Essex v Derbyshire day 2

Irrespective of having lost the first day's play, if the weather stays fair a green wicket looks like producing a result at Chelmsford in the next couple of days.

 Poor Matt Lineker. Having spent some considerable time no doubt dreaming about a county debut, he ends up making it on a sporting track against David Masters, one of the most underrated bowlers in the country, as well as one of the most prolific. At least Karl Krikken is giving him the rest of the season to state his case for a contract, with his age the biggest thing against him. Nearer 27 than 26, he has to show he can be a prolific county player while taking the biggest step of all - from Second XI to county regular. A lot of fine players haven't quite bridged that gap. I hope that Lineker does and will be rooting for him from here on.

That Derbyshire had the worst of conditions is undeniable and we can only hope to wrap up their innings tomorrow before Ryan "I love Derbyshire bowling" ten Doeschate runs amok. At present we are in touch, but can ill afford to leak another 50 or so runs tomorrow in what is likely to be a low-scoring game.

 On to other news, and the Seconds continue to dominate against Ashley Giles England wannabe's - sorry, Warwickshire Seconds. After Derbyshire made 393 yesterday, largely thanks to Ben Slater's magnificent unbeaten 156, the visitors were bowled out for 287, with young pace bowler Johnny Marsden taking three wickets. Marsden, who I wrote about recently and Ally Evans have produced good performances this summer and could have a decent future at the county. Similarly, Slater is still only 19 (at least for two more days...) and seems to have a very bright future once he finishes University.

In the second innings Derbyshire made 86-3, with Paul Borrington unbeaten on 35. Slater's knock saw him elevated to twelfth man duties at Chelmsford, no doubt a welcome taste of senior action - though I bet he was glad not to be batting!

Elsewhere, Gloucestershire have said that they may not be able to afford to engage Chris Taylor or Hamish Marshall next season, indicative of the way the game is going. Maximise your ECB revenue or die is essentially the message, although there will still be room for older players of genuine ability. Indeed, Gary Keedy at Lancashire, "36 years young" as Hughie Green used to say, is attracting the attentions of...ahem... Warwickshire. Given that every out of contract or one with a year or so to go attracts their attention, you can believe it if you like, but you have to laugh. Do they have a youth policy, or are they just intent on signing the best of everyone else's?

In closing tonight and on a similar theme, I am increasingly of the opinion that Greg Smith has no county lined up and, having seen Derbyshire cancel their contract offer, could find himself in limbo next season. Without having to don my deerstalker, consider the evidence. No one has gone public with an offer, we know Smith is not English qualified and we know he is too old to attract ECB money even if he was. In this day and age I can't think of a county - no, not even Warwickshire - who would take the financial hit for a player whose good days are way too sporadic.

I may be wrong - maybe my crystal ball has lost some of its lustre. As Quasimodo once said, just call it a hunch...I guess we'll know the answer in the next few weeks.

See you tomorrow.