On-loan fast bowler Conor McKerr has been named in a 14-man Derbyshire squad to face Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge in the Specsavers County Championship, starting on Friday 2 June; 11am.
Surrey paceman Mckerr is set to make his first-class debut after signing an initial 28-day loan, providing a fast bowling option in the absence of strike bowlers Hardus Viljoen and Will Davis.
Commenting on McKerr’s loan, Billy Godleman said: “Conor comes with real pace and the attitude to give his all and run in all day.
“We have lacked pace with Hardus Viljoen and Will Davis out with injuries. McKerr comes with high praise from Vikram Solanki and Alec Stewart at Surrey and I trust their opinions.
“Through Gary Wilson’s connections at Surrey we have been able to secure this loan and I must thank Gary for his hard work in helping us get this over the line.”
Shiv Thakor is set to come in at three in the order and the Derbyshire all-rounder has hit 239 first-class runs and taken six wickets in the Specsavers County Championship.
Jeevan Mendis will lead the spin attack, whilst McKerr boosts the pace bowling options alongside Tom Taylor, Rob Hemmings and Tony Palladino.
1. Billy Godleman
10. Luis Reece
26. Ben Slater
57. Shiv Thakor
77. Wayne Madsen
11. Daryn Smit
3. Charlie Macdonell
88. Jeevan Mendis
18. Alex Hughes
9. Gary Wilson
15. Tom Taylor
24. Rob Hemmings
28. Tony Palladino
Conor McKerr
Nottinghamshire currently sit top of the table in the Specsavers County Championship Division Two with four wins and one draw from their five matches.
Last time out, Nottinghamshire beat Gloucestershire by an innings and 50 runs in a game where Cheteshwar Pujara and Michael Lumb both made centuries and Steven Mullaney claimed a five-wicket haul.
Riki Wessels averages 97.75 in the competition so far, having hit two centuries including an unbeaten 202.
Overseas top order batsman Pujara has hit 114 runs in his two innings with the Club, whilst Lumb and Jake Libby have also hit centuries.
Luke Fletcher has taken 23 wickets at an average under 20 and Samit Patel will provide a spin option as well as middle order batting.
The hosts are without Stuart Broad, who is having his workload managed by the ECB ahead of the forthcoming Test summer.
Nottinghamshire Squad: Brendan Taylor, Jake Libby, Cheteshwar Pujara, Steven Mullaney, Chris Read, Riki Wessels, Harry Gurney, Luke Wood, Ben Kitt, Luke Fletcher, Samit Patel, Brett Hutton, Michael Lumb and Matt Milnes.
Captain Billy Godleman says the Derbyshire squad are ready for the challenge ahead of the trip to Trent Bridge to face Nottinghamshire.
Derbyshire recovered from a defeat to Worcestershire to secure a draw with Leicestershire and Godleman was impressed with the performance going into the Nottinghamshire game.
Godleman said: “I was really pleased with the application and the fight from the guys against Leicestershire. The bowlers came back well on the second morning and as a unit we batted well in our first innings.
“Nottinghamshire are a very good team with experience in all departments. It’s a local derby and we all play to face the best opposition so we are all looking forward to the challenge.”
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