Pointers for the opener

For me, there were a few pointers for the opening game against Northamptonshire today in a somewhat surreal day's cricket where Chesney Hughes and Wayne Madsen both batted twice.

That for me suggests that Hughes is seen as the likely opening partner for Martin Guptill and there are around nine places guaranteed in the opening match, barring injury. I'd see the likely team at this stage as:

Guptill
Hughes
Madsen
Durston
Redfern
Whiteley
Wainwright
Clare (if fit)
Poynton
Groenewald (if fit)
Palladino (if fit)

Footitt is likely to be the beneficiary if any of the seam attack above don't make it, while Borrington, who battled hard today, might be a little unlucky in missing out to Hughes.

Today's cricket was less encouraging than some of late, but the early collapse meant an opportunity for David Wainwright to show his batting skills in the sort of display that should make him a firm favourite fairly quickly.

It was also good to see Matt Higginbottom, who missed much of last year through injury, take two good wickets against Surrey for Leeds/Bradford MCCU today. He's a decent bowler and could prove very useful to Karl Krikken later in the summer.

Time, as always, will tell.

See you soon!