By. CONRAD SUTCLIFFE
BOVEY Tracey captain Lewis Hammett is looking forward to seeing team-mate Will Christophers make his Devon debut in the looming showcase game against Somerset.
Devon are playing Somerset at Bovey Tracey next Tuesday (August 2) in a 50-over challenge match and leg-spinner Christophers has been named in the match-day 12.
Christophers’ league form in 50-over cricket has amounted to a loud knock on the door of the county club’s dressing room. He has taken 25 Premier Division wickets with his leg-spin at 14.24 each and tops the list of England-qualified bowlers in the competition.
Only Heathcoat’s South African seamer Malcolm Cloete (28@11.46) has dismissed more batsmen this season.
Hammett has been calling on Devon to have a look at Christophers for a while and is delighted the team management has taken notice.
“It is great news for Will, and for any player consistently doing well in the Devon League,” said Hammett.
“Of course it will be a step up, but that is the only way any player is going to learn and see areas of their game improve.”
Dave Tall, the Devon team manager, said Christophers is itching to test himself against the professionals.
"His attitude towards playing in the game and commitment to it has been exceptional and I am looking forward to seeing what he can do," said Tall.
Christophers is the only completely new face in the Devon team, although Cornwood’s Elliott Staddon has only played in pre-season warm-up games in the past.
As neither skipper Jamie Stephens or professional Calum Haggett are available for the fixture, the captaincy has been passed to Cornwood’s Matt Skeemer.
Somerset have yet to name their side, although it is known that no players involved with Hundred franchises will feature.
Matches between the First Class counties and their neighbouring National Counties such as Devon are a priority for the ECB at the moment.
Somerset play Cornwall at Truro on Sunday in a similar fixture two days before the match against Devon.
The last time Somerset sent a side to Bovey Tracey was back in 2013 when they played the home club in a YT20 benefit match as part of Arul Suppiah’s testimonial season.
Somerset won a fast-and-furious fixture by just one run. Click here to read match report.
Tickets for the match priced at £7 can be obtained through the Somerset CCC website. Terms and conditions apply.
The Devon squad for Tuesday’s match is: M P Skeemer (captain), A J Small (wkt), E H Hamilton, J D Horler, S O Read, B A Beaumont, W R Christophers, K B Szymanski, E W O Middleton, J E B Walliker, M B Shepherd, E J Staddon.
