By CONRAD SUTCLIFFE

SANDFORD keeper-batsman Adam Small is in Devon’s 12-man squad for Sunday’s 50-over friendly against Cornwall on his home ground (11am).

Small – dad Adrian is a former Devon player – has been opening the batting as well as keeping for Sandford this season.

Dave Tall, the Devon team manager, has picked an experimental side for the game but not a speculative one.

Tall has done his homework on a number of young players and has drafted in a clutch of them for this particular match.

“When you are talking about lads in the 16-19 age-bracket, and sometimes a bit older than that, they are seldom the finished article, not just as cricketers but as people” said Tall.

“Every one of the young players in the side is there not because I think they might be good enough one day, but because I believe they have the potential to become senior players if they put the hard yards in.

“There are a number of promising players around the county at the moment – the Adam Smalls, Ben Privetts, Sam Reads and Elliot Hamiltons of this world – and I could probably name as many again who are not involved in this game.

“It is encouraging for me that we have a talent pool developing as that creates competition for places, which can only be a good thing.”

The 12 named by Tall for this Sunday’s fixture varies greatly from the one that defeated Dorset by four wickets at Sidmouth on Sunday.

Heathcoat’s Dan Pyle, who struck 34 on his return to the side after a year in the wilderness, is one of the survivors.

Matt Golding, the former Bradninch al-rounder, will lead the side in the absence of county skipper Alex Barrow.

Devon (squad): M C Golding (Bovey Tracey), A J Small (Sandford), B A Beaumont (Cornwood), E Hamilton, B Privett (both Plympton), D J Pyle (Heathcoat), J H G Degg (Plymouth), M P Skeemer (Cornwood), T R J Codd (Bovey Tracey), H C B Ward (Paignton), E O Leonard (Bridgwater/Somerset Academy), S O Read (Exeter), H M Whitlock (Bovey Tracey).