CrawlingFox

I don't think Klein would be overseas as he has a German passport which qualifies him to play as a non-overseas player even though the overseas rule changes have been triggered by leaving the EU... The same with Ackermann who I wonder if we will struggle to hold onto in the future as the EU passport holders take the place of Kolpak status players.

I don't think Derbyshire fans were overly impressed. Another 3 year deal though so must be some potential there, hope he does well.

Generally Patel seems to have been fairly highly rated and looks to be moving on from what is a very strong side in order to get more first team cricket. Signing any young player is a risk so bit surprised at the 3 year deal but Nixon will at least have had a good look at him during the loan spell so here's hoping it works out for the lad. We will have to wait and see but I feel optimistic that Patel will be a welcome addition to our batting.

Haven't seen a thing but it was stated earlier in the season he'd be leaving along with Horton and Cosgrove as they would be looking to younger players. Perhaps Taylor leaving will mean a change in plan?

Agree with your thoughts however I think if we were heading down that route we'd have been as well keeping Wright. Which might not have been a bad idea...

Ah thanks! I had a feeling I'd forgotten someone. From what I've seen he would seem to be a good shout to open with Azad. Nixon's first choice at the moment I'd guess at (backups): Azad (Evans) Welch Ackermann Steel (Lilley) Dearden (Rhodes) Hill (Swindells) Mike Klein Parkinson (Bowley) Griffiths Davis (Evans) An overseas signing anywhere strengthens massively of course.

Looking at the squad so far: Openers Azad, S.Evans, Welch, Malan (maybe) Batsmen Ackermann, Steel, Dearden, Rhodes Keepers Hill, Swindells All rounders Lilley, Mike Bowlers Griffiths, Klein, A.Evans, Davis, Parkinson, Bowley Spin we are well covered with Parkinson, young Bowley and the part time or all rounder options of Ackermann, Steel and Lilley. Pace bowlers we are maybe at least a body short with Wright leaving. Also a lot of pressure on Mike to replace Taylor in the bowling all rounder slot. Keepers are fine but batting still looks short especially given I'd be looking to Lilley and whichever keeper doesn't have the gloves ahead of Rhodes and Dearden though I'd be more than happy to see either start to deliver regularly. A good seamer and a good batsman who is comfortable opening and I think we are set. Be happy to see Delaney return for the Blast too. If we could be confident Thomas can stay fit he'd be nice as the seamer and perhaps the injury record brings him into our price range. Steel opens in white ball cricket and if he can provide cover there for the 4 day games behind Evans and Azad I wouldn't mind us having a look at Harry Finch who Sussex have released. I think he's useful. I rate Luke Wells as well but I think if we bring in another opener they need to be comfortable scoring reasonably quickly as Evans and Azad are both tortoise like and neither look suitable for white ball cricket. Dearden and Rhodes are also slow scorers which compounds the issue if both play in the top/middle order. Edit: Forgot Nick Welch who changes the picture at the top a fair bit! Doh!

Ivan Thomas at Kent as well as Tom Sole and Ben Hutton at Northants released.

Really pleased with the signing of Steele. A genuine power hitter in white ball cricket and a more than useful spin option. No doubt he's turned Durham down to come here and play more first class cricket given their limited use of him in the format so hope to see him continue to develop. He's an opener in white ball cricket but bats at around 4 or 5 (I believe) in longer stuff so should be a real upgrade on Dearden when it comes to filling the Cosgrove shaped hole in the batting lineup.

Ex-Leicestershire county team is coming together slowly: - Cobb Eckersley (w/k) - - - Raine Broad Taylor Chappell Buck Very light on batsman but sure a big county will be in for Dearden soon.

I don't really see why we didn't continue to open with Swindells. He may not be the quickest but I think he'd have complimented the really explosive Delany nicely. Swindells has two fifties in the format to his name already which is more than Rhodes and Dearden combined. Welch looks ok but Swindells could have been groomed to hold down that role.

Would be handy additions.

The young lad Dylan Church seems a good batting prospect. Anyone know much about him?

Thinking ahead to next season like others have said the bowling unit looks pretty reasonable with: Evans, Davis, Klein, Wright, Griffiths, Mike, Parkinson and young Bowley. Mike looks ready to step into Taylor's shoes as the bowling all rounder. Perhaps we are a seamer light for a full length season if that's what we get in 2021. In terms of all rounders we have the already mentioned Mike as well as Ackermann and Lilley so we look well stocked. Keepers we have Hill who is solid for now, Swindells who is hopefully ready to breakthrough and contribute runs regularly as well, we also have the young lad Bates who signed a pro deal. Batting however we have: Welch, Evans, Azad, Dearden and Rhodes. Azad plus 1 from the first 2 is probably adequate for opening and Ackermann will be key in the top order perhaps along with Lilley. As it stands though I'd say we need two batsmen to come out at 3-5 with Ackermann. This could be both overseas signings I suppose if we can afford it. I'd assume with Welch looking like Horton's replacement that there is at least money for Malan and Cosgrove equivalents... Nash would fill the experienced batsman niche quite nicely given what we've lost in Cosgrove and Horton.

Lilley is a batsman of rare quality in the shorter format and I suspect has much more to give in the longer, certainly one we need to keep hold of. A middle order containing him and Ackermann is one we can build around.

Maiden T20 fifty on his debut. Shame to lose him.

I left Rhodes out as he's 27 next month!

How do people feel about our younger players prospects of becoming solid county players? Dearden, Swindells, Welch, Mike, Davis, S.Evans, A.Evans?

7 an over needed for the last 10. Should be easy as long as Rhodes and Dearden don't get in together.

I don't know, the Delaney-Lilley-Ackermann axis of our batting only needs two out of three to fire to see us win matches given the ability of the three. Of course the nature of T20 is that this won't always happen. Unfortunately the rest of our batting leaves little room for promise when the above three don't fire. I'd like to see a top 6 of: Welch Delaney Lilley Ackermann Swindells Hill I think that's as good as we will get and is an improvement over any lineup containing Dearden and Rhodes who just aren't suited to the format. Bottom 5 of: Mike Klein Parkinson Davis Griffiths Mike has looked ok with the bat this season, not sure he's ideal at 7 but at least he will swing. With Lilley and Ackermann able to bowl we could also drop a bowler from the above and include Dearden with a remit to hit out or get out at 7 though frankly if he's needed we will probably be on our way to losing anyway. Wouldn't mind a look at Bowley either but seems unlikely given we have 3 other spin options in the squad and certain to play.

I just don't know what Rhodes role is. He's supposed to be an all rounder but we don't bowl him and his bowling record is terrible. His batting record suggests a slow scoring first class batsman with a couple good knocks in List A cricket but a dire T20 record. Dearden may have promise, but he scores so slowly and is yet to deliver.

Very disappointed that we haven't seen more of Swindells in the Blast. Feel he has significantly more potential even as a batsman than some others we've seen.