Hugo Whitlock – one of the six Devon players in the Three Counties squad<br>credit: @ppauk | no re-use without consent of copyright holder

By CONRAD SUTCLIFFE

SIX players from Devon have been included in the Three Counties squad for a two-day pre-season game against Somerset at Taunton.

Alex BarrowCounty captain Alex Barrow (Sidmouth) leads the Devon contingent, which also includes all-rounders Zak Bess (Sidmouth) and Matt Golding, seamer Hugo Whitlock (both Bovey Tracey), spinner Jamie Stephens (Taunton Deane) and keeper batsman Matt Thompson (Port Talbot). Dorset are supplying four players and Cornwall three more. 

The 13-man squad allows for players to be substituted if they cannot play on both days. 

The game is due to be played on March 18-19 – prevailing Covid-19 restrictions permitting.

The Three Counties fixture against Somerset was a regular feature of the pre-season programme in the early 1990s, but lapsed after three years.

Devon, Cornwall and Dorset all have recent partnership agreements with Somerset – Dorset have one with Hampshire too – and the game is part of those agreements.

Squad: Tom Dinnis, Chris Gibson, Christian Purchase (all Cornwall), Alex Barrow, Zak Bess, Jamie Stephens, Matt Thompson, Hugo Whitlock, Matt Golding (all Devon), Luke Webb, Alex Eckland, Bradley Currie and Harry Fisher (all Dorset). Reserve: Ed Middleton (Devon).