Beaumont (18) asked to skipper Devon in challenge game against Premier Tier champions

Sidmouth CC, where Devon are in action on Sunday

CORNWOOD’S up-and-coming batsman Ben Beumont has been handed the Devon captaincy for Saturday’s warm-up fixture against Sidmouth, writes Conrad Sutcliffe.

Beaumont, who was 18 in February, has been given the opportunity to lead the side by team boss Dave Tall.

Saturday’s game against last season’s Premier Tier champions is the third of four warm-up games Devon have arranged – Cornwall at Bovey Tracey is the final one – and Tall wants to challenge the young players in the extended squad.

Captaincy material: Ben BeaumontBeaumont has shown he can score runs over the last two seasons; now Tall wants to test his leadership mettle.

Beaumont made his three-day debut for Devon in 2019, marking it with a half-century against Wiltshire, and Tall said he has been impressed by the youngster’s feel for the game.

“Talking to Ben it is obvious he is a thinker about the game who reads it well,” said Tall.

“It will be interesting to see Ben's theories in action and how he reacts to situations and generally handles things.”

If Beaumont needs any advice he can turn to Thompson, who has had two stints as county captain during a career covering the last decade.

Plymouth opener James Degg, who out just as he was getting going against the University of Exeter at Sidmouth last Sunday, gets another chance to show his wares.

Plympton pair Ben Privett and Elliott Hamliton, who have impressed in the wins over Clevedon and the University side, unsurprisingly retain their places.

A fixture between the league champions and a county side was a regular fixture on the programme throughout the 1970s, but lapsed in 1979 and has not been played since.

Devon’s last encounter with the league champions was against 1978 top dogs Torquay and did not go according to plan.

Malcolm Kingdon took six wickets for 33 runs, and Bill Hatchett claimed three more, as Torquay dismissed Devon for a measly 83.

Gary Wallen made 23 and Hiley Edwards 25 as Torquay, whose side contained eight county players past, present or future, won by five wickets.

Devon: B A Beaumont (Cornwood), M W Thompson (Port Talbot), A J Small (Sandford), J H G Degg (Plymouth), E W O Middleton (Exeter), M P Skeemer (Cornwood), B H Privett (Plympton), C F Harford (Paignton), J D Horler (Exmouth), C W B Ward (Paignton), S O Read (Exeter), E H Hamilton (Plympton).