Derbyshire preview

Date: Wednesday 14 April 2010

Leicestershire travel to Derbyshire tomorrow for a four-day battle between the early pacesetters – and the key to the game could be the contest between the two captains.

Matthew Hoggard will get the first opportunity of the attack to bowl at the prolific Chris Rogers, who enjoyed Derbyshire’s opening LV=County Championship victory over Surrey in more ways than one.

As well as leading his side to their impressive triumph, the skipper made 200 in the first innings. And if that wasn’t enough, the talented Australian followed that up with 140* in the second innings.

No doubt Rogers would have wanted to get his hands on the early first-class averages list – and the league table, which will show Derbyshire and Leicestershire at one and two in the chart.

It is very early days and it would be foolish to read too much into the table at this stage. However, it has been an impressive start by both counties, who look as though they have come through the tough times and should have an enjoyable 2010.

For Leicestershire to see off Northamptonshire – who were promotion chasers in 2009 – was also a brilliant start. And to beat Surrey away was a great effort from Derbyshire.

Rogers was a popular figure at Grace Road and his tussle with Hoggard should be a fascinating one. Even though it is very early days, the fixture between the two clubs looks a mouthwatering one.

If the match takes the shape of recent games between the two, it could be a really good game.

Last season, the game was delicately poised at the County Ground until rain washed the last day out.

Then, some great batting by Jigar Naik – who made his maiden first-class century – and James Taylor on the final day at Grace Road ensured Leicestershire took a draw from a game Derbyshire looked set to win.

In 2008, the game at Derby went all the way, with County nearly sneaking home following good work by Jim Allenby following an absorbing low-scoring affair.

Both sides are unlikely to show too many changes and Hoggard knows the wicket of Rogers will be key. However, Derbyshire have a good all-round squad, and it will take more than removing the lynchpin to win.

Their bowling attack did extremely well to take 20 wickets on what is generally a flat Oval wicket. It has nice balance, with Graham Wagg and Mark Footitt good left-arm seamers and Tim Groenewald has enjoyed his time at Derby so far.

When you throw in former South Africa slow left armer Robin Peterson and the niggly medium pace of Greg Smith and Garry Park, then the team has plenty of options.

When you consider that Steffan Jones, Ian Hunter, Tom Lungley, Jon Clare and Jake Needham are waiting in the wings, there are lots of similarities between both sides inasmuch that lots of people are champing at the bit to break into the team.

They also bat right down – keeper Lee Goddard was at nine – and the teams look evenly balanced going into the game.

And what about the form of Rogers? Something to worry about?

“He’s due a failure isn’t he?” smiled Hoggard, “He’s scored about 350 runs in this last game so he must be due one! He’s in good form but if we stick to our basics then we’ll back ourselves to get him out.

“We are not a team based on one player as we’ve shown in this game. It’s not just one player who’s performed throughout the game. Hopefully Derby will rely on Mr Rogers a little more heavily than we will rely on any one of us.

“If we can get him out early doors it puts Derbyshire right under the thumb and will create a little bit of pressure.”

It will be more a case of focusing on what we can do then. As Hoggard said, the team can “only get better” as the season progresses.

The captain says it will all be about performances. Those in the team need to produce, and those out of the team need to produce in the games they play in.

“I’ve told the people who are not playing that performances will get them back in,” he said.

“I’m not going to pick anyone on reputation; I’ve said ‘if you’re not performing at the time in the second team and you’re not scoring runs or taking wickets, then how can I pick you?’

“The next guy in will be the one scoring the most runs or taking the most wickets or looking the most threatening.

“People in the shirts have the luxury of having the shirt but they still need to perform to make sure they still have it on their back.”

That no-nonsense attitude stood County in good stead during the first game against Northants. Now it is a case of going out and doing it all over again.

It is never as easy away from home – Leicestershire can testify to that as the team have not won a Championship fixture away from Grace Road since the exciting triumph at Cheltenham in 2006, when Claude Henderson wreaked havoc with the bat.

It should be an intriguing game.