Derbyshire v Sussex preview

In normal circumstances I would be prepared to suggest a first Derbyshire win of the season against Sussex, starting tomorrow.

After all, the visitors have had Cheteshwar Pujara banned, after the side he captains received their fourth sanction of the season, exceeding the threshold set by the ECB. Meanwhile, Tom Haines and Jack Carson have been made unavailable by Paul Farbrace, following their conduct in that last game against Leicestershire, while Ari Karvelas is unavailable until an incident in the game has been investigated.

The additional twelve point fine effectively puts them out of the promotion race and with only professional pride to play for. 

However, the forecast suggests rain on all four days and the anodyne nature of Incora County Ground wickets this season has never suggested  imminent batting collapses.

Derbyshire name the following thirteen, which is rightly made up of players who are here next season, plus skipper Leus du Plooy, playing his last game as a Derbyshire player at the Incora County Ground:

Came, Reece, Guest, Madsen, du Plooy, Lamb, Dal, Wagstaff, Chappell, Thomson, Conners, Potts, Brown 

I could make a case for all of them being in the final eleven, so will leave the call to the Head of Cricket. I would assume one seamer and either Wagstaff or Lamb will miss out, but we will see.

Sussex have the following thirteen-man squad, which includes former Derbyshire favourite Fynn Hudson-Prentice:

Alsop, Carter, Clark, Coles, Crocombe, Currie, Foreman, Hudson-Prentice,  Hunt, Ibrahim, Orr, Unadkat, Ward

Fingers crossed for a win, but equally for as much cricket as possible for the loyal supporters to take into the winter.

What do you think?