SOMERSET’S up-and-coming batting star Finlay Trenouth has been added to Devon’s squad for the two-day warm-up game against Hampshire 2nd XI starting today at the Ageas Bowl.
Trenouth, a pupil at Millfield School, went through the Somerset youth system from 13 upwards, flourishing in last season’s under-17 side.
An unbeaten triple century against Hampshire – 332 not out – in the first game of the season was followed by 119 off Gloucestershire and half-centuries against Devon and Worcestershire.
Trenouth made 140 against Gloucestershire the one-day ECB Cup on his way to nearly 850 runs in under-17 competitions last summer. No wonder he was picked for the ECB Elite player programme.
Somerset blooded the keeper-batter in 2nd XI cricket and handed him a place on their Academy.
When Matt Maynard, Somerset’s director of cricket, asked Devon if they could find a slot for him this season, there was no hesitation saying ‘yes’.
“Somerset approached us and asked if we would consider playing Finlay in some games,” said Keith Donohue, Devon’s director of cricket.
“Finlay is an exciting young player and Somerset want him to play as much good cricket as he can as part of his development.
“The fact he is a keeper was an additional factor as we are a bit short of back-up there when Matt Thompson isn’t available.
“Over the past few years we have had a conveyor belt of players going from Devon to Somerset, for example the Overton twins, Lewis Gregory, Dom Bess, Ben Green and a couple of others.
“We have a solid working relationship with Somerset and it is good sign they want to send a player our way to assist his development.”
Trenouth was a late replacement in the squad for Sidmouth’s Luke Bess, who dropped out with an ankle injury.
Also in the squad is Tom Lammonby, another Somerset Academy youngster from Devon, and ex-Somerset staffers Rob Woodman and Alex Barrow.
Woodman has played on and off for Devon since 2006, mainly in the one-day form of the game.
Barrow, who left Somerset at the end of last season, has played league cricket with Exeter for the past two seasons and was registered for Minor Counties cricket last summer.
Devon had a similar two-day training camp with game time thrown in last year thanks to an invitation from Hampshire’s head coach Giles White, a Devon old boy who played in the same early 90s team as Donohue.
Hampshire found it a useful exercise too, which is why the invitation was repeated.
As Devon’s first Unicorns Trophy game against Oxordshire is little more than three weeks away, Donohue is glad to get some early game time in.
“You can only do so much indoors and can’t beat playing on grass at this stage of pre-season,” said Donohue.
“It is a chance for bowlers to get some overs into their legs and for batters to get time in the middle under their belts.
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), F R Trenouth (Bristol/Millfield), 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).
