DEVON have extra firepower to their bowling attack for the NCCA Trophy clash with Bedfordshire at Luton as Somerset have released Ned Leonard to play.
Leonard, an ex-England under-19 player who was part of the ECB’s elite player development programme for two years, first appeared for Devon in 2021.
Somerset regard Leonard, 20, as one to watch out for in the seasons ahead, which is why they tied him to a one-year contract extension last week.
Although mainly regarded as a seam bowler Leonard can also bat, as a rapid 51 off 33 balls against Cornwall at Sidmouth showed in the group stages of last season’s competition.
Devon lacked some zip in the seam-bowling department in their first two group games, defeats by Cornwall and Berkshire, something team boss Dave Tall hopes Leonard will adjust.
"Ned is a quality player who adds potency up front with the new ball – and at the death. – and is a useful batsman as well,” said Tall.
The same XI that lost to Berkshire at Exeter last Sunday is retained with Leonard coming in for Adam Small, who was 12thman.
Tall said no decision will be made on who is left out until the team gets to Luton on match-day morning.
“We have got options,” said Tall. “We might go for a third seamer, or pick an extra batsman instead.”
Having already lost twice in the group, Devon have two games left to revive their hopes of qualifying from the five-team pool.
“Not only do we have to win this game and Hertfordshire, and win them well, we are relying on other results to help us out,” said Tall.
“It is not an ideal situation to be in, but we have to make the best of it.”
Devon and Bedfordshire have only encountered each other a couple of times in one-day cricket in the 40 years since the competition started as the United Dominions Trust Trophy back in 1983.
Devon were two wickets winners over Bedfordshire at Torquay in 1994, when they went on to defeat Cambridgeshire at Lord’s in the final. The two counties met again at Exeter last summer when Devon emerged as 161-run winners.
Wardown Park, where the game will be played, is a venue with a special place in Devon CCC’s history. It was there that Devon did enough in a drawn game against Bedfordshire in 1997 to clinch a fourth successive Minor Counties Championship title, a feat never achieved by any team before.
Bedfordshire (probable): S D Bates, C O Thurston, O C Soames, G R Thurstance, N Moughal, A W Houghton, M J Taylor, M T Coles, G M Darlow, J C Fuller, H A Evans.
Devon (from): J D Horler (Exmouth), E H Hamilton (Plympton), B A Beaumont (Cornwood), W R Christophers (Taunton St Andrews), M W Thompson (Congresbury), J E B Walliker (Plympton), S O Read (Exeter), E O Leonard (Bridgwater), B H Privett (Plympton), C J Haggett (Shapwick & Polden), M B Shepherd (Cheltenham), S E H Ansley (Bovey Tracey).
Umpires: D Pedley, B Gates.
