Sidmouth’s Josh Bess is the new Devon skipper, writes Conrad Sutcliffe.

Bess, who is 25 in August, has been virtually a permanent fixture in the side since breaking into it in 2007. He has played for the Minor Counties U25s and also trialled with both Surrey and Gloucestershire.

A fast-bowling all-rounder who bats at five in the county side, Bess was man of the match when Devon defeated Cambridgeshire under Bradley’s leadership to win the Minor Counties crown in 2011.

Bess is the first to admit he hasn’t a huge amount of captaincy experience outside college and Devon age-group cricket, but neither he or the Devon committee who made the appointment see that as an issue.

“I am always thinking about the game during the match and like to think I have a good cricket head,” said Bess.

“Playing under previous captains such as Bob Dawson, Neil Hancock and Chris Bradley you watch and learn – and that is what I have been doing.

“I am looking forward to being more fully involved and helping Devon win matches.”

Keith Donohue, Devon’s director of cricket, said he thought Bess was the right man for the job.

‘There are certain qualities you need in a captain – an upright and solid character – and Josh clearly has those,’ said Donohue.

‘I don’t see Josh’s lack of captaincy experience as a problem as he has played a lit of three-day cricket.

‘If he brings to the job the same tenacity and determination he shows as a player, he will do a fine job.’