Devon Cricket Board - Plympton skipper targets Premier return

Plympton skipper targets Premier return

PLYMPTON captain Andy Walter is delighted to have Jeremy Williams back on board as he plots a prompt return to the Premier Division.
Williams, 33, has barely been seen around Harewood Park for the past three seasons owing to a combination of injuries, family commitments and pressure of work.
A forceful batsman with a track record of topping 500 Premier Division runs a season in his prime, Plympton could have done with Williams last year when they were struggling to dodge the drop.
You can’t turn the clock back, however Walter hopes Williams will recapture some of the form that earned him 19 Devon appearances between 1998-2003.
“Jeremy is a formidable batsman coming in at four or five and just the sort of experienced head we need in the middle order,” said Walter.
“He played a couple of times last season and judging from the ton he got against Exeter in a 2^nd XI game he still has it.
“We know he won’t play every game as he has things planned with the family.
“But if he stays fit and the hamstrings don’t cause him problems, I can see Jeremy being a key part of our promotion push this season.”
It is customary for captains to play down their chances these days as no one wants to be left with egg on their faces at the end of the season.
Walter has gone against the trend by specifying promotion as the target.
“We were unlucky to go down last season and had it not been for the weather washing out a game I am convinced we would have survived and Heathcoat would have gone,” said Walter.
“Our side is Premier Division standard and we want to get back there. I will be disappointed if we are not in the mix.”
Plympton also welcome back keeper-batter Ross Farrer, who left for Gloucestershire after the 2010 season for a cricket development officer’s post.
Farrer is back in Plymouth doing teacher training and available on a regular basis this summer.
Former captain Keith Donohue insists he has definitely retired this summer, although he said that last year and ended up helping the first team on a regular basis.
Donohue is running the U15s this season and working as a specialist bowling coach.
“Players like Ryan Skinner and Josh Malling can learn a lot from working with someone like Keith, who has been there and done it in the league, for Devon and with the Minor Counties against international teams,” said Walter.

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