It will be a friendly game against Oxford UCCE, but an opportunity to see our side in the flesh once more.
There was mixed news from overseas this week. Caleb Jewell returned to the Tasmania side and made 45 and 100* in their final fixture against New South Wales. It was a decent attack too, but most interesting was the fact that he batted at four, rather than his usual opening role. Whether that is an option for Derbyshire I don't know, but it is certainly food for thought.
However, Blair Tickner has had a shoulder niggle that has kept him out of the Central Districts side in recent matches. He should return for their final game and if all goes well he will arrive to take his place in Derbyshire's second fixture of the summer.
Starting the season with an overseas bowler who has a shoulder injury is not ideal and with Harry Moore still at school and Ben Aitchison not quite ready, we may start our opening game missing three seamers.
I am sure that if the worst happened, Mickey Arthur has someone in line to step in for red ball cricket, but he will hope to go with his original choice. There will be plenty of match fit Australian and New Zealand bowlers who could come in at short notice on a short-term visa if needed, of course.
Moving on, I was again talking to Matt Rhodes of North Derbyshire radio last week and you can hear our chat about all things Derbyshire here
It includes my thoughts on Allah Ghazanfar, our new mystery spinner, as well as the selection of Harry Moore for Hundred.
I always smile when I hear the term 'mystery spinner'. Ghazanfar is an outstanding bowler, but I recall when a chap turned up to our preseason club nets claiming to be one.
After watching a lengthy selection of full tosses and long hops, our club wicketkeeper sidled up to me.
'Mystery spinner, eh? I reckon the only mystery is whether he goes for fours or sixes...'
'But can you read him?' I asked, conscious that if he got it right he might be a potent weapon
'It doesn't matter', he said. 'No bugger's going to be missing anything that he is tossing up'.
Which is what happened when he played a few games. Length and line would have been useful for any spin to be effective..
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Our last week without county cricket, folks.
Exciting, isn't it?
"Heading into the season, all Derbyshire's bowlers are fit and raring to go"........said no one....ever! 🤣
ReplyDeleteAs Edwin Smith said to me, when they rocked up in April, did a few sprints, bowled a few in the nets and started to play, they generally lasted until September!
ReplyDeleteDifferent game, of course..
And played 6 days a week, 7 when the Sunday league started.
ReplyDeleteMind you, fast bowlers fielded at third man and never dived for anything.
They would have got an earful had they done so and injured themselves for future matches...
DeleteThere’s no reason why the season shouldn’t start on time there’s hardly been any rain for about a month here in Derbyshire although Sod’s Law it will probably rain next week
ReplyDeleteYou've done it now! We'll need an ark by the time the season starts 😂😂
Delete