Friday 9 June 2017

Northamptonshire v Derbyshire preview

I think it unlikely, after a positive effort that deserved to win the game against Nottinghamshire, that there will be any change in the Derbyshire eleven to play at Wantage Road over the coming days.

I am a big believer in sticking with what works and although we have named a squad of thirteen, it looks likely that Ben Slater and Rob Hemmings will split the drinks-carrying. That squad:

Billy Godleman
Luis Reece
Ben Slater
Shiv Thakor
Wayne Madsen
Daryn Smit
Jeevan Mendis
Alex Hughes
Gary Wilson
Tom Taylor
Rob Hemmings
Tony Palladino
Conor McKerr

As for the home side, who chased a target down on the last afternoon at Derby earlier in the season, they replace the injured Richard Levi with our own Chesney Hughes, who will doubtless be out to prove a point. They are big shoes to fill though and Levi is a key part of this side, but Rory Kleinveldt is back and they will be a tough nut to crack. Their squad:

Azharullah, Buck, Crook, Cobb, Gleeson, Holden, Hughes, Keogh, Kleinveldt, Newton, Sanderson, Wakely.

Derbyshire will be encouraged by the display at Trent Bridge and have the talent to win, but they will need to match the home side's excellent seam attack to do so. Kleinveldt, Sanderson, Buck and Gleeson are good bowlers and our long batting line-up will need to be at its best to get runs on the board.

The likelihood is we will bowl first after recent rain, so let's see how things pan out later today!

In closing, warm congratulations to Alfie Gleadall, who has a two-year deal on the Derbyshire staff. I have heard good things about him and the potential is there for a bowler of genuine pace, never a bad thing.

If he works hard and listens to the right people, we could be on to a good 'un there. At seventeen he has time on his side and is one to watch.

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