Breaking new ground at Bovey Tracey CC

A first-ever female chairperson and female overseas player are set to break history-making ground at Bovey Tracey Cricket Club.

Bovey have already elected Tina England, who had been vice-chairman, to the No.1 role.

It’s part of a shake-up at the Recreation Ground, which also sees off spinner-batsman Toby Codd returning for a second spell as 1st XI captain in 2024.

But England has revealed that Bovey, who are still waiting for official confirmation that they will be playing in the Tolchards Devon League Premier Division next season, are chasing three overseas players for next season.

They include 21-year-old Australian seam bowler Monica Gair.

South African wicketkeeper-batsman Musa Twala, 23, and Aussie pace bowler Braydon Pink, 22, have also been lined up for 1st and 2nd XI duties respectively.

England, who is taking over the chair from Andy Bishop, stressed that coaching duties – Bovey have one of the strongest Colts set-ups in Devon – will be high on the priority list for Twala, Pink and Gair.

As well as playing, Gair will also help to launch a new Women’s Softball team at the Rec.

Former businesswoman England, the wife of Bovey’s groundsman Tony England, has previously served as membership secretary, on the committee and run the Junior Section.

“My vision for the club is all about ‘one team’ on and off the pitch,” she stresses.

“This already happens, but I would like to see even more people getting involved and feeling part of the club.”

Bovey, who have more than 550 members, finished one from bottom in the Premier Division last season, above North Devon.

Because only one club, Exeter, is being promoted from the ‘A’ Division this time, Bovey hope to stay up.

But they could be docked points, potentially dropping them below North Devon, for a visa paperwork mistake concerning their 2023 Australian pro Alex Bevilaqua.

As soon as Bovey realised the error, which is thought to have been ‘minor’, they dropped Bevilaqua and reported the case to the authorities.