The first weekend of the Vitality Blast competition looks like being quite special from a blog perspective, with it set to go through the two million views barrier this weekend or early next week.
When I started it I was thrilled to reach a thousand, which took a couple of years, but the exponential growth continues, year on year and this one is the biggest yet. Thanks to each and every one of you for your continued support, and especially to those of you who have followed for a long time. It has been a pleasure to meet many of you in that time and make some very good friends along the way.
On the pitch, Dominic Cork has announced a squad of fourteen for the opening game at Queens Park tomorrow, against Yorkshire. There are no real surprises, but the presence of Daryn Smit in that squad suggests that he may get the nod behind the stumps.
It was interesting watching the opening game between Nottinghamshire and Worcestershire last night. The successful bowlers were the slower ones and those who take the pace off the ball. Rotation of bowlers is also key, to avoid them being 'lined up' and whatevet the final eleven, Billy Godleman looks like having plenty of options. He warmed up with a blistering 70 from 34 balls against a Premier League Select last night, a game that saw Darren Stevens make an unbeaten 35, which he then added to with a tidy spell.
That squad:
Billy Godleman
Luis Reece
Wayne Madsen
Tom Lace
Leus du Plooy
Alex Hughes
Matt Critchley
Darren Stevens
Fynn Hudson-Prentice
Harvey Hosein
Logan van Beek
Ravi Rampaul
Mark Watt
Daryn Smit
The Yorkshire side contains many familiar names and the likes of Lyth, Kohler-Cadmore, Willey, Pooran and Ballance offer plenty of runs. Dom Bess will be bowling his off spin, on loan from Somerset, while Duanne Olivier will want to do better than in the RLODC game between the two sides at Headingley, earlier in the season.
There is no news yet on their squad, but they will be well aware that we have a good record against them of late. Once again the various media writers have written us off in a competition, and while the absence of a second overseas player may turn out to be crucial, the signing of Stevens on loan could turn out an inspired move.
It will be interesting to see the final eleven that takes the field and although logic suggests Yorkshire the stronger team and more likely winners, we all know by now that you should write off this Derbyshire side at your peril. They bat down to number nine and are likely to have nine bowling options, with enough potential match-winners to be discounted by no one with any cricket knowledge.
If the chosen eleven play to potential and as a team, there just could be a celebration in the park tomorrow afternoon. Though my concern is that rain showers are predicted between ten and four, after light rain today and tonight.
It would be such a shame if a sell out crowd were unable to see the great game that appears to be in the offing.
Go well, fellas.
Make us proud.
Excellent work on the blog, I'm a Lancashire supporter but visit every day through the season as it's the best source of news and views for a county on the internet.
ReplyDeleteThat is very kind of you to say so, Anon!
DeleteThank you so much for your support and interest, as well as your kind words
I've paid close attention to the forecast and despite some heavy rain this evening I think we'll be OK to get a game in tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteThe rumour locally is that the club have condemned the track originally planned to be used tomorrow and it'll be played on the pitch used last week after serious remedial work.
ReplyDeleteThe story was embellished by a seemingly unlikely threat to move the game to Derby which was overruled by the chief-exec.
Always lots of rumours in sport, Tim.
ReplyDeleteBut the bottom line is the game goes ahead on a stunning, packed ground. Weather permitting...
Don't worry about the weather. We'll get the game.
ReplyDeleteI have a spare kids ticket which (I've checked) can be upgraded for 15 quid cash at the gate. Collect from Boythorpe pub after 1. Fiver on ticket or a pint whichever is easier! If you put your name and number on here I'll text you.
ReplyDeleteI'm a bit puzzled by the squad for this game. I assume that the naming of Smit means that there is a likelihood he will play, in which case, why include Hosein. I thought this issue had been resolved in David Houghton's comment that the wicket-keeping place was Hosein's to lose, so it looks pretty inconsistent to replace him for the t20 before he's even played a game and shown what he can do. I understand the argument that Smit is the better wicket-keeper standing up, and acknowledge the nous and intelligence he brings in the field, but none of this offsets for me his slow starts and eating up of dot balls towards the end of innings. A tail of Smit, van Beek, Watt and Rampaul looks likely to be very short of runs, as none of them run quick singles, turn ones into twos or rotate the strike with a set batsman, and none can be relied on to hit boundaries themselves. That's going to put a lot of pressure on the earlier batsmen.
ReplyDeleteI agree on much of that, but not sure all of those bowlers play. I wouldn't play van Beek here, where he could go around the small ground.
ReplyDeleteBear in mind this is Cork's team, notoveryet. He may well rate Smit, as many do, a better keeper. And he has played a couple of key cameos at the end of innings that I fear are beyond HH. Quick runner, but he doesn't strike me as a batsman who can regularly hit boundaries in front of square in a pressure situation. Give him time, yes, but...