Nottinghamshire v Derbyshire preview

Derbyshire return to Trent Bridge tomorrow, scene of the extraordinary win last year that is in danger of becoming like the 1966 World Cup win, brought up at every opportunity.

I have said before that, fantastic as it was, it masked shortcomings that we have failed to address. The next four days will be an altogether different challenge, with a young and fairly inexperienced side.

There is no Wayne Madsen and no Billy Godleman, who I suspect will be given a period of time off after the T20. Harry Came comes in for a four-day debut, while Tom Wood should have a chance in the remaining four-day games to show what he can do.

Luis Reece is the not so grand old man of this squad:

Reece, Came, Wood, du Plooy, Guest, Critchley, Hosein, Hudson-Prentice, Thomson, Aitchison, Cohen, Scrimshaw.

My guess is that the final place will be between Thomson and Scrimshaw, though as always the pitch will decide.

The home side have selected the following squad:

Mullaney, Slater, Hameed, Clarke, Duckett, Chappel, Compton, Evison, Fletcher, Harrison, Hutton, James, Paterson, Patterson-White.

There is rain about, but I will refrain from any forecasts in light of how we batted in the reverse fixture. If those with points to prove do the business, we might get a draw, but it needs to be a team effort, like last year.

I will do a report on tomorrow's play, but after that please append any comments to that day, if I haven't had a chance to add to the blog. Mrs P and I are going away to Berwick upon Tweed with our dog for a few days and I may not have a chance to blog (or find decent WiFi...)

Fingers crossed!