Thu 27 Aug 2020
The Uptonsteel County Ground
Derbyshire Falcons
Leicestershire Foxes
Twenty20 Head Coach Dominic Cork has named a 14-man Derbyshire squad for the Vitality Blast opener against Leicestershire Foxes at The Fischer County Ground on Thursday 27 August; 6.30pm start.
A familiar top-four transfer from the Bob Willis Trophy, which sees Derbyshire top of the North Group after four rounds, and into short-format T20 cricket, with captain Billy Godleman joined by Luis Reece, Leus du Plooy and the Falcons’ leading run-scorer in 2019, Wayne Madsen.
A depth of all-rounders could see Cork rotate players in what is a condensed Vitality Blast schedule, with the likes of Fynn Hudson-Prentice, Alex Hughes and Matt Critchley all able to contribute with both bat and ball.
Tom Wood returns to the Derbyshire one-day setup, while there are a number of players who could make their first T20 appearances for the club, including fast bowlers Michael Cohen and Sam Conners.
Wicketkeeper-batsman Brooke Guest will keep the gloves after making his debut against Durham earlier this week.
1. Billy Godleman
10. Luis Reece
24. Tom Wood
77. Wayne Madsen
76. Leus du Plooy
18. Alex Hughes
20. Matt Critchley
33. Fynn Hudson-Prentice
65. Anuj Dal
21. Mattie McKiernan
29. Brooke Guest
8. Michael Cohen
62. Ed Barnes
59. Sam Conners
Despite finishing bottom of the closely-contested North Group, Leicestershire were just four points off fourth-placed Worcestershire, who went on to finish as runners-up in 2019.
In what is set to be an even tighter race for qualification in the six-team group, the Foxes have a number of powerful top-order batsmen who can score quickly in the powerplay and give the all-rounders the impetus to finish the innings strongly.
Notable among them is top-order batsman Harry Dearden and, after fluent knocks of 70 and 47 in the Bob Willis Trophy against Derbyshire earlier this month, he will be a prized early wicket for the Falcons attack.
The Foxes bowling attack could feature three former Derbyshire men in seamers Tom Taylor, Will Davis and spinner Callum Parkinson, all of whom have become regulars in the starting line-up at The Fischer County Ground.
All-rounder and captain, Colin Ackermann, enjoyed a good Vitality Blast campaign with both bat and ball last summer, and he will be one to watch again on Thursday night.
Wayne Madsen says Derbyshire are relishing the chance to challenge for silverware in 2020, ahead of their Vitality Blast campaign.
The batsman, who was the club’s leading Vitality Blast run-scorer last season, has been ever-present in Derbyshire’s unbeaten start to the Bob Willis Trophy, and will be a key member of the top-order in the white-ball games as well.
Madsen hit four half-centuries in last year’s competition, as Derbyshire reached Finals Day for the first time, and he believes the side come into the competition with added pressure due to recent performances.
“I think there’s an expectation because of how we’ve performed in the last few years,” Madsen told BBC Radio Derby.
“We’re confident in how we play in white ball cricket, and it’s part and parcel of how we’ve performed in that time, but we have expectations of ourselves as well to go out and perform in the Twenty20.
“It’s great to be a part of this team, we’ve been a building team for the last few years and it’s great to be winning games and challenging for trophies. That’s what you want as a player, and as a team we’re in that position.
“We have a great group of people, not just the players, but the coaching staff off the field and it’s obviously bringing a lot of joy to our supporters as well, which is great news.”
Click HERE to read the full interview.
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Vitality Blast is back! Derbyshire Falcons return to Twenty20 action with ten North Group matches in search of the knockout stages. Follow every game live on our match centre at derbyshireccc.com. Derbyshire Falcons: Underestimated No More.
