Derbyshire v Essex CB 40 preview

Evening everyone.

There was no blog yesterday as there was little to report, but tomorrow Derbyshire are back in action at Leek in a Clydesdale Bank 40 match (weather permitting) against Essex.

John Morris has named a squad of thirteen for the game, but there is no place for local boy Dan Redfern, who hasn't yet hit form. It is far from unusual with young players, and although Redfern will be disappointed, his time will come. He is far too good a player for this to be anything other than a temporary blip.

The Derbyshire squad for the game is:

Chris Rogers
Chesney Hughes
Wayne Madsen
Garry Park
Greg Smith
Robin Peterson
John Sadler
Lee Goddard
Tim Groenewald
Tom Lungley
Steffan Jones
Jake Needham
Mark Footitt

My thoughts are that Needham and Footitt will miss out, though again the track will decide that. Peterson, Smith and Hughes can provide spin options, while Madsen bowled well in a Sunday game at the end of last season and is a useful bowler. It was interesting to see how well the Indian slow bowlers tied down South Africa this afternoon in the 20 over World Cup, and our new opening batsman Loots Bosman didn't seem to like facing spin at the start of the innings. Of course, he's not alone, as Adam Gilchrist and Matt Hayden were also tied down by slow bowling in the IPL this year. In Bosman's defence, he will face no spinners in Harbhajan's class in the T20.

As for our visitors, their scheduled game against Middlesex at Lords today was abandoned without a ball being bowled, so they will be keen to get some points from tomorrow. There will be no Ravi Bopara, who is in the West Indies with England, but they have a decent side in one day cricket, with Ryan ten Doeschate a danger man in the middle order, as we remember all too well from the end of last season.

IF Derbyshire play as we know they can in four day cricket, they can give anyone a game. The same players take the field and it just needs them to believe in themselves as they obviously do in the Championship. While the weather may legislate against a full match tomorrow, I genuinely feel that this team can do much better in one day cricket this season.

They just need to go and prove it now. With both sides losing last week, they will be keen for a first win and it should be an excellent game for the well appointed ground at Leek.

I hope that the crowds turn out and do it justice.