Derbyshire v Sussex preview

A few short weeks ago, the game against Sussex that starts at the County Ground tomorrow would have been looked on as a clash of the titans. OK, that's maybe over-egging it a little, but Sussex flew from the traps at the start of the season and we looked highly impressive ourselves. Since then, both sides have struggled in the Championship and this game, while still important, will settle little in the division's higher echelons.

Sussex's squad is:
RG Aga
JE Anyon
BC Brown (wkt)
MW Goodwin
EC Joyce
RSC Martin-Jenkins
CD Nash
MS Panesar
MA Thornely
LJ Wright
MH Yardy (c)
Yasir Arafat

Robin Martin-Jenkins will be embarking on his final month as a first-class cricketer, having recently announced his retirement from mid-July. Murray Goodwin remains the key batsman for them and we will hope to get him to the wicket early if at all possible, while Luke Wright has international aspirations and will aim to do well.

As for Derbyshire, we've named the following 12, with a few people thankfully restored to full health since the Gloucestershire game. One of the seamers will miss out, with the final choice possibly being between Steffan Jones and Mark Footitt. Jones may benefit from a rest before the T20 games next week, but has such a positive attitude that he may play through an injury niggle. The 12 is:

Chris Rogers
Wayne Madsen
Garry Park
Greg Smith
Chesney Hughes
Dan Redfern
Robin Peterson
Tom Poynton
Tom Lungley
Steffan Jones
Tim Groenewald
Mark Footitt.

No predictions from me, but I just hope that we can carry the new found confidence from the T20 into this match and rekindle our Championship aspirations. A challenge on two fronts over the second half of the season would be good to see!