Match times, streaming information, tickets and travel, team news, weather forecast, form, prediction and everything else you need to know ahead of the latest round of the LV= Insurance County Championship...
Fixture: Derbyshire v Essex
Venue: Incora County Ground, Derby
Dates: Sunday, July 11, 2021 - Wednesday, July 14, 2021
Start time: 11am
What's the lowdown?
Essex can't afford to put a foot wrong as they pursue a position in the top two, which would allow them to fight to retain their Championship and Bob Willis Trophy titles.
They start the game four points behind third-place Durham and 13 adrift of Warwickshire in second. Both sides were frustrated by rain as they drew their recent game at Edgbaston.
Durham go to table-toppers Nottinghamshire while Warwickshire face fifth-place Worcestershire.
Derbyshire are consigned to division three having failed to win any of their nine matches. One of their five defeat came by an innings and 15 runs at Chelmsford in mid-May.
Who's in form?
Only David Beddingham and Jake Libby have scored more Championship runs than Matt Critchley, whose 712 have come at 44.50 and included one century and five fifties.
Indeed, Critchley can claim to be one of the players of the season and is Derbyshire's leading wicket-taker with 21 at 38.42.
Tom Westley has been Essex's most consistent batter having scored three centuries in nine matches.
Naturally, the real success stories come in the bowling department. Simon Harmer remains the scourge of count batters across the country and is once again the leading spinner in the country.
Sam Cook meanwhile has claimed 32 wickets at 18.90 and is among the leading seamers around in all formats in 2021.
Last five first-class matches (most recent first)
Derbyshire: LLDLL
Essex: DWDWL
Head-to-head first-class record
Total matches: 182
Derbyshire wins: 31
Essex wins: 79
Draws: 72
Abandoned: 1
What's the team news?
Matt Critchley will continue as captain as Billy Godleman's break from the game continues. Harvey Hosein is likely to continue with the gloves. Wayne Madsen, Alex Hughes, Dustin Melton and Sam Conners are among those ruled out.
Derbyshire squad: Luis Reece, Harry Came, Tom Wood, Brooke Guest, Leus du Plooy, Matt Critchley (C), Harvey Hosein, Fynn Hudson-Prentice, Mattie McKiernan, Alex Thomson, Ben Aitchison, Michael Cohen, George Scrimshaw
Head coach Anthony McGrath remains with England after being draft into Chris Silverwood's backroom team.
Jimmy Neesham has been included as a replacement overseas player for Peter Siddle. Dan Lawrence misses out having been called up by England
Essex squad: Tom Westley, Ben Allison, Nick Brown, Alastair Cook, Sam Cook, Simon Harmer, Feroze Khushi, Jimmy Neesham, Michael Pepper, Jamie Porter, Shane Snater, Ryan ten Doeschate, Paul Walter, Adam Wheater (wk)
Latest Derbyshire news: Click here
Who said what?
Assistant coach Andre Nel steps into the hotseat to replace McGrath.
While the South African plans to revel in the experience, he is well aware of the importance of the week.
“It’s different and it’s a crucial time of the season and for me, hopefully, it’s an opportunity for me to stand up and show what I can do,” he said.
“All I’m doing is stepping in and hopefully do the best I can with the support of the players and other coaches.
“You never know with Essex and with this side, when it comes down to the crunch, they normally step up quite big, so hopefully we can do that.”
What's the weather forecast?
Keep up to date with the MetOffice’s rolling forecast for Derby: Click here
How do I follow the match?
TV/stream: Information to come.
All LV= County Championship matches are also available via the ECB's central hub: Click here
The matches can also be viewed on mobile via the ECB app.
Radio: BBC Local Radio and the BBC Sport website will carry ball-by-ball radio commentary of the game.
Digital: The Cricketer will carry live scorecards and daily updates from every LV= County Championship match in 2021, as well as the latest breaking news from around the counties and exclusive features. Visit our County Hub for more.
Going to the game?
Tickets
Tickets are on sale priced at £15 for adults and £5 for juniors and students.
Click here to visit the Derbyshire box office.
Address: Derbyshire County Cricket Club, The Incora County Ground, Nottingham Road, Derby DE21 6DA
By Car
From M1 South
Take exit 25 for the A52 Derby. After six miles you will arrive at Pentagon Island. The ground is the fourth exit off this roundabout, signposted with Derbyshire County Cricket Club.
From M1 North
Take exit 28 for the A38 towards Derby. After approximately 13 miles, you will arrive at a roundabout, take the first exit towards the A61, signposted with a brown cricket sign. Follow over two more roundabouts, staying on the A61. At Pentagon Island, take the first exit off the roundabout into the ground, signposted with Derbyshire County Cricket Club.
From Birmingham
Travel up the A38 to the A61 Little Eaton roundabout. Take the third exit towards A61 Derby signposted with a brown cricket sign. Follow over two more roundabouts. At Pentagon Island, take the 1st exit signposted with Derbyshire County Cricket Club.
From M6
Exit on J15 (from south), J16 (from north), follow signs to A50 (Uttoxeter). Follow the A50 approximately 20 miles to A516 to Derby. Take the A516 until it joins the A38 then follow the directions (from Birmingham) above.
Spectator parking will be available in the Pavilion car park and adjacent overflow area as well as by the entrance from Sir Frank Whittle Road. Disabled parking spaces are available in The Incora Pavilion car park. While the club will always try to accommodate all vehicles visiting the ground, admittance will be on a first-come, first-served basis.
By Bus
Derbyshire County Cricket Club is well-connected by a number of bus routes, with a bus stop located just a minute’s walk from the main entrance.
By Train
Derby is on the East Midlands Trains mainline with direct trains from London St. Pancras via Leicester from the South, and Sheffield and Chesterfield from the North.
It is also on the Cross-Country line with trains from Scotland, Newcastle, Durham and Yorkshire, as well as The West Country, Bristol and Birmingham. Derby is also served by local trains from Burton, Cardiff, Crewe, Matlock, Nottingham and the East Midlands.
It is approximately a 20-minute walk to the ground from Derby train station.
Prediction?
Essex are not likely to give up their titles without a fight and with Derbyshire having been cannon fodder for much of the campaign this is surely only going one way. Away win.
OTHER ROUND 11 PREVIEWS
Group 1
Group 2
Group 3
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