Monday musings

Tonight's award for the most optimistic man in world cricket goes to Australian, Moises Henriques, speaking after his battling unbeaten 75 prevented an innings defeat in the Chennai test.

"We haven't lost this Test yet, there is certainly a lot of hope, from my point of view you just don't know what can happen." said Henriques.

Hmmm. Forty runs on with a wicket in hand, a day to play and a favourable weather forecast...nope, on consideration Moises - you've lost, Even old Peakfan would struggle to find hope and positivity on that one...

It was a shame to see Martin Guptill forced to miss the series against England with injury, but the enforced rest will do him good ahead of the summer tour here. It won't do our chances of signing him any harm either, as Guptill has barely had a break in the past eighteen months. A mixed tour of South Africa has, however, been followed by fine form back home, so it is somewhat ironic that he now misses several weeks while recovering from surgery.

I was also sorry to read of the injury sustained by Gary Ballance in Australia while playing for England Lions in Australia. He sustained a nasty facial injury and had to retire hurt after making an unbeaten 73 as the Lions lost a fourth successive match.

I really rate Ballance and would love to see him back at Derbyshire one day, but he has been part of a Lions squad that lost two players through disciplinary issues and hasn't perhaps had the team spirit that it might have enjoyed. Their Australian counterparts seem to have played as a unit and have reaped the rewards.

Such an effort will be important for us in the coming summer. If the side can replicate the team spirit that served us so well last summer and Wayne Madsen can demonstrate more of the cool, calm leadership that marked him as a captain of some talent, we're going to do alright.

Only 43 days to go. Amazing eh?

In closing, later this week I hope to have some important and exciting news about the blog as it comes to the end of its fifth year on the web.

Make sure you check in to find out all about it!