Henry Brookes, a very talented and highly skilled young quick bowler from Warwickshire, has arrived ahead of the game and will be available for the next two County Championship fixtures.
He will bolster an attack that has struggled thus far, but with Brookes at one end and Chappell at the other it takes a little pressure from Sam Conners and Ben Aitchison, one of who is likely to drop out of the 13 named tomorrow.
Suranga Lakmal is in the squad, but it has already been said that he is building his fitness so logically he will be the other to miss out.
There had to be a change at the top of the order, because Haider Ali and Billy Godleman lasted nine balls between them in the match at Durham. After a good innings for the second team at Repton, Harry Came earned the right to play at the top of the order.
Likely team:
Came, Ali, Guest, Madsen, du Plooy, Lamb, Reece, Chappell, Brookes, Watt, Conners/Aitchison (Lakmal)
They will face an in form Leicestershire side, who have four of the top six highest scoring batters in division two. A struggling Derbyshire bowling side might not find it easy to work its way through such an order, but the visitors attack isn't as strong as their batting.
On a Derby wicket that will likely favour batters, I am going for a draw here, especially with a fair amount of rain in the forecast.
What do you think?
The season is descending into a shambles already two loses out of three and the coach already dipping into the loan market so he can rest and rotate his two opening bowlers meanwhile his overseas bowler still isn't fit what about George Scrimshaw and Nick Potts what sort of message is the coach giving them that they are not to be trusted in four day games?
ReplyDeleteI don't think either offers the control we really need at this stage. Scrimshaw was expensive in the second team game and I don't think 4 day cricket is his strength. Potts is only 20 and there is a big gap between second and first team. He will get his matches, but needs to keep working.
DeleteWhat we are really lacking is a Tony Palladino-type bowler. Someone who will bowl the hard overs and keep it tight at one end. Chris Wright does that for Leicestershire, Ben Raine for Durham, Van Der Gugten for Glamorgan. Most counties have one, but we don't, especially in the absence of Anuj Dal.
It should be top of our winter recruitment list. Even an overseas bowler, like Siddle or Neser. Sisanda Magala of South Africa would be a good, solid option
Isn't Ben Aitchison meant to be the one to keep it tight? He was last season.
DeleteYes, but he hasn't got his rhythm yet, this year. Perhaps a slight difference in his position on release?
DeleteI must admit that I didn't see the signing of a loan bowler coming. This would suggest Mickey has serious doubts about the effectiveness of our current bowling unit. Brookes looks to be a good signing and will, no doubt, want to impress in his two games. I'm pleased that Billy's been left out of the squad, given his recent form.
ReplyDeleteAs Harry Came is playing for the seconds at Repton, Steve, do regulations allow him to drop out of that game tomorrow? If so, are the seconds permitted to bring in a replacement?
Yes, a replacement is allowed in the second team match. Josh Lacey took the place of Came in the second innings, where Derbyshire look set for a heavy defeat after collapsing in the first innings.
DeleteI think a lot was placed on the ability of Lakmal to lead what is still a very young attack. Sadly, his fitness has not allowed him to show us what he is capable of. It is both sad and disappointing
It mirrors the events of last year , Lakmal not fit Sidebottom ,Pettman and Hurtall came on loan but it was masked by Masoods volume of runs and better bowling efforts by the team . Looks like Scrimshaw will be a white ball player .
DeleteInteresting that you have mentioned Tony Palladino, PF. I think our difficulties in recent seasons in bowling out the opposition have been caused by the fact that he was never replaced by a bowler of similar ability.
ReplyDeleteIndeed. And I will maintain to my dying day he was released too soon. He had at least one more year in him. Look at Murtagh, Stevens, Anderson for examples...
DeleteOne of many dumb decisions of David Houghton's
DeleteWell, Tony Palladino is currently keeping it tight at Brailsford CC. Fine player and servant for DCCC, but I think he was released at the right time.
ReplyDeleteAs mentioned, the signing of a seam bowler on loan after just 3 championship games must have been at the very bottom of the list of 'things that might possibly happen'.
Shambolic so far, and I would say the inability of Lakmal either to remain fit, or lead the attack when he is, means an important decision needs to be taken.....
Sadly, I can only see another season of disappointment ahead.
ReplyDeleteWow, Henry Brookes. What a debut!
ReplyDelete