Key man in the news

A man whose work will be pivotal to Derbyshire's chances of success next year was in the news this week.

No, not Chris Rogers or Robin Peterson, but Neil Godrich, as he picked up a deserved award for one day groundsman of the year.

Neil has a huge task this winter as he turns our pitches round at Derby so that at the going down of the sun we will be playing cricket. The success of his work will go a long way towards determining our season next year, as he really needs to emulate his counterpart at the Riverside and get good, sporting tracks where bat and ball have an equal opportunity to shine.

Which is where, for once, I will applaud the ECB with the trio of rule changes announced yesterday for Championship cricket next year. They may not change the world, but they are a step in the right direction.

Change number one sees 16 points awarded for a win, but only three for a draw, a change from 14 and 4 respectively last year. It is a sensible move, although one that will be less welcome at Edgbaston and Taunton, where result pitches only happen in a fourteen day match. Teams may no longer opt for the attritional route to success and that can only be a good thing.

As can the fact that batting points can only be gained in the first 110 overs of an innings instead of 120. It won't necessarily stop teams batting on for the unbeatable total, but will add a sense of urgency to innings that has not always been the case. Of course, this reduction means that the battle for additional points will take place early on the second day in most instances so you'd better plan to be at matches a little early next year. If a team starts the second day needing, say, 47 from six overs for another point, there's unlikely to be a great deal of playing in at the start of the day.

The final change makes the greatest sense - no heavy roller once a game has started. I know occasions when teams in the past have used a heavy roller to break up a crumbling track, but they are as common in modern matches as a unicorn. More often than not, especially when there is moisture in the track, the heavy roller will bind it together and keep conditions more in favour of batsmen. The fact that a lively track cannot be deadened should result in more results irrespective of the point and over amendments above.

I may be wrong, but I see teams with a good spinner reaping the rewards of this one and sides thinking ahead to the fourth day of a game at the toss and the greater possibility of bowling sides out with a quality spinner. That of course makes our signing of Robin Peterson all the more crucial, as Peterson's experience will be of paramount importance and will perhaps make him our most potent weapon. I'm sure John Morris had a notion that this change was in the air and will be even more pleased now.

Funnily enough, if one takes away Swann and Rashid, most of the top spinners in the country will be in Division Two next season. Robert Croft, Monty Panesar, Peterson and perhaps the experienced Claude Henderson will all look forward to greater assistance next summer and will be exercising their spinning digit with renewed enthusiasm.

Two more points from this week's news. First off, I was surprised to see Glamorgan set to sign Shaun Tait for the T20 next season. He is undeniably a bowler of talent and potential, but his radar is distinctly dodgy and it will be either an inspired piece of work or a huge gamble.

Finally, in South Africa, Mr Peterson is following his recent top form with another innings of substance for the Cobras today. He is currently unbeaten on 66 against the Titans with Sir Charl of Langeveldt currently keeping him company, though perhaps not for long. Peterson's form since he became an overseas player for the Cobrass - since signing for us - has been a revelation. I hope he carries it through to April.

Though most of us would like to see an aggressive all rounder playing as our second overseas player in the T20 next season, I would not be remotely disappointed if we ended up with Langeveldt back in Derbyshire colours, which, with Peterson, would give us eight overs of reasonable control in the field. If we'd had that last year, the way we batted would have ensured that we won more than the previous one. As it happened, we bowled poorly too often and paid the penalty.

With long batting potential anyway, maybe a world class bowler who is recognised as a master in the format may be a way to go if all else fails?

Just a thought. By the way, as I close Langers is out. The fact that he is at number ten says little for their number eleven and Peterson is playing a lone hand now.

Guess we'd not depend on Langers batting anyway...

** Update - Peterson moved to 83 in an over with two sixes an a four off Saffer spin rival Rolof Van Der Merwe, one of each from a switch hit a la Pietersen. Smiles all round...

** Update - Peterson reaches a brilliant century with 3 sixes and 9 fours, having added 40 for the last wicket with Plaatjes who scored none of them! Mind you, RP farmed the bowling so well he only faced seven balls in six overs.