Refreshed Derbyshire bidding to keep up momentum following fine start

An encouraging Division two and One-Day Cup campaign gives captain Billy Godleman reason to be positive as the red-ball season prepares to resume

Derbyshire are back in Specsavers County Championship action this weekend with captain Billy Godleman confident the team is ready to build on a promising start to the season.

After starting with a home victory over Durham and a draw against Gloucestershire at Bristol, Derbyshire are top of Division Two although only six points separated the top six ahead of this week's round of matches.

And as Derbyshire prepare for the visit of Glamorgan to the Pattonair County Ground on Sunday, Godleman also believes the team can draw strength from performances in the recent Royal London One-Day Cup competition.

Godleman enjoyed a golden tournament, scoring 521 runs and became the first Derbyshire batsman to make three consecutive hundreds in one-day matches while Wayne Madsen followed his unbeaten double century at Bristol with two centuries.

But it was the way Derbyshire performed as a team in the 50-over format that most pleased Goldeman who said: "It speaks volumes about the character in the group.

"This is a different group to the one we've had over the last 24 months so that needs to be taken into account but I do definitely feel we are moving in a positive and improved direction."

Derbyshire can take encouragement from finishing above Warwickshire, who they beat at Derby, and Yorkshire who they tied with in a thrilling game at Headingley.

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"We've played some good stuff at home which is important to us as a club and every single game we've played in, notably against the bigger counties, we've competed in every one," Godleman said.

"We try and take each game and break it down and make sure we put ourselves in a position to firstly compete and then obviously win the game and in terms of the competing box I know we can tick every single fixture we've played in this season."

Derbyshire will have had a 13-day break leading up to the start of the Glamorgan game and Godleman added: "It has given us an opportunity for some guys to get some practice out in the middle if they wish to play in the second team or get in the nets and we are really excited about getting back out there in the red-ball game."

One player who will not be joining Derbyshire this season is Australian fast bowler Kane Richardson who had signed for the Vitality Blast but has now withdrawn following his World Cup call-up.

Derbyshire are lining-up a replacement and head of cricket Dave Houghton said: "There are several players available to us but we won't jump at the first option.

"We've got a talented squad here and we need a player who can complement our side. The team have made a good start to the season and there's a great attitude within the group."

Courtesy of the ECB reporters network

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