Luis Reece returns from injury as Derbyshire name a 14-man squad for the Specsavers County Championship match against Middlesex at Lord’s, starting on Tuesday 18 September (10.30am start).
All-rounder Reece, who has been out of action since the end of May with a metatarsal injury, could make his first four-day appearance since the home fixture against Durham in the same month.
Billy Godleman’s side are targeting a third win in a row after victories against Glamorgan and Northamptonshire in the previous two weeks. Derbyshire currently sit fourth in Specsavers County Championship Division Two, on 139 points with four wins.
Derbyshire beat Middlesex in the opening game of the season and will be aiming to complete the double over the 2016 County Champions.
New Zealand fast bowler Lockie Ferguson returns after missing the last match. Experienced seamer Tony Palladino is the county’s leading wicket-taker with 45 at an average of 18.15.
Wayne Madsen could pass 1,000 first-class runs for the summer and the 34-year-old currently has 958 at an average of 41.65, with two centuries and seven half-centuries.
Young seamer Alfie Gleadall is the only injury absentee, he remains unavailable due to a lower back stress fracture.
1. Billy Godleman
27. Tom Lace
10. Luis Reece
77. Wayne Madsen
18. Alex Hughes
14. Gary Wilson
20. Matt Critchley
16. Harvey Hosein
65. Anuj Dal
11. Daryn Smit
28. Tony Palladino
7. Hardus Viljoen
69. Lockie Ferguson
41. Ravi Rampaul
Middlesex are fifth in Specsavers County Championship Division Two, one place behind Derbyshire, on 136 points with five wins from their 12 matches.
Four Middlesex players are averaging over 30 with the bat, but only two have managed to make centuries – Nick Gubbins and Dawid Malan. Stephen Eskinazi is the county’s leading run-scorer with 576 runs at an average of 33.88, including four half-centuries.
James Harris leads the way with the ball, with 54 wickets at an average of 19.42 and best figures of 7-83. Tim Murtagh, who missed their last match due to injury, is just behind with 45 wickets at an average of 15.44.
England paceman Steven Finn will miss this week’s game at Lord’s due to injury.
All-rounder Martin Andersson, who was on loan at Derbyshire for the win against Glamorgan at the start of the month, has since returned to his parent club and could feature against Billy Godleman’s side this week.
Middlesex squad: To be announced.
Harvey Hosein was pleased with the fight shown by Derbyshire to beat Northamptonshire and now the 22-year-old is looking forward to making his maiden first-class appearance at Lord’s.
He said: “That could have gone a different way and we’d have been on the other side of this result, but we fought hard and it came off.
“I was nervous when we got down to that last wicket. I checked with the guys and they gave me the thumbs up to farm the strike a bit.
“One minute we need 130 to win with eight wickets left and the next a few wickets go down and it gets a bit twitchy. That’s the nature of Day Four, one minute you feel like you’re cruising and all of a sudden you’re in.”
“I’d say that a four-day win is the most satisfying. Particularly when it goes the distance and you’ve had to go to the evening session on Day Four, it makes it extra special.
“I’m looking forward to going to Lord’s. I have played there once before, in an age group game, so I can’t say I’ve been there in a first-class game and I’m really looking forward to it.”
Four-day cricket is back! Derbyshire host their final Specsavers County Championship match of the season against Gloucestershire from Monday 24 September. Buy your tickets in advance and save.
