There will be a few of them around, though I have to say I disagreed with the first that I saw, on Twitter, which came up with the following Derbyshire starting eleven:

Billy Godleman

Harry Came

Brooke Guest (wk)

Wayne Madsen

Leus du Plooy ©

Luis Reece

Mattie McKiernan

Anuj Dal

Suranga Lakmal

Sam Conners

Nick Potts

While appreciating this was a personal choice by someone not a supporter of the county, I would be very surprised if it was one with which many Derbyshire fans would agree.

For starters, the side doesn’t include Haider Ali and I find it hard to believe that our first choice side wouldn’t include both overseas players. Nor do new signings, Matt Lamb and Zak Chappell feature, which would appear very unlikely.

And while Nick Potts is a young bowler of considerable potential, I suspect that he is further back in the pecking order than Ben Aitchison, for who traditional early season wickets may well have been designed. 

I am unconvinced that a spinner would be essential on early season tracks, although the presence of Dal and Reece in any side means that you can go with three and would seldom need four specialist seam bowlers.

I think it is hard to come up with a definitive first choice side this year, because the quality of the squad has improved. Assuming fitness, at least a couple of good batters, spinners and seam bowlers will always miss out.

I don’t envy Mickey Arthur. Assuming all are fit, Lakmal will lead the attack, but which two do you choose from Conners, Aitchison and Chappell? Then there is Scrimshaw and Potts, so there are plenty of options!

None of us see the players in the nets, so can only go on gut feeling. But a more likely eleven to start might be:

Ali

Reece

Guest

Madsen

du Plooy

Lamb

Dal

Chappell

Aitchison

Conners

Lakmal

But I could do that again in 20 minutes and come up with a different eleven!