Wednesday 4 May 2011

Derbyshire v Bradford Leeds UCCE day 1

A fair day for a below strength Derbyshire side today, with 305 a decent first innings score.

Wayne Madsen would be disappointed to mark his captaincy debut with a third baller, but it happens. Paul Borrington and Chesney Hughes might well have appreciated more time in the middle too, but the students stuck to their task well. There was a maiden fifty in Derbyshire colours for Usman Khawaja too, though the import may be disappointed to miss out on a century against one of the less demanding attacks.

It was especially pleasing to see Dan Redfern make his season highest, though I still think we'll see his maiden century this year. He looks to have sorted out a few things in the close season and is a balanced, poised player. There was a nice 49 from Tom Poynton too and the traditional late humpty from Steffan Jones before he retired with an injured hand.

With Azeem Rafiq and Tom Knight in tandem in the late evening, our spin twins had an average age of 18.5. At 17 Knight must be our youngest spinner since Fred Swarbrook. If he gets as good as Fred I'll be quite satisfied, though if he gets as big as Fred it will be tinged with concern...

It was steady stuff too from young Knight (pictured), the only disappointment being the club site referring to him as an off spinner, when he bowls slow left arm. The boy is even more talented than I thought if he can do both. I don't want to be picky, but Knight's picture on the club site is clearly Tom Poynton, who also appears as himself but younger under his own name. Two blokes who look the same and an offie who bowls slow left arm...time for a lie down!

Hopefully they'll sort it soon and I can report on a debut wicket for Knight tomorrow.

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