Derbyshire travel to Cardiff this week, on the back of a frustrating encounter against Middlesex. Having enforced the follow on, the hybrid pitch at Derby failed to deteriorate enough to capture the last three wickets, although Middlesex gave them enough encouragement. The draw means they have slipped 13 points behind Leicestershire, who defeated Gloucestershire.
The Derbyshire attack had to be bowl 210 consecutive overs and will be glad to put their feet up for a few days. Luis Reece is currently their leading wicket taker, with 17 at 22.82 and will be grateful that he has been relieved of the opening batting duties. Blair Tickner has 10 wickets and will obviously be keen to deliver throughout the season, having had to cut his time at Derby short last year. Zak Chappell also has 10 wickets and the trio have made good use of early season conditions. They can also call on the left arm spin of Jack Morley, while Alex Thomson took four wickets against Middlesex, in his first start of the season.
It is in the batting department where Derbyshire have really prospered, led by Wayne Madsen, who has been reinstated as captain following the decision by David Lloyd to stand down. Madsen reached a 1000 Championship runs last summer and is almost halfway there again, having scored 436 at 87.20. Australian Caleb Jewell has added some solidity at the top of the order, with 355 runs at 59.16, and his opening partner Lloyd made 93 against Middlesex. Martin Andersson has moved from Middlesex in the off season and the all rounder has scored two centuries so far.
Glamorgan have had a poor start to the season, losing two of their three matches so far. Their batting has been inconsistent and their bowling has been unable to put pressure on opposition batters. This has not been helped by the decision to play two spinners and only three recognised seamers, partly driven by taking Shoaib Bashir on loan. He has now returned to Somerset, with the return to fitness of leg spinner Mason Crane, who is playing a second team match this week. It would be strange if new coach Richard Dawson does not reinforce the pace attack this weak, although his options are limited. James Harris and Dan Douthwaite are returning from injuries, while left arm seamer Jamie McIlroy has not been considered since he suffered a concussion against the students at the end of March.
Ned Leonard and Timm van der Gugten are Glamorgan’s leading wicket-takers with just six wickets each, at averages of over 40. It could be argued that the most successful bowler is Andy Gorvin with four wickets at 12.75, but he only played in the first game and has not featured since, despite being in the match day squads. Their overseas signing Asitha Fernando has taken just four wickets, all in the first innings of the opening game at Cardiff. The lack of bowling resources has been highlighted this week as Cardiff students reached 334/1 in reply to 297 all out against a Glamorgan second XI attack including five contracted players.
The strong looking batting line up, particularly in the middle order, has also been below par, although Kiran Carlson, Colin Ingram and Chris Cooke are all averaging above 40. Glamorgan have been desperate to nail down an opening pair for too many years and currently they are going with Eddie Byrom and Zain ul Hassan. The pair have started to look more solid, but young Asa Tribe scored a double century in a second team game and may be pushing for selection. Ul Hassan is currently being used as the fourth seamer as Dawson looks to balance the side.
From results so far, Derbyshire are clear favourites, although much may depend on how their bowlers recover from their workload against Middlesex.
Key players:
Timm van der Gugten has had a slow start to the season, but seemed to have better control of the ball in the last match against Middlesex. Since the departure of Michael Hogan he has had a heavy workload, which has spilled over into injury problems. With the lack of productivity from Fernando, Glamorgan will be looking to van der Gugten for some wickets this week.
Wayne Madsen is now 41-years-old, but is not letting up when it comes to run scoring. It has been a tough few years at Derby, but they seem to have turned things around, at least for the moment, and Madsen is at the heart of it. His first stint as captain ended in 2016, but in that time he took them to the 2012 Division Two title. He is an all format player, with over 16,000 first class runs, and has been signed for at least another year.
Team News:
James Harris and Mason Crane are laying second team cricket this week, while Dan Douthwaite made a brief appearance last week for the twos. If fit Douthwaite may come in, while it is difficult to see how Gorvin can continue to be left out.
Glamorgan squad (from): Sam Northeast (c), Eddie Byrom, Kiran Carlson, Chris Cooke (wk), Dan Douthwaite, Asitha Fernando, Andrew Gorvin, Colin Ingram, Ben Kellaway, Ned Leonard, Jamie McIlroy, Billy Root, Asa Tribe, Zain ul-Hassan, Timm van der Gugten
For Derbyshire, Anuj Dal, Harry Moore and Aneurin Donald are out with injuries. Given the workload for the bowlers, Pat Brown will likely come in to the starting eleven.
Derbyshire squad (from): Wayne Madsen (c), Ben Aitchison, Martin Andersson, Pat Brown, Harry Came, Zak Chappell, Brooke Guest (wk), Caleb Jewell, David Lloyd, Jack Morley, Luis Reece, Alex Thomson, Blair Tickner, Mitch Wagstaff
Weather and Conditions
The forecast is for warm and sunny conditions all week, with temperatures slightly cooler on the last two days.
It is felt that any help for the bowlers will be on the first morning, so there is a desire to bowl first, but the low, slow pitches in Cardiff tend not to give the bowlers very much assistance.
Date: 2nd May 2025
Time: 11:00
Ground: Sophia Gardens, Cardiff
