Billy Godleman anticipating "strange" behind-closed-doors experience

How the season will look is expected to be revealed late next week with a regional red ball tournament culminating in a Lord's final a possibility

Derbyshire captain Billy Godleman described being back in training as "like a breath of fresh air" as the team gears up for the start of the season.

After Covid-19 delayed the beginning of the domestic calendar until August 1, the counties this week agreed that both red-ball and white-ball cricket will be played during the remainder of the summer.

Derbyshire started preparing for the return of cricket last week and are currently going through their paces at Repton School as the county's Derby headquarters is being used as a training base by the Pakistan team ahead of next month's series against England.

The schedules have yet to be announced but Godleman is just glad to be working towards the resumption of competitive cricket.   

"It's been like a breath of fresh air," he said. "To have not had any cricket, particularly when the sun was out and spring moved into summer, it felt very strange that we weren't out there playing.

"So to be back training and doing what we love, everyone is really excited. Repton is a beautiful place and the facilities are fantastic.

"We've been made very welcome and the school couldn't have done any more for us. We've got the use of outdoor nets, outdoor wickets and we've also get the indoor sports hall to do technical stuff like bowling machine work if the weather isn't good."

How the season will look is expected to be revealed late next week with a regional red ball tournament culminating in a Lord's final a possibility.

Godleman said: "I'm just thankful that we are going to be out there competing and playing. I know we were always going to play T20 and it sounded as if it was a vote as to what format should supplement that.

"But for me as player I'm just very happy to be playing any form of professional cricket full stop."

With the majority, if not all of the games likely to be played behind closed doors, he admits the absence of spectators may feel strange, particularly at T20 matches.

"I'm not sure how that will feel. Even when I played second-team cricket there was always some spectators watching so to have none at all, I really don't know what to expect," he said.

"It's going to be a bit unusual, especially in the T20 games when we are used to sell-outs with the atmosphere which makes that format of the game.

"I anticipate it being strange, particularly to start with, and we've had some discussion on that.

"However in the context of T20 without the backing of sold-out crowds, that will be quite a contrast so it's definitely something nearer the time that we will be discussing as a group."

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