As things stand, if Hampshire in second place got maximum points from their last three matches, Derbyshire would need 62 points to become champions. Of course, for Hampshire to do that they would need to take maximum points from us at Derby and you would get decent odds on their scoring a first innings 400 in each of their next three games, then take nine wickets and go on to win. It could be done, but...
Conversely, we need another 52 points for guaranteed promotion, which is effectively one win, a couple of good bonus point draws and hold fire, here comes the champers...again, that tally supposes our northerly neighbours got maximum points from their remaining games, which would seem unlikely.
A win at Northampton, starting tomorrow, would do us the world of good. The team are on a roll, following the euphoric win over Kent and the gutsy draw at Headingley and must feel that this is going to be their year. I've been stressing the importance of maintaining focus over recent weeks and that is especially true at this stage of the season, but they are getting close to the finish line now. Very, very close.
Northamptonshire have announced their squad for tomorrow and welcome back their talented seamer Jack Brooks from injury. They have some fine batsmen, with Stephen Peters and David Sales in decent form and Alex Wakely a batsman of genuine potential. Andrew Hall and James Middlebrook usually get runs from our bowling too, so there is a lot of batting to work through. Their squad:
- Stephen Peters
- Niall O’Brien
- David Sales
- Alex Wakely
- Rob Newton
- Andrew Hall ©
- James Middlebrook
- David Murphy wk
- David Willey
- Jack Brooks
- Luke Evans
- Lee Daggett
Wayne Madsen
Matt Lineker
Usman Khawaja
Wes Durston
Dan Redfern
Ross Whiteley
David Wainwright
Richard Johnson
Jonathan Clare
Tony Palladino
Tim Groenewald
I have a feeling that a big innings is around the corner for Matt Lineker, so would retain him on that basis, while Johnson at this stage offers greater potential for runs between two keepers of similar ability with the gloves. Clare has had good experiences at Northampton in the past, so for me would come back in to bolster the batting still further, assuming he is fully fit.
We'll find out how it goes soon enough. The weather forecast looks pretty good, so we should get close to a full playing time. I'm backing the spirit in the Derbyshire camp to give them the edge in this one and think that a crucial win could be ours by Friday evening - if we bat better than of late.
Let's do it boys...
It would be a massive boost if we could win this game. Once again though it looks as if the weather is going to have a say,particularly by the end of the week. I hope we show a positive attitude and bat,should Madsen win the toss. If we cock it up then it our own fault,on the other hand a solid first innings would put us in the box seat and allow us to dictate play.
ReplyDeleteBatsmen need to start prefoming, we cant always expect the bowlers to keep winning matchers for us.
ReplyDeletetom.