Get off the mark this week with quick-fire stories to keep you up to date with the latest news from Derbyshire.
Tony Palladino has been encouraged by the depth in Derbyshire’s bowling attack, Fynn Hudson-Prentice believes the side can handle added pressure in the Vitality Blast, and Daryn Smit is pleased with the Academy’s tour to Mumbai.
Tony Palladino has been encouraged by the strength of Derbyshire’s bowling attack, as they prepare for the 2020 season.
Experienced bowlers such as Palladino, Ravi Rampaul, and Luis Reece will be joined by Australia international Sean Abbott, while younger players including Sam Conners, Fynn Hudson-Prentice, and Anuj Dal will all share the ball throughout the campaign.
Palladino is delighted with Derbyshire’s depth in the bowling department, and thinks the ability to rotate players will be a strength for the side in 2020.
“I think we have good competition for places. For the first time in a few years, we have a really strong bowling attack that covers a lot of bases,” said Palladino.
“That will put us in good stead, especially in the early games. Guys might not play every game, we might be able to give players the odd rest here and there.
“I think Sean [Abbott] will bring a strong pace and work ethic, I think he will enjoy bowling on English pitches with the Dukes ball.
“He might have to find a slightly fuller length early on, but he’s a quality performer and you can see that by what he has done in the Big Bash and the Sheffield Shield.
“He takes wickets, he bowls at great pace and will bring a lot to the attack. He’s also a good lad, by all accounts, so I’m looking forward to welcoming him into the bowlers’ corner of the changing room.”
Fynn Hudson-Prentice believes Derbyshire’s squad will handle the added pressure in this year’s Vitality Blast well.
The all-rounder made his T20 debut for the club last season, after joining earlier in the campaign, and he quickly adapted to the format, claiming 11 wickets as the Falcons reaches Finals Day for the first time.
Twenty20 Head Coach, Dominic Cork, has committed for the 2020 season, while Australia’s Sean Abbott and Ben McDermott will both be available for the Vitality Blast.
With only three teams having won more Vitality Blast matches in the last three seasons than Derbyshire, the county are no longer underestimated, and Hudson-Prentice believes the team will take the added expectation in their stride.
“It might have been unexpected, but there was a sense last year that we deserved to be (at Finals Day), we worked really hard and won a lot of games,” said Hudson-Prentice.
“Now it’s about pushing that forward. We have a couple of great additions with Sean Abbott and Ben McDermott, and they will be very powerful for us.
“The expectation is obviously going to be higher this year, supporters will be looking at what we did last season, but I think we can handle that. We want to go one or two steps further, because we want to get to the final, and then win it.”
Daryn Smit has praised the work of the Academy players during a highly-beneficial tour to Mumbai.
Youngsters Archie Harrison, Mitch Wagstaff, Nafis Sheikh, Nick Potts and Jonny Lawrence took part in net sessions with local coaches, before playing two Twenty20 matches in India.
Head of Development Pathway, Smit, says that the trip will benefit the players in their development, and is pleased by their effort throughout the week.
“The two T20s were a good opportunity for our players to put what they had learnt in the net sessions into practice in a match environment,” said Smit.
“I think everybody has taken something away from the games, and they’re all proud of the work they’ve put into the net sessions, so it has been a great success.”
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