Second spell: Bovey Tracey's new captain Toby Codd

TOBY Codd has been re-installed as Bovey Tracey’s 1st XI captain at a time when the team faces an uncertain future.

At the end of a season when only one team was slated for relegation from the Tolchards DCL Premier Division, Bovey should have been safe as they finished second from bottom.

However, Bovey have a potential 45-point deduction hanging over them for a possible registration error relating to Australian seamer Alex Bevilaqua. 

The error, which is linked to the visa he visited this country on, has not been determined one way or the other. The Home Office are responsible making a decision on the visa’s validity. The league officials, who will no doubt seek advice from ECB, will decide what penalty to impose only after the Home Office makes a ruling. One to watch: Harry Mount

A 45-point deduction – five points for every league game Bevilaqua played in – would mean Bovey Tracey trade places with North Devon at the foot of the table. A Division cricket would be Bovey’s next stop.

Codd, who had three summers at the tiller between 2018-2020, said whichever division Bovey are in the 2024 season will be a rebuilding one.

“Whether we are in the A Division or the Premier, we'll be giving the young lads a really good go,” said Codd.

“There is no getting away from how poor we were for the most of last season. We spoke a lot after our final game (Exmouth) about seeing it as an opportunity to rebuild and come back stronger.

“We have relied on the Bradleys – Pete and Chris – Ryan Bougourd and others for years and it's time for a new group to take the club forward.

“The likes of Jake Pascoe, Sam Harvey, Harry Mount (pictured) and Ben Kay will be given more responsibility next year to take the team forward.

“We're so lucky to have a lot of young lads with so much potential. It feels like a fresh start which is positive. And that is really exciting.”

Keeper-batter Lewis Hammett, who led the side for the past seasons, is carrying on as a player, although his availability may be patchy due to his duties as a new dad.

All-rounder Ashley Causey, de-facto number two to Hammett, is working in London and unlikely to feature on a regular basis.

Codd is talking to a player from Afghanistan as the club’s overseas player in 2024. Closer to home feelers have gone out to an all-rounder at a lower-division club and a keeper-batter.