Thompson plotting downfall of team he helped create when Devon face Wales at Sandford

Devon

By CONRAD SUTCLIFFE

DEVON’S stand-in captain Matt Thompson will have a foot firmly planted in both camps he leads his side out against Wales NC at Sandford on Sunday (11am).

Thompson has been a Devon regular for more than a decade, during which he has had two stints as full-time captain and done relief duties as skipper when Josh Bess and now Jamie Stephens are unable to play.

Torquay-born Thompson (pictured, right)  has been Devon through and through since he made his debut in three-day cricket against Cornwall on his home-town ground back in 2010.

Thompson’s day job is as head of the talent pathway for Cricket Wales and one of his jobs is the development of the Wales NC squad. As Devon captain he will be trying to beat a side he has been working hard to turn into a team of winners!

“Sunday's going to be tough,” said the 29-year-old keeper-batsman.

“With my work role, I know first hand just how good the Wales side is and how dangerous we are – and that is clear from the one-day trophy and the performance against Glamorgan this week.”

The squad Thompson helped to mould defeated Herefordshire to reach the last four of the NCA KO Cup and defeated First Class Glamorgan by three-wickets in a 50-over challenge match on Tuesday.

Thompson would usually be part of the Wales selection panel for National Counties games, but for this one felt the right thing to do was sit it out and concentrate on his Devon duties.

Devon were walloped by 10 wickets when they played Herefordshire in their Western Division Two opener at Brockhampton two weeks ago and moving on from that is Thompson’s primary objective.

“The Hereford game was not how we wanted to start the campaign but there is a recognition that we are back in a development phase,” said Thompson.

“There's a fantastic attitude amongst the current group, which the young lads have really cultivated. They're keen, hungry and have showed glimpses that they're very capable. 

“It's just a case of trying to be a little more consistent over the course of three days. If we can make one or two improvements from the Herefordshire game we'll compete and make it hard for any opposition.”