Warwickshire vs. Derbyshire - Day 2

A representational image of the rain covers staying on prior to the start of a match that had been washed out. (Getty Images)

Today’s cricket followed an expected pattern, in that there was none. I came across a heading earlier today online that said “Warwickshire thwarted by rain”, which was more than a little presumptuous.

For what its worth, I don’t expect our hosts to enjoy an apparently slow track any more than we did. Assuming that conditions ease tomorrow, I think we will make life difficult for them. Bowling with a wet ball won’t be great, but Derbyshire’s seam attack will trouble sides at any level and how much our hosts want a win will be dictated by their attitude tomorrow, in what is now a good old-fashioned three-day game. I find it hard to believe that they will smash 400 and put us under pressure on the last day, so will they go for the batting points in an accumulative manner, or declare in the hope we set a last innings target?

A question was asked about the selection of Mark Turner over Jonathan Clare. I think that Turner’s greater resilience and sustained form pre-season was a factor. Clare has bowled well, but doesn’t have as many overs under his belt. In playing an extra batsman, we needed three main seamers who could potentially bowl over twenty overs each. That’s perhaps come a game or two early for Clare, but he will have a major role to play in a long and arduous summer. Ross Whiteley will have a role to play too, but I see him as a 10-15 over bowler who offers useful and dangerous variety. He offers balance to the side and we don’t want to jeopardise that through overwork.

I got the impression through the many press reports that the media had grudging respect for our battling performance on day one. We can live without losing five wickets for nothing, and the loss of Ross Whiteley to Chesney Hughes’ poor running was unnecessary, but we will learn from this. The tail that wagged consistently last summer continues to offer resistance and few sides will get us six down, anticipating the end is nigh.

Hopefully, tomorrow there will be action to report on. It will be a very interesting day…

You can read the Day 1 review here.