COUNTIES CRICKET Devon aiming to go one better
- Details
- Created on Friday, 10 July 2026 20:57
- Last Updated on Saturday, 11 July 2026 06:36
- Published on Friday, 10 July 2026 20:57
- Written by PAUL BOLTON Cricket Correspondent
Devon have named eight of the side beaten by Buckinghamshire at West Bromwich Dartmouth in last season's final.
The exceptions are seamers Matt Jeacock, Craig Penberthy and George Greenway who are replaced by George Daldorph, James Matravers and spin-bowling all-rounder Matt Whalley.
Herefordshire have named four debutants in their side including Malvern College batter Henry Hardinges, the son of former Gloucestershire all-rounder Mark. Worcester Academy batter Joe Porter, Kidderminster leg-spinner Ali Latif and Freddie Ammonds, a product of Herefordshire’s pathway programme, are the other newcomers.
Berkshire host Oxfordshire at the Falkland club in Newbury and have rested opening batter Johnny Connell after a hectic first three months of the season. Connell has been trialling with Essex, Hampshire and Sussex as well as playing all of Berkshire’s white ball matches.
Berkshire are also missing Charlie Dunnett, who has his university graduation this weekend, and spinners Sulaiman Akhtar and Nilesh Bhandari through work commitments.
Leg-spinner Abdullah Iqbal, who is on Hampshire’s Academy, will make his competitive debut having played in the Showcase T20 match against Sussex at Horsham in May.
Finchampstead seamer Lewis Sharp is recalled for his first county appearance in three years.
Oxfordshire are captained Max Mannering on his seasonal debut with slow-left armer Alfie Smethurst – who played for Sussex against them in Monday’s Showcase T20 – Evan Cowley and seamer Sravan Konidena all Championship debutants.
Shropshire captain Charlie Home will make his first appearance of the season in their Western Division Two match against Cornwall at Truro. Home broke a finger in pre-season and only resumed playing for Shifnal two weeks ago.
Slow left-armer Theo Wylie returns from helping Warwickshire to win the Second XI T20 competition on Tuesday and there are Championship debuts for former Glamorgan and Leicestershire seamer Roman Walker and ex-Yorkshire left-arm wrist spinner Sam Wisniewski.
Former Kent and Sussex all-rounder Elliot Hooper is one of three Championship debutants for Cornwall joining spinner Bryn Evans and seamer Ryan Tonkin.
Dorset have Hampshire batter Felix Organ available for their trip to Ebbw Vale to face Wales NC.
Organ, who has not featured in Hampshire’s Vitality Blast campaign, will be making his seasonal debut for Dorset and his first appearance in the Championship for two years.
There is a National Counties debut for Bournemouth batter Alfie Ingram with experienced wicketkeeper/batter Ed Ellis and seamer Ed Bartlett called up for the first time this season.
Wales have included two potential debutants in former Surrey and England Under-19s seamer Luke Griffiths, who is now on the Cardiff UCCE, and Asim Hameed, a fast bowler from the St Fagans club.
Kurtis Marsh is recalled for his first appearance in two years and Tegid Phillips his seasonal debut.
NCCA CLUBERLY CHAMPIONSHIP
July 12-14 (11am)
Eastern Division One
Chesham: Buckinghamshire v Staffordshire. Bury St Edmunds: Suffolk v Northumberland.
Western Division One
Falkland CC: Berkshire v Oxfordshire. Sidmouth: Devon v Herefordshire.
Eastern Division Two
Furness: Cumbria v Hertfordshire. Sleaford: Lincolnshire v Norfolk.
Western Division Two
Truro: Cornwall v Shropshire. Ebbw Vale: Wales NC v Dorset.
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