Pace bowler Tom Milnes has been named in Derbyshire’s squad for the LV= County Championship fixture versus Surrey at the Kia Oval; starting on Tuesday at 10.30am.
Milnes, who is on loan from Warwickshire, claimed 3-43 for the Second XI on Thursday as Derbyshire defeated Durham by 10 runs in the Second XI One-Day Trophy final, and will be in contention to make his first-class debut for the county this week.
The 22-year-old replaces all-rounder Alex Hughes who has been ruled out after sustaining a hand injury in that match.
Billy Godleman will be looking to continue his rich vein of form after scoring a century in each innings versus Kent as he became just the fifth Derbyshire to score three consecutive first-class centuries and the first since Kim Barnett in 1990.
The Club can also confirm that Tillakaratne Dilshan has returned to Sri Lanka by mutual agreement and will miss the remainder of the 2015 campaign.
DERBYSHIRE squad to play Surrey:
1. Billy Godleman
26. Ben Slater
22. Chesney Hughes
77. Wayne Madsen
3. Wes Durston
57. Shiv Thakor
16. Harvey Hosein
20. Matthew Critchley
28. Tony Palladino
— Tom Milnes
4. Mark Footitt
36. Ben Cotton
Surrey are on the brink of a return to Division One of the LV= County Championship with three fixtures remaining.
They have a commanding 58-point lead over third-placed Glamorgan and sit just 10 points behind Lancashire at the top of the table.
A strong batting contingent, that has included England internationals Jason Roy and Steven Davies as well as superstars Kumar Sangakkara and Kevin Pietersen over various stages of the season, has helped Surrey to continuously rack up big totals to boost their promotion challenge.
20-year-old bowler Tom Curran has also been particularly impressive this season, claiming 54 wickets at an average of 25.46. Curran is likely to lead Surrey’s attack for this fixture alongside former England international Jade Dernbach.
SURREY squad to play Derbyshire:
Batty, Ansari, Burke, Burns, S.Curran, T.Curran, Davies, Dernbach, Foakes, Harinath, Sangakkara, Wilson
Derbyshire’s last trip to the Kia Oval in September 2014 saw them complete an impressive eight-wicket victory in a record-breaking fixture.
Mark Footitt claimed 6-69 to help dismiss Surrey for 181 in the first innings, with wicketkeeper Harvey Hosein taking seven catches on his first-class debut, a joint World Record for a wicketkeeper on debut.
After Derbyshire made 210 with Wayne Madsen top-scoring with 63, Surrey were then bowled out for 279 as Hosein took four more catches to break the Derbyshire record for the most dismissals in a first-class fixture.
The visitors were set a tricky target of 251 to win the match, but Billy Godleman (104 not out) hit his maiden first-class century for the county and India international Cheteshwar Pujara hit an unbeaten 90 to guide Derbyshire to an eight-wicket triumph.
Graeme Welch’s men will be looking for a repeat performance this week in London.
Derbyshire are back in home action on Wednesday 9 September for the start of the LV= County Championship fixture versus Essex. Supporters can save £4 by purchasing tickets in advance.
[ticketbuttons]
