Devon name 14 for two-day training camp and game against Hampshire 2nd XI

Jamie Stephens - in the squad for Hampshire training camp

DEVON’S preparations for the Minor Counties season ahead open with a two-day game against Hampshire 2nd XI at the Ageas Bowl at the end of this week.

Giles White, the former Devon batsman who is head coach at Hampshire, invited his old county to use the facilities at Southampton last year for pre-season work, which included a couple of 50-over games against the 2nd XI.

As Hampshire found the exercise worthwhile too, White has asked Devon to pay a return visit for another training camp.

With the competitive season barely a month away – Devon play two Unicorns Cup games in April before the league season starts – director of cricket Keith Donohue was eager to accept the offer.

Donohue has drawn up a squad of 14 for the trip, booked for Thursday and Friday.

“Starting the Unicorns Cup so early is hard for all the teams in the competition, now matter how good they are,” said Donohue.

“Going to the Ageas Bowl for two days means we can play some meaningful cricket on a Test ground and practice in superb facilities.

“We only get two more games before we play Dorset at Instow in our first Unicorns Cup game so Hampshire early is a good chance to look at some new players and see how they measure up,”

Late March isn’t the best time for Minor Counties to get their strongest squads assembled as some players are still overseas for the winter and others are protecting their holiday time for the demands of three-day Championship cricket from June onwards.

That means opportunities for players who have been part of the Lions Development programme, such as Plymouth pair Joe Hagan-Burt and Dan Goodey and Bovey Tracey’s Hugo Whitlock.

Sidmouth skipper Luke Bess is included on the strength of his performances with the bat in the Premiership-winning side last season. He made nearly 500 runs at an average in the mid-30s.

Joe ThompsonTorquay’s Joe Thompson is also included, specifically with an eye on the shorter forms of the game.

Thompson caught the eye last season with two devastating knocks in 50 and 20-over cricket.

Crash! Bradninch were flogged for 82 not out off 55 balls as Torquay triumphed against the odds in the Servicemaster Clean T20 final at Sidmouth,

Wallop! Sidmouth were on the receiving end of 162 off 116 balls – nine fours, 11 sixes – as Thompson cut loose against them in the final game of the league season.

“Joe can be a destructive batsman – and he can bowl too,” said Donohue.

“We have kept an eye on him for a couple of years, noting the big innings he makes, and feel the time is right to have a look at him alongside and against players at a better level.”

Matt Thompson, Joe’s younger brother, isn’t available for the camp due to work commitments. His place behind the stumps goes to former Somerset keeper-batter Alex Barrow, who played for Exeter last season.

Devon: J J Bess (Sidmouth), R J Woodman (Taunton Deane), D J Wolf (Paignton), A W R Barrow (Exeter), D R Pyle (Exmouth), J F S Dart (Heathcoat), L F O Bess (Sidmouth), J O Hagan-Burt (Plymouth), J E Thompson (Torquay), J V King (North Devon), J A Stephens (Falmouth), D J Goodey (Plymouth), H M Whitlock (Bovey Tracey), T A Lammonby (Exeter).