Ex-pro White makes Devon debut in much-changed side picked to play Herefordshire

Wayne White, batting for Cheshire against Devon last season

FORMER Lancashire all-rounder Wayne White will make his Devon debut today in the side starting a three-day Unicorns Championship game against Herefordshire at Eastnor Castle.

White, who also had spells with Derbyshire and Leicestershire during his First Class career, is job sharing the Devon pro’s post with Somerset’s Peter Trego this season.

Both were in the running for the post when it was advertised last year, but neither could commit to all the games across all three formats. White will play the next three matches with Trego returning for the last two.

Devon have not employed a professional since 1977 when ex-Hants and England seamer Bob Cottam was in the role. With promotion and relegation being introduced next season, Devon have reinforced their squad to ensure they finish fifth or higher to be placed in the new West Division One.

Trego made a big impact on his debut against Wales last month, scoring 159 and 80 not out in a 2167-run win.

White is a different type of player, but team boss Dave Tall has great expectations of him 

 “You only have to look at Wayne’s  stats – batting and bowling – to see what he brings to the team,” said Tall.

“Wayne has done it in the First Class game and for Cheshire in our brand of cricket and I am confident he will be an asset.”

White is one of three debutants in the Devon side taking on Herefordshire at the picturesque Eastor Castle ground deep in the rural countryside.

James Degg - one of two debutants in the Devon sideJames Degg, who was 12thman in the opening Unicorns Championship win over Wales, gets a place in the batting line-up.

“He went exceptionally well in winter practice and has been scoring Premier runs for Torquay this season,” said Tall.

The other newcomer is Cornwood captain Matt Skeemer, who has served a lengthy apprenticeship in the Devon Lions development side.

“Matt has been the stand-out bowler for the Lions over the past few seasons and, had circumstances been different, probably would have played before now,” said Tall.

Missing from the squad that beat Wales are Max Curtis, he made a ton too, Matt Golding, Dan Goodey, James Burke and Trego.

Devon’s campaign could barely have started much better as they overwhelmed Wales by 217 runs at Pontarddulais, a result that puts them joint second in the Western Division table.

The only blemish in the scorebook was a dropped bowling bonus point for failing to bowl out Herefordshire in their first innings.

Herefordshire’s campaign got off to a disastrous start as they lost by an innings to defending champions Berkshire. The county selectors have made five changes to the side for round two.

Herefordshire: M G Pardoe, J S Johal, D G Ball, M Ahmed, T A Hage, B E I Morgan, S Ahmed, I T Bullock, J C Blunt, D O Conway, O G Rogoff

Devon (from): A W R Barrow (Sidmouth), M W Thompson (St Fagans), Z G G Bess (Sidmouth), J A Stephens (Taunton Deane), W A White (Leek), J H G Degg (Torquay), A S Kopparambil, J H J Mailling, H M Whitlock (all Bovey Tracey), M P Skeemer (Cornwood), E W O Middleton (Exeter), M W Hancock (Sidmouth).

Umpires: A Hicks, J D Shantry.