Heavy overnight rain – in addition to afternoon showers – meant that only 15.5 overs could be bowled on Day One of Derbyshire’s LV= County Championship match at Glamorgan.
Derbyshire will resume tomorrow on 47-2 with Ben Slater and Scott Elstone unbeaten on 25 and two respectively after it was confirmed that no further play would be possible at 5pm.
Several inspections took place in the morning session and, at the fourth time of asking, a start time was confirmed of 2.40pm, meaning that 40 overs had already been lost in the day
After an early lunch was taken, Derbyshire skipper Wayne Madsen lost the toss and was asked to bat in damp and overcast conditions at the SWALEC Stadium.
Derbyshire made five changes from last week’s victory against Gloucestershire. Chesney Hughes, Scott Elstone, David Wainwright and Cricket Derbyshire Academy in partnership with the University of Derby spinner Matthew Critchley, who was making his first-class debut, came into the side to replace Martin Guptill, Wes Durston, Tony Palladino and Tom Taylor, all injured, and Billy Goldeman who is suspended.
Chesney Hughes, playing in his first match of the season, opened the batting alongside Slater and made nine before driving Graham Wagg to Craig Meschede at cover.
Madsen was in at three but fell after scoring just a single when Andy Carter, on loan at Glamorgan from Nottinghamshire, trapped him lbw.
More rain, however, put pay to any chance of much play thereafter and the umpires took the players off after 15.5 overs had been bowled, with Derbyshire 47-2, and the two sides did not re-emerge on Day One.
With an improved forecast for Monday, both sides will be hoping for a full day’s play tomorrow; starting at 11am.
Elite Performance Director, Graeme Welch said: “Tony [Palladino] and Tom [Taylor] were both struggling. We brought them down to see if we were able to get them through it but it was obvious in the morning they wouldn’t make it.
“The medical advice was that if we risked them they could be out for a few weeks, so it wasn’t worth it. They could have broken down and then we would be two seamers down for the rest of the match.
“As it is, we’ve brought in Ben Cotton, who has been bowling well, so we have four seamers and plenty of spin. It’s still a balanced side.”
