Two more sleeps..

Looking at the scores in the very few matches where play has been possible in the past week, I suspect that the wicket for Derbyshire's first match - indeed the wickets for all of the first round of matches - will be very much in favour of the bowlers.

It has thus far been a Spring pretty much diametrically opposed to that of last year, when it was dry and batters around the country racked up large scores on almost blameless wickets. Thus we saw the nigh permanent smile on the face of Shan Masood, while it was closer to a grimace on that of Suranga Lakmal.

The experienced Sri Lankan seamer will be eagerly anticipating this week's game. It would be a major surprise were any side to win the toss and bat, while Kent or someone might even consider a match by match contract for Darren Stevens, with conditions likely to offer the veteran all rounder what he has thrived in for the last two decades.

Could Derbyshire go with an extra batter for the Worcestershire game? We are very fortunate to have Anuj Dal and Luis Reece in our side, which gives us two seam bowlers before we consider the specialists.

Lakmal will play, as almost certainly will Zac Chappell, which would leave the final place between Sam Conners and Ben Aitchison. Much as I prefer a balanced attack, which would normally include one of our spinners, I can't see conditions favouring them at this stage.

So Derbyshire may go with:

Godleman

Ali

Guest

Madsen

du Plooy

Lamb

Reece

Dal

Chappell

Conners/Aitchison

Lakmal

I am not a fan of playing four seamers, because if you pick the right three, you don't really need a fourth. Playing five when two are all rounders is OK, I think, but Mark Watt may otherwise get the nod if it is felt variety is more important than the extra batter.

But I am happy to leave that to Mickey Arthur, who has seen them all through the winter and knows who is in form.

Two more sleeps..