CONRAD SUTCLIFFE REPORTING

TWO team smarting from drubbings by Western Division frontrunners Berkshire start a three-day game at Truro tomorrow (11am), where Cornwall entertain Devon.

Devon, the defending divisional champions, opened their National Counties programme at the start of the month in gloomy style with a 10-wicket defeat by Berkshire at Instow. The result pinned them to the bottom of the divisional table.

The fixture list gave Devon a week off to get over their hammering, while Cornwall moved on to play Berkshire at Wargrave.

Berkshire piled-up 439 for seven declared the only time they batted, them bowled-out Cornwall twice to win by an innings and 111 runs. Perhaps, unsurprisingly, the noises from the opposing camps have a similar ring to them.

Dave Tall, the Devon team manager, said: “Berkshire played very well against us, but we allowed them to play better than we should have.

“Out of nine sessions we probably won half of one after lunch on the second day. Thanks to the rain taking time out of the game we were only a few overs from saving it. Lack of game awareness meant we did not.”

Godfrey Furse, the Cornwall team manager, said something remarkably similar.

“We have to get back to doing the basics right,” said Furse.

“The sides you play are allowed to have good players who play well, but you have to make them work hard for their runs and wickets.

“I ask of every Cornwall team that we are competitive on the field. On a flat one at Wargrave we were way below standard.”

The work-on for Tall is batsmen reading the game better and not taking needless risks when points or time landmarks are in sight.

“We are making elementary errors – losing wickets needlessly at bad times – and have to be more situationally aware,” said Tall.

“This is a must-win game (because of Devon’s position in the table) and if we play better than we did against Berkshire we have every chance. If we don’t, we have no chance!”

Tall avoided too many specifics about the exact nature of the errors, but against Berkshire poor shot selection and a failure to bat time were obvious shortcomings.

Devon make three changes to their beaten side. In come batters Sam Elstone – he has been capped by Scotland at under-19 level – and Harry Southgate along with seam-bowling all-rounder Matt Skeemer.

“Sam has been performing, both in the league and for the Lions, and as there are places in the batting line-up he deserves a chance,” said Tall.

“I have seen Harry play three times and on each one he has got runs.

“Call it a gut feeling if you want, but there is something about the way he gets those runs, and his attitude in the middle, that seems right.

“Matt Skeemer could not play against Berkshire. Having him available increases our bowling options.”

Spinner Max Shepherd, 12th man against Berkshire, remains in the squad. It is hard to see a scenario in which he does not play on a surface Devon regard as spinner friendly.

Out of the squad are Ben Beaumont, Charlie Sharland and Elliot Hamilton.

James Horler, Devon’s white-ball captain, will lead the red-ball side in the continued absence of skipper Jamie Stephens due to injury.

Cornishman Joe Phillips, who is dual registered with Gloucestershire, is unavailable and replaced by Billy Taylor. Fit-again off-spinner Ellis Whiteford (shoulder), replaces Adam Snowdon.

Cornwall: P S Smith, A J Blake, A W Bone, B A Ellis, K N Leathley, W A MacVicar, W J J Rowe, A W Snowdon, B M Taylor, M M Tryfonos, E A F Whiteford.

Devon (from): J D Horler, M W Thompson, S J Elstone, B H Privett. C J Haggett, H D Southgate, L S Walker, M B Shepherd, S O Read, W R Christophers, M P Skeemer, K B Syzmanski.

Umpires: P A Smith, R Callicott.