Pre-Match Pack: Leicestershire Foxes

Derbyshire have named a 14-man squad for tonight’s Vitality Blast fixture against Leicestershire Foxes at The Upsonsteel County Ground (6.30pm start). 

Luis Reece top-scored with 59 against Lancashire Lightning on Wednesday, and he will be looking to build on that knock alongside captain Billy Godleman and Leus du Plooy. Tom Wood comes into the squad, while new signing Harry Came retains his place as a top-order candidate, as Wayne Madsen misses out with a thigh injury and continues to be assessed.

After claiming 2-9 at Emirates Old Trafford, Fynn Hudson-Prentice travels to Leicester, with Brooke Guest, Matt Critchley, Alex Hughes, Alex Thomson and Mattie McKiernan also named.

Logan van Beek made his Falcons return earlier this week, and the Netherlands quick leads a bowling attack which could contain Michael Cohen and George Scrimshaw.

Derbyshire Squad: 

1. Billy Godleman (C)
10. Luis Reece
76. Leus du Plooy
24. Tom Wood
20. Matt Critchley
18. Alex Hughes
4. Harry Came
29. Brooke Guest
33. Fynn Hudson-Prentice
8. Michael Cohen
15. Alex Thomson
21. Mattie McKiernan
37. Logan van Beek
9. George Scrimshaw

Pre-Match Talk

Luis Reece says Derbyshire are determined to turn around their current poor form, but he believes the squad’s work-rate will soon garner results. 

After a tough month of red ball cricket, the Falcons were beaten by six wickets in their opening Vitality Blast fixture against Lancashire Lightning at Old Trafford.

Reece top-scored for Derbyshire with 59, while he and Fynn Hudson-Prentice each claimed two wickets, but England international Liam Livingstone’s unbeaten 94 saw the hosts through to victory.

Dominic Cork’s side travel to The Uptonsteel County Ground on Friday evening to face Leicestershire Foxes, before hosting Birmingham Bears in their first Derbyshire-based home Twenty20 fixture since 2019 on Sunday.

Despite the result, Reece is confident the positive elements of the performance show the Falcons will be a match for any side in the competition, especially with the hard work being put in behind the scenes.

“The beauty of Twenty20 cricket is that you can get on a run and the confidence will keep building,” he told BBC Radio Derby.

“We’ll keep rolling into the next game, it’s another chance to showcase to the fans and hopefully bring some smiles back to the Derbyshire supporters’ faces, it would be nice to give them something to cheer about and actually reward them for their support.

“We work incredibly hard behind the scenes, I know the last month hasn’t shown it, but we really feel like we’re turning a corner and positive results will come, sooner rather than later.

“These games come thick and fast, and there’s been enough encouraging signs to know that if we come back on Friday and put some of the same processes in place then we should come out on the right side of the result.”

How to follow

You can follow Derbyshire’s Vitality Blast fixture against Lancashire Lightning on the club website through our improved Match Centre.

With the hosts’ Live Stream, in-play scorecards, ball by ball commentary, clips, statistics and so much more, you can put yourself at the heart of the action, even from the comfort of your own home!

Clips and updates will also be provides via our social media channels, so make sure you’re following us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, so you never miss a moment of the action.

Tickets

Tickets for Vitality Blast home games are on sale now, but they’re selling fast so don’t delay if you want to cheer on the Falcons in Derbyshire this summer.

Home Fixtures:
Birmingham Bears – Sunday 13 June; 2.30pm – SOLD OUT
Lancashire Lightning – Tuesday 15 June; 7pm – SOLD OUT
Northants Steelbacks – Thursday 17 June; 7pm
Leicestershire Foxes – Tuesday 22 June; 7pm
Notts Outlaws – Friday 25 June; 7pm – Currently off-sale
Worcestershire Rapids – Friday 2 July; 7pm
Yorkshire Vikings – Sunday 18 July; 2.30pm