Blundell's old-boy Walker (pictured) returns to school in new role as Devon captain | New look to T20 squad under new management

By CONRAD SUTCLIFFE

DEVON’S new Twenty20 captain Lawrence Walker could be excused for having a lump in his throat when he tosses-up with opposite number Paul Smith before the action starts at Blundell’s School tomorrow (Sunday).

Walker, who won’t be 21 until September, has a lot to thank staff at the Tiverton school for his progress as a cricketer. Returning there as county captain will be an emotional occasion for him.

Liam Lewis, the former Devon batsman, is a teacher at the school and coached the Blundell’s 1st XI Walker was a member of.

And Dean Headley, the ex-Middlesex, Kent and England fast bowler, was a ready source of advice and inspiration in his role as director of cricket at the school.

Said Walker: “Going back as Devon captain is going to be really special for me.

“Liam made coaching fun and, in my last year, I learned a lot from Dean.”

Walker’s captaincy credentials were ‘road-tested’ by Devon in the Twenty20 Showcase Game against Somerset at Exmouth last week.

Although Devon lost the match by 22 runs, Walker’s game management impressed the Devon management sufficiently to make the appointment permanent.

There were stand-out performances in the Somerset side from dual-registered duo Fin Hill and Zach Vukusic, both of whom are in the Devon squad to face Cornwall.

Harry Passenger in particular, Josh Nott, Callum Harvey and Matt Jeacock all bowled effectively for Devon.  And there were runs for Adam Small, Harvey and Walker when Devon batted.

Said Walker: “There was some great team – plus individual – performances in our showcase game against Somerset, so we are looking forward to building on that performance and play a positive brand of cricket.”

It is an unexpectedly prompt return to the same venue where Devon bowed out of the 50-over National Counties Trophy last Sunday following a two-wicket defeat by Berkshire.

The National Counties Twenty20 competition runs on a two-games-in-a-day-on-the-same-ground format, which was supposed to Exeter for round one.

A calendar clash with the Great West Run around Exeter would have caused huge travel problems for players and spectators alike, due to road closures in the city, and prompted a late change of venue.

Devon’s defeat by Berkshire was a tough one to take as you don’t lose too many games defending 324. The four-game format of the qualifying stages allows little margin for error.

Tim Western, the county club’s performance director, said a new competition means a fresh focus for the team.

“We have moved on quickly from the disappointment of not progressing to the knockout phases of the limited overs competition. 

“There are many positives to take out of those four games as a squad and the majority of those pass across into this shorter format.”

Devon have not made much noise in the Twenty20 competition for a number of years, either due to poor results or rain washing out a sizeable number of pool games. They last reached the knockout stages in 2018 when Berkshire defeated them in the semi-finals.

Said Western: “We are looking to put some foundations in place to be competitive, starting on Sunday.

There is a new look to Devon’s Twenty20 side this season with just four players – George Addy, Sam Read, Cornwood’s Ben Privett and Walker continuing from the one that lost to Cornwall at St Just in their final match of 2024.

The only significant change is the inclusion of former Kent batsman Alex Blake instead of ex-Derbyshire, Glamorgan and Warwickshire all-rounder Graham Wagg.

Devon (squad): L S Walker, S J Elstone, B H Privett, A J Small, J M Trinner, C F Harvey, S O Read, Z X M Vukusic, H J Passenger, J M Nott, M G Whalley, G J Addy.

Cornwall (squad): P S Smith, A W Bone, R X Clarke, B A Ellis, S P Kellow, K Leathley, A MacDonald, W A McVicar, W J J Rowe, M M Tryfonos, E A F Whiteford, A J Blake.

Umpires: S E Lavis, B Radia.