Pre-Match Pack: Leicestershire Foxes & Lancashire Lightning

Derbyshire Falcons have named a 14-player squad for the Vitality Blast Off fixture against Leicestershire Foxes at Edgbaston on Saturday at 2.30pm, as well as Sunday’s fixture against Lancashire Lightning at Emirates Old Trafford (12pm). 

Samit Patel’s Falcons will be aiming to bounce back after suffering a narrow defeat in a last ball thriller at Northampton yesterday, despite David Lloyd and Pat Brown impressing on debut.

Batter, Aneurin Donald, has been ruled out of both fixtures due to concussion protocol, after being struck on the helmet in a Second XI fixture on Wednesday at The County Ground.

Derbyshire Squad:

21. Samit Patel (c)
04. Harry Came
08. Daryn Dupavillon
10. Luis Reece
13. Blair Tickner
15. Alex Thomson
22. Mitch Wagstaff
29. Brooke Guest (wk)
32. Zak Chappell
36. Pat Brown
44. Ross Whiteley
46. David Lloyd
65. Anuj Dal
77. Wayne Madsen

The Opposition

The Foxes will play Yorkshire Vikings this evening in Leicester to kick off their Blast campaign, before facing the Falcons tomorrow.

Captained by Australian Peter Handscomb, the Foxes side also boast England spinner Rehan Ahmed, as well as highly-rated left-arm fast bowler, Josh Hull.

Leicestershire have also recently brought in all-rounder Lewis Goldsworthy on loan from Somerset to cover for the injured Liam Trevaskis.

Pre-Match Talk

Fast bowler, Zak Chappell, says the back-to-back weekend fixtures give the Falcons a good opportunity to get back on the front foot after a narrow defeat first time out against the Steelbacks.

Chappell claimed two wickets in the fixture at Wantage Road, which saw the hosts claim victory off the final ball of the match, despite impressive showings from David Lloyd and Pat Brown.

Now, the Falcons prepare to face Leicestershire Foxes and Lancashire Lightning on consecutive days, and Chappell believes the squad will be determined to put things right at the weekend.

“It’s frustrating, but that’s cricket for you,” he said.

“One ball’s difference at the end, and everyone is laughing and smiling, that’s how fickle the game is. It all comes thick and fast, we have two games in the next three days and we have the chance to rectify tonight’s result.

“There was no train crash at Northampton, whatsoever, the boys need to keep their confidence and look forward to the next couple of games. Players are allowed to play well against us, it’s what they are paid to do, just as we are. But I don’t think we did too much wrong, we fielded well, we were decent with bat and ball, so there’s a lot to take from that game.”

How to follow

Derbyshire’s Vitality Blast fixtures against Leicestershire Foxes and Lancashire Lightning will be covered live on the Club website, through our improved Match Centre, delivered in partnership with Purpose Media.

The Blast Off double-header at Edgbaston, where the Falcons take on the Foxes, before Birmingham Bears face Notts Outlaws, will be shown live on Sky Sports Cricket.

Our Match Centre includes live streaming (where applicable), 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.