Matt Thompson - better availability for Devon in 2018. Photo: Tom Sandberg<br>credit: http://www.ppauk.com/photo/1376141/

DEVON keeper-batsman Matt Thompson expects to play more games for the county this season after landing a staff job with Cricket Wales.

Thompson, 27 this year, has been appointed talent programme manager for Cricket Wales and will start work in early April.

In his new role Thompson will be responsible for all coaches and managers involved in boys’ age-group cricket from 10-17 in Wales.

Matt ThompsonPart of the job is working on talent development with Glamorgan Cricket.

The talent programme for women’s and girls’ cricket also comes under Thompson’s brief.

It sounds like a busy job, but for Cardiff-based Thompson it makes playing cricket easier.

Thompson, whose cricket career started with Torquay, knows much of his new patch well having played in South Wales for two seasons after moving to Cardiff.

Had he stayed in his current job at Millfield School, Thompson would have found his league and county cricket curtailed this year.

“It is win-win for me as I wouldn’t have been able to play so frequently for St Fagans in the league and my Devon availability didn’t look good,” said Thompson.

“I couldn’t play in all the games last year and it looked like I would be playing fewer, certainly in the one-day and T20 formats.

“I should be okay for Devon in all the T20s, the opening one-dayer and probably all but two of the three-day games.

“My new job with Cricket Wales is really exhilarating and something I can’t wait to get stuck into.”

Thompson remains committed to Devon, even though he is living and working in Wales, which has its own team in the Minor Counties Championship.

That’s good news for Devon as Thompson has become a consistent performer across all formats in the side since making his debut in 2010.

Last season Thompson averaged nearly 43 in three-day cricket and should pass 2,000 Minor Counties Championship runs in the season ahead. He has played 42 matches and was captain in 2015-16.

In 50-over cricket Thompson is close to 1,000 runs in 28 games.