The opening eleven?

I have been asked several times in the past few weeks what my side would be for Derbyshire's opening first class game, against Worcestershire at the Central Co-op County Ground on April 3.

It's difficult of course. The only person whose opinion really matters is Mickey Arthur. He knows the mental and physical state of all the players, as well as the form they have shown in the nets. None of us do.

Players are no different to you and I. They will have things going on in their lives, a personal problem, a health issue, a challenge with a loved one. All of these will mitigate against their involvement, or being at their best. Football fans have only to look at the current absence of Jacob Zetterstrom from the Derby County side, an unspecified - and it would seem as yet undiagnosed - illness is preventing him from playing. 

Yet assuming full fitness and good form of the entire squad, this would be the eleven that I would put onto the field:

Caleb Jewell

Harry Came

Matt Montgomery 

Wayne Madsen

Brooke Guest

Luis Reece

Martin Andersson

Zak Chappell 

Ben Aitchison 

Mohammad Abbas

Shoaib Bashir

The strength of the squad for 2026 is highlighted by the fact that there are several strong exclusions in that side. There would be those who argue for Nye Donald to open and give us a fast start, but I am keeping his powder dry for now. Martin Andersson gets the nod ahead of Anuj Dal, because of his three centuries last year. With four good seamers in the side the stronger batter (on most recent form) gets the place. Martin should also be fit to do more bowling this year, if needed. With four strong seamers, do you really need a fifth? A counter argument could be playing Donald at seven, or even Mitch Wagstaff, who would give you a third spinner. Amrit Basra and Rory Haydon will be rotated in and the performances of both are eagerly awaited.

Yet Arthur recently said that Andersson has the talent to play for England and it would be silly to omit him after that assertion. 

Shoaib Bashir will get the nod over Jack Morley. The latter did nothing wrong and produced some telling spells last year, but he needs to bide his time and produce the figures in second team cricket to justify his elevation. 

Shoaib will be first choice and will get plenty of cricket, which is what he needs. There are a lot of players in sport who need to feel that they belong at a club. For what it is worth, I think Derbyshire is the perfect fit for the England spinner. 

I also hope that his involvement in the eleven, alongside Mohammad Abbas, sees an increase in support from the local ethnic community, which would be welcome. 

We don't have long to wait now and I'm sure everyone is excited to see how Mohammad Abbas will do in Derbyshire colours. He was 36 this week, the same age that Eddie Barlow was when he came to the county. Given his style of bowling, I don't think the number matters. He took 57 wickets in ten first-class matches in Pakistan this winter and while acknowledging that the standard may not always be the same, that still takes some doing. He will be raring to go on his apparently incentivised contract and that can only be to everyone's benefit. 

Once he settles, works out his preferred end and gets into his rhythm, I have every confidence that he will lead the attack with considerable style and panache. 

Watch this space. 

Of course, I'm now equally interested to see if you agree, or where you might tweak the side for that opening match. 

Over to you!