Pre-Match Pack: Leicestershire (A)

Derbyshire have named a 13-player squad for the LV= County Championship fixture against Leicestershire at The Uptonsteel County Ground, starting on Thursday (11am). 

Having struck half-centuries in each innings against Worcestershire, Billy Godleman will be aiming to build on his good form in the East Midlands, while opening partner, Haider Ali, gave a hint of his international quality, with 22 and 65 last time out.

Zak Chappell returns to face the club where he made his first-class debut in good form, with the fast bowler claiming a maiden five-wicket haul for Derbyshire in the opening game of the season, he will be joined by fellow seamers Sam Conners, Ben Aitchison, Suranga Lakmal and Anuj Dal, while spinner Mark Watt could provide a different option.

Members should note that the reciprocal offer between Derbyshire and Leicestershire does not apply to fixtures where the two sides face each other.

Derbyshire Squad:

1. Billy Godleman
12. Haider Ali
4. Harry Came
29. Brooke Guest (wk)
77. Wayne Madsen
76. Leus du Plooy (c)
7. Matt Lamb
65. Anuj Dal
32. Zak Chappell
51. Mark Watt
59. Sam Conners
11. Ben Aitchison
82. Suranga Lakmal

The Opposition

Leicestershire will be bouyed by their fightback win over Yorkshire at Headingley in the opening round of the campaign. 

Australian international, Peter Handscomb, scored 112 and 68 not out in the win, while former captain, Colin Ackermann, also passed 50 in each innings.

With the ball, England all-rounder, Rehan Ahmed, claimed four wickets in the match, with seamers Josh Hull (4) and Michael Finan (5) also impressing.

Pre-Match Talk

Head of Cricket, Mickey Arthur, was left disappointed by Derbyshire’s defeat to Worcestershire in the opening game of the LV= County Championship.

New Club Captain, Leus du Plooy, made 95 not out in the second innings, while Billy Godleman scored half-centuries in each innings, with debutant Haider Ali made 65 in the second innings, with Zak Chappell taking a first five-wicket haul for the Club, but Derbyshire were always playing catch-up after a strong lower-order performance in Worcestershire’s first innings.

Arthur said there were positives to take even in defeat, but has emphasised that the standards shown this week will not be accepted moving forward.

“It was pretty disappointing, some positive stuff but on the whole disappointing to lose because I certainly think we are a lot better than that,” Arthur said.

“I thought we left runs out there in the first innings and once you leave runs out there in the first innings you play under pressure, particularly on a good wicket. You end up as the team playing under pressure and ultimately you succumb to it, which is exactly what happened.

“We need to be just more ruthless around all three disciplines really.It wasn’t good enough and we’ve discussed that. There was so much excitement and so much anticipation from our dressing room going into the season and it was a bit of a reality check which is a good thing and it will bring the best out of us.

“On Day Two, I thought we had two sessions of very good bowling, but we were poor in the third session. That might be down to fatigue and the guys going to where they hadn’t been before, because we hadn’t played any pre-season cricket, but we’re not an excuses-based team and that doesn’t wash.”

How to follow

Derbyshire’s LV= County Championship fixture against Leicestershire will be covered live on the club website, through our improved Match Centre, delivered in partnership with Purpose Media.

Our Match Centre includes Live Streaming, in-play live scorecards, ball by ball commentary and statistics, everything you need to stay up-to-date, no matter where you’re following from!

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.