Yeah, I'd say so, at least so far. If we win this one then there may well be bigger ones to come, but a game at North Marine Road (pictured today) featuring Derbyshire has always been high on the Peakfan 'things to do before I die' list. Tomorrow sees it become a reality.
It's been a lovely, if breezy, dry and sunny day today. Not one to be under a swirling catch, that's for sure, and early this morning you might not have fancied a brisk chance at slip, but it got better and ended up quite warm out of the wind.
Let's not forget that had it not been for a points deduction and an early onset of rain in one match we'd be pretty much qualified by now, but these things happened and we have everything to play for.
The side is likely, I think, to welcome back David Wainwright, as an extra bowler may come in useful. Wainwright will know this wicket better than most and since we're not using Tom Knight as a bowler just now, the swap may be worthwhile. Of course, if the plan is for Marcus North to bowl more overs, Knight could be kept in the side for his explosive batting alone. I don't see any other changes, barring injury, from last night's fine win against Northamptonshire.
As for Yorkshire, there will be no Jonny Bairstow, Ryan Sidebottom or Liam Plunkett, so it isn't the strongest side, while Rafiq, who always seems to bowl well against us, is also out of the squad, which lines up as follows:
Bresnan, Brooks, Gale*, Fisher, Hodd, Leaning, Lees, Lyth, Patterson, Pyrah, Rashid, Williamson.
We'd probably take Alex Lees' wicket for thirty right now, given his enjoyment of our attack in recent seasons, but the batting looks stronger than the bowling without the missing names.A good team, for sure - that's why they are top of the table - but beatable, as Essex showed on this same ground the other day, chasing nearly 300 with a degree of elan and panache that would be a delight to see Derbyshire match.
Mind you, I'd take us chasing 165 with an ultimately successful limp if given the chance. The thinking money will be on Yorkshire tomorrow, but they will underestimate a much-improved Derbyshire side at their peril.
I hope we give a good account of ourselves. A win would make an already delightful family holiday simply perfect.
The weather forecast is much improved and set fair for the day.
Over to you, boys...
Much like the Middlesex game last year, this is a game we can't reasonably expect to win, but if we do it will be like gold dust, and should see us through barring a hammering by Gloucestershire in the last game. Wainwright for Elstone would be my only change, and Slater for Knight if they want a bit more solidity in the upper order.
ReplyDeleteOh dear! Well it reinforced everything we needed to know, investment in some quality batsmen including overseas player for 2015. Hopefully with those who left or will leave at end of season gives sufficient scope to get the right players in.
ReplyDeleteDust ourselves down, remember how you felt walking of pitch v Yorks and played hard v Gloucs.