Back to 4 day cricket and Glamorgan will want a win to reenergise their promotion hopes
Derbyshire have had a miserable time so far in the Championship, but have been more competitive in both white ball competitions and will be looking to take those positive experiences into the final month of the season. They are currently winless and will be disappointed with the frailty of the batting that has led on to three defeats. Derbyshire have boosted their bowling with the recruitment of Daryn Dupavillon, but will be expecting more from the South African quick. He has taken 12 wickets at 43.91 in his five Championship games so far and then missed the first three One Day Cup games with an ankle problem. He went on to take six wickets at 31.16 with an economy of 6.44 in the four matches he featured in. He was injured for the last matches, but the hope is he will be fit to return.
Taking wickets remains a problem for Derbyshire and it is off spinner Alex Thomson who leads the way with 20 wickets at 35.35, as he did last season. However, Thomson has not played since 19th July because of injury. The lack of at least one seamer taking plenty of wickets at an average in the low twenties is an issue. Zak Chappell is the best at present with 16 at 35.62. Unfortunately Sam Conners left the field injured during the last One Day Cup game, although 17-year-old Harry Moore has shown promise, taking 10 wickets at 28.50 with an economy rate of 4.83 runs per over. He is yet to play a first class game.
Brooke Guest leads the Championship run scoring with 525 at 37.50, but there have only been three centuries scored so far this season. Coach Mickey Arthur will want greater consistency from a batting line up that has plenty of experience.
Glamorgan have also struggled to take 20 wickets, but now have Timm van der Gugten back fit, having missed the first part of the season. In his three Championship games so far he has taken 21 wickets at 20.88, numbers that can get teams the win. James Harris is also finding some of his old form, bowling at good pace and has 23 wickets at 36.56. He has been out since the end of June with a groin strain, but is hoping to make a return.
It is the leg spin of new signing Mason Crane that has caused opposition batters the most problems, taking 24 wickets, albeit at a rather expensive 42.87. He is currently the leading spinner in Division Two. It remains to be seen as to how hard Glamorgan want to push for a top two finish, as they will need to sign another quick bowler to support van der Gugten, if they are to have a chance of getting the wins they require. Currently they need their frontline seamers to play nearly every game, having not had a rest during either of the white ball competitions. Dan Douthwaite can be wayward, but has the ability to bowl at good pace and having ended as the second highest wicket taker in the One Day Cup with 18 at 20.05, will be looking to start.
Glamorgan have scored plenty of runs, with three batters in the top 15 run scorers in Division Two, led by Sam Northeast with 902 at 69.38. Colin Ingram has also picked up from his red ball form of 2022 with 752 runs at 94.00 and has had some members asking as to how much they need Marnus Labuschagne when it is the bowling that is holding them back? The problem is who will open with Billy Root given the injury to Eddie Byrom. Will Smale has been doing it in the One Day Cup, but it is unlikely he will continue in this role and keep wicket, potentially making room for Alex Horton behind the stumps. If Smale keeps wicket, Tom Bevan could open.
In the game between these two sides at the beginning of April it was spin that dominated, Thomson taking 12 wickets in the match. After both sides were dismissed relatively cheaply in their first innings, the pitch flattened out at Sophia Gardens and no attempt was made to get a positive result. Given Glamorgan’s need of wins and Derbyshire wanting to get something out of their Championship campaign it may be that the captains will be more proactive this week. If we could have a game similar to that of 2022 at the County Ground, when Glamorgan fell just short of chasing down 331 in 55 overs, the spectators will be well entertained.
Their relative positions in the table would make Glamorgan favourites, but they will need to work hard to take 20 wickets. Mickey Arthur said last Friday that he has 13 fit players to select from, so it may be that Derbyshire are forced to bring in someone on loan.
Key players:
Since the departure of Michael Hogan and Michael Neser, Timm van der Gugten has been the lynch pin of the Glamorgan attack. He has been unlucky with injuries in recent years, not helped by the lack of depth in the pace bowling resources such that there cannot be regular rotation. He led the Championship wicket taking for Glamorgan with 39 at 29.23 last summer and has become a very consistent performer in recent years. He is also more than useful with the bat, having scored 139 runs in five innings at 34.75 so far this season.
David Lloyd moved from Glamorgan to Derbyshire at the end of last year and has been given the captaincy at his new club. However, he would have hoped for a better start, having scored just 393 runs at 26.20, on the back of a career average of 30.45, perhaps reflecting the way he was pressed into opening at Glamorgan. He has now moved back to his preferred spot in the middle order and will be looking for a big score this week.
Team News:
Derbyshire are struggling to get 11 players on the field and Harry Moore looks likely to get a first class debut.
Derbyshire squad (from): David Lloyd (c), Pat Brown, Harry Came, Zak Chappell, Anuj Dal, Aneurin Donald, Daryn Dupavillon, Brooke Guest (wk), Matt Lamb, Wayne Madsen, Harry Moore, Jack Morley, Luis Reece, Ross Whiteley
Chris Cooke, James Harris, Eddie Byrom and Zain ul Hassan have been out with injuries, although ul Hassan has been bowling in club and second team cricket. Harris was hoping to be fit for the Championship restart, but it may take another game. Will Smale has been keeping in the One Day Cup while Alex Horton has previously been Cooke’s deputy.
Glamorgan squad (from): Sam Northeast (c), Tom Bevan, Kiran Carlson, Mason Crane, Dan Douthwaite, James Harris, Alex Horton, Colin Ingram, Ben Kellaway, Jamie McIlroy, Ben Morris, Billy Root, Will Smale, Timm van der Gugten
Weather and Conditions
There is the possibility of rain on all four days.
There have been plenty of runs scored at the County Ground, but given the damp conditions that are expected, it would seem likely that the captain winning the toss will want to bowl first.
Date: 22nd August 2024
Time: 11:00
Ground: County Ground, Derby
Odds (SkyBet): Derbyshire 6/5; Glamorgan 4/6
