Derbyshire v Kent day 4

After my prediction on last night's blog that Derbyshire would win this one by mid-afternoon, it happened exactly like that. I am now expecting a swathe of e mails from eastern gambling syndicates looking to sponsor the site in return for similar saying of sooths next year...

Honestly, it was a no brainer for me, even from this distance. When so many wickets went down yesterday, a Derbyshire win with nearly 300 runs to play with was always on. It is tempting to think of a 'typical Derbyshire performance' but these lads are better than we've had for some time. Put it another way - if Kent's attack could do what they did yesterday, I had every confidence that ours would do the same today, because it is better.

You might not have predicted the successful duo to be Clare and Durston and sometimes a skipper needs to try things to get the best combination. Luke Sutton did that and came up with the right pair for the wicket, something that captains who know their stuff are able to do. Its not always your best bowlers who get the dismissals (though I'm not decrying anyone in saying that) - it is the ones whose line, length and pace on a given day get the most out of a surface.

This is a decent Derbyshire side, which with the right strengthening in the winter could easily take the next step to promotion in 2012. An experienced batsman, a seamer and a spinner would be my shopping list and if any of them have all-round skills so much the better. John Morris put together some good players and Karl Krikken has done remarkably in bringing through young players who have largely thrived on the opportunity.

I was delighted to see Wes Durston follow his Player of the Year award with career best bowling figures and he has been a revelation this season. It is ironic, of course, that in this era where those under 26 are preferred and encouraged, Durston at 31 is a veteran. The onus is on senior players to lead by example and set standards and he has done a wonderful job this year. It could be argued that the ECB scheme motivates players to perform to preserve contracts and there appears to be few older players around the circuit who are simply going through the motions. mainly because their future careers depends on achieving a level of consistency that hasn't always been the case in the past.

I must correct one omission last night and mention Wayne Madsen's innings yesterday. His partnership with Ross Whiteley probably made the game safe and it was good to see him getting runs under his belt again. Madsen is a fine cricketer and a top bloke, one who will come back refreshed next summer. I would also see him as one-day skipper, a role in which he has done pretty well.

In closing, a special mention for Jonathan Clare. His four wickets today took him to 42 for the season at a cost of 26 runs each. He is also closing on 700 runs at 35 and is starting to look like the young talent that burst on to the scene a couple of years ago. There were silly comments on the Forum earlier in the season that he'd 'had it' and should be dropped, when the lad just needed cricket to be fully reassured that his shoulder was fully healed. Like any other player, he will have days when things don't go his way, but Clare can bowl close on 90mph and hit a ball a long way. These are not talents given to everyone and we are fortunate to have the lad secured for the next few years.

Now to the Oval for the season-closer. A good performance there would close things nicely, but this has been a season of progress, no arguments on that one.