid, and a club like ours does not have the resources to splash out like that.”
Martin is well aware part of his job is to rebuild South Devon for the future as the club makes up for lost time over the past 10 years.
South Devon gradually lost its youth teams from 2005 onwards and at one stage looked like having no age-group sides at all.
The club signed up with the Chance to Shine initiative, which links clubs with primary schools, and thanks to the hard work put in by volunteer coaches under the direction of former player Dave Leaman, youth cricket is up and running again.
That’s good news for the future, but there remains a gap in the club’s immediate resources.
“We have some very promising 15-16 year olds just coming through, then virtually nothing through to late 20s and early 30s – it is a missing generation,” said Martin.
“Some of us – myself, Daisy, Hanks – are older than that and won’t be around for more than a few years.
“The next couple of seasons will be when those 15-16 year olds come of age as senior cricketers. Developing them is all part of the challenge of the job.”
As part of that development process, Day (left) will be running practice sessions at the club this summer.
The Aussie exile has a wealth of experience in Grade cricket at home as well as in this country.
“The man eats, drinks and sleeps cricket and has a lot of good things to say about the game,” said Martin. “He is the right man in the right place at the right time t help move South Devon forward.”
South Devon will be starting pre-season nets shortly. Anyone interesting in having a look at what the club has to offer should contact Martin on 07403 315618.

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