Somerset stars heading for Exmouth
MONDAY, JANUARY 11
SOMERSET’S stars are heading to Exmouth this summer to play the Minor Counties in the new ECB Pro40 competition.
Trescothick (pictured right batting in a T20 game at Budleigh Salterton), Trego and Co will be heading for the Maer Ground on August 8 to play an ECB Recreational XI in the new tournament.
The ECB Pro 40 replaces the old NatWest-sponsored Pro 40 League that was wound up last season.
In addition to the 18 First Class counties, the Minor Counties, Scotland and the Netherlands have been invited to take part.
The Recreational XI will be chosen from players without full county contracts. Devon will be hoping some of their key performers, such as skipper Neil Hancock and spin bowler Chris Metters – and will be considered for selection.
Exmouth followers will be rooting for Metters (pictured, left) to get a place in the side as he has just joined the club from A Division rivals South Devon. Metters, a left-arm spinner, topped the nationwide Minor Counties averages last season.
Teams will play each other home and away in the first round, with the group winners and best second-placed team advancing to the semi-finals. The final of the tournament will take place at Lord's in September.
Devon secretary Geoff Evans, who in his other job as secretary of the Minor Counties Cricket Association has been involved in arrangements for the Pro40, said landing the fixture was a bonus of cricket watchers in the county.
“Supporters still miss the chance to see Devon play the First Class counties in the old C&G Trophy, which ended four or five years ago when all the Minor Counties were thrown out,” said Evans.
“Somerset have a large following in Devon so we can be confident the game will be well supported.”
Exmouth is once again Devon’s prime venue in the county fixture list, which has been published today.
Two pre-season friendlies – against Devon U21s and Cardiff UCCE – have been booked for the Maer Ground in April.
The first serious game is also at Exmouth when Buckinghamshire visit for MCCA Cup game on April 25. Exmouth will be the venue for any further KO Cup games in the latter stages of the competition.
Exmouth will also host the three-day Minor Counties Championship match against Wiltshire starting on July 18.
Lastly, if Devon reach the final of the Minor Counties Championship, that will be played at Exmouth in September.
Sidmouth will entertain Devon for the game against Oxfordshire starting on August 15. The Fortfield has also been selected for two representative games: the Minor Counties U25s against Somerset 2nd XI and the Minor Counties XI against the MCC.
Exeter gets a competitive Devon fixture for the first time in 26 years when Wales are the visitors in the MCCA KO Cup on May 9. The last match on the County Ground was against Oxfordshire way back in 1984.
The full list of fixtures is:
April 4: University of Exeter, Exeter (11am) F; April 11: Devon U21s, Exmouth (11am) F; April 18: Cardiff UCCE, Exmouth (11am) F; April 25: Buckinghamshire, Exmouth (11am) KO; May 2: Cornwall, Redruth (11am) KO; May 9: Wales, Exeter (11am) KO; May 16: Wiltshire, Trowbridge (11am) KO; June 6-8: Cornwall, Torquay (11am) Ch; June 13: KO Cup, Exmouth (11am) KO; June 20-22: Wales, Abergavenny (11am) Ch; June 24: MCCA U25 v Somerset, Sidmouth (11am) Rep: June 25: MCCA v MCC, Sidmouth (11am) Rep: July 4-6: Herefordshire, Eastnor (11am) Ch; July 11: KO; Cup, Exmouth (11am) KO; July 18-20: Wiltshire, Exmouth (11am) Ch; Aug 1-3 Ch; eshire, Nantwich (11am) Ch; Aug 8: Minor Counties v Somerset, Exmouth (1.45pm) Pro40; Aug 11: KO Cup final Chester-le-Street, TBC KO; Aug 15: Oxfordshire, Sidmouth (11am) Ch; Sep 5: Championnship final, Exmouth (10.30am) Ch.
