At least, on reading the Cricketer article on players missing from the competition. Many other counties are badly affected, but besides the listed Reece, Critchley and du Plooy, Derbyshire will be without Wayne Madsen. But Billy Godleman is back.
For all his struggles this summer, Billy has been a standout in this format and his return, hopefully in prime form, is good news.
The return of Ravi Rampaul is also welcome and if the bowlers are refreshed from their enforced break, we should have no major issues on that front, but the composition of the batting is going to be key to our hopes.
It can only be a guess, but my suggestion for the opening game is as follows:
Came
Godleman
Wood
Guest
Hosein
McKiernan
Hudson-Prentice
Thomson
Cohen
Rampaul
Scrimshaw/Aitchison
Mitch Wagstaff and Nafis Shaikh seem the most advanced of our young batsmen and both may get opportunity as the tournament progresses, as may Nils Priestley. Yet the above seems about the strongest side we can put out, from a wafer-thin squad.
We are in a group with Glamorgan, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire, Somerset, Surrey, Warwickshire and Yorkshire. There are undoubtedly winnable games there, bit whether we can win enough to progress is an entirely different question.
I would make Essex, missing only two players, the favourites, though I have a fancy that Leicestershire might do well. Despite losing seven players, I suspect Lancashire and Yorkshire have big enough squads to remain in the mix too.
We will see soon enough, starting at Leicester on Thursday.
Weather and Covid-willing...
Postscript : Derbyshire squad announced as: Godleman, Came, Guest, FHP, Dal, Hosein, McKiernan, Priestley, Aitchison, Scrimshaw, Rampaul, Marshall
Dave Houghton confirmed yesterday that Godleman would be back for Royal London
ReplyDeleteDidn't see that, Snapper. Good news if so!
DeleteThat team looks awful, sorry but it's the damning truth
ReplyDeleteDal for Mckiernan or Thomson to strengthen the batting?
ReplyDeletePaul
Yes, Paul. If he is fit now. I was only going on those we know are likely to be available. Hughes would walk in too, if fit
DeleteDoes anyone know if you can pay on the day for the Royal London matches? I imagine as restrictions have now been lifted there is no need be assigned a seat number.
ReplyDeleteSays unrestricted seats on my ticket.
DeleteAnyone know why Tom Wood and Alex Thompson are unavailable for selection? Covid?
ReplyDeleteNo idea Snapper, but both had injuries before it, Hughes having missed several games and Wood one or two with a back spasm.
DeleteMedical confidentiality would preclude them saying, even if it was. My guess would be they are still injured
Agreed, just found it interesting that the club listed the injured players and then said Wood and Thompson were unavailable for selection.
ReplyDeleteGoing into a 50 over game with only two specialist batsmen not including Guest is IMO a risk of reckless proportions what happened to the statement regarding upholding the integrity of the competition?
ReplyDeleteThe Royal London was always seen this year as an opportunity to try out fringe players, most counties are in the same situation. Yorkshire have lost eleven to the Hundred, Notts nine. If they don't have batsmen to bring in what are theysuppose to do. Could try out league players but would they do any better than say Dal , Guest, or Hosein. Am I right in thinking Logan van Beek was available for the Royal London?
ReplyDeleteNo, Snapper. Logan was engaged only for the T20
DeleteI'll be surprised if we don't lose every game comfortably with such a weak batting line up.
ReplyDeleteWith all counties in the same boat, it will be interesting. We could do well, but as a unit need to put scores on the board.
DeleteNot many have big averages, but it will be a team effort that wins (or loses) it..