CONRAD SUTCLIFFE REPORTING

DEVON will be aiming to kick-start their three-day campaign with a win over Cornwall at Cornwood CC in the National Counties Cluberly Championship.

Four games into the 10-match programme, none of the five sides in Western Division One has won a game.

Devon do have a game in hand – it was their turn to sit it out in round two – which gives them a theoretical advantage over their rivals.

James Horler, the Devon captain, just hopes the bad weather that disrupted the opening rounds of the competition bypasses Oak Park from tomorrow (11am) onwards.

“It is a massive game,” said Horler. “With results so far all being draws, it's all to play for and a win is hugely important at a stage like this to set you apart.

“Fingers crossed for a full nine sessions and to making it two from two against Cornwall this year,” added Horler, who led Devon to a 50-over win over the old enemy earlier in the season.

As Devon have also played Cornwall in the Twenty20 format this summer – Lawrence Walker leads that side – their strengths are well known.

“Cornwall have got some strong performers – Blake, McVicar etc –who can win games by themselves,” said Horler.

Oak Park’s sloping contours are not unique in National Counties cricket – there are slopes at Banbury, Sidmouth and Brockhampton, among others – but are pronounced enough to influence the way the game is played.

Devon will be glad of the local knowledge held by seam-bowling all-rounder Matt Skeemer, who returns to the side having missed the curtain-raiser against Berkshire nearly three weeks ago due to work commitments.

“You need different tactics on a ground like that, especially for a three-day game,” said Horler.

“Matt has been a strong red-ball player for us and even more some from the 'Skeemer End' at Oak Park.”

Tim Western, Devon’s performance director, said Skeemer offers plenty more than local knowledge.

“Matt can bowl with the new ball, or at any time throughout the innings,” said Western. “He also offers useful middle-order runs.”

Skeemer replaces seamer Matt Jeacock, in one of two changes to the Devon side.

Batsman Luke Medlock comes in for his debut as a top-order replacement for Rhys Davies, who has family commitments.

Medlock, who went through the Devon age-groups from 10-18, has batted his way into county contention with more than 700 league and cup runs this season.

“Luke has consistently scored a heap of runs for Paignton – and also the Devon Lions – so deserved a spot in the batting line-up,” said Horler.

Those sentiments were echoed by Western, who added: “This is Luke’s opportunity to transfer that skill and confidence into the National Counties environment.”

Cornwall’s team shows four changes to the one that drew with Berkshire at Truro last time out.

Missing are Toby Stoddard, who opened the batting, seamer Ben Sleeman and spin bowlers Andrew Libby and Fahad Sabir, a former Devon player (2021-22) who was making his Cornwall debut.

In come all-rounder Max Tryfanos, spin bowler Ellis Whiteford, seamer Ben Ellis and debutant Tom Orpe, who opens the batting for Grampound Road.

Devon: J D Horler, E H Hamilton, M W Thompson. L S Walker, L W Medlock. C F Harvey, S O Read, M P Skeemer, J A Stephens, G E Greenway C D Penberthy.

Cornwall: W A MacVicar, A J Blake, A W Bone, R X Clarke, B A Ellis, K Leathley, A MacDonald, T Orpe, W J J Rowe, M M Tryfonos, E A F Whiteford.