I suspect that there are places still up for grabs, especially with the seam attack. Indications of rhythm and form could go a long way towards swinging a berth in the side for this Friday.
Wayne Madsen hasn't been in either side, so one assumes that his involvement against Worcestershire will be in doubt. Much depends on how he is this week, but given his absence, the likely top seven is as appeared at Leicester and will at Derby, starting today. Caleb Jewell will logically replace Nye Donald, who would surely otherwise have batted in his likely position this week.
It would mean Martin Andersson slotting in at number five, reward for a very good 2025 in which he scored three championship centuries. He looked good at Leicester, as Derbyshire scored 243-7 in 60 overs. So did everyone else, with only Harry Came (43), Donald (10) and Zak Chappell (5) being dismissed, the rest retiring. Matt Montgomery looked classy, Andersson was the most fluent and all will be grateful for time in the middle. Brooke Guest looked in good touch too, as did Luis Reece, again batting at six.
It was great to see Harry Moore back, both batting and bowling (unfurling the first reverse sweep that I have seen this summer, in the process). I expect them to slowly build his workload before he perhaps becomes a first choice. Then again, Rory Haydon could play himself into the eleven with wickets in the game that starts today.
Wickets were shared around as Leicestershire made 136-6, including one with his second ball for Shoaib Bashir. It counts for little in his career record, but will do his confidence no harm as Ben Aitchison neatly pouched a catch at slip.
The rain took a lot of time out of the scheduled play and it may do again over the next days. The Derbyshire lineup for Leeds/Bradford UCCE
Came
Donald
Montgomery
Guest
Andersson
Reece
Dal
Chappell
Aitchison
Haydon
Bashir
Morley
Potts
With light rain showers forecast, they may be on and off today, but we will all either don appropriate clothing and head down there to watch, or get the stream on and enjoy our first sighting of the county side in 2026.
I will be watching at 11am, like most of you!
I'm assuming Basra is injured?
ReplyDeleteI assume so, Jasper, but haven't heard anything at this stage. His turn will come, I am sure
DeleteIt looks decidedly chilly there Steve. I'm sat in my bedroom with the window open, all wrapped up in solidarity. Hats off to the single guy sat in the stand behind the arm. I hope the club are supplying him with warm drinks
ReplyDeleteAndy
I'd like to see Haydon and Moore share the new ball at some point.
ReplyDeleteChappell, Aitchison and some bloke called Abbas will rightly get that job ib the main this season but the two young players could do it for a decade if developed right and development starts now.