Wednesday, 9 July 2025

Vitality Blast Preview - Worcestershire and Northamptonshire

Mickey Arthur has named a 14-man squad for the games over the next two nights against Worcestershire and Northamptonshire. 

The weather tomorrow looks to be scorchio, so no doubt the Sky cameras will enjoy a bit of Derbados. 

I suspect that the Head of Cricket will not attempt to fix anything that isn't broken, after the excellent win over Yorkshire at Chesterfield. So my prediction is the following (same) side:

Jewell, Donald, Madsen, Patel, Whiteley, Andersson, Came, Chappell, Thomson, Ghazanfar, Brown (Aitchison, Guest, Wagstaff in the squad)

Guest's century in 33 balls today may cause a second thought, but I think they like splitting the fifth bowler between Andersson and AN Other, even though I think the former could handle all four overs. 

Worcestershire are only four points better off than Derbyshire and haven't yet announced their squad. Last time out they fielded this side as they eased past Northamptonshire:

Mohammad, D'Oliveira, Roderick, Kashif, Brookes, Cullen, Dwarshuis, Taylor, Singh, Finch, Shahzad

I think by now we all know that Derbyshire are capable of beating most teams, on their day. It is just a case of whether they turn up as an eleven.

As for Northamptonshire on Friday, away from home, they fielded the following side last time out: 

Robinson, Vasconcelos, Broad, Willey, Bopara, Zaib, McManus, Bartlett, Sanderson, Pope, Scrimshaw

For those who didn't see it, Tim Robinson, a New Zealander, has replaced Matt Breetzke for two championship and four Blast matches, before the South African returns for the end of the Blast.

They should be two good games. 

Derbyshire are capable of moving up the table with good performances in both.

We will see what happens and I will report back after both games 

5 comments:

  1. Whilst I think a change to the side is unlikely, if a 100 in 33 balls does not get you into the side what does? Martin

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    1. My thoughts exactly Martin. So you either swap out Came, who didn't bat but fielded well, or leave out Thomson and split 5th bowler between Andersson and Whiteley

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  2. No need for Micky to fix what isn’t broken! Have you looked at the vitality blast table recently? Derbyshire are bottom there’s a reason why Derbyshire are where they are in the T20 and second in Division 2 of the CC the standard of cricket in the vitality is on a different level

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    1. They won on Sunday, so we're always going to keep the same side. Though Guest could feel aggrieved at non selection after his ton yesterday

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  3. Something tells me that Steve is fully aware of that, as are we all. A rather excellent demolition of the 'noisy neighbours' makes it hard to change that side when confidence should be high

    Andy

    Andy

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