Lancashire v Derbyshire preview

A couple of weeks ago I'd have looked on this as a game we could definitely win. Having rolled over the Lancashire side pre-season for only 89, optimism was high and we could feel genuinely confident.

However, without Charl Langeveldt, Chris Rogers and possibly Stuart Law our team looks a little more fragile, as any side would lacking three of its best players. Law may play tomorrow, but a week after a broken finger it would be an impressive return. The Derbyshire squad is:

Steve Stubbings
Dan Redfern
Stuart Law
Garry Park
Wavell Hinds
Dominic Telo
Greg Smith
James Pipe
Graham Wagg
Jake Needham
Mark Lawson
Tim Groenewald
Jon Clare

Old Trafford's reputation would suggest we'll play both spinners and Jon Clare isn't yet at his best this season so may miss out on a return against his old county. If Law is not fit one assumes Dominic Telo will again replace him. Meanwhile Ian Hunter has a rest and Tim Groenewald will presumably hope to bowl like he did last week. If one or two of the top order strike form we can post a total and we have plenty of bowlers who can defend it.

Two years ago, playing for Warwickshire on this ground Groenewald hit five sixes in seven balls to turn a low scoring game, with three in four balls off Gary Keedy then successive blows from Kyle Hogg. I hope that we don't need him tomorrow, but it is useful to know there's that sort of firepower in the lower middle order.

As for the hosts, they have the same squad as last weekend, namely:

Tom Smith
Paul Horton
Ashwell Prince
Mark Chilton
Francois du Plessis
Steven Croft
Kyle Hogg
Luke Sutton (wkt)
Glen Chapple (cpt)
Gary Keedy
Steven Mullaney
Stephen Parry
Oliver Newby

I suspect the bottom two may well drop out so we'll be faced with a side in form, with Horton especially a young man with a growing reputation. With Chapple at nine they also bat a long way down and our young side will have to be at their best to win this one.

I've a feeling this could be our first defeat yet hope I'm wrong. If the impressive early season form has survived the wake up call at Cardiff, we could certainly cause a surprise and early inroads into the Lancashire batting has been shown to set the alarm bells ringing for the hosts.

It should be a good game and I hope the weather stays out of it. Come on boys!