Derbyshire have looked back to last season to provide inspiration for the start of this year’s Royal London One-Day Cup competition.
Billy Godleman takes his team to Edgbaston on Thursday and Derbyshire’s Captain believes his players can “ruffle a few feathers” over the course of the next three weeks and will have a new weapon in his armoury following the signing of Scotland international Safyaan Sharif.
The 26-year-old is expected to make his Derbyshire debut at Edgbaston with Godleman urging his team to reflect on a memorable performance in May 2017 when Warwickshire were beaten by four wickets at Derby.
“We had a really good victory over them here last season and that will be fresh in our memory,” Godleman said.
“It’s a new competition and we bring different skills and different variations with the resources we have and I’m confident we can ruffle a few feathers.”
Sharif comes with a good reputation in one-day cricket and will add to Derbyshire’s bowling options. Cricket Advisor Kim Barnett said it was important to reinforce the bowling attack ahead of a busy period of one-day cricket.
“We are trying to build up that bowling unit in all cricket, but particularly in white ball to make sure we are covered for injuries,” he said.
“We have been lucky so far and we were lucky last year in the Vitality Blast with injuries, but you can’t rule that out so we need a bit of depth in that seam bowling unit.”
Sharif was the joint highest wicket-taker in the recent ICC World Cup qualifiers in Zimbabwe where he finished with 17 at an average of 13.94 and Barnett believes he will make an impact this summer.
“We’ve got a nice partnership with Scotland and we’re looking to give him an opportunity. He will play Vitality Blast as well. Scotland have very little cricket and he’s free for seven of our eight 50 overs matches and all of the T20.
“He’s a white ball specialist and specifically I believe in bowling at the end which is something we were looking out for. He’s medium quick and has got white ball skills which we were keen on.”
Royal London One-Day Cup is back at The 3aaa County Ground! Derbyshire will host four 50-over fixtures in May and June. Buy your match tickets in advance & save.
