Matt Coles

Matt Coles potentially a Derbyshire player?

Yes please.

Late piece from me tonight as I was late back from my work team's first fixture, which ended in an exciting tie (four off the last ball) and am still buzzing from it all.

I won't count this as a done deal at this stage though, because a player of his talent is likely to raise interest from elsewhere. As Jeff says below another piece tonight though, he would be a fairly close replacement for Ross Whiteley, although a far better bowler at this stage and a batsman who isn't yet close to his capabilities as a very powerful  left-hander, capable of hitting the ball a long way.

At 23 he is the right age but has had a tough summer with niggling injuries. Nor do rumours suggest Kent to be the happiest of ships, so Coles has made it clear that he wants to build a career elsewhere.In comparison, Derbyshire's reputation as a club that looks after its players is growing and that should do them no harm.

The Kent forum suggests that Nottinghamshire are also interested (there's a surprise...) while another says that he wants to play division one cricket, which he may not yet do with either, depending on coming results.

You pays your money and takes your choice, but a fit and firing Matt Coles could bring a lot to Derbyshire, for one thing offering the balance that Ross Whiteley did when he was at his best.

I suspect there's some way to go on this one, but the fact that the club site says we have met with his agent is indicative of planning for next summer and reassurance that the powers that be have their fingers on the pulse in so far as team improvements are concerned.

Yeah, like the idea of this one and can see the rationale quite clearly.

Let's just hope it all comes together in time.