By CONRAD SUTCLIFFE

BOVEY Tracey and Devon opening bowler Hugo Whitlock started his season with a bang by dismissing two international batsmen in his first game.

Whitlock, 24, marked his belated debut for the Oxford UCCE side at Trent Bridge today (Wednesday) with the wickets of former England duo Ben Duckett and Haseeb Hameed.

Hameed went first to a catch in the slips, followed by Duckett, who was caught behind for a duck.

Notts were a wobbly 12 for two after Whitlock’s double strike, but more than recovered by the end of the first day to reach 400 for four.

Three Notts batsmen made centuries by the end of day one, which meant some punishment for the University bowlers. Whitlock proved the least expensive of them all, keeping the runs down to around three an over when he was on.

Having had to wait a year to make his debut for the University side, Whitlock relished the experience of facing quality players at a Test match venue.

“Obviously the best bit was getting some guys who have played for England while bowing at Trent Bridge,” said Whitlock.

Whitlock (2-54) may have had the stand out bowling figures for his side, but he did not see it that way.

“I think we all bowled pretty well considering we've had two weeks to prepare and only three outdoor sessions before the game.”

Fielding for 87 overs while Notts cracked along to 400 may seem like a gruelling day, but Whitlock disagreed.

“Honestly, there are worse things to be doing during a lockdown than being on a cricket pitch on a nice day watching class players,” said Whitlock.

Whitlock is approaching 50 wickets for Devon in the 16 games he has played and has the knack of getting good batsmen out.

Matt Thompson, Devon’s wicketkeeper and former captain, has had a close-up view of Whitlock in action and was not surprised he nipped out two professionals.

“Hugo’s best wicket-taking balls are full and straight and aimed at the batsmen’s toes,” said Thompson.

“His pace is quite deceptive in that he makes batters hurry.

“Hugo trots up with such ease and the ball gets to batters more quickly than they realise. He gets a lot of wickets bowled or lbw just by being accurate.”

Lewis Hammett, the Bovey Tracey captain, said he was disappointed not to catch the wickets falling as the game was streamed live on the Notts website. He added: “It was incredible for Hugo to take the wickets of guys who have played Test cricket.”

Whitlock is a second-year student at Oxford Brookes University, where he is studying in the film department. He should have made his debut for the UCCE side this time last year, but the Covid-19 lockdown put paid to that.

Village club Harberton was Whitlock’s first club, followed by a spell at Devon League side Abbotskerswell. He moved to Bovey Tracey in 2016 and made his full Devon debut the following season.

Whitlock has taken 104 Premier Division wickets for Bovey Tracey in 73 games. He reached his century against Bradninch last season when he completed his second hat-trick in the same match.