Devon Trio Selected to Play in 2025 Bunbury Festival

Devon trio Muhammad Kaleem, Alex Tipper (both Exeter CC) and Henry Alsop (Ipplepen CC) are the latest Performance Pathway cricketers to be selected for the annual Bunbury Festival.

Muhammad returns having been involved a year early at last year's festival. He is joined by club teammate Alex, who has featured for Devon Under 15, Under 16 and Under 18 Boys this year, while Henry has been selected a year early whilst still playing for Devon Under 14 Boys.

The festival, started nearly 40 years ago, is a combination of shop window and proving ground for around 60 Under 15 cricketers from all over the country.

During a series of matches played over five matches, the best play the best in front of talent spotters from the professional counties, with a two-day match taking place on Monday, 21 July and Tuesday, 22 July this year, while the traditional Bunbury Festival takes place from Saturday, 2 August to Friday, 8 August.

Alex and Henry join some illustrious company on the list of Bunbury alumni.

England captains past and present, Joe Root and Ben Stokes, are Bunbury graduates, along with Devonians such as Dom Bess, Ben Green, Lewis Gregory, Tom Lammonby and Chris Read.

Matt Whalley (Plymstock CC) and Joe Gillett (Bradninch & Kentisbeare CC) were festival-goers in 2023, while James Theedom (Sandford CC) and Seb Linnitt (Exeter CC) attended in 2022.

Other Devon youngsters to take part in the Bunbury Festival include Sonny Baker, Ben Beaumont, Luke Bess, Mark Bettis, Matt Cooke, Steve Edmonds, Shane Evenden, James Fraser, Matt Hickley, Fin Hill, David Lye, Sam Maunder, Harry Southgate, Kazi Szymanski, Matt Wood, Sam Wyatt-Haines and Justin Yau.