CONRAD SUTCLIFFE REPORTING
SOUTH Devon Cricket Club is finalising preparations for the big game against Somerset’s stars next Tuesday (June 16) night.
Somerset’s long-serving all-rounder Lewis Gregory is celebrating his testimonial season this summer and wanted South Devon to be part of it.
A pre-match gala lunch has been arranged, a hospitality marquee will be going up and food and drink will be available around the ground for spectators to take advantage of.
A limited number of £60 tickets are still available for the pre-match lunch, at which Gregory and England spinner Jack Leach will be top-table guests. The price includes admission to the game. Tables of six can be reserved at a cost of £330.
Tickets for the VIP marque are £35. They also include match entry, reserved seating, a buffet during the game and a private bar. Click here to book either lunch or the marquee.
The Newton Abbot club has been hosting testimonial games for Somerset players since the 1950s when Harold Stephenson was the beneficiary. Games on behalf of James Hildreth, Marcus Trescothick, Peter Trego and Max Waller have attracted bumper crowds to the Recreational Trust ground in Marsh Road in recent summers.
South Devon’s blue-chip record staging testimonial games is the reason Somerset players keep coming back. Ian Shepherd, the South Devon CC secretary, said: “We love having Somerset here for testimonial matches and have had nothing but great feedback from all our guests over the years.
“It's a chance for the whole town to come together and watch some of the best cricketers from around the world do what they do best on the doorstep.”
South Devon don’t know yet which Somerset players will be turning out in the game, but Shepherd anticipates it being a strong side.
“We have seen in previous games that Somerset’s star players are keen to support their team-mates and will generally play unless they have been told to rest because of an injury,” said Shepherd.
South Devon will be strengthened for the game by the inclusion of a guest players from clubs in the area, including Brixham’s Pakistani professional Mo Shaikh, Devon all-rounder Harry Passenger and Stoke Gabriel’s Australian run getter Tyler Hunter.
The Twenty20 format match is due to get under way at 5.30pm.
[O] Lewis Gregory started his cricket career with Plympton and had just turned 14 when he made is DCL Premier Division debut for them against Sidmouth in 2006.
Somerset and the ECB talent-spotted Gregory as he went through the Devon age-groups from under-11 upwards. By 2008 he was playing in Somerset’s 2nd XI and part of the ECB’s development programme.
Gregory went on to captain England under-19s in two Tests against Sri Lanka in 2011. He made his First-Class debut for Somerset later that year.
Among Gregory’s many highlights have been 12 white-ball appearances for England, winning the Vitality Blast competition and featuring in Big Bash League for Brisbane Heat, the Bangladesh Premier League (Rangpur Rangers) and the Pakistani Super League for Pershaw and Karachi Kings.
They are a sport lot the Gregorys. Dad Ian skippered Plymouth Albion in what is now called the Championship and brother Matt played rugby more than 350 times for Devonport Services, as well as cricket for Plympton.
