Derbyshire v Glamorgan preview

I can just picture the scene at the Glamorgan team hotel tonight.

Jamie Dalrymple sits there, across from Robert Croft, watched by the rest of the players.

"I'll bid a century, an unbeaten half century and five wickets" says the Glamorgan skipper.

"Fifty and twelve wickets" replies the rotund little spinner, as his team mates look on knowingly and nod in agreement.

Yep, a jokey start tonight, trumped only by my daughter as I told my old man that Derbyshire were unchanged going into tomorrow's game

"That's terrible" she said, "you'd think they'd have time to wash their clothes in between games..."

Boom and indeed boom. Derbyshire are indeed unchanged for tomorrow's game and a good result is important for us. The game at Chesterfield was ruined by the weather, but we gained useful brownie (and batting) points before the end of the match. A century for the skipper and good knocks by young guns Redfern and Park. The only downside was that most of the others got a good start then got out, yet to be fair, we'd take a score of 400 in the first innings more often than not.

So tomorrow's side is:

Chris Rogers
Steve Stubbings
Garry Park
Dan Redfern
Wavell Hinds
Greg Smith
James Pipe
Graham Wagg
Tom Lungley
Ian Hunter
Mark Lawson

Chris Rogers will be hoping to continue his bright start and keep his name in the minds of the Aussie selectors. Their early elimination from the world 20/20 will not sit easily with their winning psyche and, having only selected six batsmen for the Ashes tour, have few options available if players fall from form or are injured. I hope it doesn't happen, but the possibilities will focus Buck's mind without doubt and I predict a bumper return for the skipper.

As for Glamorgan, they have selected the following squad:

GP Rees
MJ Cosgrove
BJ Wright
MJ Powell
JWM Dalrymple (captain)
WD Bragg
MA Wallace (wicket-keeper)
JAR Harris
RDB Croft
DS Harrison
DA Cosker
GJP Kruger
AJ Shantry

The thinking money would be on Shantry and Cosker dropping out, but Derbyshire will have to combat their nemesis, Mr Croft, to win this game. He has an extraordinary record against us and is still a fine player. Dalrymple too is Bradmanesque against us this season, while the threat of Mark Cosgrove is obvious. We have a battle on our hands to win this game, but have the talent to do so. There's still no sign of Nantie Hayward's work permit so we have to wait to see the explosive South African paceman. There's a good article on him in today's Derby Telegraph, so follow the link on the left to find out more - he certainly seems a character...

It was interesting to read that Derbyshire want to beat - sorry play - the Australians in a one day game to alleviate the boredom while the Aussies watch the world play 20/20. It would be a good run out for both sides and especially for the fans, but if it happens I hope that we play a first choice side, rather than resting the big names. We had an excellent record against touring sides for a number of years and it was a joke that we were not offered a game on this tour.

Finally, I've been more interested than usual in watching the world 20/20 and how bowlers are starting to gain the ascendancy. I would not have thought it possible for South Africa to defend their total last night, but superbly disciplined bowling saw them to the narrowest of wins. The way in which the top bowlers are dropping the ball into the blockhole is an education and batsmen are finding it very hard to combat. I wonder how long it will be before someone takes guard at 20 yards, in the hope of playing these yorkers as full tosses before they dip? There's a rare skill in bowling ball after ball in the blockhole like that and I dare say that some fans, those who only want to see sixes and fours, are not happy about it. Nor about the likes of Broad bowling round the wicket and bowling fast pitched up deliveries across the right hander that they can only hit in one place. For me, anything that addresses an imbalance between bat and ball is to be encouraged. Now let's see how some of these innovative batsmen combat it!