CONRAD SUTCLIFFE REPORTING

RYAN Stevenson could be back playing cricket in Devon next season after parting company with Hampshire after seven years on the staff.

Stevenson, who will be 30 when the 2022 season gets under way, was plucked from league and Minor Counties cricket by Hampshire midway through the summer of 2015 and within weeks made his First Class debut against Durham.

Stevenson’s seven seasons at the Ageas Bowl were disrupted by injury problems and prevented him staking a regular claim in the first team. In his later years with Hampshire appeared either in second team or T20 cricket.

Hampshire gave Stevenson a contract for the 2021 season, but have decided not to renew it. He did not feature in a First Class game this year and his last 1st XI appearance for the county was in a T20 game against Middlesex in June.

For his role in helping Hampshire win the Second Eleven Championship in 2019 Stevenson was named the county’s clubman of the year.

Giles White, the director of cricket at Hampshire and a former Devon player before entering the professional ranks, praised Stevenson’s all-round contribution to the county.

“Ryan was a pleasure to have and an incredibly popular member of the squad,” said White. 

“He has been a  total team-first man and one that we will all miss.”

Stevenson played for Dartington & Totnes then Torquay, where he was talent spotted by Devon and brought into the squad for the 2015 season as a bowling all-rounder.

White was impressed by Stevenson’s performance for Devon in a three-day game against Berkshire during the 2015 season and invited him to play a second team game for Hampshire the following week.

Stevenson made infrequent appearances for both Torquay and Devon after joining Hampshire. Devon will want to re-integrate Stevenson in their plans next season if, as expected, he returns to Devon to live.