Assessing the competition

In assessing Derbyshire's prospects in red ball cricket, one has to consider the opponents that they will face. Here is a brief 'state of the nation' in Division Two...

Durham 

I was astonished that the northernmost county were relegated last year. They will aim to bounce straight back and will probably be strong favourites to do so. 

Tales of dressing room unrest didn't help them and the possibility is that the horrific final day that they experienced may have lingering  aftershocks.

David Bedingham will again lead the batting and they will hope that Kemar Roach, who has moved from Surrey, has a similar effect on the bowling. Kasey Eldridge has joined from Somerset and Archie Bailey from Gloucestershire. They will need to cover the likely absence of their England men, although Ben Raine will again be the workhorse in the attack. It will be interesting to see how much game time Sam Conners gets there, after a troubled year in 2025.

They *should* go back up.

Gloucestershire

They lost SIX seamers over the winter and that will take a serious recovery. Will Williams has signed from Lancashire and Craig Miles has returned to the county from Warwickshire, but they will need to stay fit and there's not a lot of depth to the attack. Both have experienced challenges in that respect and they will need their fair share of luck.

Cameron Bancroft returns and the batting should be fine but the largely unknown Australian seamer, Gabe Bell, will need to hit the floor running, for them to push for the top places.

Kent

Another county that lacks depth in its attack. They have brought in South Africans Keith Dudgeon and Glenton Stuurman and Adam Hollioake says that he aims to address that bowling issue by preparing pitches to last three days, so they don't have so much work. Watch this space...

The return of Matt Milnes from Yorkshire will help, as will that of Sam Northeast from Glamorgan, but they don't look like promotion candidates at this stage and fitness will be key for them, as for others. Milnes and Mikey Cohen are good bowlers, but have struggled to stay fit long enough in the past. Nathan Gilchrist will be tough to replace, after his move to Warwickshire

Lancashire 

With their budget they really shouldn't be in Division Two. Sir James Anderson will be skipper this year, but it is surely asking a lot for a man who will be 44 during the season to lead the attack all summer. 

Australian Mitch Perry will join Ajeet Singh Dale and Paul Coughlin in a new look bowling line up, while Marcus Harris will lead batting that too often misfired last year, despite a lot of experience. George Balderson will continue to be one of the unsung heroes of the side and they should be in the mix, IF they can keep a large squad happy. 

I always see them as a better white ball side, but they should challenge.

Middlesex

The county has not had far to look for off-field challenges. They have not yet recruited an overseas player, while the only change to last year's staff is the departure of Steve Eskinazi to Leicestershire.

Leus du Plooy will be key to their batting once more, with support from Matt Holden, while Ryan HIggins remains one of the very best county all rounders. He and Toby Roland-Jones will need to be at their best for them to figure, however. The emergence of England under-19 star, Caleb Falconer, could be a season highlight, but a promotion challenge would appear unlikely.

Northamptonshire 

Australian Nathan McSweeney will lead the batting for most of the summer in his first time here, while experienced fellow countryman Harry Conway returns and will do the same for the early-season attack. If Ben Sanderson stays fit they might challenge and they have done well in recruiting Calvin Harrison from Nottinghamshire. 

The arrival of Yuzi Chahal may be key to their chances when he arrives in the second half of the summer, but he disappointed last year with only 12 wickets at 46. Runs shouldn't be an issue, especially if Saif Zaib rekindles last year's form, but can they take twenty wickets to win many matches? 

Worcestershire 

Theoretically they should challenge, since they were in Division One last year. They always seem to be a side greater than the sum of its constituent parts, but their only overseas player so far is South African all-rounder Beyers Swanepoel, who struggled for Kent in 2024, taking only five wickets at 53 and averaging just over 20 with the bat.

Runs won't be a problem for them, with the admirable Jake Libby leading the way, but Tom Taylor and Matt Waite will need to stay fit and be in top form to force the required wins for a promotion push.

Conclusion 

Durham, Lancashire and Worcestershire are the strongest squads but even the bookies have got Derbyshire on short odds this year.

That is the reflection on sound recruitment. There isn't long to go now and a good start is important. Yet so too is going on a run, as Glamorgan proved last year. 

The sides that keep their key men fit, hold their catches and have their share of luck will, as usual, prevail. 

It will be a long summer, but it could be a special one for Derbyshire supporters. No doubt with bumps in the road along the way..

Stick with them!

And this blog, of course...