Derbyshire v Yorkshire RLODC

Derbyshire 189-6 (Slater 109)

Yorkshire 192-8 (Kohler-Cadmore 81, Rampaul 5-48)

Yorkshire won by two wickets.

There was no disgrace in Derbyshire losing to Yorkshire yesterday, a side that included seven international cricketers.

Indeed, had Luis Reece not sustained a foot injury that caused him to retire hurt, there's a fair old chance we would have won. Reece was just getting into his stride when the injury occurred and no one after him could get going and support the superb Ben Slater.

There are two things worthy of mention at this point. One is that I sincerely hope discussions are ongoing with Ben over a new deal. His current one runs out at the end of the season and, as I have written before it started, it is a big year for him. While he still needs to convert more of his very impressive cameos into big scores, his form this year has been excellent and he seems to me to be reaping the benefits of technical work over the winter, together with adding some bulk to his body.

He has always looked a slight lad, but he is changed for the better now and can hit the boundaries more easily. There is still a tendency to get out when he is crashing fours around, perhaps getting over-confident, but he is a fine player and fully deserving of a longer deal.

The second is that for me he has played his way into the T20 side. I think him a better option than Billy Godleman in T20 and would be a great partner for Matt Critchley in that format. He is fleet-footed and a very good fielder, so that could be another piece of the jigsaw in place.

The injury to Reece obviously affected our bowling plans, of which he is a key component. Could there have been better use of Alex Hughes or Wayne Madsen, who each only bowled two inexpensive overs? Duanne Olivier again bowled a telling and economical spell in which he took key wickets, but I'm not sure that Hardus Viljoen has yet discovered rhythm this summer and he again went for nine an over. He looks quite laboured in his run up at this stage, compared to the latter part of last season.

It's tough though, because death bowling in these games, with shortish boundaries and big bats, is a lottery. You have to outwit the batsmen and as Ravi Rampaul found too, when they are moving around in their crease, there's a 50/50 chance of your line being right. And bowling at Viljoen's pace, an edge travels a long way, quickly.

Kohler-Cadmore played the match-winning innings, but when he went the odds switched to a Derbyshire win. Yet Fisher got away with an edged four and from then on rode his luck. He played some good shots too and nothing can be taken away from him or Yorkshire.

I thought Rampaul bowled better yesterday and his five wickets were a good return for his efforts. Like a few others I have been critical of him at times, but he did a decent job against strong opponents.

There are times in a season when you play 'big' teams and they have all the big names present and will thrash you. Yesterday, Yorkshire had a few missing but a very strong side out - and we took it to the death.

Our destiny still lies very much in our own hands as we move to Northampton on Friday, then welcome Lancashire to the 3aaa County Ground on Sunday. We will be without Luis Reece for the rest of the group games, after it was confirmed today he has a broken metatarsal. It will be a big loss, but his absence affords opportunity to someone else, who must grasp it.

More from me in due course.

Thanks - and apologies

Thanks to Mark Neve for alerting me to the non-publication of two or three comments he had made, which highlighted a behind the scenes issue with Blogger.

I believe that this has now been rectified and I have, albeit retrospectively, published a number of comments below recent posts.

Apologies to all concerned.

Normal service should now be resumed!

Derbyshire v Yorkshire RLODC

The same fourteen that has been named for the previous matches in this competition has been named for Derbyshire's game against Yorkshire tomorrow.

Having said that, tomorrow's forecast for Derby is some way from encouraging and if it is correct, the chances of much cricket appear to be slim. Both the BBC and Met Office are suggesting light but persistent rain for much of the day and any result is likely to be through a shortened game, if one is possible at all.

I think it is a sign of our progress that we will be disappointed at that. Not too long ago we would have been chuffed to share the points with Yorkshire on a rain off, but they have had their travails this season and we have played some excellent cricket.

As a division one side (but unless they pick up soon, not for long) the visitors will start as favourites, but such things count for little in one-day cricket. They look likely to be bolstered by the return of David Willey and are starting to get their game together after a slow start.

Their squad:

Gary Ballance, Tim Bresnan, Harry Brook, Karl Carver, Matthew Fisher, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Adam Lyth, Steven Patterson (c), Liam Plunkett, Cheteshwar Pujara, Adil Rashid, Jonny Tattersall (wk), David Willey.

There's three players in there who played for Derbyshire, in Ballance, Pujara and Tattersall, the latter at second eleven level. 

I think they might be too strong for us with that squad available, six of them internationals.

But I have a feeling that the weather will be the winner tomorrow.

An enjoyable weekend

You can't help but be happy with Derbyshire's start, can you?

Given that we are supposedly focused on the T20, with John Wright and Dominic Cork soon to team up again, to be fourth in the county championship and top of the north group in the Royal London One Day Cup is immensely satisfying. As well as being one in the eye for the nay-sayers who suggested a summer of trial and struggle.

I didn't see it that way pre-season, perhaps one of the few to do so, and don't see it now. As long as we retain focus and especially get luck with injuries, we could be on for a memorable one. No, I won't predict a trophy, I'm not that daft, but the signs are there that whoever we play will know they have been in a game.

The days of Derbyshire rolling over and playing dead on a regular basis are over.

We have all seen that too many times over the years. Getting into the ascendancy in a game, then crumbling as soon as the opposition started to stand toe to toe and slug it out.

Not any more.

We have taken the monkey from our backs with a first championship win at Derby in a long time. Yes, it was against a weakened Middlesex, but so what? History will show the points went to Derbyshire, and how many times have we seen a weakened Derbyshire side rolled over by stronger opponents?

We also showed fight in the Durham game, getting a draw when mid-afternoon everything seemed lost. The last session heroics of the tail showed the fighting spirit that has been engendered in the squad and it was good to see.

Moving on to the fifty-over competition, there have been times in each game where the balance of control shifted, but on most occasions we were able to wrest it back. The time we didn't, at Worcester, there were poor decisions made and bowling that left a lot to be desired. Few sides can afford to give away so many extras and equally, few sides need quite so many bowlers as we fielded in that game.

The key to our form, I think, lies in two things: the team ethic and the presence of three all-rounders who offer greater balance to the side.

Look through the regular eleven and they have all made contributions. My biggest concern is the form of Ravi Rampaul, but he chips in and, whatever the concerns of the last over against Leicestershire, he came through, just, on the highly-pressurised final ball. We have seven batsmen averaging over thirty, with the skipper averaging 71 and leading every bit by example.

Then those all-rounders: left-arm and right-arm medium, plus leg-spin. The joy of such variety! Add in the usual control of Wayne Madsen and we have been able to not use our main seamers to their full complement of overs. I still maintain we should have gone back to Olivier at Worcester, but that's gone.

With Wahab Riaz coming in with his left-arm rockets and another overseas player still to be confirmed for that competition, we're looking in good shape.

There are good, sound, professional and sage men in that leadership group, with advice to hand from Kim Barnett when it is needed.

Tough games lie ahead, but let's enjoy it while it lasts!

Derbyshire v Leicestershire RLODC

Derbyshire 211-9 (Godleman 64, Wilson 49, Aaron 4-31)

Leicestershire 206-7 (Critchley 3-35, Reece 3-37)

Derbyshire won by five runs

Check your league table tonight, my friends and then check it again.

Because Derbyshire sit proudly atop their group after a third win in four games saw off a gallant late effort from our local rivals, Leicestershire. Tom Wells, after a period of playing himself in, started to tee off against Hardus Viljoen and Ravi Rampaul. Forty off two overs was quickly getting eroded and Rampaul was twice hit for six in a final over that included a no ball.

When it came down to six from the last ball, there were a few nails being chewed, but Rampaul held his nerve and, as Wells stepped outside off to try and swing him, cleverly followed the batsman. Wells clearly thought it a wide, but since he himself was almost on the wide line, all bets were off.

So we made a meal of it, just like the Durham game, but crucially came out on top again. We have all seen many times over the years when that hasn't happened, so it is nice to be winning these close finishes.

There's quite a brains trust going on out in the field: Godleman, Wilson, Smit and Madsen were in regular conversations and that experience has been  proving vital. All have played key roles too. Godleman once again anchoring the innings beautifully with shots conventional and created, Wilson helping to rebuild the innings once more when it was floundering, Madsen bowling some key tight overs and Smit...well...

So far his innings have been 26*, 22, 1* and 30. All made at the death, all made quickly, flying somewhat in the face of those critics who say he has no shots. Sometimes, in the team's cause, he chooses not to, but the sixteen he took from the penultimate over today were crucial. I tweeted accordingly at the end of the innings and so it transpired. There was an impeccable display behind the stumps too, the pinnacle a catch of brilliance when the dangerous Ackermann thrashed at Critchley. The edge was sharp, the reactions sharper and the secureness of his handling is quite extraordinary.

Impressive once again were Matt Critchley and Luis Reece. Each took three wickets and they are crucial to our game plan, taking the pace off the ball and keeping the batsmen guessing in the middle overs. I don't recall seeing many players who so obviously enjoy their cricket as Reece, a smile rarely far from his face, which is so nice to see. Yet the team are enjoying themselves and they have reason to do so.

Not flawless, but that happens rarely in any sport. Professional though and that is so good to see. There is a togetherness about this squad that will see them through the awkward times in a match.

To quote the old song, there may be troubles ahead, but we faced the music today - and danced to the top of the table.

Derbyshire v Leicestershire preview

Harvey Hosein and Hamidullah Qadri are added to the fourteen-man squad that has been together for the first three games, ahead of tomorrow's match against Leicestershire at Derby.

Logic suggests that only injury will change our line up from yesterday. The extra batsman that I had suggested ahead of the game proved his worth, as Gary Wilson joined Alex Hughes in the match-winning stand.

The question mark is on Luis Reece's fitness to bowl, but I am sure Fran Clarkson will have been working to sort the bruising from the heavy blow he took, when trying to stop a straight drive from his own bowling.

Reece has gone from being the useful batsman and occasional bowler that we signed to a key all-rounder who offers balance. He is starting to replace Shiv Thakor in that respect and it affords the option of an extra batsman if required. With Daryn Smit's brilliance allowing him to stand up to the stumps, batsmen cannot risk dancing down the track to him, while the bowler's accuracy is testimony to a lot of work over the winter, bowling both round and over the wicket to good effect.

The same goes for Alex Hughes. There is quite a change in his bowling method over the winter and in the last two games the two all-rounders have clawed things back when the quicker bowlers have been getting lined up. With Matt Critchley also much improved, we have three all-rounders, together with Ravi Rampaul, Hardus Viljoen and Wahab Riaz for the T20. If we keep in mind Wayne Madsen and Safyaan Sharif, the skipper will have plenty of options, irrespective of who comes in for the T20 as the other overseas specialist.

Tomorrow will be a tough game, as ours usually are against Leicestershire. They have a strong, experienced batting order, with skipper Michael Carberry heading it and Mark Cosgrove still scoring big runs for them. Ned Eckersley always does well against us, while all rounder Ben Raine is a player I would have in my side any time, a combative player with bat and ball.

I think we can win it, again as long as the right mental attitude and fighting spirit is there. The latter was exemplified in the way that we fought our way out of a slump yesterday to edge the result.

Here's hoping for more of the same tomorrow.

Derbyshire v Durham RLODC

Durham 272-8 (Latham 66, Reece 2-43)

Derbyshire 273-6 (Reece 92, Godleman 60, Hughes 42 not, Wilson 40)

Derbyshire won by four wickets with 2 balls remaining

In time-honoured Derbyshire fashion, and bear in mind I've watched it being done for over fifty summers now, we almost turned what looked a walk in the park into an arthritic hirple today, before getting across the line by the skin of our teeth.

The arthritic gait was apposite, given that it was triggered by Luis Reece, who batted with a runner after a blow while bowling, smacking one back and hitting Wayne Madsen in the small of the back. Then Madsen was limping and the whole thing looked like an embryonic comedy sketch, before Wayne was caught behind and Matt Critchley soon followed. Following on quickly from the dismissal of Billy Godleman,  163-1 had turned into 169-4 in the blink of an eye.

When Reece was eventually bowled for an excellent 92, we needed 81 from the last ten overs. It is something that in these days of T20 is usually easy, but Durham's dander was up and Nathan Rimmington bowled with greater hostility than I ever recall in our colours.

It was then then that Gary Wilson and Alex Hughes came together. Wilson, the vice-captain restored to the side (and good job too) started sketchily, but soon both batsmen were into their groove. Hughes effectively sealed the game with an assault on the last over of Dixon, who always looked the likely target. A four over extra cover, a straight six then another straight four made the equation a run-a-ball. Common sense prevailed with the batting thereafter, though Wilson's last over demise, as he attempted to clear the infield was not part of the home script.

A scrambled leg bye took Daryn Smit and Hughes home, closer than it should have been after the excellent start, once again, from the top three. Godleman is a fine player in this format, though was not as free as at Edgbaston. Reece goes from strength to strength and is such a good player now. His winter in Bangladesh has brought his bowling on remarkably and he did another fine turn today. He and we could have done without the blow on his leg that reduced him to a hobble later though, and we must hope he is fit for the next match.

I was more impressed by the bowling today, on a very good batting strip. Early on Durham looked like posting 300-plus, but Madsen's brilliant run out of Steel, was followed by consistent wicket-taking through the innings. Smit took another excellent catch standing up to Reece, his contribution to the latter's success in doing so not to be underestimated. When batsmen cannot use their feet with confidence, bowlers have a much better chance.

The two South Africans bowled much better lines, while Ravi Rampaul, after a first over that suggested he less needed to get loose than be fitted together, came back well and bowled the best death spell I have seen from him so far. There were a couple of late blows, but overall we did well in the field today and the discipline was considerably improved.

All of which leaves us, after three games, in third place.

I think we'll all take that, but next time can do without the nail chewing of the closing stages.

Leicestershire next, who were smashed for 409 by Nottinghamshire today. They will want to improve on that and we need to maintain focus  - and get everyone fit - to go three-one.

Derbyshire v Durham RLODC

It's 'as you were' for Derbyshire tomorrow, with an unnamed fourteen for the visit of Durham to the 3aaa County Ground for the RLODC.

Logically, with Durham the only side still to win a match, this is a game that we should win, but since when did logic come into cricket?

As I said after the defeat at Worcestershire, we made too many mistakes and I don't buy an excuse that there were 'better options' than Duanne Olivier available to bowl the closing overs. I've said myself that he is more expensive than we might have wanted at times, but he had bowled six overs for twelve and we were otherwise bowling at Ross Whiteley with a guy in his second match for the county.

It still makes little sense to me, but it is the past and we must aim to get back on track tomorrow. I would still tweak the side, as I said then, with an extra batsman in place of a bowler, especially with the excellent all round options available to us. Gary Wilson would give us greater depth to the batting line up, though Callum Brodrick would let no one down and adds considerably to the fielding.

As for our visitors, they welcome back the excellent Chris Rushworth, who has missed the last few matches with injury. Tom Latham replaces Aiden Markram as overseas player in this squad:

Tom Latham (c), Cameron Steel, Will Smith, Graham Clark, Michael Richardson, Paul Collingwood, Stuart Poynter (wk), Ryan Pringle, James Weighell, Nathan Rimmington, Chris Rushworth, Matt Dixon, George Harding

It is a game we can win, a game we have to win if we are to maintain interest in progression. On paper, our visitors are not one of the group's stronger teams, but they have plenty of talent, even without Mark Wood, who very nearly embarrassed us on the last day of the recent championship fixture.

I'm happy to predict a win, but only if we produce the team display that is usually required.

We'll see soon enough.

Worcestershire v Derbyshire RLODC

Worcestershire 323-6 (Whiteley 58, Cox 56 not, Fell 56 Hughes 2-49)

Derbyshire 273 (Madsen 87, Reece 62, Hughes 47)

Worcestershire won by 50 runs.

I am writing this as Derbyshire's innings has sadly subsided from the promise of 208-4 to the unlikely depths of 237-8. Indeed, even at 236-5 we looked to have a shout, with Smit and Hughes together, but the long tail has come back to haunt us in this game, as has ill-discipline in the field.

Whatever his merits as a bowler, Olivier is residing in the Devon Malcolm class as a batsman and is only at ten because Rampaul is at eleven. First impressions of Sharif the batsman are not good, so despite the presence of Alex Hughes at the crease, there will be nothing from the other end and we will slide to defeat here.

Yet we cannot blame nine, ten, jack if the top order don't make enough. Wayne Madsen played another fine innings, but went on the reverse sweep for the second time in three days, Luis Reece batted equally well but perished on an ugly slog sweep. No one else really got going and converted promise to substance.

The bowlers were the issue today, though credit has to be given to the home team for a solid, professional effort which gathered pace like a runaway locomotive. Sadly, we had no Casey Jones to stop it. The best bowling, for the second time in three days, came from Alex Hughes and Luis Reece, who slowed things a little, but there were one or two things that puzzled me.

I'm assuming that Duanne Olivier picked up an injury, because after an opening spell of six overs for twelve runs he didn't bowl again. Both Ravi Rampaul and Hardus Viljoen were horribly expensive and Safyaan Sharif didn't get a bowl until the thirtieth over. He copped some stick and came back to earth after his promising debut, but Ross Whiteley has done that to more experienced bowlers than him over the years.

We also gave away 28 extras, while Worcestershire conceded three. Smit took two excellent catches standing up to the seamers, but any lapse in line will then be costly and there were eleven byes, as well as eight no balls and seven wides. On such profligacy are matches won and lost. We can ill afford it, for sure and the main culprits were experienced men, Rampaul (2 wides, 2 no balls) and Viljoen (4 wides, 1 no ball)

Credit should be given to another fine effort by Matt Critchley, who conceded only two boundaries in ten overs, but the senior men should be doing better than that.

As I finish, despite some late heroics from Alex Hughes, who made a battling 47, we have lost by fifty runs. It is not the end of the world, having won one and lost one from our opening games, but we need to tighten up with the ball before Derby this week.

Had a we conceded what Worcestershire did, we were chasing under 300 and that's a world of difference for a run chase. Less than a run a ball is mentally much easier and we were never quite on the required rate today.

Things to work on, for sure, as well as a tweak to the team. With our all-rounders bowling well, might Gary Wilson coming in for a bowler not be a better option?

As always, your thoughts are welcome. But let's remember, today's opponents were semi-finalists in this competition last year.

Enjoy your weekend.

Worcestershire v Derbyshire preview

Same as yesterday for Derbyshire, as they travel to New Road for their next RLODC game against Worcestershire tomorrow.

And why not? They produced a fine team performance and unless there are injuries we don't know about, I expect the same team to take the field.

Our hosts have been up against it in division one of the county championship after promotion last year, but they have a talented batting line up. Joe Clarke is one of the best young batsmen in the game, Travis Head is doing a good job in the overseas role and Ross Whiteley remains one of the most feared hitters in the domestic game. Daryl Mitchell will lead the batting, as he has done for many summers, while their seam attack will be led by Josh Tongue and Joe Leach, in the absence of Jack Shantry.

Their squad: Mitchell, Clarke, Head, Fell, D'Oliviera, Whiteley, Cox, Barnard, Leach, Tongue, Morris, Brown.

To be honest, if we play like we did at Warwickshire we can win this one as well. I look down this Derbyshire side and see a bunch of battlers and a whole lot of talent. I think that we supporters can be critical at times, but only the most churlish can look at this squad and not see some very good cricketers.

Yes, we can and we will lose matches, when someone on the opposition plays a blinder, or when we drop below the level of commitment that is required to beat teams of similar talent.

But if we are up for this or any other game there isn't anyone that we should fear.

Let's hope that we acquit ourselves well.

Good luck, gentlemen.

The T20 dilemma

Having watched Derbyshire a lot this summer, thanks to the excellent county streams and my compressed shifts at work, I am now quite open in our quest for another overseas player for the T20.

I thought that a spinner would be our main need, but I'm not so sure now.

I have watched Matt Critchley over the opening weeks and he has come on so much over the winter. I am at the point where I don't think he is a batsman who bowls a bit, but is becoming a genuine all rounder, providing the hard work to maintain both disciplines is not beyond him. There is a nice loop to his bowling, he has decent variations and he is eminently capable of being our slow bowler for T20. We also have Wayne Madsen, of course, who was successful last year and could easily be again.

Then look at the seam situation. There's Viljoen, Sharif, Rampaul and Wahab Riaz, plus Luis Reece and Alex Hughes in a likely eleven. It poses the question as to how many bowlers we really need to cover twenty overs and my hope is that whoever we sign is capable of biffing quick runs as well as turning his arm over.

Let's look at where we have gaps and near certainties for a T20 side:

?
Critchley
Reece
Madsen
Wilson
Hughes
Smit
Viljoen
Riaz
Sharif
Rampaul

I could make a case for Ben Slater to open, just as I could for Billy to do so. The skipper was improved in T20 last year, but isn't for me a certainty in the short form. You could have an either/or with Rampaul and Sharif if we went down the bowler route, but there are none of the others you would really omit from a first choice side.

Gary Wilson did a good job as skipper, apart from in the quarter final, when he should have changed the game plan when Afridi came in at the top of the order and we were out thought by our opponents. He will doubtless do well again and is a dangerous batsman in the middle order. Yet I wouldn't want him keeping as well, as it is too much for one man, and besides, Smit is peerless behind the timbers and, as he did yesterday, twice last year played key late innings knocks when they were most needed.

Among the other day's comments, James suggested the likes of Chris Gayle, Marlon Samuels, Glenn Maxwell or Shakib Al Hasan. I don't think we could afford them sadly, even if they wanted to come and weren't on tour, but an all-rounder to slot in somewhere would do me fine, whether a spinner or not.

Luis Reece could then open and everyone else move around to suit. Maybe there's someone on the Pakistan tour worthy of interest, although I'd not be averse to Jimmy Neesham from New Zealand. For me he was the best of our Kiwis three summers back and did a good job for Kent last year. I didn't and don't think he is a death bowler, but he won't need to do that in our side. He's a good batsman and fine fielder, someone who would fit well into the current line up, but equally likely to be in demand for those very reasons.

We'll see what news breaks in the coming weeks.

Warwickshire v Derbyshire RLODC

Derbyshire 357-8 (Godleman 137, Slater 69, Madsen 58, Critchley 35 Trott 4-65)

Warwickshire 300 (Hain 108, Barker 48 not)

Derbyshire won by 57 runs

If the idea was to start their RLODC campaign as they mean to go on, Derbyshire did a fine job today in what was a pretty impressive team performance.

Last night I wrote that the batting hadn't yet functioned as a unit. They did today. I also wrote that the bowling had been too erratic for optimism, yet today the lines and discipline were there on a belting batting wicket. 657 runs in a day was a fine day's entertainment for all, especially those from the east side of the midlands.

Star turn with the bat was Billy Godleman. Restored to an opening berth, where I prefer to see him, he led from the front with a fine effort. As I have written before, you don't watch Billy for classical style, but he punches, nurdles and dabs, then broke loose after a disciplined century and was taking Jonathan Trott apart when he ran himself out. It was a captain's innings and anchored things quite beautifully for his side.

Earlier Ben Slater, who thrives in this competition, hit a typically breezy 69 before a loose drive, while Wayne Madsen was charm personified in a delightful 58. An effortless six over extra cover was matched by a swat from England hopeful Ollie Stone that sent the ball miles over mid wicket and had so much time in the playing. He perished on the reverse sweep, but it is a percentage shot and usually brings him so many runs.

Matt Critchley also looked a player with a lot of time and talent before he was foxed by Trott (foxtrot...) and stumped, then came the worst passage of our day. Hughes played two good shots then a needless one, Reece chipped to mid off and Viljoen was run out by half a pitch after a misunderstanding with the skipper. After Sharif's dismissal and a penultimate over when Hannon-Dalby bowled yorker after yorker and Olivier missed them all, Daryn Smit cut loose in the final over and took the score over 350 with reverse sweeps, conventional ones and a chip over mid on. Psychologically, those closing runs were important and again confirmed the keeper's contribution to the side.

It was a fine tally, but should have been over 375 and nearer 400 from the position we were in, a minor quibble perhaps. Surely an international attack could take us home from there?

When Duanne Olivier took two early wickets it looked a walk in the park, but the excellent Sam Hain and Ian Bell rebuilt before Matt Critchley had the former England man leg before. He bowled another fine spell today, but so too did Luis Reece and Alex Hughes. Just when Hain and Hose, at 173-3, had the home side starting to believe, they pegged them back then got them out. Smit's catch to dismiss Thomason, standing up off a thick edge, was apparently excellent and when the chances came, they were taken by everyone.

At the death, the final two wickets were taken by Safyaan Sharif, who impressed me. Before the home side's website and the feed went down for the remainder of the match, he made the batsmen play at every ball and ended with 2-31, narrowly beating Reece's 2-33 as the best figures of the day. He looks a find, and I hope he can build on an encouraging debut in which he also fielded well.

Played one won one. It is always nice to go to the home of a 'big county' and win. To do so with a degree of 'swagger' as we showed today was heartening.

There will be less enjoyable days ahead, but we'll deal with them as they happen.

Well done today, gentlemen.

That was very impressive.

Postscript: the second team also won today, beating a Lancashire side that included Hasib Hameed and Shiv Chanderpaul by seven wickets. The latter was dismissed by Alfie Gleadall, while there were wickets for Azarullah, Will Davis and Hamidullah Qadri.

The interesting name in the side was Zimbabwe quick bowler Blessing Muzarabani. Taller than Morne Morkel and rated a real talent by many critics in that country, he will be broadening his experience over here and isn't likely to be anywhere near senior cricket.

It's nice to see such players in a Derbyshire eleven though and it can only help a young squad in their future games.

Warwickshire v Derbyshire RLODC preview

Not content with adding one new seam bowler to the squad for tomorrow's opening RLODC match against Warwickshire, local cricketer Dan Wheeldon has been added to the fourteen for the game.

Wheeldon is well known to local cricket, having been a key all rounder for Sandiacre for the best part of a decade. He bowls fast medium, hitting the deck hard, as well as being a clean hitter of a ball. He showed this in his second tea appearance recently, smashing five sixes in a cameo innings that brought his side a glimmer of hope. He had earlier bowled well, taking wickets and bowling economically.

Why not give him a chance? He has played for The Unicorns and might just surprise a few people if he gets the opportunity to play. That might not be tomorrow, but I guess he is in the squad because of a niggle elsewhere.

Safyaan Sharif will play, so there is an opportunity to see him for the first time on the Warwickshire feed, if you can't get there yourself. Both new players can handle a bat, so there is the potential for late order runs at some point, should they appear together.

The Derbyshire squad:

Billy Godlemen, Callum Brodrick, Matt Critchley, Alex Hughes, Wayne Madsen, Duanne Olivier, Ravi Rampaul, Luis Reece, Safyaan Sharif, Ben Slater, Daryn Smit, Hardus Viljoen, Dan Wheeldon, Gary Wilson

My guess is that Brodrick, Wheeldon and one of the keepers will miss out, unless, as I say, there is a niggle among the regulars.

Warwickshire will take some beating and have added Hannon-Dalby and Stone to their sixteen-man squad that also includes two spinners. 

Their squad:

Jeetan Patel (c), Tim Ambrose (wk), Keith Barker, Ian Bell, Henry Brookes, Sam Hain, Adam Hose, Oliver Hannon-Dalby, Ed Pollock, Josh Poysden, Dom Sibley, Olly Stone, Aaron Thomason, Alex Thomson, Jonathan Trott.

I'm not sufficiently convinced by our batting unit to predict a win here. Certain players are doing well, but not enough at the same time. Likewise the bowling, as I have documented, can take wickets but the lack of control is an ongoing source of concern. If we concede thirty extras, you are effectively letting the opposition bat an extra man.

When we can sort that, I will be more confident, but I struggle to see a win in this one.

Still...who knows?

Sharif signing is interesting by Derbyshire ahead of RLODC

The announcement today of the signing of Safyaan Sharif, the Scotland international seam bowler, for all white ball cricket this summer is welcome.

Sharif, from Huddersfield, moved to Scotland with his parents when he was five and has since become a respected bowler on the club scene. He currently plys his domestic trade for Glenrothes, but had a fine winter that brought him to the attention of Derbyshire and other counties.

I've often thought that the celtic countries haven't always been considered seriously for cricketers, with the classic case being Kevin O'Brien, considered a bit part T20 slogger for the most part, yet scorer of Ireland's first Test century yesterday. O'Brien should have been an automatic pick for a county looking for a T20 cricketer in recent summers, just as his brother gave sterling service to Northamptonshire and Leicestershire as a combative wicket-keeper/batsman.

To be honest, when I read today that 'Derbyshire sign Scotland star for white ball cricket' I thought that we had picked up Kyle Coetzer, a man I still think would make a difference in the T20 at the top of the order. Sharif it was, and after ten wickets in three World Cup Qualifiers against Zimbabwe, Ireland and West Indies he fully deserves his chance.

He has earned a reputation as a death bowler, going for less than eight an over and that is perfect for Derbyshire. With the jury still out on the location of the radar of Hardus Viljoen and Duanne Olivier, another seamer who can find line and length alongside Ravi Rampaul will be no bad thing.

I think our batting capable of scoring big in the one-day game and would feel that more if Billy moved back to the top of the order. With Reece, Madsen, Hughes and Critchley to follow, the decision would be which keeper got the nod, with both capable of improvising well. The most vulnerable batsman on current form would be Alex Hughes, but dropping a man who is one of your best fielders and can offer bowling options might not be the smartest move.

If we assume that Viljoen, Olivier, Sharif and Rampaul all play, there would be no room for Smit and Wilson, though maybe the latter would be given a breather after Ireland's first Test match.

We'll see soon enough but Sharif will be no makeweight in the attack and will play a full and pivotal role as white ball cricket takes over the summer.

I wish him well, as I am sure you all do.

You can see him in action against the West Indies here

Derbyshire v Durham day 4

Derbyshire 427 and 279-9 (Slater 42, Critchley 40, Smit 34)

Durham 520

Match drawn

Following this on my desktop scoreboard at work, there were times when a disappointing defeat seemed quite likely for Derbyshire today.

Four down by lunch left a lot for the tail to handle, and though Matt Critchley and Billy Godleman steadied the boat, at 185-6 and both of them gone we were only 92 on and there was plenty of time to go.

Enter Daryn Smit and he Tony Palladino started a tail end resistance that ended with the latter, accompanied by Ravi Rampaul, adding a further 37 unbroken runs for the last wicket, which rendered the time/runs balance impossible from the visitors perspective.

Fair play to Mark Wood, who seemed to cause a lot of trouble, and also to the spirit shown by those tail enders in getting a draw that would not have been ours in other seasons.

Yet it also highlighted that we have work to do when the four day game recommences.

More from me on this, and the RLODC, in coming days.

Still, we are fourth in the table after four games, some way removed from propping up the table as many predicted.

And we move on from this.

Only two results possible now..

As I get ready to go out in a little while, only two results are possible at Derby on a wicket that appears to have no demons.

Either it will be a draw, with Derbyshire batting out the last afternoon when our visitors have posted 600, or we will collapse in a fashion we have seen too often over the years.

I don't think it will be the latter, because there is barely a ball passed the bat since the first hour and a half. Poynter and Richardson have batted superbly, but there has been nothing for the Derbyshire bowlers.

Realistically, if we want to win many more matches at home this season, we need more in the wickets for bowlers. Signing top seam bowlers and giving them wickets like this is like recruiting Jimmy Page and Jeff Beck for your new band and not bringing amplifiers.

Postscript - We shouldn't lose this, as since I posted last night Durham's innings ended only 93 ahead.

In the absence of a front line spinner, and unless Aiden Markram turns into Simon Harmer overnight or we bat poorly, the last day should be largely batting practice for Derbyshire.

I stand by my comments of last night that the wickets need to offer more to bowlers for us to win many home four-day matches. Look around the country and most matches have finished inside three days. From a viewing perspective that is a day lost, but positive results have been achieved.

I accept there's a fine line between one that ends after tea on the final day, and one that is simply too good for batting. And for me, there is still a large area of concern over the number of extras we are conceding. Forty-two again yesterday, with 24 byes, which could have been a lot worse bar for some athletic wicket-keeping from some frankly awful balls.

If those lines extend to one-day cricket, we haven't a prayer.

More from me at my earliest opportunity.

Derbyshire v Durham day 2

Derbyshire 427 (Madsen 85, Critchley 64, Smit 45 not)

Durham 115-2 (Viljoen 2-15)

Durham trail by 312 runs

An eight till six shift today means that I am happy to be led by you on Derbyshire's efforts on day two of this game.

On the face of it, we are most definitely in the box seat. Neither Wayne Madsen nor Matt Critchley went on to a match-defining score, but there were good knocks from Daryn Smit and Tony Palladino, the former making his highest score for us so far

427 is a score we would gladly have taken at the start of day one and according to Daryn Smit on Twitter tonight, the wicket is starting to do a bit. It will need to, because a positive result will depend on early inroads in the morning, the likelihood being of steady rain from around 3pm.

Otherwise it will be a last day morning slogfest, before Durham are set a notional target on the last afternoon.

The bowling seems at least to have been tidier and Viljoen's excellent figures seem to testify to that. Here's hoping he can run in at his best tomorrow

At least an early finish tomorrow might let me blog before a gig in the evening. Foreigner at the Armadillo in Glasgow, a band I have wanted to see for around 20 years.

Hopefully Derbyshire can make it an even more special day.

Derbyshire v Durham day 1

Derbyshire 301-4 (Madsen 80*, Godleman 61, Slater 55, Reece 48, Critchley 35*)

v Durham

As first days go, especially when the visitors have invited you to bat on seeing the pitch, that was a pretty good one for Derbyshire. Make that very good.

Having somehow conjured a win from their last game against Leicestershire, when they were well behind for most of the match, they arrived at Derby with their tails up, bolstered by the return of England hopeful Mark Wood. Yet they used seven bowlers today and Wood, it has to be said, looked a bowler lacking rhythm and match practice. Their was little threat from him to the Derbyshire batsmen and he didn't look the bowler of a couple of years back.

The biggest threat came from James Weighell, fresh from his seven wickets in the last innings. He bowled full and straight, almost every ball needing played carefully. He was rewarded with two wickets, though Luis Reece played a loose shot after a disciplined innings for the first, being caught one-handed by Poynter behind the stumps at the second attempt. Reece was hampered by an early hand injury, but did a good job for his side.

Ben Slater again looked classy for his 55, but will have kicked himself all afternoon for thrashing a wide and short ball from Nathan Rimmington straight to the fielder at point. When Weighell produced an excellent yorker to remove Alex Hughes for a duck, 110-0 had become 126-3 in the blink of an eye.

Then came Billy Godleman, out of touch but commendably keeping the Slater/Reece partnership going. He was soon up and running with some punchy strokes and overtook Wayne Madsen as the pair added 114 for the fourth wicket.

He was eventually removed by Matt Dixon, who has joined them from Essex on a one-month loan, but not until the bowler had taken some punishment from both batsmen.

Which left Wayne Madsen and Matt Critchley to see us to the close, with an unbroken partnership of 61 runs. Critchley was restrained but played some fine strokes when the ball was there to be hit. He increasingly looks a cricketer of the highest class.

What struck me with both he and Madsen was how much time they both seem to have at the crease. It is the sign of a very good player, one in touch and whose eyes, hands and feet are in perfect synchronisation.

That was very much the case for the incomparable Madsen, who was progressing serenely to another century when bad light ended play early for the day. He is unbeaten on 80 and it is hard to recall a false stroke in that time.

I hope that Derbyshire supporters realise how lucky we are to have a man of that calibre. With most players you wonder IF they might get a few, whereas with Wayne, when you see his feet moving so well, so early, it is a case of how many he will get, with no 'if ' whatsoever.

The efforts of the Derbyshire batsmen have set us up well in this game, with batting points already in the bag. There's more to come, hopefully, but rain lies ahead for this match and it remains to be seen how badly it will interfere.

That was a top effort today, though.

Well done to all of them.

Derbyshire v Durham preview

There is a chance to get back to winning ways for Derbyshire over the next four days, in the last four day match before the Royal London One Day Cup commences and takes over the next month.

In a not overly auspicious start, the bowler that we brought in as cover for that competition, Mark Footitt, is injured. There is no word on how big an issue this is, but he is out for tomorrow's game at the very least.

The good news is that Tony Palladino is fit again, so Derbyshire can choose any four from Viljoen, Olivier, Rampaul, Palladino and Davis. My guess is that it will be the first four, so that any directional issues from the first two can be compensated for by Rampaul and Palladino.

There's also two wicket-keepers in the squad, with both Daryn Smit and Harvey Hosein named. My guess is that Smit will play, largely because he has several hundreds under his belt already this summer, in league and second team cricket. Hosein has struggled for runs, following four in each innings against Warwickshire in the recently completed four day game with a first-baller in today's fifty-over loss against the same side.

So my side, for what it is worth, and in my preferred batting order would be:

Godleman
Slater
Madsen
Reece
Hughes
Critchley
Smit
Viljoen
Palladino
Olivier
Rampaul

In an interview this week, Luis Reece said that he wasn't bothered where he batted in the top six. If the club continue to use his left arm seam variation, I think it is more realistic for him to bat lower and have a breather, rather than having to switch on immediately to open the innings. It also keeps a left hander in the middle order and breaks up the bowler's line a little.

Durham are bolstered by the return of Mark Wood from the IPL and he may well take the new ball with our T20 old boy, Nathan Rimmington. South African star Aiden Markram opens their batting and is a fine player, while Paul Collingwood still gets his runs in the middle order.

Their thirteen:

Markram, Steel, Smith, Clark, Harte, Collingwood, Richardson, Poynter, Weighell, Wood, Rimmington, Dixon, Harding.

They had a wonderful win against Leicestershire last time out, another of those games that shows the true value of four-day cricket. They are always a combative side and any win will need to be earned, that's for sure.

We can do it, if the batting fires on all cylinders and the bowlers have their radars locked on better than at Edgbaston. The second day there, especially the first session, will live long in my memory for appalling use of a new ball. I've grown up watching Rhodes, Hendrick, Holding, Mortensen, Langeveldt and Welch using a new ball brilliantly, as well as hearing tales of how Gladwin, Jackson, the Popes and Copson made them play, almost every time.

If that radar is better, the bowlers have the skill to win us the game. If they don't...let's not think about that right now.

Like most of you I will be glued to the streaming, unless you are lucky enough to be there in person.

Postscript: another defeat for a very young second team today, as I mentioned earlier, but a battling effort to limit it to just 61 runs.

Warwickshire made 297-8, with Sandiacre's Dan Wheeldon starring with 3-38. Will Davis also got three wickets, but they cost 82 runs. Former Leicestershire spinner James Sykes bowled a tight spell, taking 0-36 in his ten overs, not bad in the circumstances.

When we batted, we slumped to 11-3, but Tom Wood made 56 and Callum Brodrick 28 before being run out. At 124-7 it looked all over, but Wheeldon hit five sixes in his breezy 36 from 24 balls and Will Davis (37 not out) added 59 in eight overs with Sykes (24), before the latter was all out and the innings ended on 236.

A better effort, for sure.

Club needs to do better for second team

I've been in Scotland for 38 summers now and for all of them I have pined for the county of my birth, while still enjoying the many pleasures that Scotland has to offer.

In under an hour I can be on either coast and where we live, in a small village in the countryside north of Glasgow, is well-placed for the motorway network and ideal for dog walking, with plenty of quiet spots, old railways and woodland 'down the glen'.

My home is in the same area I have always lived since my first job, post-degree, took me north of the border. It was in a state school and I had five wonderful years there. To general incredulity, once I had the job nailed and was looking for further ways to engage with the kids, I started, with the help of a man who has been a long-time friend, a cricket team.

State schools in Scotland didn't play cricket and we struggled for opposition. We struggled for facilities too, using wind balls on blaes football pitches to play mini matches and the school gym to work on player techniques.

Blaes pitches were popular in Scotland, a hardened clay or shale with a grit top that were low maintenance. Many was the boy who emerged from a game of football on them with dirt in a cut. Sliding tackles were undertaken at your own risk, and, switching sports, a diving catch at cricket was worthy of an award for gallantry. Mind you, a spinner could get serious movement on blaes, making batting like the fifth day on a worn track in Mumbai. It went through for seamers too, and if it hit something on pitching your technique had to be right and your reactions quick.

Yet from these humble surroundings talent emerged. Two boys were tall,strong and lithe, becoming very good quick bowlers. Another, whose Dad was a professional at a Scottish club, could bowl good seam or off spin, while we had a wicket-keeper whose handling was so good that he eventually played for Scotland. Another lad, who was modest with bat and ball, had an extraordinary arm that ran out many, with a flat arm from the boundary edge over the top of the stumps. 'I skimmed a lot of stones in the sea at Largs, sir' he told me. They could bat too, quickly realising that to stay in they had to learn to defend; to score runs consistently they needed a range of shots.

We managed to get fixtures against the public schools in the west of Scotland, where the grounds were perfect and the setting somewhat removed from those we left behind. We went to these games in the school minibus and, by the time that group of boys left the school and I left my job for another, were beating them all, handsomely.

The cricket masters at those schools found it hard to believe that we had no facilities to speak of, yet were somehow managing. They were especially impressed by the fact that the boys, supported by the school PTA and by their parents, turned up immaculately. They arrived in blazers and ties, they took the field dressed immaculately in whites, they had their own kit. They looked the part and you could almost see them grow as they took to the cricket pitch together.

We even had a staff v school game at the school, watched by the pupils and parents (around a football pitch) and won narrowly by the staff (modesty forbids my mentioning a key innings) and the buzz around the pitch was how smart the boys looked in their whites and what an example they set in their appearance and conduct.

Which was why I was saddened to read Steve H's comments on the second team yesterday. A key factor of those boys performance was the fact that they did not look out of place in settings some way above that they were used to. They dressed the part and acted the  part, even thanking the kitchen ladies at those schools for the teas, which those ladies told me was nigh unprecedented.

So surely Derbyshire can afford to ensure that players representing our second team look the part?

I know that we have a small staff. I know that means that our second team will perforce contain academy players and trialists, but my assumption would be that the former will have an appropriate sweater to wear.

It cannot be beyond the realms of possibility, then, for those on trial to be given the use of a Derbyshire CCC shirt and sweater to wear for the duration of the game. I don't expect that sizing will differ from medium and large, so a supply of these must surely be to hand for use, to be collected at the end of the game and washed for future use? Heck, my wife did that for a couple of sides I started at one workplace and at my hockey club, so there's a role model right there.

If times are that hard, perhaps they could even use last year's first team tops, suitably laundered and names removed?

I fully agree with Steve that it is poor to see someone running around with a view to a contract, or representing OUR county, wearing a top from another. It is unprofessional and at that level and upwards, players need to be prepared for everything that being a professional cricketer entails.

Of course it won't make a silk purse from a sow's ear, but there are plenty of people who attend second team cricket, me among them, and they should see a team that is representing Derbyshire County Cricket Club dressed appropriately, in the club colours, not those of other counties and local clubs.

It is the last step before the cricketing big time and should be regarded as such by everyone involved.

If I was picked for the county seconds, I would expect to be given an appropriate shirt to recognise that, even if I handed it back after the game. Every time I looked at that badge it would remind me of the importance and significance of the game and it would make me feel I was nearly, very nearly there.

It is definitely something for a club that, to be fair, covers most of the bases to sort out, sooner rather than later.

And I hope to see it for myself as the summer progresses.

Second team thrashed by Warwickshire

The casual observer may have noted that Derbyshire's second eleven were soundly thrashed by Warwickshire yesterday, by an innings and 217 runs.

Yet the detail confirms why. The Derbyshire side contained only five non-Academy players, James Kettleborough, Harvey Hosein, Callum Brodrick, Will Davis and Tom Wood. Their opponents had an attack of Oliver Stone, Oliver Hannon-Dalby, Keith Barker, Sunny Singh and Josh Poysden, while Dominic Sibley hit an unbeaten 278 for them.

Exposure of the academy players to a higher level was a reason for the release of Tom Taylor, Ben Cotton and others over the winter, and at the very least it will let them know what they need to do to step up.

One player showed he may well have what it takes and that was Callum Brodrick. He made 24 and 63 from the match and, just turned 20, looks a player with a future. That attack was county standard and Callum now knows he can score runs at that level, psychologically no bad thing.

Scoring runs at that level, regularly, is key for all young players intent on a first team place. Should one arise, the man scoring those runs will edge ahead in the selection discussions. Irrespective of wicket-keeping, Harvey Hosein will be in those discussions too, as you never know when a broken finger or pulled hamstring presents opportunity.

With four in each innings, Harvey didn't take an opportunity, but will doubtless score runs and press his claims over the summer. Meanwhile, Will Davis took two wickets in his 21 overs but went for 128 runs, so his first-team chance may need to wait a while. Indeed, Alfie Gleadall, with 2-66 in seventeen overs did better and will be a quick bowler to watch.

I'll be back tomorrow, as the squad for the Durham game is announced. It is the last one before attention switches to the RLODC for a month, so a good performance is imperative.

Warwickshire v Derbyshire day 4

Derbyshire 318 and 209

Warwickshire 439 and 85-2

Warwickshire won by eight wickets

The end, when it came, took less than an hour and was quite painless, as Warwickshire's two former England men, Ian Bell and Jonathan Trott, steered them past the winning post with ease, after the early loss of Sibley to Matt Critchley, whose bowling impressed in this game.

There was no great surprise in it, but the damage was, as previously written, largely self-inflicted.

We move back to the 3aaa County Ground this weekend with the visit of Durham, but there are a few issues for Derbyshire to sort out in the batting line up, before then

My understanding, for what it is worth, is that Billy Godleman opted to bat in the middle order this summer, thus allowing Luis Reece and Ben Slater, both currently averaging 49 in four-day cricket, to bat in their preferred positions.It was a laudable thing to do but, for me, not best for the team.

Wayne Madsen prefers to bat three, and is currently averaging 50 there. Then again, Wayne has scored runs opening the batting and at four, as well as first drop, so I don't really see tweaking his role as being much to the detriment of the side, or to his performance.

Alex Hughes prefers to bat at four, which currently leaves Billy at five. He is the skipper and a batting linchpin over the past few seasons at the top of the order, but is averaging six from five innings in the middle order this year. Were he not captain, there would be consideration as to his position in the side, but for me, we just need to move things around to get the best from him and retain the contributions of others.

There will be another change for Durham, because Gary Wilson is on Ireland duty. That should mean a recall for Daryn Smit, who scored an unbeaten century in the Lancashire League yesterday, but he should slip to seven and allow Matt Critchley to move up to six.

I like Gary Wilson as a batsman, especially in the one-day game, but I am less convinced by his keeping. While he made some good stops from wayward deliveries in this game, he also drops more 'routine' balls than he should, especially down the leg side and it impacts on the overall tidiness in the field.

Yet he averages 39 with the bat, something that Smit has to match, while performing behind the stumps to his usual standard.

Like a few of you, I would open with the skipper and Ben Slater, with Luis Reece going in at three, where he has done well in T20. With Wayne at four and Alex at five, the batting would have a more organised look to it, for me.

I'm not going to write off the season for one defeat, nor the batting. Four men currently average over 48 (Hardus Viljoen the other) and every side has blips along the way. Warwickshire will be in the mix this summer with four former internationals and we have run them close in this game.

And yet...if we are bowling Hardus Viljoen and Mark Footitt together, there is a danger of conceding a lot of runs quickly, in extras if nothing else, as both are prone to losses of radar. I suspect Ravi Rampaul will come in for Hamidullah Qadri at Derby, which will help, while Smit's return will improve the out cricket.

We lost to Warwickshire because our second day bowling was poor, careless, amateur - call it as you will. Had we bowled remotely to individual reputation, in the conditions, they would have made 250-300 at most and would have been chasing around 250 to win, a completely different game.

There's a few things to sort out, but if we manage that, we can get back to winning ways against Durham.

Warwickshire v Derbyshire day 3

Derbyshire 318 and 209 (Slater 68, Viljoen 44, Patel 6-76, Brookes 4-56)

Warwickshire 439 (Olivier 4-134) and 19-1

Warwickshire need 70 more runs to win

The poor manner in which Derbyshire's much vaunted seam attack bowled yesterday was made patently obvious today, when Warwickshire took the field for the Derbyshire second innings.

Eighteen-year old Henry Brookes bowled fast and full, swinging the ball both ways and making Luis Reece look rather silly in leaving one that took his off stump. Then next ball he completely beat Wayne Madsen for pace with a searing yorker, something you see very rarely and making me question his Cricinfo billing as 'right arm medium'.

Brookes soon accounted for Madsen, caught by Patel from a leading edge, in an opening spell of great potential. There was nothing like what he bowled from our seamers, and although they came back better today, I don't think Duanne Olivier, who went for over four an over, nor Hardus Viljoen will look back on this game with a deal of affection.

Nor will Gary Wilson, whose life was made very awkward behind the stumps in a messy bowling effort that cost us 44 runs in extras. We can ill-afford such generosity and though Ben Slater and Alex Hughes got us through to the interval at 34-2, there was little confidence from county supporters at the ground or online, especially with Patel having entered the attack before the break.

In the afternoon, Slater and Hughes put up brave resistance, showing good concentration for almost ninety minutes, before Hughes was dismayed to be given leg before to Patel, presumably feeling it was too high. Billy Godleman came in and looked in poor touch, maybe having to face spin immediately, and didn't last long. Slater's long vigil and a shorter one of Wilson came in quick succession and thereafter it was only some clean blows from Viljoen, who looks a better batsman with every innings, before the innings ended on 209, leaving a mere 89 to win.

As I wrote last night, Patel was the difference and remains a class act, while Brookes looked a terrific talent.

The home side quickly lost Rhodes to Olivier, but at 19-1, their win tomorrow morning should be a formality, though it was good to see Critchley on early and Olivier bowling a far better line than in the first innings.

More from me tomorrow.

Warwickshire v Derbyshire day 2

Derbyshire 318

Warwickshire 375-6 (Lamb 79 not, Trott 76, Wright 72 Critchley 3-63)

Warwickshire lead by 57 runs

What a difference a day makes.

Most of us, after yesterday, had some expectation of a first innings lead by the end of today. Instead, we are looking quite clearly at a first defeat of the summer, unless we bowl a lot better tomorrow morning.

I will absolve our two young spinners from blame, as they both offered control beyond their years. Luis Reece also bowled tidily, but the mystery was why Matt Critchley had to wait till mid-afternoon to turn his arm over, when he had quite clearly troubled the batsmen last night.

He bowled well again today and fully deserved his three wickets, but I'd have to say that our two South Africans were very, very ordinary, slipping into the 'poor' category at times, and Mark Footitt looked very rusty. There were some hideous balls from all three of them and the overnight batsmen got in quite easily today and were soon playing shots. I could have stayed in, because even at my age I have a good leave outside off stump. There was plenty - way too much - opportunity for that today.

32 extras tells its own story and it was a sorry effort. I take nothing away from Warwickshire, who batted sensibly and well, but we should have had Critchley on well before he was. If a tail-ender gets in, they generally find it easier to score runs when there is pace on the ball, and Wright did this admirably. Sometimes, all you need is the change of pace, let alone spin, and it took our senior players way too long to fathom that. Once they did, they got him.

I know we have two very good South African bowlers. I know we have a scattergun left armer who can be devastating and disappointing in the same over, but I think we should have thought more out of the box today. Yes, Viljoen and Olivier wanted a relatively new ball, but neither used it well and we judge such things against very good benchmarks at Derbyshire. For what it's worth, we missed Ravi Rampaul's ability to pitch it on the cut strip today. Badly.

For me, giving Critchley a harder ball with a little bounce at one end, even for three or four overs, to make Wright think and mix things up would have been better. It worked for Warwickshire and it's their ground, so you'd reckon there was some merit in it. Then you would have had Bell in earlier and things could have been different.

It's too late now and they have, I think, batted us out of this game. I suspect Patel will, as he has been so often, be the game changer in the third innings, so it is imperative that we take quick wickets tomorrow and restrict the lead to under three figures.

They simply have to make them play. There were some ridiculous, embarrassing wides today, the sort you might see in a beer match, and it made for awkward watching.

I've been quick to praise on my time on the blog, but I will always be honest and I will be critical when we become unprofessional.

Some of today's bowling was, sadly, just that.

Reflections

The Derbyshire second team, largely made up of academy players and trialists, were beaten yesterday by Worcestershire, for who Ross Whiteley made a big hundred.

Ross is 30 this summer and it crossed my mind that a player of his ability really shouldn't be playing regular second team cricket at that age. His county will doubtless bring him out of cold storage for the RLODC and the T20, but the rest of the summer can't be that much fun, playing in front of a small crowd on an out ground.

His boundary-clearing exploits could, perhaps should have made him a star in the IPL, but a closer look at his record shows only three fifties in the T20 format. Maybe batting higher might have helped, but he has been the late innings impetus man, a role that sees a player's performance suffer through the lack of time to get 'in'.

I think back to the player who played a fine hand in the closing session of our 2012 trophy summer and can't help but think that he hasn't, for one reason or another, gone as far as I expected him to do. Having said that, were he in our side for this year's T20, I think he would be the missing link. He gave both Charlie Hartley and Azharullah some stick yesterday and remains as clean a striker of a ball as you could wish to see, just as he looked when I first saw him in our second team ten years or so back.

Returning to the present, it was a privilege to watch that innings of Wayne Madsen yesterday, which was astonishing in its technical mastery. I haven't seen anyone play the sweep better, and he really is a club legend. He looks in prime form and it bodes well for a fine summer, for him and the club.

Boding equally well was the sight of Matt Critchley (21) and Hamidullah Qadri (17) bowling in tandem at the end of the day. To put it in perspective, their combined age is that of Jeetan Patel, who again bowled beautifully. He has been, pound for pound, the best overseas player in the county game for the last few summers, but the two young tyros looked wonderful prospects.

There are plenty of spinners can fire it in flat and get by in one-day cricket with six men out on the fence. It is a different kind of pressure to keep control of line and length with slips and short legs in place. Critchley looks a different bowler after a winter working with Stuart McGill in Australia and it does pose the question, if he can sustain it, as to whether we need another spinner for T20 or just go with him. With a composed innings, two canny overs and a superb catch at slip, he displayed his talents to the world yesterday.

Qadri? He will play for England. He looks to have it all, together with the composure to be unfazed by what is going on. The only thing he won't get is bounce, because of his height, but his control of line and length and his ability, already, to bowl a wide range of deliveries is extraordinary.

He looks an organised batsman who will, as he grows, potentially become an all-rounder, but his bowling is special and that looks a really good county attack in this game.

Fast right arm, fast left arm, Fast medium right arm, leg spin, off spin, with three other bowlers available if needed. There's little wonder that a few people are rapidly re-assessing their pre-season harbingers of doom role.

Somehow, if not always in the conventional manner, we are cobbling together enough runs for the bowlers to work with. 250-plus keeps you in a game, 300 puts you on the front foot. Our long tail is wagging well and there are contributions down to number ten.

Last night I read reports that said the first day was even. I'd say, judging by the body language of Warwickshire as the score passed 300, that they felt we had got away on a wicket that will turn more over the next three days.

For that we can thank the genius of Madsen.

It's up to the others to do their stuff now.

Warwickshire v Derbyshire day 1

Derbyshire 318 (Madsen 144, Olivier 40 not Patel 4-94)

Warwickshire 32-1 (Olivier 1-11)

Derbyshire lead by 286 runs

From the moment he played his first few balls this morning, I thought that Wayne Madsen looked in touch.

It was the footwork, confidently forward and resolutely back, together with timing so sublime that boundaries eased from his bat. One on drive was a thing of such beauty that I almost gasped and I don't think I have seen anyone play an innings like that and sweep so consistently, both conventionally and with the reverse sweep.

It is not an easy batting track and was clearly prepared for Jeetan Patel. For Derbyshire to negate his threat, we needed to win the toss and get at least 250, for we knew we would not bat last on this wicket.

That toss was duly won but after a solid start, Ben Slater and Alex Hughes rather gave their wickets away with careless shots and Billy Godleman played all round a good yorker first ball. Luis Reece got a leading edge back to the bowler and we were in trouble at 84-4.

Gary Wilson played another good innings, though should have been caught behind first ball and had some sketchy 'pushes' outside off stump. Matt Critchley played a good knock too, but never looked comfortable against the excellent Patel. He seems to have so much time though, the hallmark of a fine player.

Yet that same tail we have had concerns about wagged most vigorously in support of Madsen and from 84-4 we made 318. Viljoen and Qadri did their bit, but a ninth wicket stand of 67 with Duanne Olivier took us to more batting points than we dared dream of, earlier in the day. Olivier played some good shots and showed stoic resistance while Wayne plundered at the other end.

It was a wonderful knock and he showed his fortitude by continuing way past a blow on the chin that needed lengthy treatment.

In the winter, one correspondent on this blog suggested that 2017 would be the summer that marked the start of Wayne Madsen's decline, this despite a stellar T20 competition. A benefit year and a new baby in the house would put anyone off their stride, but it was hardly a bad summer by normal standards.

Quite frankly, I wouldn't swap him for another batsman in the country and watching him today was  an absolute joy. Many worse players have represented England and I cannot think of any who play spin better than him.Come to think of it, he plays pace rather well too and despite the struggles of those at the other end, there was barely a false shot.

There was an awful first three overs by Hardus Viljoen at the start of the home innings, when he often failed to get it on the cut strip. I can only assume he was trying to bowl too quickly on a helpful track but Gary Wilson made some impressive stops from very wide deliveries and Viljoen's fourth over was much better, beating the bat several times.

The day closed with two overs each from Matt Critchley and Hamidullah Qadri. Both were eventful and suggested that they may both play a major part in the result of this game. Combined age of 38. Leg spin and off spin. It was great to watch.

There was commitment and no little skill on a testing wicket, which may just have given them enough runs to go on and win this game.

And there was Wayne Madsen, who was simply sublime. Textbook in defence, versatile and inventive in attack. I would put that up there with one of the best innings I have seen for Derbyshire, given the testing conditions.

What a player.

In closing, thanks to Warwickshire for an excellent stream. As constructive criticism, they could make the font on the scoreboard a little bigger, as it was like the bottom line when I go to the optician.

But I managed to make out a top Derbyshire effort today.

Warwickshire v Derbyshire preview

We played terrific cricket against Middlesex and won. We played average cricket against Leicestershire, albeit over two days, and drew.

Therein lies the dilemma for Derbyshire. We have some talented players, but to win matches we must play all of our matches with the same intensity.

Tomorrow we play Warwickshire at Edgbaston and must return to the Middlesex form to match a good side that tops the table at  this stage.

Daryn Smit, Hamidullah Qadri and, of course Mark Footitt are added to the side that played at Leicester. I expect Footitt to play and the temptation must be there to unleash that nuclear attack of Viljoen, Olivier, Davis and Footittt.

A decision will need to be made on the wicket-keeper, but Gary Wilson's fine knock at Leicester should get him the nod, if fit.

Our hosts have a mixture of youth and experience, with their batting headed by former England stalwarts Jonathan Trott and Ian Bell. Keith Barker, Olly Stone and Chris Wright make up a good attack, alongside Aussie Ryan Sidebottom and it should be a fine game.

It is also blessed with a good weather forecast, so we need to be ready from the first ball against this squad:

Patel, Ambrose, Barker, Bell, Brookes, Hain, Hose, Lamb, Rhodes, Sibley, Sidebottom, Stone, Trott, Wright

There should be a live stream for the game, so watch out for the link tomorrow, which I will append to the bottom of this piece.

Good luck lads!

PS Streaming link as promised - here

Footit loan follows Riaz signing on a good day for southpaws

By crikey, that was a day, eh?

We were all just digesting the news that Wahab Riaz was coming to bowl his left-arm Exocets for Derbyshire, when the news broke that we had taken Mark Footitt on loan for an initial 28 days.

That is effectively the next two four-day games and then the RLODC, in a move that is good business for both counties. Mark is not in the first team at Nottinghamshire, having played catch up from a pre-season injury. He took some stick in his opening spell for their seconds against ours, but came back in his next spell and has always been a bowler who does best in longer stints.

His stamina was a feature of his spell at Derbyshire, when at times, in a weak attack, he could be both stock and shock bowler, a rare gift. Now he returns to be a part of what is potentially the fastest attack the county has ever fielded.

Viljoen - Olivier - Footitt - Davis. Now that would be a real pace quartet, and would allow the county to rest Ravi Rampaul. Indeed, with Tony Palladino suffering a side strain, the signing makes eminent sense and allows Kim Barnett and Billy Godleman to manage the workload of their seamers. Any one of the five could miss out, then return for the next game to allow another a breather.

Olivier will play them all, of course, as a short stint overseas, but that is serious bowling at the skipper's disposal and I am delighted to see Mark back at Derbyshire.

Of course, he could do well and return to Nottinghamshire in fine fettle. I hope he does, because if he rediscovers his mojo it will be great news for us.

The signing of the two quicks has been met with near universal acclaim, the only 'negative' comments being concern over the batting in T20, with our focus on bowlers.

I think we need to be perfectly clear here. Kim Barnett has gone on record as saying that John Wright chooses his overseas players. John feels that bowlers win you matches, in keeping the opposition score to reasonable bounds. You can see that philosophy in action with Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL, who are scoring less than the tournament average, yet conceding fewer.

Last year we did very well with the same batting line up. We lost to Hampshire not because the batting failed, but because the bowling did. Few sides can chase over 200 successfully and while Matt Critchley, Wayne Madsen and Alex Hughes can all bowl, I would much sooner them share four overs than eight.

If we can go with the fast right arm of Viljoen, the fast left arm of Riaz, the T20 savvy of Rampaul and an as yet unidentified spinner, we have sixteen overs of quality. Of course, a top batsman on a good day may still better them on occasion, but I fully understand and support Wright's rationale. Unless Gary Wilson's Irish commitments will rule him out of much of the tournament, a spinner, ideally a leggie, would do me just fine.

Yasir Shah has been mentioned, but that will depend on his recovery from the injury ruling him out of the England tour. Many other options have gone and we may yet need to call upon this year's President, Edwin Smith, to bowl some overs in the second half of the summer...

Joking apart, it has been a fine day for the Derbyshire supporter. I bet the Warwickshire batsmen have been checking their padding is all up to the mark before this weekend's game at Edgbaston. A table-topping game, with first playing second at this early stage of the summer.

Shaping up nicely, isn't it?

Wahab Riaz signs for T20

Anyone who has seen the over that Wahab Riaz bowled at Shane Watson in the 2015 Cricket World Cup will have an idea what he is capable of.

Because when he gets his dander up, when the stars are aligned in such a way that he has body and mind together to make a beautiful whole, he is one of the fastest bowlers in world cricket.

Even in T20, where bowlers have only twenty-four balls to make an impression, Riaz can and has turned a few matches with overs of startling pace and hostility. The thought of him doing that in Derbyshire colours, perhaps running in to bowl against Nottinghamshire or Yorkshire, or indeed anyone else in that kind of vein is enough to get a cricket fan excited.

The key for Derbyshire will be to get him to that state on a regular basis, because he is a player who can just run through the motions, as evidenced by their national coach, Mickey Arthur, dropping him because of a perceived lack of effort in training.

So Gary Wilson, and more specifically John Wright and Dominic Cork, will need to work out how to get the best from him. We want prime time Rana Naved, who bowled beautifully for Sussex before turning up at Derbyshire out of condition and some way removed from it.

IF we can do that, if Dominic Cork as bowling coach can quickly work out the way to get the best from a bowler of unquestionable talent, we may have a serious weapon on our hands. He only goes for seven an over in T20, and was the highest wicket taker in the last PSL.

Crucially he adds more variety to a likely T20 attack that now has a left and right arm fast bowler, together with the canny Rampaul and a combination of Madsen, Critchley and Hughes. If we can find a spinner for the other overseas role, we might just have an attack for all seasons, though that spinner role will be tough to fill.

As for Riaz, what are your thoughts? Have we unearthed a diamond for ten matches, one that might propel us to the business end of the table? If he does, before heading to the Caribbean Premier League, there will undoubtedly be plans to bring in a replacement, but Riaz has a chance to come in and shape something.

On paper, it is a signing to get excited about, the caveat being that we can get the mean and moody fast bowler of searing pace to turn up on a regular basis and keep him fit.

It will make for entertaining watching, that is for sure.

Well done Derbyshire, and Kim Barnett. In a declining market from an availability standpoint, they have brought in a player who potentially could do something special.

Let's see.

Leicestershire v Derbyshire - the final (ish) day

So what did we learn from the final day of our game against Leicestershire? Indeed, the game as a whole?

Well, I think we can and must do both disciplines better. I didn't see the batting, since that thing called work got in the way, but 54-4 hinted of a return to the bad old days, with all the top four back in the hutch.

You have to credit their bowlers too, of course and, cricket being the leveller that it is, Luis Reece followed a big hundred with a duck. There's not many times he and Wayne Madsen will get no runs between them, but Gary Wilson and Alex Hughes led a recovery, before the latter was out.

Matt Critchley weighed in well, and Hardus Viljoen showed that the long tail that we feared may not be so long after all with another breezy innings. Is he an all-rounder, asked a club Twitter poll? No, he's not, but he is a bowler who can handle the willow. My definition of an all-rounder is simple - he averages more with the bat than he does with the ball, then it's serious, but an average of thirty with the bat is a pre-requisite, and at the same time averaging under it  with the ball gets you into the club.

Gary Wilson's inning's was good to see, as it showed a different side to him. I still don't see him in the same league as Daryn Smit with the gloves, some of his leg side work being a little sloppy, but he is a very competent keeper. The bottom line is that he has to keep getting runs, because otherwise Smit will be waiting his opportunity and will undoubtedly take it.

Still, second in the league after two matches does nicely and the fighting spirit that got us over 250 was good to see. It will serve them well in the months ahead and I hope it continues.

Finally tonight, it was disappointing to see Cricinfo steal the club's thunder by announcing one of our overseas players for the T20 Blast. They shouldn't have done that, because for me the club, having done all the work, has the right to break the news first. Whether it was embargoed I can't say, but if I was at the club I would feel a little peeved.

Since it is out there, I am duty bound to confirm the signing of Wahab Riaz, the seriously quick Pakistan left-arm bowler, for most of the Blast, before the CPL. If they are in the mix at that stage, a replacement will undoubtedly be sought.

More on that tomorrow.

But for what it is worth, you cannot argue with the quality.