Christmas has come early for Devon's young all rounder James Burke. He has been awarded a contract by Somerset and he is on the under 18 ECB scholarship programme this winter. In addition Burke will be touring South Africa, in January, with the England Under 19s as a back up fast bowler. He will be attending, for the England Under 18 squad, some training camps, which will include some SAS type training and he will be on a trip to India over the February half term.

Both are just reward for this hard working young cricketer who played for the full county, under 21 and under 17 sides in 2008. He scored two hundreds in the premier and has the cricket world at his feet if he approaches it with the right attitude and desire. Devon will be watching his progress with great pride.

Equally the county will be keeping a close eye on the progress of Sidmouth's Adam Dibble, who was robbed through injury, of an England opportunity last year, who has had his Somerset bursary converted into a contract.