Published: 12/03/2010 00:12:26 | Modified: 12/03/2010 00:28:35
Author: Andy Wilson | All Contributors
Derbys name big squad for Barbados trip
Derbyshire will take an 18-man squad on their pre-season trip to Barbados, including new signings Lee Goddard and Mark Footitt plus a number of other interesting names.
Goddard, the 27-year-old wicketkeeper from Dewsbury who has returned to the county where he initially signed in 2004 after three seasons with Durham, will begin a good-natured battle in the Caribbean with Academy product Tom Poynton to wear the gloves when the serious business begins next month.
Poynton, a 20-year-old who has represented England under-19s, has also signed a full-time deal for 2010 and John Morris, the county’s director of cricket, told tme.com: “Competition for places is what it’s all about, in every position.”
Footitt, the 24-year-old left arm seamer who was released by Nottinghamshire after several injury-hampered seasons, has by all accounts been generating serious pace in pre-season nets at the County Ground.
But he will be competing to impress in Barbados not only with the established pacemen such as Steffan Jones, Tim Groenewald, Ian Hunter and Graham Wagg, but also with Atif Sheikh, another left armer who played for England under-19s last year.
Chesney Hughes, a 19-year-old left arm spinning all-rounder who was born in Anguilla and made four Pro40 appearances after joining Derbyshire last year, should also relish the return to the Caribbean, and 21-year-old opener Paul Borrington is another young player given the chance to stake a first-team claim.
Jon Clare is included in the squad even though Morris admits the Lancastrian-born all-rounder is not yet fit to play and will miss the early stages of the season after a shoulder operation.
“It will still be beneficial for him to work out there with our physio and the other coaches,” Morris explained. “We’re told the operation has been a success so it’s just a question of rehab now. The timing isn’t ideal, but he shouldn’t miss too much cricket.”
Derbyshire fly out next Monday for a two-day match against Yorkshire on March 17-18 at the 3Ws Oval in Bridgetown. Then they are involved in a Twenty20 tournament at the Kensington Oval which also includes Lancashire, Essex, a University of the West Indies side and a Barbados Select XI.
Finally, there is a 40-over competition involving the same teams before Derbyshire fly home on March 25.
The tour squad, which is missing Chris Rogers and Robin Petersen as they complete their commitments in Australia and South Africa respectively, is: Borrington, Clare, Goddard, Footitt, Groenewald, Hughes, Hunter, Jones, Lungley, Madsen, Needham, Park, Poynton, Redfern, Sadler, Sheikh, Smith, Wagg.