Nottinghamshire v Derbyshire preview

Karl Krikken has announced a 12-man squad to take on Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge tomorrow. It reads:

Chesney Hughes,
Billy Godleman,
Wes Durston,
Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Wayne Madsen,
Ben Slater,
Alex Hughes,
Richard Johnson,
David Wainwright,
Tim Groenewald,
Mark Turner,
Mark Footitt

I understand that Alex Hughes has a slight niggle and may not be risked, though otherwise may have been in line for a championship debut after his sparkling display on Sunday against Essex. With Dan Redfern and Ross Whiteley out of sorts, the rest of the side effectively picks itself. David Wainwright's durability in the bat is as of value as his slow left arm and there's a nice balance to the attack with Wes Durston back to fitness after injury. The two Marks deserve their places after recent fine and tireless displays, while Tim Groenewald, while a little short of wickets, is likely to enjoy Trent Bridge conditions that often favour the seamers.

I just wonder whether a look at the wicket tomorrow might see a late call up for Jonathan Clare. The track is unlikely to be a turner when Nottinghamshire have barely a spinner of any name, so Clare for Wainwright may yet be a late substitution as the two East Midlands rivals trade seam bowling blows.

It is good to look at a batting line up that at last boasts five batsmen in good form, though if ever there was a time for Billy Godleman to find his there could be few better occasions. Yet form is a fickle beast. A few months back, Alex Hales was slamming bowling to all parts for England. Today he was nicking one through to the keeper off Matt Higginbottom to be out for nought in Nottinghamshire's second eleven. Hales has had a wretched campaign but will doubtless emerge from it a stronger player on the other side. The lad can play, just as Redfern and Whiteley can, but there are periods in every player's life when your feet, hands, head and most of all mind just aren't right. Practice sorts it for some, while others just need a break to charge their batteries.

Our hosts are thus likely to open with Rikki Wessels and Ed Cowan, followed by Lumb, Taylor, Patel, Read and Mullaney. Their seam attack of the returning Andre Adams, Shahzad and Fletcher will be a handful on home turf and the final place may well be between Harry Gurney and veteran all-rounder Paul Franks. 

To look at that opposition and predict a win would be foolish, but Derbyshire must go into this and every game believing that they can do so. Confidence will be high after Sunday, although batting conditions are likely to be much less favourable. A win would be astonishing, but you cannot write off a Derbyshire side that will battle to the end.

Much will depend on the weather, but a draw would be a good result here. Logic suggests a home win and we will need eleven players at their best to prevent that. 

Let's see what happens tomorrow. Bring it on! 

Seconds update - Nottinghamshire were 144 all out in today's fixture. Wickets were shared around and Tony Palladino was back from injury, which is encouraging news. In reply, Derbyshire were 130-7 at the close, with thirties for Borrington and Redfern.