Hamilton's return a boost for much-changed Devon going into three-day curtain-raiser | 'Elliot has got two National Counties hundreds – and big ones at that behind him – and heaps of experience in red-ball cricket at the top of the order' – skipper James

ELLIOT Hamilton (pictured) is back at the top of Devon’s batting order for the three-day NCCA Cluberly Championship opener against Berkshire at Wargrave.

Hamilton stepped away from representative cricket last summer in search of a break, which opened the door for Sidmouth’s Sam Elstone to carve a niche for himself opening up.

Hamilton’s return to the fold could not be better timed from Devon’s point of view as Elstone and Cornwood’s Ben Privett, another opening option are both on the injured list

As Hamilton averages nearly 40 in three-day cricket, his availability was music to the Devon management’s ears.

Tim Western, the county club’s performance director, said: “Elliot has experience in the three-day format and has been successful.

“Having taken some time out of representative cricket, he returned to the fold with an excellent century against Gloucestershire Academy at Clifton College for the Devon Lions.”

James Horler, the Devon captain and opening batsman, is also glad to have Hamilton back in the dressing room.

“Elliot has got two National Counties hundreds – and big ones at that behind him – and heaps of experience in red-ball cricket at the top of the order,” said Horler.

Despite the absence of Privett, Elstone and former professional Calum Haggett (retired), Devon’s batting depth is deep enough for Premier Division form players Luke Medlock (Paignton) and Cornwood’s Ben Beaumont to miss out.

The renewed availability of Tavistock all-rounder Rhys Davies – he bats and bowls off-spin – was a bonus.

Filling gaps in the seam bowling armoury was somewhat trickier as regulars Privett, Matt Skeemer, Haggett and Kazi Szymanski are all ruled out for various reasons.

Szymanski, a permanent fixture with the new ball for the previous three seasons, is playing in Yorkshire for Moorlands CC. He has not learned to drive yet and is unable to get down from Huddersfield to Wargrave to play in the game. Click here to read a recent cricket news story involving Szymanski

Only four membersof the team that defeated Oxfordshire in the final game of the 2024 season are named for the match at Wargrave: Horler, Thompson, Walker and Read.

Devon will go into the game with three seam-bowling debutants: Exmouth’s George Greenway, Sandford’s Matt Jeacock and Bridestowe’s Craig Penberthy.

Greenway’s previous commitments with the now-scrapped England Deaf team prevented him playing for Devon before. Jeacock was in squads but not in XIs last season. Penberthy is a wild-car pick based on impressing skipper James Horler from 22 yards away!

“With Ben Privett injured we needed a bit of pace in the seam attack and Craig gets it through nicely,” said Horler.  

Three days against last season’s joint national champions – they shared it with Staffordshire – will be a test for a Devon seam attack untried at this level. Western has every faith in his first-time trio.

“George Greenway hits the seam and so does Matt Jeacock, which will compliment Craig’s pace nicely,” said Western.

There are few tougher asks in National Counties cricket than defeating Berkshire on their own backyard, but that’s not a worry for Western.

“In many respects it is good we are playing such a strong side first as it will show us what the standard is and what level we are at,” said Western.

“Wargrave is a result wicket and with three good spinners on top of our seamers we will try to take advantage of that.”

As for targets this season, Western has a straightforward one.

“Our objective has to be to retain our position in Division One,” he said

Berkshire are a batter short, as Jonny Connell is playing for Essex, and a seamer light due to Hampshire calling-up Ben Salter.Under-18s Connor Lamsdale (Hants Academy) and Will Hamilton are added to the squad. Debutant batter Greg Smith is likely to play,.

Euan Woods, who scored 142 not out in the corresponding fixture last season, has recovered from injury and will play.

Berkshire (from): D J Lincoln, R D Lewis, A Searle, E D  Woods, C P Dunnett, E R Campion, G Smith, J M Lincoln, J A JRishton, A J MacEwen, S F Daniel, C A Lamsdale, W Hamilton,

Devon: E H Hamilton, J D Horler, M W Thompson, L S Walker, R W Davies, C F Harvey, S O Reed, J A Stephens, G E Greenway, M R Jeacock, C D Penberthy. 12th: J M Nott.