CORNWOOD have started squad building for their Premier return in 2020 with a brace of early signings.
All-rounder Dave Ball, who skippered C Division Lewdown last season, is on his way to Oak Park.
Ball was a regular run getter with Lewdown and Tavistock in A Division cricket. He stayed loyal to Lewdown during a tricky period when they dropped down three divisions, but has decided it is time to move on.
Josh Coker, an opening bowler with near neighbours Ivybridge, has also signed on the dotted line for Cornwood.
Coker has been a virtual ever-present in the Ivybridge 1stXI for the past three seasons. His career record is 75 wickets at 29.04 each in 78 games.
IVYBRIDGE will be looking for a new skipper next season as Harry Solomon has stepped aside after two summers in the job.
Solomon is giving up the captaincy and his Devon coaching commitments to concentrate on running his cricket equipment business.
Adam Huxtable and Josh Zimmerman are the leading contenders to replace Solomon next season, when Ivybridge will be back in the B Division following relegation in August.
Despite dropping out of the A Division at the end of last season, Ivybridge are not cutting back on their playing budget.
Match pro Dinesh Raheja will be offered another package for 2020. He topped the batting aggregates and averages with 556 at 42.77.
Zimbabwean Dudu Zondo won’t be returning as the club’s overseas player next season.
John Sparkes, the Ivybridge chairman, said the club had someone else in mind.
“We are going through the process at the moment and are looking at a seam-bowling all-rounder from Sri Lanka,” said Sparkes.
