How Cook and Taunton Deane helped Devon become an international star
DEVON Conway gives much of the credit for his emergence as a top international batsman to former Somerset legend Jimmy Cook and Taunton Deane Cricket Club.
Back in their native South Africa, it was Cook who nurtured Conway’s talent as a coach during his schooldays and suggested he would benefit from a summer in England in 2010.
It was arranged for Devon to play as an overseas pro with Taunton Deane and that season also saw him appear regularly for Somerset Second XI, initially at the age of 18.
Cook, among the best batsmen ever to have represented the county, was back at Taunton in a coaching role and continued to oversee the talented youngster’s progress.
Now Conway, who marked his Test debut for New Zealand with a double century against England in June, is making runs for Somerset’s first team in the Vitality Blast and County Championship, having been signed on a short-term deal.
He views the experience gained 11 years ago as a hugely important to his career and reflects on his time at Taunton Deane with a good deal of nostalgia.
Devon, who celebrates his 30th birthday today, told me: “Jimmy Cook coached me from the age of 11 and, while he was Somerset’s batting coach, he advised me to come to England.
“That was my introduction to Taunton Deane and I was lucky enough to be invited to play for Somerset Second XI, coached by Jason Kerr, who is now head coach.
“Jack Leach was playing for Taunton Deane then, as was Chris Jones, who also played first-class cricket for Somerset. We didn’t win our competition, but I absolutely loved my time there. It was such a warm, welcoming club. I am actually in the process of trying to organise a barbecue there so I can meet up with some of my old mates. Playing as an overseas pro for the first time made me take responsibility for winning games and it was a big learning curve for a youngster looking to find a way into professional cricket.”
As the photograph on this page shows, Conway’s team-mates in the Somerset Second XI included Nick Compton, Max Waller and Craig Meschede. Gloucestershire supporters may also recognise Aussie seamer Andrew Tye who went on to serve their county successfully in T20 cricket.
“Andrew was trialling with Somerset at the time and clearly talented,” said Conway. “Our first game together was a three-day second XI game against Surrey at The Oval. You could see back then that he was a very skilful bowler. I crossed paths with him in New Zealand recently when Australia came over to play five T20s against the Black Caps. We got on really well, as we had done all those years ago, and swapped signed t-shirts at the end of the series.”
Conway was never going to stay at Taunton at the end of the 2010 season as he had already signed a contract to play for the Dolphins back home in South Africa.
“The summer at Somerset proved the last time I worked with Jimmy Cook,” he said. “What an incredible guy. He still follows the club’s fortunes and even messaged me this week to congratulate me on my 88 against Leicestershire.”
In 2017, Johannesburg-born Devon and partner Kim upped roots and moved to live in New Zealand after some friends had recommended the country to them. Following a three-year qualification period, he became eligible to play international cricket for the Kiwis and wasted no time adjusting to the bigger stage.
“Since moving to New Zealand, I have never looked back,” he said. “You could say I was a late developer because I never came close to playing international cricket for South Africa.”
The instantly likeable Conway is only with Somerset for two red-ball games, in addition to the Vitality Blast group matches, but is well aware of what a first County Championship title would mean to the club and its supporters after so many near-misses in recent years.
Since his signing was arranged, he has not only marked his Test debut with a double hundred, but also helped the New Zealand become world champions in the format by beating India in the final at the Ageas Bowl.
“It is a really special time for New Zealand cricket,” he said. “We have
Creceived so much support from back home and I am looking forward to getting back there to celebrate after my stint with Somerset and in The Hundred for Southern Brave is finished.
“In the meantime, I can hopefully contribute more to the bid to win the championship because I know how much it would mean.
“Whatever happens, I would love to play for Somerset again in future years if my international schedule allows. There is a great group of players and I am sure the club has a bright future.” ONWAY is not the only Kiwi making an impact on West country cricket this summer. The signing of Glenn Phillips has proved a masterstroke by Gloucestershire.
Coincidentally, Phillips was also born in South Africa, but his family moved to New Zealand when he was only five years old.
Last November, Glenn scored the fastest T20 international century ever by a Black Caps batsman, off just 46 balls against West Indies, so Gloucestershire fans had every right to expect some fireworks.
But it is Phillips’ consistency that has put him among the top runmakers in the Vitality Blast – seven scores of 38 and above in nine innings going into tomorrow’s clash with Middlesex at the Cheltenham Festival (2.30pm).
Two scores of 94 not out in successive games against Glamorgan and Sussex have helped Phillips rack up 421 Blast runs, a tally bettered only by Yorkshire’s Harry Brook. Now the 24-year-old batsman-wicketkeeper, already boasting 29 sixes in the competition, nine more than any other player, has the chance to fill his boots at the compact College Ground.
Glenn will no doubt be licking his lips over the comparatively short boundaries for the Middlesex match and the one against Surrey in eight days’ time. Gloucestershire may need to win both to secure a top-four finish and a place in the knockout stage of the Blast.