County Championship preview

Can Derbyshire build on the promise of 2022 and make 2023 a promotion season from Division 2 of the County Championship?

In my opinion and with appropriate caveats in place, yes, they can.

There is no obvious stand out team in the division this year. Last season, Nottinghamshire's attack alone dictated that they would gain promotion and they were way ahead of the rest. I don't see anyone doing that this year, so it is who comes to terms with the change in playing conditions and has the playing resources to force the all-important wins.

Sixteen points for a win this year, as in 2022, but only five, instead of eight, for a draw. The onus is thus on wickets that will produce a positive result, a captain of similar mindset and batters who can score runs at a pace that will enable the bowlers time to do their job.

If the wickets at Derby can replicate the one at Chesterfield last year, then Derbyshire have every chance. In new captain Leus du Plooy we have a man with a positive attitude and an ability to lead by example with the bat.

He has many batting options at his disposal and a sign of strength is that a first choice line up is hard to call. With new overseas signing Haider Ali set to open, his partner could be Luis Reece, Billy Godleman or Harry Came. It is easy to state a case for any of them, but good players look like being outside a first choice eleven, regardless of the decision made. 

The middle order appears easier to call, with Brooke Guest, Wayne Madsen, du Plooy and new signing Matt Lamb likely to bat three to six, as they all did so well last season. The signing of the latter, from Warwickshire, was a real coup in my book and he should add power, quality and runs to a lineup that looks very strong on paper after doing so well last year.

Yet Tom Wood will want to make up for lost time, having missed most of 2022. Those who miss out on the opening berths could also slot in lower down, so competition is as strong as it has been for a long time.

Reece and Godleman will be keen to make up for the relative disappointments of last season, while Came showed signs of coming to terms with the demands of the county game towards the end of the summer. Another good season from Guest could see his Lions credentials being pushed, his stylish batting at number three an added bonus to wicketkeeping of a very high standard. Can he get through another season without injury, given his work load? I wouldn't bet against it and I eagerly await seeing what he has to offer this year.

The batting shouldn't be a problem, but there are two question marks over the bowling.

Firstly, one of the spinners has to push forward and stake a claim for a regular place. Mattie McKiernan, Alex Thomson and Mark Watt all had their moments last year, but one of them has to offer 30-plus wickets this time around. McKiernan appeared to be the best batsman, Thomson the best all-rounder and Watt the best bowler. Who will come out on top? Mickey Arthur likes a slow left-armer and if he can show his ability to regularly dismiss batters merely intent on survival, Watt will be an asset.

Then again, Thomson struggled with injury last year, so hopefully can show what he has to offer in an all round capacity. McKiernan will doubtless play a major role in the limited over formats, so all should enjoy opportunity.

The seam attack looks potent but must stay fit. Suranga Lakmal is back and will hopefully find wickets more to his liking than last year. Hopefully his elbow holds out and we can enjoy a very fine bowler in vintage form.

Ben Aitchison, Sam Conners and Zak Chappell are other hostile seam options, all of them tall, lively and talented. We need them to stay fit and if they do, the ability to swap them in and out to retain freshness could see Derbyshire in nosebleed territory at the top of the table. There will be few better attacks in the division if they hit their stride early and it could make for very entertaining watching. 

George Scrimshaw and Nick Potts are other options, though I suspect the former will play more T20 than four day cricket.  With Reece and the excellent Anuj Dal to add their skills, the seam attack looks as good as it has in years.

On the basis of last season, Dal suggested he was one of the best pound for pound, under the radar cricketers in the country. An organised, busy batter, a bustling seam bowler and brilliant fielder, he offers balance and genuine all-round ability. I enjoy watching him in every facet of his game and hope that he continues to bring his obvious enjoyment to the county landscape for many years to come.

Don't discount Archie Harrison playing a game or two, either. He had a good winter in New Zealand and has only just turned nineteen. One for the future, perhaps, but a genuine all rounder of considerable potential.

We need luck with injuries and we need catches to be held. There will be no shortage of chances with the bowlers we have, so maintenance of standards in the field will be key to success, while luck with the weather wouldn't go amiss.

There will be times when the batting fails, but both Chappell and Aitchison have potential with the willow. It is a team game and the onus is on everyone to contribute, even if it is just holding up an end. That will especially come into play if the top order fails and either Lamb or Dal have to nurse the tail.

This isn't yet a perfect squad, but the outlook is decidedly more rosy than it appeared only 18 months ago. What a difference a good head of cricket creating a sound structure, together with a collective of good coaches has made.

I will look at our one day prospects further down the line. But while every county, at this stage, will think they have a chance of silverware and a good season, Derbyshire have every reason, perhaps more than many, for confidence. 

Yet the feeling remains that some of the squad may have reached their peak and have no more to give. Maybe not, but that's my final caveat. Can the Head of Cricket get ten per cent more from everyone? 

Hold on to your hats, a perhaps special summer awaits.