jimbo jones

No wicket yet this morning 😬 To put a positive spin on things, the wicket does seem to have flattened out a bit. If you can get through the new ball fairly unscathed (a big ask I know) chasing 250 might not be out of the question.

Yeah, anything above that will take a heroic effort from somebody.

Glamorgan 74-4 at close Interesting that Glamorgan’s pitch had a similar reputation as ours - batters paradise and a draw almost guaranteed, and there has been a big push for the groundsman to produce “results” pitches this season. He's certainly done that. Spin from Day 1, and batters on both teams looking bamboozled. How quickly can we get these last 6 wickets? I don't fancy out chances chasing too many.

In hindsight, should have played the other spinner as well.

237 all out 7 for Thomson, Conners picked up the other wicket. Not a bad start.

201-6 4 wickets for Thomson. Only seen bits of it today, but like the look of Lloyds captaincy. Spinner on early, surround the bat and making things happen.

Excellent start by Tickner 😄

Derbyshire have signed South African fast bowler, Daryn Dupavillon, to be available for all formats from the start of May until mid-September. The bit in bold is great news. Dupavillon has a first class bowling average of 25.69…which isn't bad 👀 I vaguely remember seeing him play in the SA20 and bowling with good pace. Apparently played with Samit Patel in the CPL.

First points on the board at least 👀 The forecast looks decent for Cardiff over the weekend.

No play before lunch.

Yeah I think Conners and Thomson get the first go. Morley averages 4, with 20 runs from 9 matches and it doesn't get any better from 21 List A games…so it doesn't look promising on that front 😬

Season starts tomorrow at home to Gloucestershire. I think this might be the team… Reece Came Lloyd Madsen Guest Donald Dal Thomson Chapppell Tickner Conners The top 4 pick themselves, there’s a battle between Thomson and Morley for the spinners spot and Conners and Brown for the last place. 5-7 is where it gets interesting. Having put on the best batting performance in the friendlies I want to put Lamb in the team, but I don't want to leave out Donald or Dal 🤔

Comes straight from playing in NZ so should be up to speed. Noticed he's been scoring a few runs over there to which would also be useful…

Though by the looks of the performance in this university game, it might be a blessing 😬

Yeah looks brutal.

Washout on Day 2. Not been much game time for the bowlers in these games.

Chappell goes onto 62 off 38 balls just smashing it everywhere 😂 out for a top score of 67

Zak Chappell comes in and puts the batsmen to shame with 3 sixes and 3 fours from just 14 balls so far

A nice attacking 62 from Donald, who has been the bright spark today, but he decided he wanted to hit the spinner out of the park and got it all wrong. He’s going to be fun too watch, but drive me mad at times 😆

Donald came out and played for lunch…..7 runs off 3 balls. 88-5

Currently 80-5 against Leeds Uni 😬 Guest and Donald currently at the crease. I think the strength of our batting is going to greatly depend on the development (or lack of) of Came, Guest, and Donald this season.

Watched a bit of the livestream, which just happened to be when Matt Lamb was smacking the ball to all parts, eventually out for 90. Really hope his injury problems are behind him, fully fit he’d be like a new signing.

Derbyshire second XI currently playing the South Asian Cricket Academy. i say second XI, its the first time with a couple missing. Reece, Came, Lloyd, Guest, Lamb, Donald, Dal, Thomson, Chappell, Conners, Brown Batting first, 174-5 😬 a lot of starts but no-one kicking on.

My guess is it will be Thomson & Morley competing to play in the championship team and alongside Samit in the T20. Both will play in the one day cup assuming Samit is playing in the Hundred.

I was going to post this yesterday, but I was too busy sulking. In other news, the pipeline of young Lancashire players coming down to Derbyshire continues. We have signed Jack Morley on a season-long loan. A 22 year old left arm spinner with 25 first class wickets from 9 appearances. Hopefully he follows in Brooke Guest’s footsteps, does well and makes the move permanent.