DEVON’S pre-season preparations belatedly get under way on Sunday when Somerset 2ndXI are the opposition at Sidmouth in a 50-over friendly (11am).
Devon were due to play University of Exeter at Instow last Sunday, but wet weather put paid to that game.
And with the cancellation of the Devon Lions Development XI game against the University at Budleigh Salterton on April 22, match practice is a bit thin on the ground.
Devon have named a 14-man squad for the fixture against Somerset, and are likely to roll players on and off during the match to allow bowlers to bowl and batters to bat.
As white-ball cricket dominates Devon’s fixture list until late June, the squad selection is biased towards 50-over and 20-over formats.
Back in the group after a three-year absence due to work commitments is Bradninch all-rounder and captain Gary Chappell.
Former Somerset staffer and new Exeter captain Alex Barrow will keep wicket in the absence of Matt Thompson due to work-related duties.
Barrow played a handful of games last season in one and three-day cricket.
Jack Gibbs, the North Devon youngster about to start his second season on the Gloucestershire Academy, is in the squad for the first time.
Gibbs has been an impressive age-group captain for Devon at under-16 and under-17 level, County managers are keen to see him step up to the next level.
He already has a game under his belt this season, bowling seamers for Gloucestershire against Glamorgan in a 50-over game at the SWALEC in Cardiff.
Joe Hagan-Burt, the Plymouth all-rounder recently returned from a winter in Australia, working at the Darren Lehmann Academy, is another new face in the side.
Also new to the white-ball squad are George Benton and Tom Ansell, although both played three-day cricket for Devon last season.
Notable absentees who will come into contention as the season proper approaches include batters Dan Pyle and Jack Dart, bowlers Jamie Stephens and Dan Goodey and all-rounder Matt Golding, who has yet to return from a season in Australia.
Devon: J J Bess (Sidmouth), A W R Barrow, T A Lammonby (both Exeter), Z G G Bess (Sidmouth), G R Chappell (Bradninch), T R J Codd (Bovey Tracey), G Benton (Paignton), H M Whitlock (Bovey Tracey), J H Gibbs, J R Popham (both North Devon), L J Lewis (Sidmouth), J V King, T P P Ansell (both North Devon), J O Hagan-Burt (Plymouth).
