Guest (pictured) and Hodgson poised for Devon debuts in T20 double-header against Wiltshire | Selection issues test Devon's strength in depth
DEVON’S strength in depth has been well and truly tested ahead of tomorrow’s (Sunday’s) Twenty20 double-header against Wiltshire on the Bemerton ground in Salisbury.
Gone for one reason or another from the 13 that lost twice over to Cornwall at Blundell’s School in Tiverton last time out are Sam Elstone (shoulder injury), Zach Vukusic (Somerset commitments), George Addy (Leicestershire try out) and Josh Nott (A-level revision).
Extended squad members such as Seb Allison (revising), Matt Jeacock (injured), James Theedom and Seb Linnitt (Somerset commitments) and Gloucestershire’s Ed Middleton are all ruled out for one reason or another.
With Vukusic and Nott out of the picture, Devon had intended to parade Somerset left-armer Alfie Ogbourne in their bowling attack.
NCCA declined to accept Ogbourne’s registration as it was past the deadline for contracted professionals to be signed-on. Tom Hodgson, an opening bowler with Sidmouth, has been drafted in for Ogbourne.
Ethan Guest, the Plymouth seamer, is in a competitive Devon white-ball squad for the first time.
Devon will be travelling to Salisbury with an XI plus Hatherleigh’s Jasper Presswell as 12th man.
Tim Western, Devon’s director of performance, feels despite the problems plaguing selection for the fixtures, the county’s Lions development programme means there are players properly equipped to come in.
“Despite an unprecedented week of injuries and unavailability's, we are able to field a strong team at Salisbury,” said Western.
“I feel there is a deeper squad of players this year who can be successful at National Counties level.
“Our side still has the core of players who have been involved in almost all of the white-ball cricket this year.
“The team is packed with all-rounders – and that is the way that T20 cricket has moved towards.”
Devon have some catching-up to do if they are going to finish high enough in their qualification pool to make it into the new Super12s phase introduced this season. They were the only team in round one not to win at least one of their games and are bottom in a table of five.
Anything other than at least one win against Wiltshire will make qualifying tough.
“We will be looking to put into practice the learning experience from the Cornwall games and are pushing for two wins,” said Western.
Wiltshire: J M A Mynott, T C C Cheater, J Goodwin, J J Kelly, E G C Young, W L Naish, A F J Fairfax-Ross, C Chahal, A B Johnson, W E S Brown, R T Baker.
Devon: C F Harvey, J M Triner, F J Hill, L S Walker, B H Privett, S O Read, M G Whalley, A J Small, H J Passenger, E J Guest, T Hodgson. 12th: J A J Presswell.
Umpires: S D Hollingshead, P J Sparshott
