LV County Championship Cricket returns to the Incora County Ground this week for the first time this season, as Derbyshire welcome Sussex, the only side to finish below them in last season’s competition. Sussex again find themselves at the foot of the LV County Championship Division Two table, with 5 points, albeit after just one match where they lost comfortably by 10 wickets to bookies’ favourites for the title Nottinghamshire. Following their draw at Lords, Derbyshire find themselves in fifth with 12 points and maybe a slight advantage with momentum over their visitors.
Sussex started well against Notts, scoring 375 in the first innings and then reducing the visitors to 52 for 4 in reply. However it then went wrong as Notts recovered to take a first innings lead and ultimately win by 10 wickets chasing just 14 runs in the second innings of what must have been a deflating defeat for the men from Hove. Derbyshire on the other hand were always in the game vs Middlesex and on the final day at certain points looked like they could chase down the total of 355 for victory before both sides settled for the draw.
Both sides will be looking and thinking that they can achieve a victory in this match, Sussex will be hoping that overseas batter Cheteshwar Pujara will bring some local knowledge with him, having played for the Falcons back in 2014 along with fellow overseas signing Mohammed Rizwan of Pakistan who should feel at home with fellow Pakistan international Shan Masood on the opposition. Derbyshire will be hoping the continued buzz around the Incora County Ground following Mickey Arthur and Ian Bell joining the coaching set up will do the same for the home side.
With the weather looking to be set fair for the duration of the match, a positive result should be possible, as for which way, we shall have to wait and see.
Key Players
Derbyshire Some players are flashy and shout from the roof tops, others go about their business with minimal fuss and often don’t get the credit they deserve, in Anuj Dal Derbyshire have the latter. Yet in his last 5 matches he has scores of 48, 19, 106, 7, 58*, 49*, 52 and 24* coming in at 7 or 8 in the order and helping to add important runs late in the innings. He also contributes with the ball, having taken 11 wickets in that same period at a cost of 35 runs per wicket. That might not sound earth shattering but it is the job he does for the side, often bowling when the ball is old and going soft. Dal has turned himself into an important cog in the Derbyshire machine and his improvement is testament to his work ethic on and off the field. If Derbyshire do well in this match then there is a good chance that Dal will have too.
Sussex When you have a young bowling attack sometimes you need that experienced head to guide them, and in the Winter, Sussex got that when they signed Steven Finn from Middlesex. The fastest man to 50 test wickets for England, Ashes winner home and overseas, he has been there and done it all. Now he is helping Sussex’s young guns and is leading by example. In their first match against Notts he claimed 3 wickets for 84 runs at an economy rate of 3 runs per over. Sussex will be hoping that if he can replicate that performance against Derbyshire with his extra pace and bounce then they will be able to claim their first victory of the season.
Team News
Derbyshire
Derbyshire will be without loan signing Ryan Sidebottom who pulled up with a hamstring after just seven deliveries of his debut last week, giving an opportunity for another bowler to come into the side. That may be Mikey Cohen although he is still recovering from a back injury sustained last season and this game may come too soon for him, likewise for Ben Aitchinson and George Scrimshaw, so do not be surprised if youngster Nick Potts is given his chance to impress. Apart from that, do not expect any changes from the squad from the Middlesex game.
Derbyshire squad: (tbc)
Sussex
The Sussex faithful should get their first sighting of Cheteshwar Pujara and Mohammed Rizwan on the field to add depth to their young batting line up. However Jofra Archer, George Garton, Fynn Hudson-Prentice, Jack Carson and Sean Hunt all look set to miss out due to injuries and illnesses of differing varieties.
Sussex squad (tbc)
Weather and Conditions
The weather looks set fair for the match in Derby this week, but bring your thermals, the top predicted temperature is only 18 degrees. The pitches in the friendly warm up games at Derby produced runs with just enough in the pitch for the bowler to keep them interested so if the weather stays true to the forecast expect a result at Derby this week.
Date: 14th – 17th April 2022
Time: 11.00 am
Ground: Incora County Ground, Derby
Odds (SkyBet): Derbyshire 4/6; Sussex 11/10
