Derbyshire players stay in top form as new season closes in

Fast bowler Hardus Viljoen and overseas spinner Imran Tahir have been representing Highveld Lions and Hollywoodbets Dolphins respectively in South Africa, but neither have had a fixture over the Christmas period.

As part of the ECB’s men’s International Pathway, leg-spinner Matt Critchley (pictured above) was awarded an Overseas Placement in Australia and is playing for Randwick-Petersham Cricket Club in the New South Wales Premier League.

In their most recent fixture versus North Sydney, Critchley produced the standout performance with the ball, claiming 2-22 of his eight overs to help restrict the hosts to 174-9 off 50 overs. Randwick chased down their total to win by eight wickets.

Alex Hughes and Ben Slater are currently out in Australia playing for Kingston Hawthorn in Victoria.

Hughes recently hit 76 off 139 balls, which included eight fours, against Fitzroy Doncaster in the Victorian Premier Cricket league.

Slater, meanwhile, has hit 368 runs for his new side, including one century and two half-centuries to date.

All-rounder Reece is featuring for Gosnells Cricket Club competing in Grade Cricket in Western Australia.

He recently appeared in a First Grade match against Claremont-Nedlands where he claimed figures of 1-26 and also hit 31, before being dismissed by Somerset all-rounder Jim Allenby.

In total Reece has taken 22 wickets, 18 of them in First-Grade and four within Premier T20, whilst scoring 217 runs during his time with the club.

Mendis, who has signed for Derbyshire for the first half of the 2017 campaign, is currently playing in Sri Lanka for Tamil Union.

The 33-year-old has been in fine form in first-class cricket, starring in the recent win over Chilaw Marians. He hit a superb 115 off 157 balls, which included six sixes, in the first innings before going on to claim eight wickets in the match with figures of 4-79 and 4-56.

He went on to claim eight in the match the following week, claiming 4-49 and 4-90 in the victory against Badureliya.

There is now less than 100 days to go until the new season kicks off.

And there is something for everybody in Derby next summer with Specsavers County Championship, NatWest T20 Blast and Royal One Day Cup domestic games, eight fixtures from the ICC Women’s World Cup and tour matches versus West Indies and South Africa A.

Derbyshire has announced a simple, easy to understand and exceptional value Club Membership package for the 2017 season, which offers one great price for everyone.

To celebrate a special summer of cricket in 2017, the club has reduced its price and simplified its categories to offer one single Club Membership at only £139, if purchased before midnight on 31 January Early Bird deadline.

The Early Bird Club Membership price represents a saving of up to 32 per cent compared to 2016 full price.

Those who recruit a new Member through our Ambassador Initiative can still claim £50 cash back by introducing someone new to the club.