Devon cricket clubs begin their summer prep

It has been a painfully wet and gloomy start to 2022, with local sport largely a wash-out, which makes it easier to daydream about the long lazy days of summer enjoying some fantastic cricket. 

Plenty is going on in the Devon Cricket League and Bovey Tracey have stated their intentions in the Premier Division with the signing of prolific run-scorer Munir Ahmed from Afghanistan, who arrives in Devon with a fantastic reputation from his performances in First Class cricket in the Gulf region. 

Ahmed made his test debut against Zimbabwe in 2021. Playing for the opposition was Donald Tiripano, who is Sandford’s overseas professional in 2022.  

Another Sandford cricketer, Adam Small, has taken a break from his University studies to spend time developing his cricket in South Africa, where he has already made a century for Cape Town-based side Claremont CC. 

Small, who left Taunton School last summer with the equivalent of three A-levels, is currently a scholar at the Gary Kirsten Cricket Academy in Cape Town. 

County cricket will return to the Exeter County Ground this summer, with Devon scheduled to play against Bedfordshire in the National Counties KO Cup. The Exeter ground last hosted a County fixture when Devon lost to Cornwall in 2019. 

Devon’s 2022 fixture list – published today – is divided into four distinct phases: warm-ups, Twenty20 festival days, 50-over cup games and three-day Championship matches. 

Devon’s full fixture list is: 

April: 3 – University of Exeter (venue TBC); 10 – Somerset 2nd XI (Sidmouth), 17 – Gloucestershire 2nd XI (Exeter); 24 – Cornwall, T20 (Werrington). 

May: 1 – Wiltshire, T20 (Plymouth); 2 – Dorset, T20 (North Perrott), 8 – Herefordshire (North Devon); May 15 – Lions v Dorset, Fr (North Devon CC); 22 – T20 Finals Day (Tring CC); 29 – Berkshire, KO (Henley), 31 – Lions v Wiltshire, Fr (away). 

June: 5 – Bedfordshire, KO (Exeter); 12 – Hertfordshire, KO (Hertford CC); 26 – Cornwall, KO (Sidmouth). 

July: 3-5 – Wales MC, Champ (Abergavenny); 10-12 – Cornwall, Champ (TBC); 17 – KO quarter-final (Sidmouth); 31-Aug 2 – Lions v Cornwall, Fr (TBC). 

August: 7 – KO semi-final (Sidmouth); 14-16 Shropshire, Champ (Bridgnorth); 21-23 Wiltshire, Champ (Sidmouth); 28 – KO final (Wormsley); 29 – SW T10 (Potterne).