Friday, 7 August 2020

Leciestershire v Derbyshire preview

 As he promised he would do after the win at Trent Bridge earlier this week, Dave Houghton has rotated his squad for the visit to Leicestershire, starting tomorrow.

Ben Aitchison, who did a lot of bowling in that game, steps down while both Dustin Melton and new recruit Ed Barnes join the other eleven that saw duty at Trent Bridge.

Ben bowled 41-7-114-4 in that match, more than any other Derbyshire bowler, so will sit this one out and doubtless return for the next one. Like most of you I was very impressed with the way that he handled the step up and he looks a good bet for a contract for next year.

If Melton gets the nod tomorrow, he and Michael Cohen will make up a lively pairing, but there may also be an opportunity for Anuj Dal. Alex Hughes will also be raring to go, so I'll not attempt to name a final eleven from this thirteen-man squad:

Godleman, Reece, Madsen, du Plooy, Hughes, Critchley, Hosein, Dal, McKiernan, Barnes, Conners, Melton, Cohen.

There is no news at this stage of the home squad, though they signed James Weighell on loan from Durham this week. With Ben Slater on loan from Nottinghamshire, they have three former Derbyshire players in their side (Tom Taylor and Callum Parkinson the others) and shouldn't be too far away from this twelve:

Azad, Slater, Dearden, Ackermann, Rhodes, Taylor, Swindells, Mike, Klein. Parkinson, Wright, Weighell.

First plays second, to the victor, the spoils. Losing will not end the hopes of either side, but winning will put that team firmly in the driving seat of the group. 

If we can replicate the intensity and team spirit of the last game, this one is winnable. There are quality players throughout this Derbyshire squad and whichever eleven takes the field will ensure that they acquit themselves well. 

As always, your thoughts are appreciated!

9 comments:

  1. Dont forget FH-P is out too

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  2. Dont see the point in playing Dustin. I presume he cannot play next season unless signed as an overseas and that is unlikely. He is very unfortunate with this shortened series.

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  3. Yeah I had mentioned Fynn in the previous piece, Simon.

    For me, Dustin is on the staff and plays his part in the rotation. No point bowling others to a standstill when there is a good, available option

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  4. What's happened to Tony Palladino is he injured?

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    1. Taking time away from the game for personal reasons, Snapper

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  5. Ok Thankyou I had not heard that. Wish him well great servant of the club and the game of cricket

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  6. Please could someone tell me what Jofra Archer brings to the England team?if he played for Derbyshire they wouldn’t even consider him to carry the bags I remember when the previous couch Trevor Baylis first took the job he took a squad of about twenty out to LaManga to get to know them including Mark Footitt Sky were outraged at the idea of picking a bowler from div 2 even though he was the fastest bowler in the country

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    1. I think he is a fine player, but not especially well handled by England.

      We also have a fixation with pace, which is handy but not always right for English wickets.

      He will come again, but needs the right help in order to do so

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    2. Agree Joe Root seems to have no idea how to handle him there was a test match last winter against New Zealand in which Root allowed Archer to bowl about 40 overs of rubbish over after over of banging the ball in half way down the pitch

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