As Derbyshire off seasons go, this was shaping up to be a calm, settled one. Two signings, not new as they both spent part of last season on loan with the Falcons; Jack Morley for a large part of the season and Martin Andersson for the latter stages, although he had previously been on loan for one match back in 2018. The only departure was Sam Conners, heading north to Durham to reignite a career which had stalled at Derbyshire over the last couple of seasons, having gained recognition with the England Lions. So relatively peaceful; nothing like the last few years with multiple incomings and outgoings.
So how about off the field. It’s Derbyshire so there must have been coaching changes following a disappointing season last year. Nope, in fact Mickey Arthur even signed a contract extension which sees him committed to the club and the club committed to him until the end of the 2026 season. His coaching staff are also unchanged, allowing for consistency for the players in their preparation.
All of this consistency and predictabity has to be good for the club and then on March 6th, a month before the start of the season, David Lloyd stepped down as captain – stability, what stability. At Derbyshire when you want stability who do you turn to? You go to Wayne Madsen and that is exactly what they did for their skipper this season. This will be Madsen’s second stint as permanent skipper, a job he relinquished back in 2016, having secured the last silverware for the club by winning the Division Two title back in 2012.
Derbyshire from top to bottom will be hoping Madsen can sprinkle some magic dust again after what was accepted by everyone at the club as a disappointing season last year, with just one First Class victory and failure to make the knock out stages of either white ball competition. Arthur will also hoping for some Madsen magic dust too, as after just four First Clast victories in the last three seasons, with only one in the last two seasons, if that magic does not appear and Derbyshire start poorly he will surely be feeling some pressure on his position.
Key Player
Every side craves balance and in having a high quality wicketkeeper/batter Brooke Guest offers Derbyshire just that. Guest is excellent behind the stumps; his bowlers clearly trust him and so they should with 140 dismissals over the last four First Class seasons. He is a high quality number three batter, although he has been moved around the order, especially last season to try and manage his work load, although he is happiest at three and more successful there too. If Guest can fire coming in one down, it gives the side more options down the order to play bowling all rounders and takes the pressure off the free flowing batters such as Aneurin Donald.
One to Watch
Who does not love a young, tall exciting fast bowler who is a genuine wicket taking threat? In Harry Moore that is exactly what Derbyshire have. He may have only played three first class matches, but that was enough for him to spend the winter involved in the England set up, training with the Lions and then playing for the Under 19s in South Africa. It is clear to see what England like about him – he is quick and genuinely quick. You can see batters unnerved by his pace and Derbyshire will be hoping for more of the same this season, despite him being just 17-years-old.
Ins and Outs
Overseas Signings: Calab Jewell (Australia), Blair Tickner (New Zealand), Allah Mohammed Ghazanfar (Afghanistan, for T20)
Ins: Martin Andersson (Middlesex), Jack Morley (Lancashire)
Outs: Sam Conners (Durham)
How will they fare
Who knows? You could sell us on a season which sees Derbyshire challenging for promotion in the First Class game, reaching finals day in T20 and making the knock out stages of the 50 over competition too. They have quality, they have runs and wickets with bowlers who have been around the England Lions squad over the winter, so why not. However you could also convince us that they might not win a game in any format, such has their sporadic success been over the last few seasons, only time will tell.
Opening Fixture: CC v Gloucestershire on April 4 at Derby
Likely Championship XI
- Jewell
- Reece
- Guest (WK)
- Lloyd
- Madsen
- Donald
- Andersson
- Chappell
- Tickner
- Moore
- Morley
