England’s Under-19s play Australia in the third match of the Royal London One-Day Series at The 3aaa County Ground tomorrow; 2pm start.
The match will also be televised LIVE on Sky Sports, with entry FREE for all supporters.
England were heavily beaten in the first match of the series in Gosforth, and their hopes of bouncing back immediately were frustrated by Friday’s rain which washed out the scheduled second fixture at Queen’s Park, Chesterfield.
Returning to Derby for a day-night match televised by Sky will bring back happy memories for Lancashire’s Haseeb Hameed and Hampshire offspinner Brad Taylor, who was man of the match when England beat South Africa in the equivalent fixture last summer.
“It was just the same, a day-night game with the floodlights at Derby, and we had a good win,” reflected Taylor, who took three for 26 as South Africa were bowled out for 125 in reply to England’s 212-8, in which Hameed made 38.
“I’ve always enjoyed playing under lights and the TV coverage adds something extra as well. I made my Hampshire debut in a televised match against Lancashire at Old Trafford a couple of years ago and took a couple of wickets. It’s great that Sky are showing one of the games again, and definitely an extra incentive for all the boys.”
Several members of the England team who played in last year’s televised match have become familiar names for county cricket followers this season. Will Rhodes, who was the captain, has been a regular in the Yorkshire team, with fast bowler Matt Fisher – who is still eligible for the Under-19s, but has been left to play for his county instead – and left-arm spinner Karl Carver.
Saqid Mahmood, a fast bowler from Lancashire who suffered a calf injury on the first day of the drawn four-day match between England and Australia at the Emirates ICG two weeks ago, is fit to make his first appearance of the one-day series, adding to the competition for places in the England squad.
After tomorrow’s televised game, the teams move on to Leicester for the fourth match of the series on Thursday before it finishes at New Road, Worcester on Saturday – when Graeme Hick, who is coaching the Australia team, can expect an especially warm welcome.
Derbyshire Falcons are back in home action on Tuesday 18 August when they take on Worcestershire in the Royal London One-Day Cup. Buy in advance and save £4!
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