Middlesex v Derbyshire preview

I don't expect any changes to the Derbyshire side that beat Northamptonshire this week, as they make the trip down to Lord's and a red ball fixture against Middlesex, starting tomorrow. 

If it ain't broke, don't fix it. That old adage is pertinent here and in the likely continued absence of Luis Reece from the bowling ranks, I also expect the batting order to remain the same. 

So Derbyshire should lineup:

Reece, Came, Montgomery, Jewell, Madsen, Andersson, Guest, Chappell, Aitchison, Haydon, Bashir (Morley and Wagstaff also in squad).

The team should be bubbling with confidence after their win, together with Shoaib Bashir's selection in the England squad for the first Test of the summer. It is a reward for his performance and attitude so far and while the county would miss both, I'm sure everyone would like to see him included in the final eleven for the national side.

Middlesex have also named thirteen for the game and they currently sit second in the table. So tight are things in the division, however, that only 15 points separate that position with second bottom, where Derbyshire currently sit. There is much to play for and this should be a very good game. 

Both teams have only one overseas player - South African Eathan Bosch having arrived to play for Middlesex. Their success so far has been down to the batting of Leus du Plooy and the excellence with the new ball of Ryan Higgins and Toby Roland-Jones. The former is one of the best all-round cricketers in the country and has been for a few years now, while the latter, at 38, is still producing figures worthy of a man in his prime. Which he could well be, if following in the footsteps of Tim Murtagh...

Interestingly, they recalled Tom Helm from his loan spell with Leicestershire this week, yet he hasn't made the squad for this game. Perhaps they are covering the bases in case one of the first choice seamers breaks down mid-match.

Young bowlers Naavya Sharma and Seb Morgan have made encouraging starts in the county game and the home attack, especially in conditions that often favour them, will be a challenge. 

The Middlesex squad: 

Du Plooy, Bosch, Duke, Falconer, Geddes, Gohar, Higgins, Holden, Hollman, Morgan, Robson, Roland-Jones, Sharma.

The weather forecast for the four days is not good at this stage and it is hard to predict anything other than a draw, unless conditions favour the bowling lineups sufficiently for the game to be completed in what looks more likely to be three days of cricket at best.

Tomorrow certainly looks set to be truncated and we will have a better idea of prospects for the remainder of the game at that stage.

What do you think

Postscript: from conversations around the ground earlier in the week, I know that several Derbyshire supporters are making the trip for this weekend game. 

I hope that you all enjoy it!