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 Warwickshire
Venue: Incora County Ground, Derby
Dates: Thursday, June 3, 2021 - Sunday, June 6, 2021
Start time: 11am
What's the lowdown?
Derbyshire continued their downward spiral last week, as they were thoroughly dispatched by an innings and 23 runs at the hands of Worcestershire.
They are now 48 points adrift of second place, and with only three games left to play before the next round of groups in the Championship, it appears that Division Three is beckoning.
Warwickshire, on the other hand, have been in excellent form, turning over high-flying Nottinghamshire last week.
They remained unbeaten throughout the month of May and have registered just a single defeat throughout the red-ball season so far. With just a seven-point gap between them and the top spot, and leaders Essex hosting second place Notts, Warwickshire have a prime opportunity to leap into the promotion places.
Who's in form?
Derbyshire’s all-rounder Matt Critchley is not only top of their bowling charts (21 wickets at 34.76), he is also the second highest run scorer across all three Championship divisions (648 runs at 54). Without him, Derbyshire would be even further adrift and he will be looking to Fynn Hudson-Prentice (16 wickets at 28.50), and Harvey Hosein (331 runs at 55.16) to provide him with some much needed support.
Warwickshire’s bowling attack has been consistent and effective throughout the season and boasts a string of strong performers with Will Rhodes (16 wickets at 17.75), Danny Briggs (18 wickets at 24.50), Oliver Hannon-Dalby (19 wickets at 33.73) and Liam Norwell (19 wickets at 21.52) all contributing heavily to the county's success.
With the bat, young Rob Yates has been the standout with 344 runs at 31.27, which includes two hundreds, none more memorable than his match-winning 120 not out against champions Essex.
Last five first-class matches (most recent first)
Derbyshire: LDLLD
Warwickshire: WDDLW
Head-to-head first-class record
Total matches: 169
Derbyshire wins: 41
Warwickshire wins: 48
Draws: 80
Abandoned: 1
What's the team news?
Derbyshire: The home side have named a 12-man squad ahead of the game with Luis Reece making his return after completing his knee rehabilitation. Ben McDermott is set to make his home debut after being part of the club's first win of the season at New Road.
New loanee Alex Thomson is ineligible to play against his parent club while overseas signing Logan van Beek will be joining the squad before the start of the Vitality Blast next week.
Squad: Billy Godleman (C), Luis Reece, Brooke Guest, Wayne Madsen, Ben McDermott, Matt Critchley, Alex Hughes, Anuj Dal, Sam Conners, Michael Cohen, Ben Aitchison, Dustin Melton
Warwickshire: The visitors are without Henry Brookes for the trip, with Ryan Sidebottom coming into the 13-strong group. Dom Sibley and Olly Stone are on England duty and Chris Woakes is unavailable.
Squad: Will Rhodes (c), Tim Bresnan, Danny Briggs, Michael Burgess (wk), Olly Hannon-Dalby, Sam Hain, Matt Lamb, Pieter Malan, Craig Miles, Dan Mousley, Liam Norwell, Ryan Sidebottom, Rob Yates
Latest Derbyshire news: Click here
Latest Warwickshire news: Click here
Who said what?
Without a win in any of their seven group matches, Derbyshire look destined for a place in the third division when the tables are split later in the season.
But coach Dave Houghton says his side will push for victories and points until the very end of the campaign.
“We are still going to play every four-day game trying to win it, if we are in the bottom division, we want to win that division,” he added.
“It’s important for our development that we win games of cricket, but we play three different formats, so if we can have a strong T20 or 50-over competition, that too would be good success.
“Every game is important, no matter the format, and we just need to build a bit of momentum. Hopefully, from there, things go our way.”
After a second-innings fifty and six wickets with the ball, Danny Briggs was thrilled to make a match-winning contribution for Warwickshire in the last gasp win over Nottinghamshire.
“I loved it,” he said. “It was pleasing for me to have an opportunity for a long bowl on the final day and really embrace it and push the game home with the support of the other bowlers.
"We bowled and caught really well and I think the calmness we showed the whole way through was probably what enabled us to win.
"Having the fans back in the ground was amazing. There was a great atmosphere. It was my first experience of having the crowd behind me at Edgbaston and I loved it. They really got behind us when we needed it and it was great to see the excitement in the stands.”
What's the weather forecast?
It promises to be a bright affair in Derby, with blissful sunshine predicted throughout the four days. With a high of 22 degrees and not a cloud in sight, it will be an excellent few days to watch some live cricket.
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
A limited number of tickets are available: spectators can only book tickets with people in their household or support bubble.
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?
Two teams who earned contrasting results last week, with Derbyshire beaten heavily by Worcestershire and Warwickshire coming out on top over Nottinghamshire. With that in mind, the away team are favourites.
OTHER ROUND NINE PREVIEWS
Group 1
Group 2
Leicestershire v Gloucestershire
Group 3
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