Heavy loss in Edgbaston friendly

Derbyshire were well and truly hammered in their final pre-season warm up match today at Edgbaston.

Batting first, our hosts compiled a healthy 388-6, largely thanks to a fine double century by the talented Sam Hain. By the end of the innings the three early wickets taken by Ravi Rampaul were a distant memory, though credit should be given to the West Indian and to Matt Critchley for tight spells in the face of the onslaught.

A very short boundary of around 40 yards on one side of the wicket was a contributory factor to the high score, but that was the same for both sides.

Derbyshire's innings started well, but the early loss of Luis Reece and also Wayne Madsen after a brief cameo lessened the prospect of a successful chase.

Matt Critchley made an aggressive 69, while Billy Godleman contributed 59, but there was little else. The innings subsided  to 223 all out and we will need to do much better.

Having said that I don't think that this would be the preferred line up when the 50 over competition begins. I would be surprised if either Qadri or Lace played and suspect that there may be a role for the new batsman, due to be announced shortly.

It was a chastening debut for Logan van Beek, who conceded over 100 runs in his ten over spell. He will need to find the correct length quickly, but is unlikely to find boundaries so short as the season progresses.

Unless, of course, Derbyshire return to Heanor...

Work to do, but they will do it.

Warwickshire V Derbyshire preview

There are two changes to the Derbyshire side for tomorrow's final pre-season friendly against Warwickshire at Edgbaston.

Sam Conners and James Taylor drop out and are replaced by Logan van Beek and Hamidullah Qadri.

It will be a first opportunity to bowl in English conditions for our overseas star and it will be interesting to see how quickly he adapts to conditions.

The Derbyshire eleven will contain eight bowlers and will have bona-fide batsmen down to number nine:

Godleman, Lace, Reece, Madsen, Hughes, Critchley, Hosein, Van Beek, Dal, Qadri, Rampaul.

At this stage the result is largely irrelevant, but individual performances will still be of interest.

I will be keeping a close eye on this one tomorrow, and am hopeful that there will be a stream to follow the game.

More from me later tomorrow, all being well.

A battle cry...

A week today, Derbyshire will start to get an idea of the value of the winter's work, when they begin a four-day game against Durham at the Pattonair County Ground.

On the basis of the win against the Leeds/Bradford MCCU, they are fighting fit and raring to go. One has to question whether the opposition was really of first class standard, but they bowled tidily and it was of a better standard than the batting.

Nonetheless, without exception the players acquitted themselves well.

I have been amused in recent days by press reports predicting the season ahead. Once again, from people who really should know better, we are expected to be poor/bottom/also rans.

The media don't rate us. With the exception of Wayne Madsen, says one report, it is hard to see where Derbyshire will score runs this season.

Well, I look at a top seven where they are all capable of big scores. Logan van Beek, likely at number eight, can score good runs, as can Anuj  Dal and Tony Palladino.

I would be more surprised if Madsen, Billy Godleman and Luis Reece didn't get near, or pass a thousand runs, barring injury.

The bowling may be a challenge but my concerns have been a little allayed by my first sighting of Ravi Rampaul.

This year, he is the leader of the bowling pack and may thrive on that. Sometimes people just want to be appreciated and with Viljoen, Olivier and Ferguson gone, Ravi, at 34, looks to have responded to a winter challenge from Dave Houghton.

There were times last season when, quite frankly he didn't look fit enough for first class cricket, but he has shed weight and looks in good shape, the condition of his prime. With over 850 first class wickets across the formats, he is a seasoned and able performer, far better than we witnessed last year.

Ravi, Tony Palladino, Luis and Logan will be a test for  most batting lineups, with support as required. Most sides we put out will have EIGHT bowling options. If you have that, bat deep, and have the right team spirit, who knows?

It's 'everyone agin Derbyshire' , to use the local vernacular. Let's create that siege mentality and outfight them all.

There will be times we lose, of course and that will happen to sides deemed better than us. Like most recent seasons, it will be a roller coaster, so strap yourselves in and get ready for the ride.

If the 'real' Derbyshire is the one that produces consistent high level performances, rather than occasionally playing above themselves, we can do very well. Channel beating Yorkshire at Chesterfield and Headingley, and consign Durham and Glamorgan away to the bin of memory.

If they do that, no one can complain.

Derbyshire v Leeds/Bradford MCCU day 3

Derbyshire 398-5 and 232-5 dec (Reece 96, Hughes 48)

Leeds/Bradford MCCU 200 and 94 (Rampaul 3-7, Taylor 3-26. Conners 2-13)

Derbyshire won by 336 runs

While Dave Houghton's Derbyshire (not to be confused with Frank Lampard's Derby County) will face sterner opposition during the course of the season, this warm up match has been of great benefit.

All of the top seven batsmen spent time in the middle, some going on to a big score and one to a career best. As for the bowlers, they all did a terrific job. Ravi Rampaul looked every inch an international bowler and zipped out the top order in each innings. There was barely a bad delivery from.the Trinidadian and he looks in fine fettle.

Sam Conners looked quite slippery today and a couple of batsmen didn't seem too keen on his pace and bounce. He was on a hat-trick at one point and has done his chances of inclusion in the first championship match of the season no harm at all.

James Taylor impressed me too,by the speed at which he had sorted his no ball issues, and he took another three wickets. He doesn't appear as quick as Conners, but in this match got greater reward. He looked like he could handle a bat too, and I was left enthused by my first sight of both at this level.

Meanwhile, Anuj Dal had a chance for a short innings before the declaration. He again impressed as a busy batsman, with good footwork. In the afternoon there was an opportunity to bowl and he looked more than useful, bowling with decent pace and aggression.

In the morning, Luis Reece just missed out on a century and Alex Hughes a half century, but both had valuable time in the middle and balls in the middle of the bat.

Dave Houghton now has a nice decision to make. One assumes that both Tony Palladino and Logan van Beek will come into the side for the game against Durham, leaving a place for one of the youngsters.

Based on this evidence, none of them will be out of place and will offer something different to the attack.

There will be no getting carried away at the result, but one can only beat what is in front of you.On that basis, Derbyshire did a very fine job here, but the serious stuff starts next week.

We would appear to be in rude shape and raring to go.

Derbyshire V Leeds/Bradford MCCU day 2

Derbyshire 398-5 and 95-1 (Reece 43*)

Leeds/Bradford MCCU 200 (Taylor 3-48, Reece 3-49)

Derbyshire lead by 293 runs

Just as there was on day one, day two of the game against Leeds/Bradford MCCU gave Derbyshire supporters a glimpse of our promising young talent, as well as reassurance in the old guard.

What struck me, as Ravi Rampaul open the bowling this morning, was how much fitter he looked. Last season, with respect, he looked an ageing cricketer. Today, in his demeanor and his bowling, he looked like the leader of the attack that Dave Houghton wants him to be.

His opening spell was splendid. He made the batsmen play, produced some very good balls and looked like an international bowler.

It was very reassuring.

The other thing that struck me was the increased pace of Luis Reece. I would previously have reckoned him a medium pace bowler, where now he is most definitely fast medium. He took three wickets today, but would not have been flattered with six.

He had the ball moving both ways and I lost count of the number of moral victories he had. An opening batsman who can bowl first change is a huge asset to any side. We are lucky to have him and if his fitness holds he will be a massive player this summer.

Both James Taylor and Sam Conners were among the wickets, the former taking three. There were good balls, a few erratic ones and front foot problems that conceded too many no balls for comfort from Taylor. That was the only disappointment of the day, to be fair.

Both looked young players of talent, however and their time will come this summer.  I especially liked the look of Conners, whose whippy action generated both pace and bounce.

A last wicket stand gave a semblance of respect to the opposition innings, which ended on 200 all out. Matt Critchley took the final wicket, as a change of pace so often does.

When Derbyshire went in again, both openers confirmed their first innings form, Godleman being dismissed for 39 from a bucolic swipe after a good stand with Reece.

Luis ended the day unbeaten on 43, with Alex Hughes, elevated to get time in the middle, with him on 9.

293 ahead going into the last day, the county can be quite happy with the first two days of what should be an exciting summer.

So too can supporters

Derbyshire v Leeds/Bradford MCCU day one

Derbyshire 398-5 (Hosein 138* Madsen 123) V Leeds/Bradford MCCU

There was much to admire and  enjoy in the first sight of Derbyshire's cricketers in 2019.

With the exception of Alex Hughes, all of them enjoyed valuable time in the middle, with two progressing to splendid centuries.

That one of those was Wayne Madsen came as no real surprise. Seasons come and seasons go, but it would appear that Wayne goes on forever.

From the moment that he took strike today, a century looked inevitable. His footwork and timing were exemplary and while there was early frustration as he found the fielders with good strokes, he was soon motoring and the runs flowed. It was his 28th century and in this form I look forward to many more.

The rest of the top order got in and looked in decent nick, but all contributed to their own downfall. I thought Tom Lace looked compact and organised, but with four wickets down for only 120, we were in a spot of bother.

Enter Harvey Hosein at number 6. Like Madsen, he looked in fine fettle from the outset. Technically he is one of the best organised batsmen in the club and he progressed serenely to his second century for the county. He finished on a career best unbeaten 139 and looks like providing valuable, common sense ballast in the county middle order. He rarely lifts the ball in the air and his innings was a pleasure to watch, as he added 187 with Madsen.

Late in the day, there was an opportunity to see Matt Critchley, a player who always seems to have time to spare. He cruised to an unbeaten 39, as Derbyshire closed on an impressive 398-5.

I thought that the university bowlers stuck to their task well and it was a good workout for the county side. 

Tomorrow it will be the turn of the bowlers. If they perform as well as the batsmen, neither Dave Houghton nor supporters will have any complaints. 

More from me tomorrow

Derbyshire V Leeds/Bradford MCCU

Dave Houghton has chosen the side that I hoped for to open Derbyshire's season tomorrow against Leeds/Bradford MCCU.

What has looked to be the likely top seven for all of the winter takes the field, along with Anuj Dal, Sam Conners, Alfie Gleadall and James Taylor. Ravi Rampaul is also in the squad and it will be interesting to see who drops out in the morning.

That squad in full:

Godlman, Lace, Reece, Madsen, Hughes, Critchley, Hosein, Dal, Gleadall, Conners, Taylor, Rampaul.

With Logan van Beek and Tony Palladino likely to come into the side for the first championship match, the game is effectively an audition for the young bowlers, to see who might get the extra place.

It will be well worth watching on the stream and you can be sure that I will be in front of my laptop ahead of the 10:30 a.m. start.

I wish the boys luck for the game and for the coming season.

Season prospects - one day cricket

I have deliberately separated my preview of Derbyshire's four-day and one-day fortunes, because I think they are quite distinct.

The three teams being promoted from division two of the County Championship this season offers an opportunity. In the one-day game, the more localised nature of the opposition means that we will be facing some of the country's top sides.

I am more bullish about our prospects in the Vitality Blast, because we have proven that we can mix it with the best in the short form of the game.

In the RLODC, we will need to hope that our bowlers find early season form quickly. We showed last year that the batsman can amass large totals, but the key to success will be in a varied bowling attack keeping opposition totals within bounds.

Logan van Beek and Ravi Rampaul will likely lead the attack, with support from the side's array of all rounders. Billy Godleman will have plenty of options, but qualification from the group will be a stiff task, though not impossible.

In the shorter form, the side's long batting order and bowling variations should serve them well. For all that it is a young squad, Dominic Cork has plenty of options and it will be interesting to see how he goes with the bowling attack.

Will spin play a dominant role, with two leg spin options and a proven economic slow left arm bowler? Or will Reece, Hughes and Dal prove their worth with miserly seam?

Either way, the attack will be led by two fine bowlers from the southern hemisphere. The combination of Logan van Beek and Kane Richardson is a mouth watering one and the former is eminently capable of powering the later stages of an innings with aggressive stroke play.

Two years ago, John Wright and Dominic Cork took us to the quarter finals, where poor captaincy and 'one of those innings' by Shahid Afridi took the game away from us.

This year, under what I expect to be the captaincy of Alex Hughes, there is no reason why Derbyshire cannot reach the promised land of finals day.

As one might expect, Dominic Cork had strong ideas on the way that the team should play and on selection, some of which did not go his way previously.

This year, with carte blanche to do his own thing, it will be fascinating to see his impact.

Whatever happens, I expect the side to play cricket in his image.

If they do, it will be well worth watching.

Fantasy Cricket is back!

By popular demand, the Fantasy Cricket League is back!

I hope that many of you get involved in it, and we have additional fun as the summer progresses.

The league is the Peakfan Blog Championship, the pin 8176173, the pass code 1936.

You can access the Telegraph site from the link down the left hand side

The pass code has, of course, been chosen for some very Derbyshire memories, of course, when we were top of the championship at season end.

I hope it goes well for you, but not as well as me, obviously!

Spread the word and get involved...

Season Prospects - four day cricket

Any assertion on what the season holds for Derbyshire is largely dependent on one's confidence in the bullish assertions coming from the coaching staff this winter.

On the face of it, portents are not good. From a relatively small squad of last year we have lost a talented batsman in Ben Slater, one of our strike bowlers in Hardus Viljoen, and an experienced wicket-keeper batsman in Gary Wilson.

Coming the other way there are season-long contracts for talented but as yet unproven cricketers. Tom Lace joins on loan from Middlesex and is likely to open, while Anuj Dal and Matt McKiernan have a chance to shine after showing potential in brief glimpses last year. So too does Scotland spinner Mark Watt, a late addition to the ranks.

There should be few qualms over the batting, although the order may experience tweaks over the summer. The perennially reliable Billy Godleman and Wayne Madsen will be near to a thousand in four-day cricket and I expect a similar return from Luis Reece, as long as the demands on his bowling are not excessive. 'The Derbyshire Kallis' is a key component of this side in all formats and was sorely missed last year. Alex Hughes will be keen to confirm the strides he has made over the past two summers and I hope that his seam bowling is better utilised in the four-day game than it has been in the past.

Much will be expected from Matt Critchley, who appears to be a player on the verge of something special. His role at six is important and if he can add improved shot selection to great natural talent  and timing, his batting could be a real asset. So too his leg-spin, after work with Indian great Anil Kumble this winter.

I expect all of them to have benefited from Dave Houghton's tutelage, and if Tom Lace lives up to Houghton's respect for his talent, we should score runs both prolifically and attractively. Anuj Dal will push for a place in the side and his wristy stroke play will prove popular if he gets there. Don't discount his bowling either, as word is he is bowling accurately and around 80mph, making him a very useful cricketer.

The presence of three (four if you count Madsen) genuine all-rounders in the top six allows the lower order to be flexible. They could opt to play an extra batsman on occasion, or include a second spinner when conditions suit. Ahead of the bowlers, Harvey Hosein has the chance to make the wicket-keeping role his own. Few doubt he is one of the best-organised batsmen in the club, but he will now need to show that over a full summer, as well as maintaining high standards behind the stumps. If he can do that, the position will be his for a long time, with Daryn Smit lined up as second team skipper and back up to Hosein if required. Yet don't be surprised if we see more of Smit in the first team, and the same high standards that make him second to only Bob Taylor as a keeper in my experience may yet be further utilised at senior level.

The bowling? Therein lies the biggest question mark. Can Tony Palladino once again lead the attack with ageless skill and stay fit over a long summer? For that matter, can Ravi Rampaul? He had his health issues last year and these two, as the senior bowlers, need to set the standard. There should not be so many needless extras with Viljoen gone, while Hosein will likely sleep better in the knowledge that he shouldn't need to throw himself around so much.

Logan van Beek arrives as overseas player for the summer and should benefit from being unknown around these parts. He comes highly recommended and with the incentive that a good summer will elevate him in the New Zealand seam-bowling rankings.If he finds a length early, his aggressive bowling and uncomplicated batting will make him a firm fan favourite.

Opportunity has been promised to young bowlers and a young squad has plenty of those. While Alfie Gleadall is feeling his way back from injury, both Sam Conners and James Taylor will back up the senior bowlers. Bowling coach Steve Kirby has said how impressed he has been with them both and the test will come out in the middle, at senior level. Gleadall showed at Durham last year that he can bowl quickly, as well as being an organised batsman, so the trio offer exciting potential.

Likewise Hamidullah Qadri 's off spin and Matt McKiernan's leg spin will battle for opportunity, both of them capable of scoring runs too, as is Mark Watt. If they can progress, their youth offers spin options for some time to come.

It is a long while since a Derbyshire squad had such a youthful look and most supporters will be pleased to see talent emerging and encouraged. That being the case, patience may be required, but the summer looks like being anything but dull.

They will need their share of luck, but in a division with some big, far more affluent clubs I expect team spirit to play a key role. We already know that on their day the side is capable of slugging it out with and beating the best. If we can add that ten per cent of fortune, winter development and calmness at key points in the game, who knows?

Prediction

Last year I stood alone at the start of the summer in predicting a top half finish in the county championship. They were ten points off doing that, and but for poor bowling against Glamorgan and especially Durham would have done so with ease, losing games that were there for the taking.

Greater discipline this year will get them there.

Anything more than that, we will need luck with the weather/injuries and hold our catches.

As well as having a squad that plays to and above its potential.

With sincere and grateful thanks to Officecare

I am delighted to announce that the blog sponsorship by Officecare will continue through to the end of March 2020.

Martin and David Booth's company has been a good friend to this blog and that support will enable me to keep it ad-free. I am thrilled to be sponsored by them once more and join such illustrious company as Derby County and Nottingham Forest football clubs in so doing.

If you are looking for cleaning services for your business or property, please click the logos at the top of the blog and down the left hand side. This will take you to their website and you can hopefully take things from there.

I am very grateful to them for their continued support and I hope that we see a fine summer of Derbyshire cricket.

Also back on board is Chris Taylor, the former Derbyshire and Yorkshire batsman, with his All Rounder Cricket business. Chris has stores for your cricket and other sporting needs at Headingley and in Sheffield, with plenty of bargains to be found, as well as the very latest equipment for you and your club.

Again, please click on the link down the left hand side to take you to their main website and that of the Discount Cricket Outlet.

Last but not least, if you enjoy a flutter on sport, click through on the Online Bookies link. This will take you to the very best offers currently available.

Please gamble responsibly, of course.

Thank you to each and every one of the above, and to you for both checking them out and perhaps putting some business in their direction!

Scotland spinner Watt signs for summer

Another new signing for Derbyshire County Cricket Club was announced today, with the news that Scotland slow left arm bowler Mark Watt has joined the club on a six-month contract.

It is a signing that follows the club's blueprint under Dave Houghton, in giving opportunity to young talent. At 22, Watt as already gained considerable experience for Scotland and is highly rated north of the border.

His performances for the country saw him gain an opportunity with Lancashire last summer, when he bowled tightly without getting wickets.

It also continues the link with Cricket Scotland, that saw Calum MacLeod and Safyaan Sharif play in the Blast last year.

It is another signing that, with respect to the player, is unlikely to see supporters overly excited, yet could well prove very shrewd in the fullness of time. He has a growing reputation for parsimony in the one day game and will doubtless have opportunities to impress.

The club now has a full hand of spin bowlers. Off spin is taken care of by Hamidullah Qadri, leg spin by Matt Critchley and Matt McKiernan and now slow left arm by Watt.

It will be interesting to see the makeup of the Derbyshire side this summer. With the glut of all rounders in the top six, we now cover all spin bowling options and for me there would be no surprise in seeing the regular fielding of a second spinner as the summer goes on.

I hope that supporters get behind the rationale at the club. There will be a lot of young players battling for a place in the senior eleven, and I think most people or appreciative and understanding of this.

It augurs well and promises to be a very interesting summer.

It cannot come soon enough for me.

Welcome to Derbyshire, Mark. If you do as well as Dallas Moir a few years back there will be no complaints. 

Five days to go...

Cricket is back!

In five days time, Derbyshire's players will step out onto the green sward once again, for a pre season friendly.

It may well be that the team selection gives a pointer for that in the season opener against Gloucestershire the following week.

It will be fascinating to see the chosen  lineup and at this stage I find it impossible to try to predict this.

I do hope that the club choose to try out their excellent streaming service on this match, which would be greatly appreciated my many, not just me.

A week after hand surgery I am fast running out of books and there is only so much Netflix that anyone can watch. Daytime TV is not really an option, so an opportunity to see our favourites would be welcome.

I have been really impressed by the positive noises coming from the club and new bowling coach Steve Kirby stands out in this regard.

Time will tell if this is justified, but he has stressed the togetherness of the squad and the progress made over the winter by individuals within it.

It is very heartening.

In other news, I now have 5 copies of 'In Their Own Words' left at the bargain pre-season price of £8, including postage.

After that it will be book shop and Amazon prices from places that have stock.

I will be unable to sign or inscribe these, as I am several weeks away from writing, but if you would like to buy or reserve one, please get in touch as soon as possible.

Coming up soon on the blog: my season preview and news of blog sponsors for the year ahead.

See you all soon!

Final piece of the jigsaw?

With the addition of Kane Richardson to our ranks for the summer's cricket, Derbyshire's on-field jigsaw would appear to be complete.

We have two death bowlers from the southern hemisphere and their talent will be crucial to the T20 fortunes, with Logan van Beek, at least, likely to add lower order power to the batting too. I don't wish to devalue Richardson, but his batting is of a less orthodox manner. His fielding, however, will be a huge asset  and he has a reputation for brilliance around the field.

My pre-season preview will tell you what I think of our potential, and that will come along in a couple of weeks time.

This will be my last post for a week, though I have a pre-prepared one ready to go shortly. Monday sees my long-awaited surgery on my left hand, and I suspect I will have plenty to keep me busy for the next couple of weeks, while my arm is in plaster...

Please do let me know your thoughts on the new arrival, and if anyone wants to do a guest column on their thoughts for the season, now just a couple of weeks away, please send them to me at peakfan36@yahoo.co.uk. The more the merrier, and opinions will be interesting.

As for copies of my book, if you are looking for a signed copy, please drop me a line to the above email address over the weekend, as writing will be impossible for the next few weeks.

There are now seven copies left, after which they will still be available from book shops at around £14-15, but not at the special Peakfan pre-season promo price (how's that for alliteration!) of £8, including postage.

I will be running the Peakfan Blog Fantasy Cricket League once more and details will appear here when I can get a willing family scribe to set up the link!

Until the next time, go well!

Derbyshire sign Kane Richardson for T20 Blast

As we all wake up this morning to the news that Kane Richardson has signed up to play for Derbyshire in this year's T20 Blast, one assumes that it is with a generally approving nod.

This one flew under the radar, as the player is not especially well known in this country, even though his speciality is the game's short forms. When I was running through bowling possibilities - and a death bowler always seemed the likely choice - he was not someone I really considered as an option.

He was unsold in this year's IPL auction, however and such players are generally more keen to look elsewhere for experience and a contract. It will be the player's first experience of the English domestic game, and one should never underestimate novelty value.

The big plus for Derbyshire is that he will be available for the entire tournament, which is important when so many players, in a horribly congested summer, will have IPL, World Cup and Caribbean Premier League commitments. The pool of available players is thus substantially reduced and Dave Houghton and Dominic Cork have done well to land a player of proven ability in such circumstances.

I have watched him over several seasons in the Big Bash and the IPL. He is a very solid, aggressive and now experienced bowler, that being proven by being top of the averages in this year's Australian competition. He is not express in pace, but quick enough to keep batsmen on their toes and possessing the variations that are required for success. He hits the yorker well too and as long as he finds the 'English length' quicker than Nathan Rimmington did a year or two back, he will do just fine.

He's not going to offer much with the bat, but at 28 he is a good, solid, professional cricketer, one who I suspect will fit in with the dressing room this year. He and Logan van Beek will make up a solid opening pair of bowlers in the competition, if not as high profile or eye-catching as Wahab Riaz and Lockie Ferguson last year.

Richardson's fine domestic form saw him recalled to the Australian national squad and it is not beyond the realms of possibility that he may play in the World Cup ahead of his stint with Derbyshire.

For now, here's a look at him in action in the BBL.

Enjoy - and welcome to Derbyshire, Kane!

Single figures of the book remain...

I am thrilled to say thank you for the fantastic response to my book offer of last week.

I am now down to single figures in copies, so if you are wanting 'In Their Own Words: Derbyshire Cricketers in Conversation' at the bargain price of £8 including postage, please read on and get in touch soon!

Starting with the only in-depth interview ever given by legendary groundsman Walter Goodyear, whose recollection of pre-war Derbyshire cricket was invaluable, the book includes interviews with such county stalwarts as Harold Rhodes, Edwin Smith, John Wright, Devon Malcolm, Geoff Miller, Tony Borrington, Alan Hill, Wayne Madsen, Graeme Welch and many more.

As the publisher puts it:

In this county history with a difference, the people at the centre of the biggest stories tell how it was from their angle. You will read:

Walter Goodyear's thoughts, for the first time in print, on several generations of Derbyshire cricket's personalities and names from the 1930s to 1980s

How Edwin Smith took 8-21 on his second appearance for the county – and was dropped!

Harold Rhodes on the throwing controversy that ruined his England aspirations – and how he became the fall guy in a witch hunt

Geoff Miller's memories of a county career that prepared him for the top job in English cricket

Alan Hill and Tony Borrington's thoughts on the fastest and nastiest of the many overseas fast bowlers in the 1970s and 1980s

Brian Jackson's smooth transition from league professional to one of the most feared seam bowlers in the country

Devon Malcolm's unusual route to the county game and the highs and lows of his career

John Wright's take on life as an overseas player, and the differences in coaching at county and international level

The transition of Peter Gibbs from stylish opening batsman to acclaimed writer

Bob Taylor's take on wicket-keeping, then and now – and his unique way of preparing his gloves

How Dean Jones abrasive leadership nearly won a championship, but lost a dressing room

How Eddie Barlow transformed a run-down club into competitive and dangerous opponents

With the season fast approaching, this is a one-time only offer, perhaps as a Father's Day present or for the cricket fan in your life. Or why not treat yourself?

The book has been blessed with four and five star reviews since its publication and you can now pick up a signed and inscribed copy for only EIGHT POUNDS, including postage and packing.

Please email me at peakfan36@yahoo.co.uk, including address and inscription details and I will provide payment details.

Alternatively, follow me on Twitter @Peakfanblog, I will follow back and I will provide payment details by direct message.

I look forward to hearing from you!

And check out the reviews (and price) on Amazon if you are still not sure...

T20 conundrum

Dave Houghton appears to have one recruitment issue to resolve ahead of the 2019 season, that of the second T20 player.

Last year we had two good ones, both Lockie Ferguson and Wahab Riaz proving excellent captures, even though the former was a late addition to the ranks. He endeared himself to supporters with some searingly quick bowling and the best yorker seen round these parts since Charl Langeveldt dropped them into the block hole at will.

Riaz wasn't as blindingly quick, but still has that quick ball, coupled with variations and a willingness to help other bowlers - Alex Hughes being especially open to his advice and suggestions. Riaz also showed himself a very handy pinch hitter and played two very entertaining knocks, though later in the competition being pushed down the order again, for whatever reason.

I am sure that Dominic Cork and Dave Houghton have been in deep discussion on the skill set required for the other player, with Logan van Beek filling one of the roles. He brings good bowling at decent pace, as well as the ability to clear the boundary when the late innings charge is on.

Ideally, we want someone who isn't going to be involved in the Caribbean Premier League, therefore requiring someone to fly in for a handful of games, which is far from ideal. A death bowler would be useful, but so too might someone who can hit hard and contribute overs at some point in the innings. Logically, Ravi Rampaul could fill the other 'death' role, but we have plenty of bowling options down our potential eleven.

If we look at ten of a notional side as follows:

Godleman
Critchley
Reece
Madsen
Hughes
Dal
Van Beek
Hosein
McKiernan
Rampaul

Where do you see the greater need? Another quality bowler, ideally who can hit it, or a batsman, who can bowl a few overs? We have eight bowlers in the above ten names, which any captain would enjoy.

Or a batsman who can bowl some overs? Mark suggested Colin de Grandhomme yesterday, who isn't going back to Warwickshire. That would be a decent shout, if he is not already picked up elsewhere, as he scores at a ridiculous 167 per hundred balls. As a comparison, Martin Guptill, no slouch, scores at 127 and the 'Universe Boss' himself, Chris Gayle, at 147.

de Grandhomme is currently bowling first change for New Zealand against Bangladesh and hammered an unbeaten 76 from 53 balls in the Kiwi innings. There is much to like in him, and someone like that, who can win matches with bat or ball, would be the Peakfan choice.

Riaz can do that too, of course and Jimmy Neesham is another who may merit discussion, especially with John Wright's contacts in the southern hemisphere. There is also Chris Morris, who seems to be slipping down the South African pecking order but is a good all-round cricketer, as is Dwaine Pretorius.

Much as I would love to see Mitchell Santner, I suspect New Zealand will carefully manage his workload after being out for nearly a year. He is a key player for them, so suspect he may well be made unavailable.

What do you think?

Calum MacLeod? Will there be another T20 contract for the Scotland batsman who made that brilliant century at Northampton last year? I'm not sure, and I think that decision will hinge on the overseas signing. He is a good player, but there's a finite amount of money. To be honest, I'd prefer Tom Wood and slip him into my eleven, but we don't yet know if he will be engaged for the summer.

There's also the captain, following the departure of Gary Wilson. Unless that role is used to entice someone to the club, my choice would be Alex Hughes. A canny, combative cricketer, he has done it (well) before and the players would enjoy playing under the sort of competitor I like in my side.

A couple of discussion points there, and I look forward to your thoughts.

Warm weather as the season nears

I like March.

It is a month full of promise, with the shoots of Spring bringing the first flowers, the first grass cut and the first time that you can say that cricket starts 'this month'

There was a time when a thousand runs before the end of May was quite a feat. With the way that the ECB are shoving the county games into the extremes of the season, it may happen again, though likely because half of the first-class season will be done by then. At the same time, there is no real fun to be had for a batsman on early season wickets, where a grafted fifty is worth many a ton in easier conditions. Fifty wickets by the end of April may become a new yardstick and pity the batsman who is trying to find form on wickets where it zips around.

There is still no news of our second overseas player for the T20, in a week when Middlesex has engaged AB de Villiers, but there are doubtless irons in the fire and we will hear something soon. Another all rounder would do me nicely, certainly someone who can offer strong death bowling a huge asset.

There was a good interview on Radio Derby today, where Steve Kirby sounded really excited about the county's seam bowling attack. While Alfie Gleadall is easing back from his stress fracture, James Taylor is apparently the most accurate and Sam Conners the quickest, with a good bouncer. All have impressed him, while Luis Reece has made some technical adjustments and is reaching 80mph, swinging it into and across the batsman. He will be a handful, and it was especially interesting to hear how Anuj Dal is bowling at a similar pace, swinging it both ways and bowling a yorker 'almost at will'. I suspect he will be a key part of our T20 side this year.

As for Logan van Beek, a lot of time went into finding someone who was available for the entire summer and I think his lively pace bowling and aggressive batting might quickly make him a fans favourite. He has a great attitude according to Kirby, and I get the impression that togetherness and a willingness to battle might be our twelfth man this summer.

Here's a video of Logan bowling and getting some impressive bounce

Steve also highlighted Tony Palladino as the leader of the attack, a man 'who could run in and hit the top of off stump with his eyes closed'. Tony has been a fine servant to the club, often underrated in what he brings to the side, but he remains a key part of the attack and rarely bowls badly.

Finally today, I have been 'bowled over' by the response to my book offer earlier in the week.

There is still time to secure a copy of 'In Their Own Words: Derbyshire Cricketers In Conversation' at the bargain pre-season price of  EIGHT POUNDS, including postage, signed and inscribed if you wish.

There are plenty of Derbyshire tales to pass the time between now and the start of the season, many of them, which was always my intention, never before recounted in print.

So if you want to find out how Alan Hill and Tony Borrington prepared in an unusual way to face Sylvester Clarke, how Keith Mohan was perhaps the youngest professional ever and how Geoff Miller took a whoopee cushion on to the field one afternoon, then this is a chance to do so.

Like me, you will probably cry with laughter at John Wright's story of David Steele running out Geoff ...

Drop me an email on peakfan36@yahoo.co.uk if you are interested in a copy, and I will give you payment details.

Sincere thanks to those who have already done so!