A quiet but satisfying day...

A good day to be a Derbyshire fan...

It is so nice to be able to pick up the papers or read the web sites and be - well, quite smug really.

Only the local media have picked up on the fact that we're not going to be rubbing rags for teams any more. Full marks to Charles Collins of Radio Derby for his regular piece on 606, which at least makes you feel that he is in touch with the fans. If only the football equivalents did that we'd be much better off.

Charles touches on a growing "killer instinct" and I know what he means. When we to some extent let Worcester off the hook by adding 50 for the last wicket then slipped to 157-7 I wasn't convinced, but Graham Wagg is playing with increasing maturity and his partnership with James Pipe, following on from a steady knock at Lords showcased an emerging talent. Again, as Charles says, he must be enjoying bowling with Langeveldt. I'm not denigrating anyone, but as the young Harold Rhodes benefitted from bowling opposite Les Jackson, and Colin Tunnicliffe did bowling at the other end to Mike Hendrick, so Waggy does by having Langeveldt keep it tight at one end, meaning the batsmen have to take risks. None of our young seamers can help but learn from the South African, who is showing a commitment to the cause that is one in the eye for those who say the Kolpaks are only here for a quick pay day.

Morris did his homework before signing Langeveldt and Hinds and knew what he was getting - experienced cricketers who will encourage by word, attitude and deed the emerging talent at the county. He will have got reports on the South African from numerous contacts out there, while he admitted to talking to Jimmy Adams and Devon Malcolm about Hinds. The do-gooders and hypocrites (Messrs Giles and Willis anyone?) can say what they like, but if all counties signed men of integrity and commitment like these fellas the Kolpaks would be positively encouraged into the English game.

Maybe tomorrow we'll find out more of Morris' plans for the 20/20. With an armoury of all-rounders that no county can match, they could be a surprise package - if the top order fires.