Derbyshire v Worcestershire preview

There is no better place on God's earth to watch a game of cricket than Chesterfield.

Plenty of grounds will stake a claim. New Road at Worcester, Canterbury, Arundel, Cape Town. None can surely have the charm of the ground overlooked by the most famous Church spire in the world. There's less of the spire visible these days, but the ground is a picture and from a viewing perspective it is superb.

The return of the Chesterfield festival is to be celebrated and I hope that the weather is kind, with a bumper crowd almost certain.

Its time for a big hello to new West Indian batsman Wavell Hinds, who should appreciate the pace and bounce that is usually a feature of the Chesterfield tracks. Welcome back also to James Pipe, who's effervescent qualities have been missed, irrespective of the commitment shown by Freddie Klokker. From the team named one would assume that Rikki Clarke is now fit to bowl, otherwise we're looking at Hinds also being the fifth bowler. Useful as he may be, I don't think he's quite that good with the ball. The team is

Stubbings
Rogers
Birch
Hinds
Clarke
Sadler
Pipe
Wagg
Clare
Needham
Langeveldt

Plenty of batting with John "Bradman" Clare at 9, although cynics will say that we need them the way that the top order have performed. As we all know, it's a funny old game and perhaps the Jamaican's arrival will galvanise the others.
As for the visitors, they travel with a 12-man squad that reads:

D K H Mitchell,
S C Moore,
V S Solanki
B Smith,
G A Hick,
S M Davies
G J Batty
K Ali
GM Andrew
S J Magoffin
S P Jones
M M Ali

I suspect Ali will be 12th man as Derbyshire face a talented line up and in Vikram Solanki someone who is regularly a thorn in our side. There will be great interest in the performance of Stephen Moore after our declared interest in him last week, while this may be the last chance to see Graeme Hick on a Derbyshire ground, with rumours of a retirement going the rounds. One thing for sure is that our top order will be tested by the rejuvenated Simon Jones, while Kabir Ali and Magoffin make up a strong pace attack.
Fingers crossed for good weather and for Derbyshire to return to form with a vengeance!