Strong Derbyshire squad for Caribbean trip

By Dave Bracegirdle

Derbyshire will take all of their available first team squad to the pre-season training camp in Barbados this month. The 23-strong playing squad will fly out to the Caribbean on March 11 for warm weather practice and six days of competitive cricket.

During their stay Derbyshire will be playing 2-day matches against both Northamptonshire and Yorkshire, as well as taking part in the Barbados Cup T20 competition, where they will face Warwickshire in their first match at the world-famous Kensington Oval in Bridgetown.

The county have enjoyed similar trips in recent seasons although last year’s tour began badly with Tony Palladino sustaining a broken jaw in a training ground accident. Things improved significantly, with success in the final of the T20 Plate after they had been knocked out of the main event.

New signings Billy Godleman, from Essex, and Richard Johnson, from Warwickshire, join the bulk of the squad that was successful last season plus Jonathan Marsden, who has recently signed his first professional contract.

Apart from new overseas signing, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, all of the county’s remaining professionals will travel for the 12-day trip.

West Indian batsman Chanderpaul may have the opportunity to meet up with some of his new team-mates though, as he will be in Barbados at the same time participating in the First Test for West Indies against Zimbabwe.

Derbyshire squad for the pre-season tour of Barbados: Wayne Madsen, Billy Godleman, Wes Durston, Mark Footitt, Mark Turner, Peter Burgoyne, Tim Groenewald, Jonathan Clare, Tom Knight,  Paul Borrington, Tony Palladino, Alex Hughes, Jonathan Marsden,  Dan Redfern, Chris Durham, Matt Higginbottom, Ross Whiteley,  David Wainwright, Alasdair Evans, Chesney Hughes, Wayne Madsen, Tom Poynton, Richard  Johnson, Ben Slater    


Date: 01/03/2013 11:50:58 by Dave Bracegirdle
In: Today | Derbyshire |