But hey, cricket is back! We have six months of watching our favourites, winning our share of matches and enjoying balmy summer days and nights. I am more confident in the start of that sentence than the last part...
The eleven that I suggested the other day could still be the one that takes the field, with Harry Came and Mark Watt also in the squad. I had a fancy that the Scot, as an international player, would be regarded as our number one spinner and so it has transpired. Mickey Arthur is on record with regard to liking a slow left arm bowler and the genial spinner looks set for a lot of cricket this summer. If he hits his best form he will be a big asset, though I remain unconvinced he will play in this match.
Haider Ali is set for his county debut. It would be unwise to expect too much, too soon from a still young and relatively inexperienced player. But if he comes off, it will be quite special.
In correspondence with a friend the other night, I referred to the arrival, over 50 summers ago, of a young South African 'dasher' named Chris Wilkins. The English conditions took him by surprise, but when he moved from opener to number four he gave rich entertainment. His dismissal could be quick, but when it was his day, it was magnificent. Ali may be a similar player, who can frustrate and entertain in equal measure, but what a talent he is!
Squad:
Godleman, Reece, Ali, Guest, Madsen, du Plooy, Lamb, Dal, Came, Aitchison, Chappell, Conners, Lakmal, Watt.
Worcestershire recruited well over the winter months and they have got a strong batting lineup. Having said that, the squad announced by them today has two notable absentees, wicket keeper Ben Cox and seam bowler Dillon Pennington.
Azhar Ali is available for the whole summer and Adam Hose has arrived from Warwickshire, together with Matthew Waite from Yorkshire, to take their places in the following squad:
Pollock, Libby, Ali, Haynes, Hose, d'Oliveira, Roderick, Waite, Leach, Baker, Tongue, Finch, Gibbon
The forecast for the rest of this game looks good after a possible delayed start, so with a wicket that is likely to help seam bowlers, I would expect a positive result here.
The toss will be important and I would be surprised if whoever won it opted to bat. But I think that Derbyshire have recruited well and can put out an eleven that can win this game.
A good start helps to build momentum and if a team gets on a run, anything is possible.
Wishing the very best of luck to the Derbyshire players and staff for the long summer ahead.
I have a sneaking feeling that we are all going to enjoy this one...
It will be a fascinating season, Steve. I wonder if this might be a breakthrough season for Harry Came and Tom Wood. I would love to see both of them pile up the runs.
ReplyDeleteI also wonder whether Billy will be able to score big on a regular basis. He had an absolute shocker last season. Had he not been captain, he would have been dropped much sooner. Relieved of the captaincy, he might rediscover his form. On his day, he is someone capable of racking up the runs, and he can score quickly. The good thing is that we will have competition for batting places.
Reece Ali Guest (wk) Madsen Du Plooy (c) Lamb Dal Chappel Aitchison Conners Lakmal I reckon. No spin 6 seamers
ReplyDeleteWould be side and the one I think we will go with. I should be able to see a few hours a day and maybe the majority Saturday live. Very excited for this season
I hope to be proved wrong but unless there is more in the pitches at Derby for the bowlers this season it's going to be a struggle at home to bowl sides out, also surprised that George scrimshaw doesn't get into the four day side is his body so fragile that it can't be trusted over four days?
ReplyDeleteThanks, Anon (please add a name)
DeleteGeorge is a key part of our T20 side. He bowls fast and short, which is dangerous when batters have to score from it. They can just duck under it in the 4 day game and while he will get opportunities, I suspect others are ahead of him in that format.
I suspect he sees his future as a T20 specialist, like a few others
Given the conditions, I can see the eleven you stated previously being the one named tomorrow, with the extra batter and Dal sliding down to 8.
ReplyDeleteWith a good forecast for days 2 to 4 I would expect a positive result, hopefully in our favour.
* Apologies - that comment was by me!
DeleteI think we should be a bit careful with Dal. He was outstanding with the bat last season and will have no shortage of suitors if and when his contract is ending.
ReplyDeleteIf other counties are offering him a top 6 slot it might be enough to tempt him away if we're using him at 8 and he's having to bat with the tail a lot of the time.
He deserves promotion in the order rather than dropping to accommodate a new signing. Him at 8 may be the best answer to a selection headache for the team but might be counter productive in the long term. Reece over Godleman for me to get Dal to at least 7 with some assurance if he continues to rack up runs then he'll go to 6 when Madsen retires.
Oh, I don't think he will often bat that low. And as a recent magazine article said, he wanted the number 7 berth and is very happy with his role in the side. And indeed, in the club. He strikes me as a bloke very grateful for what the club has done for him and ready, as well as willing, to repay that.
ReplyDeleteI am old enough to remember Mike Procter batting 9 for the Rest of the World against England in 1970. A man who made 48 first class centuries!
Don't disagree with any of that. I just think that this is a guy who was 11th in the div 2 batting ratings last year with 957 runs despite missing one game too.
ReplyDeleteIf he gets near 1k runs again AND is still a top tier fielder PLUS able to take 30+ wickets at less than 30 then he's going to be turning heads.
If he was as good in the 20 over format (and he may just need the chance) as the four day format then I think he could be persuaded away because he's good enough to play for England one day in my opinion and somewhere else may offer him a headline role.
Players will always be in demand, we just need to make the environment a positive one and offer fair deals to them, that are affordable. There may come a time when someone offers crazy money we can't match, but like all the others, we should enjoy him while we can...which is at least the next two seasons!
ReplyDelete