Karl Krikken has announced his 13-man squad for the three-day friendly game against Somerset at Taunton, which starts on Monday.
There are no real surprises in the squad, which reads:
Wayne Madsen (captain)
Billy Godleman
Wes Durston
Dan Redfern
Chesney Hughes
Ross Whiteley
Tom Poynton
Richard Johnson
Jonathan Clare
David Wainwright
Tony Palladino
Tim Groenewald
Mark Turner
There would appear to be two things that Derbyshire really need from this game, aside from a good run out for all concerned. One is that Clare and Wainwright both get good and reasonably lengthy bowls, as neither has done too much bowling so far. Both need to show they are capable of bowling twenty overs in an innings against Warwickshire when the action proper starts and they have each had injury niggles.
If neither can confirm their full fitness, there is a possibility that we could go to Edgbaston with Hughes and Durston sharing spin bowling responsibilities and the seam in the hands of Palladino, Groenewald and Turner, with Whiteley as support. With Shivnarine Chanderpaul in the side, this would lengthen the batting for an opening match where Derbyshire would probably be quite happy to come out with a draw against the county champions.
The other decision to be made is that of wicket-keeper. Both Tom Poynton and Richard Johnson have done well in the pre-season matches and there is little to choose between them with gloves and bat. Neither would let Krikken down and it comes down to his call on who is the best option. Poynton had very good season last year and actually improved as it went on, when logic suggested mental tiredness could set in at the end of a first full season. Johnson would dearly love a crack at his old team mates and is an equally pugnacious batsman and undemonstrative with the gloves.
I can't call that one, though my gut feeling is that we go with Poynton, who deserves to be first choice after last summer and is an unknown quantity for the opposition.
This game, where they will presumably share keeping duties, will be the decider.
More on that game in the early part of the week.
Not a million miles from the team I would expect to see against Warwickshire. Obviously there is Chanderpaul to come in so one of the top 6 will miss out. Hughes would appear to be the slight favourite,but a good match against Somerset would turn the spotlight on Redfern,who had an average back end to last season and a somewhat disappointing winter. We shall see.
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