Derbyshire v Northamptonshire day 3

Well, we've been well and truly hammered in this game. After an encouraging first day, most of the rest has belonged to the visitors, who have shown themselves worthy leaders of the division and champions-elect.

What they have are things that we aspire to and to be fair are not too far away from. They have a long batting order in which everyone contributes and a captain who leads by example in Andrew Hall, a man who has given excellent service to the county. In addition, they have a world class bowler in Chaminda Vaas, who ultimately has proved the difference between the sides, bowling a probing line and length and maintaining them over long spells. Such a player is the ambition of all counties and Northamptonshire are to be applauded for finding him, nursing him through a long season and supporting him to a man.

As I write this, Derbyshire may or may not see this through to the close and may or may not, with the assistance of the weather, escape with a draw, but it is ill-deserved. While it is more difficult to fault the bowlers, the batsmen, Martin Guptill and Dan Redfern apart, have made a poor fist of things in this match. Too many made 20s and 30s, which is neither here nor there as a score. Once you get in, you should be capitalising on that. While I accept that it was a wicket that always gave bowlers a chance, when a decent county pro, no more than that, like James Middlebrook makes a century there is a right to expect more from your own batsmen.

There are several things learned from this game. One is that we have really missed an in form Wayne Madsen at the top of the order.  Karl Krikken was right to rest him after his recent poor form, but Madsen has been the glue that has held our batting together in recent seasons and is a massive loss in recent weeks. Another is that Greg Smith is not, never has been and never will be a number three. Worthy player as he is, Smith is a number six at best. With the skittish Chesney Hughes opening and Smith at three, the likelihood was always that we would once again be two down for very few, something that has been the case too frequently of late.

With promotion now out of reach I hope to see Matt Lineker and Paul Borrington given a chance in the remaining championship games instead of Hughes and Smith. Both are fully deserving of an opportunity and it will give an opportunity to both ahead of almost certain involvement next year. We should also let Luke Sutton have a deserved rest and bring in Tom Poynton. Sutton hurt his hand in this game and Poynton is again deserving of greater opportunity after a fine season in the Seconds.

However, we should see a full side out for the game on Sunday against Middlesex, where victory would see us move to second place in the table, a fine effort. While we haven't challenged the pacemakers with victory in this match, the feeling remains that promotion would have been at least a year too soon for this side, very much one in transition. Realistically, the side is too young and not strong enough in either batting or bowling at this stage for consistent performance in the top flight.

While resources will in all likelihood restrict options, a good spinner, reliable batsman and consistent all-rounder are what would make a difference. These may well develop inhouse over the next few seasons, but for now we may need to be patient.