Devon Cricket Board - Querl continues in Unicorn's squad

Querl continues in Unicorn's squad

CORNWALL'S Keith Parsons will captain the Unicorns in this season's CB 40 competition, for the third successive year.

The former Somerset favourite enjoyed a successful 17-year career with his home County between 1992 and 2008, during which he made more than 400 First Class and one-day appearances.

The high spot of Parsons' career was being named as Man of the Match after scoring an unbeaten 60 and taking two crucial wickets to help Somerset lift the Cheltenham and Gloucester Trophy at Lord's in 2001.

Earlier this week it was officially announced that Parsons, who will be 39 in May, will again lead the ECB recreational side in the 40-over competition against professional opposition.

'It's a huge honour to represent the ECB as captain of the Unicorns for the third year and hopefully this season we will enjoy a few more successes,' said Parsons.

'In the first two years we have had four wins over first class counties and we will be looking to build upon this in 2012," said Parsons.

'This year we had 340 cricketers nominated to be part of the Unicorns from which we have selected a squad of 30.

'The team's reputation is growing and it is seen now as a good development tool for counties and for players to showcase their talents and earn contracts, which is what the intention was from the start when the team was first established.'

Parsons added: 'It was always intended the Unicorns would be a development side and it has worked pretty well.

'The former Somerset player Wes Durston was released by the county and picked up by Derbyshire after several good performances.

'There have also been a number of others who have had trials and been signed by counties so it has been a great success.'

Glen Querl (pictured,left), who plays his club cricket for North Devon is also included in the squad of 30.

'Glenn has played in every game for us so far since we started so it will be great to have him back for another season,' said Parsons.

Another familiar name is Andy Kerr, younger brother of Somerset coach Jason Kerr, who is an opening batsman in one of the Lancashire leagues.

The squad got together this weekend for a training weekend, ready for a friendly against Oxford University on March 25.

'Then we have a couple of warm ups so we should be all set to go for our first game, which is against Derbyshire against Wes Durston and co in early May,' said Parsons.

The Unicorns will play in a different group in 2012 to the one they have been in for the first two seasons.

'We are not in the same group as Somerset, which I have got mixed feelings about although they are one of the best sides,' said Parsons.

'This year we have got to play against Kent, Northants, Yorkshire, Sussex and Warwickshire.'

Parsons is in for a busy summer as he will be playing WEPL cricket for Taunton St Andrew's and Minor Counties for Cornwall.

'Cornwall are a good team to play for and I enjoying being involved with them and hopefully we will be challenging again as we have been for the last couple of seasons,' said Parsons.

Unicorns Squad: Gavin Baker (unattached), Luke Beaven (Reading), James Campbell (Bath), Nicky Caunce (Ormskirk), Steve Cheetham (Radcliffe), Sam Davies (Cardiff MCCU), Rhodri Evans (Loughborough MCCU), Tom Friend (Cardiff MCCU), Phil Harris (Cardiff MCCU), Lewis Hill (Lutterworth), Andy Kerr (Greenmount), Josh Knappett (Finchley), Warren Lee (Blackheath), Jayden Levitt (Wiltshire), Tom New (Mansfield HM), James Ord (Barnt Green), Max Osborne (Brentwood), Keith Parsons (Cornwall), Joel Pope (Sunbury), Glen Querl (North Devon), Amar Rashid (Shepley), Mike Thornley (Sutton CC), Vishal Tripathy (Wolverhampton), Bradley Wadlan (Bridgend), Dan Wheeldon (Sandiacre), Rob Woolley (Cambridge MCCU).

Unicorns fixtures: May 6 v Derbyshire Wormsley; May 7 v Northants, Northampton; May 13 Sussex, Hove; May 20 Kent, Canterbury; May 27 Yorkshire, Scarborough; June 3 Sussex, Southend; June 5 Kent, Southend; July 15 Derbyshire, Chesterfield; July 22 Warwickshire, Edgbaston; July 29 Northants, Wormsley; August 12 Yorkshire, Headingley; August 19 Warwickshire, Wormsley.

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