Derbyshire v Northamptonshire preview

The Derbyshire squad for tomorrow against Northamptonshire has been announced and is pretty much as I named late last week. Assuming that we're not building snowmen tomorrow instead, I fully expect this side to take the field tomorrow, with Chesney Hughes taking an opening berth and the seamers all fit

Guptill
Hughes
Madsen
Durston
Redfern
Whiteley
Clare
Wainwright
Poynton
Groenewald/Footitt
Palladino

Tim Groenewald is perhaps the one with least bowling behind him pre-season, but logic suggests that he will play if Karl Krikken is happy he can bowl throughout the match. It is likely to be a slow track with movement for the bowlers and if the weather stays out of it should see a positive result.

Northamptonshire have been dealt a blow with the loss to inury of influential skipper Andrew Hall. There's no news yet on their team, but David Sales will lead in Hall's absence and Northamptonshire are dangerous opponents, batting long and with a good opening pair in Chaminda Vaas and Jack Brooks.

Then so are Derbyshire. An impressive pre-season has consolidated the positive vibe around the club and an early win can so often be a prelude to a fine season. By the same token, defeat would be a long way from the end of the world.

I'm looking forward to being there and just hope that the temperature picks up by a few degrees.

Might take that ice pick with me, just in case...