The Mid-Season Report – 1st XI – Jake Choules Interview

As Saturday marked the halfway point of the Devon Cricket League season, we sat down with 1st XI captain Jake Choules to discuss the campaign so far.

How’s the season turning out compared to your pre-season expectations?

We’re about where we’d like to be and also about where I expected we would be. The aim was to consolidate in the A Division and 6th place is doing just that. The league is so tight though so there is a lot of hard work to do in the 2nd half to maintain our position.

Some good wins & some really close defeats, must be nice to know we can compete with anyone in this league?

For sure, I think we’ve shown this is definitely our level. The good thing was we felt that from week 1 when we only narrowly lost to Torquay. We just need to make sure there aren’t too many narrow defeats so we can be sure to enjoy playing at this level again next season.

Have you identified many areas that we need to improve on?

I think it’s just consistency and concentration really as we’ve got the talent. With our 2 home defeats, I think we tried a little too hard and were a bit over eager. I think we’ve learnt from that now though

What’s been the biggest difference in terms of the step up from the B Division?

The consistency and depth of the opposistion is a lot stronger. We’ve found that the change bowlers or lower order hitters can still change games. Some of the overseas players have been phenomenal as well

You mention squad depth which is something we’ve been lucky to have over the last couple of years, how much of a bonus is having competition for places?

Yeah, we are very lucky. There is probably a squad of 15/16 for the 1s and it’s also allowed us to strengthen the 2s as we aim to get them promoted. This weekend is a prime example with someone with Dave Baldocks experience playing his first 1s game of the season. It’s great to be able to call on these types of players. Hopefully later in the season there will opportunities for some of our young players too.

Who have been the standout performers in your view?

It’s been a real team effort again this year rather than one individual carrying us but I’ve probably been most pleased with the top order. There is an interesting battle shaping up between Chilly, Tom & Jason for the leading run scorer.

It’s been great to see George Daldorph really cement his place as a 1st XI regular, how impressed have you been with him?

George has been great, we had a feeling this would be his breakthrough year in the 1s and he hasn’t disappointed. Some really useful contributions with bat and ball.

What constitutes a successful finish to the season from here?

It’s pleasing to say we haven’t had to revise our target – staying in the A & getting the 2s promoted. Blooding some more young players through would be the icing on the cake for me

2021 DCL stats so far:-

Batting (min 100 runs):-

Tom Diamond – 298 runs @ 49.67

Alistair Chilcott – 295 runs @ 42.14

Jason Van Der Meulen – 262 runs @ 37.43

George Greed – 129 runs @ 25.80

Dan Robbins – 118 runs @ 16.86.

Bowling (min 10 wickets):-

Alex Jopling – 15 wickets @ 17.73

Jake Choules – 14 wickets @ 21.93

Jason Van Der Meulen – 12 wickets @ 16.83

Ben Slaviero – 11 wickets @ 20.91