Steve Moore bowling away for Barnstaple & Pilton

STEVE Moore will be embarking on his 25th campaign as a Devon League captain in 2018.

Moore – still going strong at 52 – has been re-elected as captain of Barnstaple & Pilton.

The former Devon spinner started his captaincy career at Braunton, serving 16 seasons as skipper up to 2002.

Old adversary - Exmouth's 1994 Premier-winning captain Julian PageMoore, who succeeded Sid Windsor as captain, took Braunton to Devon Cup final win over Plymouth at Budleigh in 1991 – and second place behind Premier kings Exmouth in 1994.

“Exmouth were pretty strong in those days – Folland, Page, Rhodes, Tierney – and we took the down to the last game,” said Moore.

It was next stop Barnstaple & Pilton for Moore, who took over as captain from Shaun Cole in 2010.

Moore, who has played men’s cricket since he was a 14-year-old at the old Barnstaple Nondescripts club, has seen lots of changes in more than 30 years experience of Devon League cricket.

Times have changed, and not necessarily for the best.

“I miss the winning and losing draw which was taken out of the Devon League three or four years ago in favour of straight win or lose,” said Moore.

“There was something challenging about batting out to save a game, fending off the fast bowler coming back on or dealing with a spinner and fielders crouched round the bat.

“I am an off-spinner so maybe I am biased, but I don’t think the current format does anything to encourage spin bowling now.

“Personally, I think the younger generation are missing out on a part of the game that was a real test."

Barnstaple & Pilton start pre-season nets at Taw Meadow on April 7. Warm-up games have been arranged against Bideford and Braunton.