Derbyshire CCC | Match Preview - 13/04/2023

After a thrilling start to the season last week at Yorkshire, the Foxes are back on home soil as they strive to make it two wins from two.

A stunning final day chase, orchestrated by Rishi Patel’s maiden first-class century and a brilliant late stand between Peter Handscomb and Chris Wright, saw Leicestershire chase 389 deep on day four at Headingley.

Derbyshire are the visitors for this week’s clash, with Mickey Arthur’s side looking to respond to an eight-wicket defeat at the hands of Worcestershire last time out.

Last Time We Met:

The two sides last met in the final game of 2022, sharing the points in a high-scoring draw at the Incora County Ground.

It was a fixture to remember for Rehan Ahmed, who snared his maiden five-wicket haul in Derbyshire’s innings, before backing it up with a swashbuckling maiden century when he came out to bat.

The all-rounder’s 122 arose from just 113 balls with 14 fours and five maximums, strengthening his case for an England call which famously followed later that winter.

Fox to Watch:

Peter Handscomb’s debut at Headingley quickly won the affection of the Foxes Family. His match-winning knocks saw him post a combined 180 runs, including a superb hundred “ becoming just the 12th Fox to ton up on first-class debut.

His composure in the middle radiated to his teammates. Crucial stands with the lower middle order, including 141 with Rehan Ahmed in the first innings, and a game-defining 65 with Chris Wright in the second, proved his value batting at five.

The Australian international also kept wicket, which added another key dimension to his addition to the squad, allowing Lewis Hill to focus on his new role of captaining in the absence of Harry Swindells.

Opposition Player to Watch:

Zak Chappell will be a name very familiar to Leicestershire supporters. The all-rounder spent four seasons as a Fox, before walking the well-trodden path to Nottinghamshire at the end of the 2018 campaign.

Having found a third East Midlands-based home, Chappell made a strong to life at Derbyshire last week. With the bat, he hit 46 and 45, while he took 5/69 to complete an impressive all-round display.

Having shown his pace and ability to score quickly with bat in-hand, the Foxes will be hoping their former friend won’t come back to haunt them this week.

Squad:

There’s just one change to the 14 who travelled to Yorkshire last time out. Winter arrival Matt Salisbury, who picked up a calf injury just seven overs into his debut, misses out on the squad, with Ed Barnes, Callum Parkinson and Louis Kimber all vying for a place in the XI in his absence.

Leicestershire: Ackermann, Ahmed, Barnes, Budinger, Finan, Handscomb, Hill*, Hull, Kimber, Mulder, Parkinson, Patel, Wright.