CONRAD SUTCLIFFE REPORTING
DEVON have recalled batsman Ben Beaumont for the must-win three-day game against Cheshire, which starts at Sidmouth today (noon).
Beaumont is an 11th hour replacement for his Cornwood team-mate Ben Privett, who pulled out of the selected side yesterday due to a back injury sustained while at work.
Sam Elstone, who open for club side Sidmouth on the ground, will move up the order to open the batting in place of Privett.
Beaumont was rested for the game Western Division One game against Cornwall at Truro last time out after a sequence of low scores.
Sidmouth is a venue Beaumont has a good track record at, which would have weighed in his favour when Privett dropped out.
Hamilton made a rapid 77 not out against Herefordshire at Sidmouth this time last year to help Devon to the win that clinched the Western Division One title.
Twelve months on from winning the National Counties Western Division title, Devon are in the thick of a fight to avoid dropping into Division Two.
It’s a toss-up between Devon and Cheshire which county will be relegated – no one else is in the frame – which makes this a pressure match for both counties.
Devon know if they lose they are as good as relegated. A Devon win, or a draw, will take the fight into the final round of matches starting a week today (August 18). Devon are away to Oxfordshire in their final game; Cheshire face Cornwall at Chester.
Devon have been batted out of their first two games against Berkshire then Cornwall, which contributed significantly to both defeats.
Dave Tall, the county team’s director of cricket, has spoken personally to every member of the team in the days before this match about what needs to improve.
Whatever Tall said to individuals remains in the dressing room, but the message was broadly the same to everyone.
“If we want to continue playing Division One cricket next season, we have to play better than we did in our first two games,” said Tall.
“We need to think a bit more about the state of the game and what we can do to influence it, rather than letting the opposition dictate.
“I have said before that winning matches in three-day cricket is about winning sessions – and we have not been winning enough of them.
“Apart from the session after lunch on the second day against Cornwall, we were not in control.
“If we play to our ability and potential, we can play our way out of trouble. If we don’t, we will get what we deserve…”
Devon: J D Horler, M W Thompson, C J Haggett, S J Elstone, H D Southgate, B A Beaumont, L S Walker, S O Read, M P Skeemer, M B Shepherd, K B Szymanski.
Cheshire: H E Dearden, S J Perry, R T Sehmi, H Dobson, L M McCoy, L Young, K R Carroll, N D Anderson, C W G Sanders, A J Selby, D A Wilson.
Umpires: P Smith & N Pipier.
