There are words but...

None of them are polite to use on a blog.

So after the hassles of Chris Rogers visa, followed by the absence of Charl Langeveldt for essentially a non-playing role in the IPL, comes the news that our talismanic seamer is now out for the season after the recurrence of a shoulder injury that will require immediate surgery.

What next? Phil Hughes tears a groin muscle on the first day of the Ashes tour and the Aussies come to get Chris Rogers? It is, however you look at it, a devastating blow to the county's prospects for the remainder of the season. With Tom Lungley also injured our seam bowling ranks are looking a little like Ma Hubbard's cupboard. We also have an inexperienced spin duo and the bowling suddenly looks a little vulnerable.

In their defence, the bowlers have done a decent job so far and as the promised long hot summer unfolds the spinners may come into their own on dry tracks that start to take turn. We can only hope so as there's a lot of cricket to be played.

Logic suggests we cannot replace Langeveldt (certainly with a bowler of similar calibre) and unless John Morris has a serious ace up his sleeve we need to go with what we've got. Of course, one man's misfortune is another's opportunity and young guns Ross Whiteley and Atif Sheikh may well get a few games before the summer is out. Waggy is a willing work horse and Ian Hunter and Tim Groenewald have done well so far, but it is asking a lot for them to play in every game, or indeed stay fit to do so.

If you've not already done so, I think it's time to reduce our horizons this summer. Yes, we still have (on paper) a good batting line up, especially in one day cricket. Maybe the loss of Langeveldt (from the pitch and the budget) may mean we can keep Stuart Law for the whole season. The Aussie is contracted for the FP Trophy and the 20/20 and the coach may now take the opportunity to retain his services for the Pro 40 too.

Should he do so, and if the Aussies do call up Chris Rogers, Morris may then take the opportunity to sign a bowler as a replacement. Whatever happens, we should take competition as our goal this season. If we do that regularly enough we should win a few. It reminds me of the year when Ian Bishop was injured after just one game a few years back and the powers that be decided that we were unable to sign a replacement. Rather than moan about it, we won a Lords final that year as the ill fortune brought the players together. More of the same is a lot to hope for, but there are enough good players in the squad for some of them to grasp the opportunity with both hands.

Elsewhere, I enjoyed the e mailed link to an article where Andrew Strauss called the proposed signing of Stuart Clark by Kent as "short sighted". This has resurfaced as Clark has now signed on the dotted line for Gloucestershire. Hmmm... I might be wrong but the myopic Mr Strauss' own county Middlesex has had a very successful stint from Phil Hughes in recent weeks. If Rogers ends up in the Ashes series he'll no doubt deem Derbyshire immoral for giving him a year to acclimatise.

Finally, I must mention the sad and disappointing news about Chris Lewis. I will not attempt to defend him as there is no defence for such a crime, but it is a shame to see a player of unquestionable talent fail to realise his ability. Lewis was a lively bowler, an explosive bat on occasion and a fielder of lithe athleticism. One always felt the biggest problem was in his head and he will have a long time to reflect on a big mistake. Those who played with and against him will be saddened, but those who saw a fine cricketer on his good days will feel it just as badly.

His ill-fated return for Surrey last year was a disaster and Lewis will have a long time to reflect on a career that promised so much yet eventually fizzled out like a firework from the bargain bin.