Thoughts as the season approaches

Tomorrow is the first day of March, a day when we can finally say that cricket starts this month.

There are just 25 days until Derbyshire set foot on the County Ground once again, for a 3-day game against Oxford UCCE, closely followed by a similar fixture against the South Asian Cricket Academy. I doubt it will be tropical, but we will all be tuning into the stream or going down for an early 'fix' for our cricketing needs dressed like Nanook of the North..

It was nice to see photographs of the players outdoors yesterday, slowly dusting off those winter cobwebs. Especially so to see Ben Aitchison in the slip cordon, where his presence will undoubtedly improve on the standard last season. With Caleb Jewell also likely to be in there alongside Wayne Madsen, we should do better than last year, when far too many were being dropped for comfort.

I don't think Ben will be in the side at the start of the season, but understand it won't be long before he is back in contention and probably aiming for red ball involvement around May.

There are three things that have me pondering at this stage. One is the perennial likely line up for the first game, another is the red ball captaincy and the third is who we are likely to target for the T20 leg spinner role that has been mentioned.

It is a sign of a competitive squad when it is hard to get a handle on the best eleven. I will be interested to see people's thoughts on this but my first choice side to start the season - obviously with no indication as to the pitch - would be along these lines: 

Came

Jewell

Reece

Madsen

Guest

Lloyd

Dal

Andersson

Chappell

Tickner

Brown

Would we need a spinner, in which case Jack Morley for Brown, perhaps. Remember Harry Moore is unlikely to be available until June, because he has school. I like the idea of a left/right combination in the batting, so Luis Reece and Brooke Guest could be three, depending on whose wicket fell first. There is no place in that eleven for Nye Donald, based purely on last season and his greater aptitude for the shorter forms. I would love to get him in there, but realistically he is competing for a middle order place with David Lloyd. 

Which brings us neatly to the second thing.. will Lloyd want to remain as captain? It was a big ask last year, moving to a new county, opening the batting and trying to make a big impression. It didn't work out for him, not least because he had a few injuries, but the problem is who takes it on if he doesn't. 

Wayne Madsen would be an obvious choice, but I am unsure if he would want to return to the role, even though he is the go to for captains when we are in the field. Brooke Guest would be another, but perhaps he has enough on his plate with keeping wicket and potentially batting at three. I think he could do it, but we don't really want to burn him out and that would be my only concern. 

I don't think Luis Reece or Anuj Dal would fancy it, perhaps preferring to focus on their own games, which leaves - possibly - Zak Chappell. I wouldn't be averse to him taking on the role, because he is a very good cricketer and has a keen, competitive edge to his game. But it is telling that there is not yet an announcement on the red ball captaincy and it is something to keep an eye on in the coming weeks.

David Lloyd looked totally drained at the end of last year, something that was totally understandable. Perhaps a winter of rest has done him good, but a change might be beneficial all around. Thoughts, everyone? 

Finally, if the club manages to put together the money for a leg-spinner for Vitality Blast, who might it be? Of course it will depend on the budget, but plenty of players out there will see an opportunity in The Blast as opening doors for the Hundred, later in the summer.

Samit Patel worked well with Ish Sodhi at Nottinghamshire, while Mickey Arthur's admiration for Wanindu Hasaranga of Sri Lanka was clear when he arrived in Derby. There's also Maheesh Theekshana of the same country, ostensibly an off spinner, but regular bowler of carrom balls and wrong 'uns to great effect. All would be likely to be pricey, but perhaps their agents might see a bigger picture if they completed a successful English stint.

Of course, we wouldn't say no to Adam Zampa, but I suspect he would be out of our league, as would Tabraiz Shamsi of South Africa.

Abrar Ahmed of Pakistan may also be on a wish list, but that country will have several bowlers who might prove effective and be less well known. It is why I always enjoy watching the PSL, because it unearths a few players who are largely unheard of here. 

And more affordable of course...

There's always Imran Tahir, still turning his arm over at 44 in the SA20 and likely to feature in the PSL once more in the near future...but that one is very much tongue on cheek. 

I'm not sure who does his running in the field and that isn't the forte of our white ball skipper either..