Derbyshire v Glamorgan day 2

A few years ago - more than I care to count actually - I coached the school cricket team at the State school where I landed my first professional post after graduating.

Initially they were a motley bunch, but eventually they became a very good side. By the time they all reached sixth year, seven of them were playing at a good standard and we went through the season unbeaten, even when our fixture list by that stage included some public schools.

We were a good bowling and fielding side and my only frustration was that we never hammered anyone. We usually won by four or five wickets, when the talent among the boys should have seen us win with much more in hand. The thing about them was that someone always came up with the goods. In almost every game someone would score 40, 50, 60 and it was enough to post a winning total.

Excuse me the history lesson, but there's an obvious analogy there with Derbyshire at present. In three Championship games and five innings, you wouldn't say that our batting has purred like a well-oiled machine, but Rogers has a double century and century, while Wayne Madsen and now Greg Smith have added centuries of their own. There hasn't been a collective batting effort, but Robin Peterson and now Garry Park have posted decent scores of their own and sometime soon there will be that big innings we have been waiting for.

The thing is, on April tracks there are few batsmen piling on the runs, especially if they're playing at Bristol. One who has looked in touch is Greg Smith, who played a fine hand today, ably aided by Garry Park. Their stand got us out of a tricky situation in late morning and by tea time we were in control of the game, only to give it away again in the evening session.

Thirteen runs on with just one wicket in hand is neither here nor there, but if Steffan Jones and Smith can add another thirty or so tomorrow, this looks like the sort of match where any lead will be important. I wouldn't have thought that Derbyshire would want to chase more than 250 in the last innings, though they will be happy to not have to face Robert Croft. We thus need to bowl well tomorrow and, given that he came in at number ten, Graham Wagg may not be able to bowl too many of them.

Much will depend on an early breakthrough and then there is likely to be a long spell for Robin Peterson. We need Cosgrove early, as he can take the game away very quickly, while there will be another big effort to remove Dalrymple cheaply again and Allenby before he adds to a fine record against us.

Do I think we can win this game? Yes, but I'll know more about that, like we all will, tomorrow.

Greg Smith has looked in great nick thus far and seems to be thriving on the additional responsibility given to him. With another big effort over the next couple of days the disappointment of the Leicestershire game may well be behind us.