Derbyshire, are part of Group 1 in the 2021 County Championship – here’s the team preview and fixtures list.

County Championship 2021: Derbyshire preview

Captain

Billy Godleman

Last year

2/6 North Group

Player movement

IN: Billy Stanlake (Aus), Brooke Guest (Lancs), George Scrimshaw (unattached), Ben McDermott (Aus, RL Cup/T20)

OUT: Tony Palladino, Ravi Rampaul (both released)

Key player

Luis Reece – Derbyshire are heavily reliant on their southpaw all-rounder, who both takes the new ball and faces it, but he continues to thrive with the responsibility. After an outstanding 2019 – 1,579 cross-format runs and 70 wickets – he impressed again last summer, averaging 46 with the bat and 26 with the ball in the Bob Willis Trophy (BWT).

Bolter

Michael Cohen – A skiddy left-arm quick from Cape Town, the 22-year-old (who qualifies as a local player) made an encouraging start to life at Derby last summer, taking five wickets and hitting a match-clinching 30* on debut against Notts. With the long-serving Tony Palladino released, and Ravi Rampaul also leaving the club, the former Western Province seamer – who took his 50th first-class wicket before turning 21 – should have plenty of opportunity to impress.

County Championship 2021: Derbyshire Fixtures

Warwickshire v Derbyshire, Thursday April 8, Edgbaston

Derbyshire v Worcestershire, Thursday April 15, The Incora County Ground, Derby

Durham v Derbyshire, Thursday April 22, Emirates Riverside

Derbyshire v Nottinghamshire, Thursday April 29, The Incora County Ground, Derby

Essex v Derbyshire, Thursday May 13, CloudFM County Ground

Derbyshire v Durham, Thursday May 20, The Incora County Ground, Derby

Worcestershire v Derbyshire, Thursday May 27, New Road

Derbyshire v Warwickshire, Thursday June 3, The Incora County Ground, Derby

Nottinghamshire v Derbyshire, Sunday July 4, Trent Bridge

Derbyshire v Essex, Sunday July 11, Queen’s Park, Chesterfield

You can check the full list of county championship fixtures here.

Wisden says

Derbyshire enjoyed something of a red-ball renaissance last summer and could have been in serious contention to qualify for the BWT final were it not for two rain-affected draws. Their pace options look a little light, although the arrival of Billy Stanlake, the 6ft 7in Australian, should give the opposition plenty to think about. He’s expected to be available for the whole summer.

Keep an eye on Matt Critchley – the leg-spinning all-rounder stood out with bat and ball last year and has been tipped to become the first Derbyshire player to represent England since Dominic Cork.

County Championship 2021: Derbyshire prediciton

5th in Division 3