On Derbyshire's one-day prospects

Shivnarine Chanderpaul in action for Derbyshire

Is this the summer when Derbyshire reverse recent fortunes and show themselves to be a better one-day than four-day side? If that were the case, it would be long overdue, as we’ve seldom shown one-day form in anything other than a sporadic manner in recent years.

I would hope that Shivnarine Chanderpaul will do what he so often did for the West Indies and open in the shorter formats. That would at least give us a player who can pace the innings, always assuming that whatever combination of bowlers is chosen keeps the opposition within bounds.

For what it is worth, I think we might see an improved T20 side this summer, especially if we can prevail on Martin Guptill to return for the competition. If he’s keen to get home after a long tour, a batsman of similar power or talent is a necessity so we can take advantage of the power plays more than has previously been the case.

With plenty of slow bowlers to replicate the successful method of the better IPL sides, the Derbyshire team has the requisite skills to do well; but only if the players show their best form. I don’t see us playing many seamers in the lucrative T20, where I think we will line up with something close to this as a first choice side:

ChanderpaulGuptillHughesDurstonWhiteleyMadsenJohnsonBurgoyneGroenewaldKnightTurner

I’d like to see our two young spinners given a run in this competition and with Hughes and Durston to bowl spin too, we have plenty of bowling options. The batting has potential big guns up top, with the skipper in the engine room if it goes horribly wrong to work with the tail and produce a target.

There is an argument for Hughes to open with Chanderpaul, who could talk him through the tricky patches; but I’m a firm believer in having your best batsmen and fastest scorers at the top and with as long to bat as possible.

As for the Yorkshire Bank Pro 40, it is a competition in its death throes, but I think we will see Derbyshire take it seriously unless they have early reverses, in which case it will become a blooding ground for young players.

My YB 40 side:

Hughes (C)ChanderpaulMadsenDurstonRedfernWhiteleyHughes (A)JohnsonClare/GroenewaldBurgoyne/KnightTurner

Much will depend on the fitness of the seam attack though. Having already lost Tony Palladino for several weeks, don’t be surprised to see Ali Evans and Alex Hughes get YB 40 matches under their belt, especially if we need to wrap the remaining bowlers in cotton wool for the top tier four-day stuff.

Prospects? We have some good players and if we get on a roll an improved season is a possibility. Though if there’s one thing that 47 summers of watching Derbyshire has taught me, it is to expect the unexpected.