Daryn Smit comes out of retirement for injury-hit Derbyshire

The South African, who played for the county between 2017 and 2019, retired at the end of that season; his final game for the club was the T20 Blast semi-final at Edgbaston against Essex in the summer before the coronavirus pandemic struck

Derbyshire have named Daryn Smit, the county’s head of talent pathway, in their squad – as wicketkeeper – for Thursday’s Royal London Cup match against Surrey.

The South African, who played for the county between 2017 and 2019, retired at the end of that season; his final game for the club was the T20 Blast semi-final at Edgbaston against Essex in the summer before the coronavirus pandemic struck.

However, the nature of his call-up typifies what has been a difficult campaign for Derbyshire, who have been decimated by injury problems throughout.

Wicketkeepers Brooke Guest and Harvey Hosein are both absent – Guest is self-isolating, while Hosein is sidelined through concussion protocols.

Fynn Hudson-Prentice, who is set to return to Sussex at the end of the season, is also missing due to Covid protocols, while fast bowlers Sam Conners, Michael Cohen, Dustin Melton and Nick Potts are all injured.

Earlier this season, Smit captained Derbyshire’s second team in a T20 clash with Lancashire. He made 31 with the bat and even took two wickets, with Hosein keeping wicket. He has played regularly at club level this season for Ramsbottom in the Lancashire League.

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