Yawn...

There's a degree of irony in that the weather and a moribund track have conspired to render a match at the most beautiful of cricket grounds a dull draw as we enter the final day.

Gloucestershire did enough, with the aid of centuries by Hamish Marshall and Alex Gidman, to ensure they couldn't be beaten and in doing so ensured that there would be no challenging run chase on the last day. Nor should we expect one, as Gloucestershire will want to preserve their position at the top of the table against a team who would love to displace them.

I'll say again, however, that wickets with so little in them for bowlers make for games as dull as dishwater. The rules of the game seem to be increasingly in favour of the batsmen and it has again been highlighted in the World Cup.

Bowlers are being penalised with a wide when batsmen are stepping outside leg stump to try and hit them out of the ground. The bowler who corrects his line and bowls a little wider outside off finds himself bowling an extra ball when, had the batsman stayed in his original stance there would have been no problem. I thought Broad and Rashid bowled beautifully for England last night but the batsman who has impressed me the most has been AB de Villiers, who I think is an outstanding cricketer. I know Scotland were the opposition but he has dismantled better attacks and just looks class every time I see him. Now South Africa have Parnell's youth and mobility (together with all round skills) in the side, for me they are the team to beat.

Back to Derbyshire and the poll this week suggested that most of you think Nantie Hayward cannot replace Charl Langeveldt. It's a big ask, but I beg to differ. They're different bowlers, but if we get wickets with decent pace I think Hayward could get 30-plus Championship wickets this season. That would go a long way towards keeping us in the mix as the end of season approaches.

Let's stick with Hayward for this week's poll. Assuming John Morris hasn't brought him here to carry drinks, who should make way for him in the first choice side?