Sadly, that isn't happening this year for obvious reasons, so the stream must suffice for the next four days.
Dave Houghton has announced a fourteen-man squad for the trip, with ten of those who played against Worcestershire in there. Anuj Dal drops out (and it is good to see him scoring runs for the seconds today) with both Tom Wood and Alex Hughes involved for the first time this summer, after big scores last week.
There appear to be three decisions to make. Which of the two replaces Dal, which wicket-keeper plays and which one from Conners, Aitchison, Cohen and Scrimshaw misses out. Given our seam bowling all rounders, we would always lengthen the batting still further and play both Wood and Hughes, but it seems less likely.
The squad is:
Godleman, Reece, Wood, Madsen, du Plooy, Hughes, Critchley, Hosein, Hudson-Prentice, Cohen, Conners, Aitchison, Guest, Scrimshaw.
Durham have Scott Borthwick back in the fold as skipper and he leads a strong squad that lost against Essex in their last game after dominating for a good part of the match. Chris Rushworth will always be a handful on his own turf and South African David Bedingham has been in good form. With Ben Raine a perennial thorn in Derbyshire sides since his Leicestershire days, we will need to be at our very best to be on the positive side of the result.
Their squad:
Scott Borthwick*, David Bedingham, Jack Burnham, Paul Coughlin, Ned Eckersley, Ben Raine, Chris Rushworth, Alex Lees, Matthew Potts, Stuart Poynter (wk) Matt Salisbury, Alex Thomson, Will Young
It isn't the happiest of hunting grounds for Derbyshire and last time out was an appalling effort against them in the Vitality Blast. We did well in the Bob Willis Trophy fixture last year though and I think we can come out on top in our best form.
The weather is set fair for the four days, so it should make for great entertainment.
So what are your thoughts?
Where's Billy Stanlake? Wasn't he supposed to be here by now?
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't think there is any way Guest takes the gloves from Hosein, unless Harvey is injured, to be honest. I would like to see both Wood and Hughes play, as I think that a bowling attack of Conners, Reece, Aitchison, Hudson-Prentice and Critchley (with a bit of support from Hughes) should be good enough. I really like Cohen - he's obviously got something - but he just needs to work on his accuracy, and, if Critchley fails, the batting looks vulnerable to me. Hughes at seven and Hosein at eight would be very reassuring!
ReplyDeleteYeah I agree with you Ciaran. That bowling attack would be fine, and DH said he would rotate his keepers through the season, though maybe not this early and when HH is in fine form.
DeleteShould be good!
Let's hope, Peakfan! As an incidental aside, if that were the team, Finn H-P might be the best number nine on the circuit!
DeleteWhere's Billy Stanlake Peakfan?. Gone very quiet on that front.Good luck lads
ReplyDeleteHe was 12th man for Queensland last week in the Sheffield Shield. Which is frustrating when he could be playing, of course.
DeleteCan only assume the drinks will be cooler when carried at altitude..
We have done well in his absence but are now three games in with no game for either overseas player..
Think I would make 2 changes for this journey up to the bogey team Durham. Hughes for Dal and Cohen for scrimshaw. I think it’s important we do bit rotation with bowlers as last year it helped the bowlers manage the workload.
ReplyDeleteI'd go Wood but wouldn't be averse to the other change.
ReplyDelete