Friday 17th June 2011
images © Chesterfield Post

Two bowlers are in the running to become Derbyshire's leading Twenty20 wicket taker of all time as the Falcons face a double header culminating in the visit of Leicestershire Foxes on Saturday evening (5.30pm start).

But if the start of 17-year-old Tom Knight's (pictured left) career is anything to go by - he could be threatening top spot in the not too distant future.

Tim Groenewald (27 wickets) has edged past his fellow fast bowler Steffan Jones (26) in the race to overtake Tom Lungley's record of 30.

And with tonight's North Group match away to Northamptonshire Steelbacks (6.50pm start) to be followed by the County Ground's first ever Saturday evening fixture the following day, there is every chance for one of the duo to move into poll position.

Knight, meanwhile, has five wickets in three matches after making his debut against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge just over a fortnight ago.

Adam Voges, Ian Blackwell, Vikram Solanki, Alexei Kervezee and Shakib-Al-Hasan form an impressive list of early victims for the Academy graduate who is expected to feature in both forthcoming matches.

Knight has also been added to the England & Wales Cricket Board's Development Programme for the next 14 months.

Knight said: "I didn't expect the opportunity of playing Friends Life t20. I thought if I got the call it would be for the longer form of the game.

"But I am delighted to have got the chance and hopefully I can continue to do well in the remaining 11 games.

"It is a step up from the other levels I have played and definitely a lot more intense in the field.

"In Twenty20 it is all about varying deliveries and mixing things up. The opposition are always looking to have a go against spin and it is always a battle.

"If you fire it in permanently they can work out a game plan. If you vary it the batsman is kept guessing."

Knight's most eye-catching performance to date came in the recent fixture against Worcestershire Royals which was televised live on SKY Sports. Read Paul Fisher's Match report for the Chesterfield Post HERE.

Exceptional figures of 3 for 16 from four overs helped keep Worcestershire down to a total of 121 for 7 only for Derbyshire's batsmen to fall 15 runs short.

Knight admits to feeling mixed emotions at the end of the game but he is confident the team can bounce back.

"I was happy with how I had done but the team is more important and I was disappointed with the result.

"Batting isn't going to come off every time in Twenty20 cricket - but it is pleasing that both the batsmen and bowlers have fired during the tournament.

"Hopefully we will be able to get the combination right in the next few days and get up that table. A couple of wins and we are right back in it. It is still wide open."

Knight's rise to prominence has coincided with the announcement of Derbyshire County Cricket Club's playing strategy for the future, a prominent strand of which revolves around backing home grown players.

"It points to a bright future for me and hopefully a few others", Knight said.

"It has definitely come as a big boost, not just to me but to all of the Academy lads and other young players looking to come through."

The Falcons are two points behind the quarter final qualification spots heading into their weekend double header with games in hand on each of the top four.

The price of entry on the day of the Derbyshire Falcons v Leicestershire Foxes match on Saturday is £15 adults, £8 Juniors.

RECENT STORIES

PAY ON THE DAY FOR T20 SHOWPIECE -
Supporters can pay on the gate on Sunday when Derbyshire Falcons face Warwickshire Bears in Staffordshire's first ever taste of Friends Life t20 action. More...

DERBYSHIRE PREMIER LEAGUE & COUNTY LEAGUE RESULTS & REPORTS -
For Saturday June 18th 2011 More...

MANSFIELD & DISTRICT CRICKET LEAGUE RESULTS & TABLES -
For Sunday June 19th More...

CHESTERFIELD & DISTRICT MIDWEEK CRICKET LEAGUE RESULTS -
Monday June 20th 2011 More...

SHEAF SPORTS YORKS / DERBYS CRICKET LEAGUE RESULTS & REPORTS -
For Saturday June 18th 2011 More...

KNIGHT PENS THREE YEAR DEAL -
Academy graduate Tom Knight has signed a three year professional contact with Derbyshire. More...

FALCONS V WORCS ROYALS MATCH REPORT -
Derbyshire found defeat from a probable victory after restricting the Worcestershire Royals to 121-7 after their 20 overs. More...

DERBYSHIRE PREMIER LEAGUE & COUNTY LEAGUE RESULTS & REPORTS -
For Saturday June 11th 2011 More...

SHEAF SPORTS YORKS / DERBYS CRICKET LEAGUE RESULTS & REPORTS -
For Saturday June 11th 2011 More...

MADSEN BEHIND PRICE CUTS -
Wayne Madsen has praised Derbyshire's decision to slash admission prices for the visit of Worcestershire Royals on Wednesday. More...

CHESTERFIELD & DISTRICT MIDWEEK CRICKET CUP RESULTS & TABLES -
Monday June 13th 2011 More...

DERBYSHIRE FALCONS V DURHAM DYNAMOS MATCH REPORT -
Derbyshire won their first T20 match in a rain soaked match at the County Ground. Derbyshire were helped by man of the match, Martin Guptill More...

DCCC'S FUTURE CRICKET STRATEGY -
Back Our Home Grown Players - “9-2” by 2013. Derbyshire's team selections will include 9 England Qualified players from 2013. More...

DCCC COMMITS TO GROUNDBREAKING CRICKET STRATEGY -
Derbyshire CCC has adopted a groundbreaking new cricket strategy following a meeting of the General Committee last night More...

DERBYSHIRE FALCONS V DURHAM DYNAMOS T20 MATCH PREVIEW -
Wes Durston has pointed to Derbyshire's match winners and says the Falcons fear nobody ahead of the Durham Dynamos match More...

MANSFIELD & DISTRICT CRICKET LEAGUE RESULTS & TABLES -
For Sunday June 5th More...

DERBYSHIRE PREMIER LEAGUE & COUNTY LEAGUE TABLES -
2011 More...

DERBYSHIRE PREMIER LEAGUE & COUNTY LEAGUE RESULTS -
For June 4th - 5th 2011 More...

SHEAF SPORTS YORKS / DERBYS CRICKET LEAGUE RESULTS & REPORTS -
For Saturday June 4th 2011 More...

DERBYSHIRE IN DRAMATIC T20 TIE -
Derbyshire began their T20 campaign v Lancs with the most dramatic of finishes. More...

KRIKKEN "FALCONS HAVE STRONG CHANCE IN t20" -
Karl Krikken, DCCC's Acting Head of Cricket believes the Falcons have a strong chance in the T20 competition starting at Derby. More...

A CHANCE TO TRY SOMETHING DIFFERENT THIS SUMMER -
For those footy fans missing their weekly sports fix, the Spireites have teamed up with Derbyshire CCC to offer fans the chance to watch cricket for less this summer. More...

MANSFIELD & DISTRICT CRICKET LEAGUE RESULTS AND TABLES -
For Sunday May 29th More...

DERBYSHIRE PREMIER LEAGUE & COUNTY LEAGUE TABLES -
2011 More...

DERBYSHIRE PREMIER LEAGUE & COUNTY LEAGUE RESULTS & REPORTS -
For Saturday May 28th 2011 More...

GUPTILL LOOKS TO THE CREASE FOR DERBYSHIRE -
Martin Guptill only arrived in England on Saturday before he was immediately thrust into the Derbyshire line up to face Surrey. More...

INTER LEAGUE REPRESENTATIVE MATCH, YORKS / DERBYS V BASSETLAW -
The match was held at the Bracken Moor ground of Stocksbridge CC. The Yorks/Derbys League won the toss and elected to field More...

CHESTERFIELD & DISTRICT MIDWEEK CRICKET LEAGUE RESULTS -
CUP WEEK - Monday May 30th 2011 More...

SHEAF SPORTS YORKS / DERBYS CRICKET LEAGUE RESULTS & REPORTS -
For Saturday May 28th 2011 More...

DERBYSHIRE PREMIER LEAGUE & COUNTY LEAGUE TABLES -
2011 More...

DERBYSHIRE PREMIER LEAGUE & COUNTY LEAGUE RESULTS & REPORTS -
For Saturday May 21st 2011 More...

DERBYSHIRE'S KHAWAJA GETS OZ CALL UP -
Derbyshire batsman Usman Khawaja has been called up by Australia A for the forthcoming VB Tour of Zimbabwe. More...

MANSFIELD & DISTRICT CRICKET LEAGUE RESULTS -
For Sunday May 22nd More...

SAVE THE DATES! -
All the Derbyshire Falcon's 'Friends Life' t20 County fixtures for June and July 2011. More...

CHESTERFIELD & DISTRICT MIDWEEK CRICKET LEAGUE RESULTS -
Monday May 23rd 2011 More...

SHEAF SPORTS YORKS / DERBYS CRICKET LEAGUE RESULTS & REPORTS -
For Saturday May 21st 2011 More...

£200k 'CARROT' FOR DCCC PLAYERS -
A £200,000 carrot is being dangled in front of DCCC's players this season as the result of a new incentive scheme with local businessman Peter Gadsby More...

MANSFIELD & DISTRICT CRICKET LEAGUE RESULTS -
For Sunday May 15th More...

SHEAF SPORTS YORKS / DERBYS CRICKET LEAGUE RESULTS & REPORTS -
For Saturday May 14th 2011 More...

ALL CHANGE AT DCCC-
The General Committee of Derbyshire County Cricket Club has today decided not to extend the contract of Head of Cricket John Morris beyond 30th September 2011. More...

DERBYSHIRE DUO CAPPED -
Derbyshire County Cricket Club has announced that Wayne Madsen and Tim Groenewald have been capped. More...

KHAWAJA FACES SHORT LAYOFF -
Derbyshire overseas player Usman Khawaja misses the LV = County Championship opener against Gloucestershire with a thigh strain. More...

DERBYSHIRE CCC ON BARBADOS TOUR -
Derbyshire's players and coaching staff departed for Barbados early yesterday morning where they will step up their pre-season preparations. More...

LONGER INNINGS FOR CRICKET IN CHESTERFIELD -
Chesterfield will continue to host County Cricket in Queen's Park after securing a new 5 year deal with DCCC, also hosting a 6 day Cricket Festival... More...

DCCC STEPS UP TO BAT AS NEW CHAMPION -
Destination Chesterfield was bowled over to sign Derbyshire County Cricket Club as it's 50th member of the 'Chesterfield Champions' scheme. More..