I said before the season that I was more optimistic about our four day challenge than the one day campaign. The four day has been a revelation thus far, exceeding even my expectations, but this afternoon's game at Headingley will be a benchmark of where we are in the limited overs stuff.
Last week was a wake up call against a good Warwickshire side, but we didn't really turn up and any resemblance to the Derbyshire side that has excited us this year was coincidence. Today we play a Yorkshire side that has come onto its game in the last week or so, with a long an talented batting side headed by Phil Jaques and a bowling side strengthened by Aussie Mitchell Starc. He will spearhead their attack in this squad:
Andrew Gale (capt), Adam Lyth, Phil Jaques, Gary Ballance, Joe Root,
Adil Rashid, Anthony McGrath, Gerard Brophy, Azeem Rafiq, Mitchell
Starc, Iain Wardlaw and Moin Ashraf
We will have to play well and work hard for a win, but we beat this side twice last year and are good enough to do so again.
No news on our squad yet, though I don't see too many changes from last week. Tony Palladino may come in for Mark Turner, but I'd see our team as follows:
Guptill, Hughes, Madsen, Durston, Redfern, Whiteley, Wainwright, Clare, Poynton, Groenewald, Palladino.
Garry Park is in the squad and there could be merit in moving Durston up to open and playing Park instead of an out of sorts Hughes, but the latter's bowling option could see him retain a place in the side.
It should be a good game - and Derbyshire have the ability to win, without doubt.
If we do, it will restart our 40-over campaign for sure.
I thought I'd add a quick comment regarding Park, He is a very valuable one day cricketer and deserves a place in the starting 11 ahead of maybe Hughes or Redfern. (Hughes out of nick, Redfern oustanding championship form but I think lacks being a specialist one day cricketer at present)
ReplyDeletePark - however is an exceptional fielder (Arguably one of the best in the country), that can offer you a little bit with the ball and batting in the middle order is outstanding between the wkts and plays spin well... I believe in one day cricket there should be 1 spot for a SPECIALIST FIELDER.
This is just an opinion....
Park scored an excellent unbeaten 94 yesterday for Cheadle, but i'd stick with the same batting line up.
ReplyDeleteHughes' bowling keeps him in the side, and whilst i agree that Redfern isn't a "specialist one day cricketer at present", the main reason for that is that we've never played him in that form nor in T20, both of which he should have a role to play.
In the CC he scores at a good rate, so there's no reason he shouldn't in the shorter forms, plus only by playing more games will he become more suited to the format.
Park edges it for me. I think Redfern COULD become a one day player,but i.m mot sure he,s anywhere near that yet. We all know what Park offers and his all round versatility swings it for me. Hughes is too useful as a bowler to leave out of these games. Hopefully,runs will follow.
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