By CONRAD SUTCLIFFE and MARK BALDWIN

SOMERSET have named a strong 15-man squad that includes two former Australian Test stars for tomorrow’s (Tuesday’s) 50-over ‘showcase’ game against Devon at Bovey Tracey.

Nine of the players in the squad have appeared in First Class cricket this season, including prolific run scorer James Hildreth, former Australian Test players Peter Siddle and Matt Renshaw and ex-England ODI keeper-batter Steve Davies.

Hildreth played in the seven-wicket win over Cornwall at Truro on Sunday in a similar showcase game.

Also in the Somerset side is early order batter George Bartlett, a batsman on a mission to make up for lost time. The game is a final warm-up before the Royal London Cup programme starts at home to Notts Outlaws on Thursday and Bartlett will be hungry for runs.

The 24-year-old batsman is hoping a successful campaign in the Royal London Cup will salvage something from a frustrating season so far.

Early season injuries cost Bartlett a regular place in the V= Insurance County Championship and Vitality Blast teams. He was out for several weeks and by the time he returned others had risen above him in the batting pecking order.

A timely reminder of the former England Under-19 batsman’s talent came in only his second championship appearance of the season against Yorkshire at Taunton last month when he made 46 in the first innings and 88 not out in the second.  

But, with Tom Kohler-Cadmore having already been signed to boost Somerset’s batting line-up for next season, Bartlett is under no illusions about how much a good Royal London campaign could mean to his career.  

Said Bartlett: “I’m really looking forward to the competition. We will have a strong squad, with a good mix of experienced players and talented youngsters, so we should be really competitive.  

“It’s a very big time in the season for me. There are times as a professional sportsman when you come under pressure and have to react.

“The championship game against Yorkshire was a boost. It was important I backed up my first innings score with another major contribution in the second innings and I managed to do that.  

“But the Royal London Cup is still going to be huge for me. The shoulder injury set me back and I had to be very patient in awaiting a chance to get back into the team.  

“It came against Lancashire in the championship a few games ago. Now I have a couple of scores under my belt and feel ready to push on.”

The Somerset side will be captained by former Devon player Ben Green and alsp includes Torquay quick bowler Sonny Baker.

Tickets for the match priced at £7 can be obtained through the Somerset CCC website. Terms and conditions apply.

Admission at the gate on the day of the match is £10

Devon (from): 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

Somerset (squad): B G F Green, K L Aldridge, S Baker, G A Bartlett, S M Davies, J C Hildreth, A R J Ogbourne, J E K Rew, J C Harding , A R I Umeed, M T C Waller, J A Brooks, M T Renshaw, P M Siddle.

Umpires:S E Lavis, A Harris.