Ben Cotton and Matt Critchley return to be named in Derbyshire’s 13-man squad for the trip to play Northamptonshire in the LV= County Championship at Wantage Road on Saturday; starting at 12noon.
Cricket Derbyshire Academy, in partnership with the University of Derby graduate Cotton returns to the four-day squad after recovering from injury.
Critchley also returns against a side he has fond memories of playing against when he became the youngest Derbyshire player to hit a first-class century in the reverse fixture in May, hitting an unbeaten 137 on his second first-class appearance.
It was a game which also saw Chesney Hughes hit his first century since 2013 with 104 in the second innings before Derbyshire had the visitors nine down on the final day but were unable to claim the final wicket and settled for a draw.
Hamish Rutherford will be looking to build on his maiden first-class century against Glamorgan at Queen’s Park last time out, with Wayne Madsen and Billy Godleman also making half-centuries at Chesterfield.
DERBYSHIRE squad to play Northamptonshire:
72. Hamish Rutherford
1. Billy Godleman
22. Chesney Hughes
77. Wayne Madsen
3. Wes Durston
18. Alex Hughes
57. Shiv Thakor
16. Harvey Hosein
20. Matthew Critchley
28. Tony Palladino
15. Tom Taylor
36. Ben Cotton
4. Mark Footitt
Opposition
Northamptonshire have only lost two of their ten LV= County Championship fixtures, but they have drawn six of their other eight to leave them in mid-table with six matches remaining.
England all-rounder David Willey, who has a batting average in excess of 50, remains out of action until the end of July with ankle ligament damage.
Rob Keogh will be looking to add to his 669 runs in the LV= County Championship this season, with the batting all-rounder helping his side to salvage a draw in the reverse fixture with an unbeaten 163, an innings that lasted for the best part of six hours.
Northamptonshire suffered a nine-wicket defeat to Gloucestershire at Cheltenham last time out but they did win their last home fixture, an eight-wicket victory over Kent, thanks to five-wicket hauls for Rory Kleinveldt, Muhammad Azharullah and Olly Stone in the match.
NORTHAMPTONSHIRE squad to play Derbyshire:
To be announced.
Derbyshire take on Australia in the Bell & Co Tourist Fixture at The 3aaa County Ground, starting on Thursday 23 July. Tickets are still available to purchase for all three days, buy in advance and save £4!
[ticketbuttons]
