No play at Bovey Tracey on Sunday

DEVON’S hoped-for warm-up games against Gloucestershire 2ndXI at Bovey Tracey went the way of every other pre-season match so far – abandoned without a ball bowled.

Two T20 games had been arranged against Gloucestershire as preparation for the start of the Unicorns T20 Cup launch over the Bank Holiday weekend.

The Unicorns T20 Cup is a new competition being played on dates freed up by switching the 50-over Unicorns Trophy to a straight knockout format instead of pool-based.

Devon play Cornwall twice in a day at Truro next Sunday then entertain Dorset on the same basis at Sidmouth on Bank Holiday Monday.

Having had three previous warm-up games washed out, two against University of Exeter and another against Somerset 2ndXI, Devon were desperate for some match practice.

Bovey Tracey’s volunteer groundstaff worked all day Saturday to get the games on, but their efforts proved in vain.

Gloucestershire arrived for a 11.30 start, but after consulting with the umpires it was mutually agreed to cancel the matches.

“We wanted to play, Gloucestershire wanted to play and Bovey made a great effort to get the game on,” said Keith Donohue, Devon’s director of cricket.

“Unfortunately the conditions did not allow for a safe or meaningful game to go ahead and common sense prevailed.”

Devon face going into their first T20 against arch rivals Cornwall without bowling a ball in anger.

And for a team that hasn’t played a game, there is a surprisingly lengthy injury list to negotiate before naming squads for Cornwall and Dorset.

Pacers Jack Popham (groin), Jack Gibbs (hamstring) and Hugo Whitlock (back) all withdrew from Devon’s 15-man squad yesterday.

Seamer Josh King had a shoulder operation during the winter, but has not recovered sufficiently to start bowling yet.

Spinner Jamie Stephens has a knee injury, but would have played to get some practice in.

“Just as well have haven’t played, otherwise the injury list could have got even longer,” said Donohue.

Donohue said the squad will be named today (Monday) after a roll call of the injured. One decision already made is that Matt Thompson will skipper the side in the absence of county captain Josh Bess.