Derbyshire V Warwickshire

Warwickshire 288-7 (Thomson 68*, Mellor 58, van Beek 3-69, Watt 2-32)

Derbyshire 289-5 (Madsen 119* Hughes 69, Godleman 40)

Derbyshire won by five wickets

From the moment that Derbyshire split the Warwickshire second wicket partnership today, there was never a moment when we did not look in control of this game.

Ed Pollock threatened briefly, but his assaults on bowling attacks are often too short to be game-changing. That second wicket partnership of Sibley and Hain threatens a lot of runs, however. Today, the returning Logan van Beek nipped out the first two and clanged the third on the helmet in a hostile spell. He strives for a wicket every ball and while this can be costly, he does have the ability to get people out. I admire anyone who gives total commitment and Logan scores heavily in that area.

I was especially impressed at the way in which he and Ravi Rampaul closed out the innings, with a succession of yorkers and short deliveries that were hard to deal with. It augured well for the T20, especially when one adds Kane Richardson to the mix.

Mellor and Thomson did well for the visitors, but they didn't really get away, due to fine spells of spin bowling by Mark Watt and Wayne Madsen. Both showed excellent control, the former bowling his spell straight through and claiming two good wickets. I think supporters are starting to warm to him and he looks more relaxed now. He bowled excellent lines and probing lengths today.

When we kept the final total under 300 I was confident that our batting could chase it down, even shorn of the injured Leus du Plooy. We got a good start from the openers, but were rocking slightly when Tom Lace didn't last long.

There were no real worries however, as Alex Hughes was quickly into his stride and shared in an imperious partnership with the impeccable Wayne Madsen. My superlatives for the latter were exhausted some time back, but suffice to say that he looked in a different league today.

Don't get me wrong, Hughes played a trademark innings and their partnership of 134 in 22 overs effectively sealed the match. Alex was caught with just under fifty needed, then Harvey Hosein looked unnecessarily skittish in his short time at the crease.

But Matt Critchley opened with a flurry of boundaries and Madsen ended the game in a salvo of sixes. When he is in this form he appears incapable of an ugly stroke and once again we could only look on in admiration and be grateful for his talents.

Fourth in the league tonight and  playing third place at Old Trafford on Thursday. We really could not have wished for more at this stage and we still control our own destiny. We have competed strongly in every match and probably took Nottinghamshire, the runaway group leaders, closer than anyone.

Plenty of reasons to be very happy tonight, then. We may have a small squad, but it is perfectly formed.

Well done gentlemen. Once again.

Derbyshire V Warwickshire preview

There is no news as yet on Leus du Plooy, but as I said yesterday, the speed of his departure from the pitch at Durham suggested a serious injury. I would be surprised if we see him for a few weeks.

Alfie Gleadall has a side strain and with Matt McKiernan a long-time absentee, the squad is largely picking itself at present for Derbyshire.

Tomorrow sees a welcome return for Logan van Beek, while Mark Watt returns to the thirteen. It is anyone's guess as to which bowlers drop out tomorrow, but Dave Houghton will be aware of the need to protect Sam Conners. I suspect we are only one bowler injury from a crisis and may need to utilise the loan market before the four-day game resumes.

Tomorrow's visitors, Warwickshire, have been disappointing in this competition, though have had their share of injuries too.

Shining like a beacon for them has been Sam Hain, the subject of a social media campaign to replace Alex Hales in the England squad for the World Cup. He will accordingly be keen to do well tomorrow and a big score may just tip the scales in his favour.

They have some good cricketers and regardless of their position in the league will be keen, and able, to register a win.

Derbyshire, meanwhile, will be seeking a victory to maintain their chances of qualification for the knockout stage.

It will make for compelling viewing, but we will need to score more runs then we managed at Chester-le-Street. There was a time when 250 was a good 50-over score, but when teams are now passing 200 in 20 over cricket, it will rarely be enough.

With our bowling not looking at its best at present, it needs a little more protection.

Hopefully, tomorrow sees a return to winning ways.

Update : du Plooy dislocated his index finger and is out for a minimum of four weeks, as his finger regains full function.

A big blow, for club and player.

Durham V Derbyshire

Derbyshire 255-8 (Critchley 49*, Lace 48)

Durham 260-7 (Richardson 72*,Lees 55, Rampaul 2-25, Lace 2-20)

Durham won by three wickets

Derbyshire didn't play badly today at Durham, but nor did they play well enough to take the win that could have been theirs.

Against a Durham side that was a different proposition to the one we beat in the County Championship, no one played the big innings that was required. The dismissal of the prolific Billy Godleman was a pivotal moment, and although most of the batsmen got going, none did so for long enough to make a difference.

Halfway through the innings, 275 to 300 looked to be what was needed and indeed would have made for an interesting finish.

Yet five runs an over as a target is not really demanding, on a wicket where runs were possible all day.

An early wicket for Sam Conners gave us hope and the youngster subsequently added a run out and catch to a solid performance. Ravi Rampaul was excellent, but there was not enough in the rest of the attack to cause any real problems.

Durham batted steadily, which was all they needed to do for a comfortable win. As the innings drew to a close, Leus du Plooy was introduced to the attack and after four balls had to leave the field with a finger injury. From the speed of his departure it looked nasty and we must only hope that it is not long-term serious.

His over was finished by Tom Lace who took a fine caught and bowled. When he sharply ran out Trevaskis in the next over, there was a glimmer, but that was it. The innings finished in a flurry of sixes from Richardson and another wicket for Lace, though it was largely academic by that stage

Derbyshire must regroup for the next match, in two days time against Warwickshire at Derby. They can still qualify in a very open group, but can ill afford any more defeats. With Lancashire and Worcestershire to come, there is a lot to play for.

Between times they will sweat on the fitness of du Plooy and my guess would be he will miss at least that next game.

Durham V Derbyshire preview

Enjoying the season so far?

I sure am, and have seen more of it than for some time, with my operation and ongoing recovery.

Tomorrow's game at Durham was to have been my first of the season, at least in the flesh, but I have not yet been cleared to drive and so must rely on another excellent stream to follow the action.

It has been an enthralling start to the summer and we have played some stunning cricket. The batting appears to be in excellent health, with Captain Fantastic averaging 138 in the RLODC. It is only a matter of time before Luis Reece comes good, while we all know what Wayne Madsen can do. Meanwhile, in Leus du Plooy, we appear to have found a gem and he is already a huge fan favourite.

Last night I exchanged messages with a former county stalwart, who suggested that we may have found a new, albeit left-handed, Peter Kirsten. I think that he should be our regular number four now, especially in any one day cricket. You want your best batsmen at the crease for as long as possible and anyone who has watched Leus will know that he is touched by genius.

Like any other player, he will encounter periods where form is elusive, but he looks a cricketer on the brink of something special.

I see only one change to the side for the trip to Durham, dependent on the availability of Logan van Beek. He should replace either Anuj Dal or Sam Conners, though I felt the latter bowled as well as anyone yesterday, with the exception of Rampaul and Critchley.

Our hosts are just above us in the table and a win tomorrow would see us leapfrog them.

Chris Rushworth may return to their side after a run out in the second team, but they are in form and will be a stiffer test than was the case in the 4-day game at the Pattonair County Ground.

Likely side:

Clark, Steele, Lees, Bancroft, Harte, Burnham, Carse, Trevaskis, Raine, Potts/Rushworth, Salisbury

It will be a tough game and I remain more confident in our batting than bowling.

But as the last couple of games have shown, don't discount Derbyshire.

Yorkshire V Derbyshire RLODC

Yorkshire 308-2 (Kohler Cadmore 79, Lyth 78, Willey 72* Brook 59*)

Derbyshire 223-3 (Godleman 107*, du Plooy 75)

Match tied

That was simply stunning.

Regardless of not managing two runs from the final delivery of the game, Derbyshire can be very proud of a thrilling run chase, one that earned them a share  of the points.

Few people gave us a chance of chasing down a target of 225 runs in 22 overs. Yet before the start of the innings, I posted on Twitter that we had five times exceeded 200 in T20 matches and it was possible 'if someone went berserk'.

Well, two people did. Billy Godleman smashed a third successive century with an unbeaten 107 from 62 balls, while Leus du Plooy hit a quite stunning 75 from just 37 deliveries.

It is already patently clear that the South African is a massive talent, some of his stroke play simply breathtaking. He seems to have so much time, the hallmark of a very good player. A six over extra cover was special, but a flip almost from the base of leg stump for six over fine leg was a shot that few could undertake.

After the early loss of Reece and Madsen, prospects were not good. Yet the two left handers kept the score ticking over on target with one of the best common sense run chases I have seen from a  Derbyshire side. Each over brought an early boundary, then they worked it around without taking further undue risks. They hit eleven sixes between them, in a stand that added 135 runs in just twelve overs.

The dismissal of du Plooy brought in Matt Critchley, who kept the score ticking over, without timing the ball as we know he can. At the other end his captain breezed to another century and somehow managed to scramble and bludgeon eighteen from the final over, bowled by David Willey.

It was outstanding from Godleman, who set the tone, reaching and clearing the boundary in an innings somewhat out of character, but all the better for that. He led by example and was again a stand out.

The first Derbyshire player to make three successive List A centuries. He can be proud of that, for sure.

There will be mixed feelings among Derbyshire supporters, of course. We got it down to three runs from two balls, but you have to give credit to the bowler, who came back well when it mattered, having just been hammered for four, then six. Eighteen off the last over was a tall order, thanks to an excellent penultimate one from the Yorkshire skipper.

Earlier, the Derbyshire bowlers were hit around the park and had the rain not intervened, we may well have been chasing 400. Home supporters will feel that gave them a better chance of winning, but we were left to chase over ten runs an over, which is a tall order in any level of the game.

And we nearly, so nearly did it

Whether you regard that as a point lost or one gained is down to your outlook. I see this point as huge for the county and if it can be reinforced by a win at Durham on Sunday, we are very much in the shake up for the next stage.

The bowling looks a little short, but Dave Houghton is certainly getting the best from his batsmen

Who would have considered this position before the tournament began?

What a game that was.

Get your comments in, folks!

Yorkshire V Derbyshire preview

There is a welcome return from illness for Ravi Rampaul tomorrow, in time for Derbyshire's RLODC match against Yorkshire at Headingley.

I am sure that Billy Godleman will welcome an experienced bowler back to the side, crucially one in in fine form so far this season.

He replaces Mark Watt from the squad that won at Leicester and the only other question would appear to be whether Tony Palladino replaces either Alfie Gleadall or Sam Conners. I would be inclined to play the latter, which also means the two youngsters have similar work loads.

Likely side:

Godleman, Reece, Madsen, du Plooy, Hughes, Lace, Critchley, Hosein, Palladino, Conners, Rampaul

Our hosts look increasingly like a Derbyshire 'old boys' team, with the in form Gary Ballance leading the batting, while Duanne Olivier does the same for the bowling. Jon Tattersall is having a good summer with bat and gloves, having previously played for our second team.

Their squad:

Ballance, Bresnan, Brook, Coad, Leaning, Lyth, Olivier, Patterson (c), Pillans, Poysden, Tattersall (wk), Kohler-Cadmore, Waite, Willey.

With rain showers predicted for Leeds from mid-afternoon, both captains will likely be keen to bowl first.

It will be a tough game for Derbyshire, one that will likely test the depth of our batting, while there is enough firepower in the home order to test us.

We will do well to return home with the points, but have shown ourselves as a competitive and tight unit so far.

Yorkshire will know that they have been in a game and this will be worth keeping an eye on. We have a good record against the white rose county of late, something they will be as aware of as we are ourselves.

More from me tomorrow.

Recognising Godleman

It is a sign, I think, of the progress made by Derbyshire that we are now complaining about 'only' winning on the last ball of the game. Further evidence of the same can be found in our disappointment over failing to make 300 against Nottinghamshire.

Billy Godleman made a century in each of those games and 'only' made 87 against Northamptonshire. It is a rich vein of form that has seen him pass 300 runs in his first three innings of the tournament.

Time was when a Derbyshire top five would struggle to a hundred runs between them, and when one day wins came along so rarely as to spark euphoria and the consideration of a local holiday.

Billy Godleman scored his fifth List A century for the county yesterday, which puts him up there with the legends. Only Messrs Barnett, Adams, Morris, Jones and Di Venuto have scored more. In 30 years time, history may not stand him alongside these in graceful technique and stylish stroke play, but he will be second to none for grit and making the absolute most of everything he has.

Very few batsmen leave the south of England and make a success of a career in the north of the country. Indeed, there was a time when the best of them developed injuries, ahead of a 'northern tour' that tested technique and temperament.

Billy burst onto the scene at Lord's as a dazzling stroke player, went into what appeared a terminal decline in a move to Essex, and after a sticky start has become a cult hero in the East Midlands.

Much of his stroke play smacks of the unorthodox, with shovels, nudges and dabs of his own, but it works. He plays within his limitations, knows his game and is a worthy opponent and captain. He has become increasingly shrewd in the latter role, a man to be respected.

Of course he is not without fault. Who is, among us? His running between the wickets can be hesitant, his footwork laboured against spin, his range of strokes limited against bowlers of accuracy. On occasion a 'hoik' comes out, one that smears the ball anywhere between long leg and mid on, but it usually works for him. Don't go coaching it to too many of the kids in your junior section though...

Yet we missed his solidity when he dropped down the order last year. He has undeniably grasped a major principle of one-day success, that someone has to bat through the innings. Without him in the side for these last three games, someone else would have  needed to score those runs. And may not have done so.

Score them he has, and will doubtless continue. If he had that top gear, one that allowed him to press on when well set, he would currently be preparing for a World Cup, so good is his record in this format. Probably still playing down south, too, which would be our loss.

Perhaps, when he has done his anchoring job, it would be good to see him bring out 'the long handle' a little more, or know when the time for the more fleet of foot and inventive to earn their corn has come. But we will miss him when his time comes, I guarantee you that.

Godleman, Reece, Madsen, du Plooy... in its own, different way may become a modern-day rival for the Barnett, Bowler, Morris, Adams axis, one that made my younger days special.

They didn't always get the tactics right either, but it was quite often magnificent entertainment, while it lasted.

I suspect the next few years will be the same. Win, lose, or draw, it should be a lot of fun.

Enjoy it, while it lasts.

Leicestershire V Derbyshire RLODC

Leicestershire 312-8  (Ackerman 119 Reece 2-59, Hughes 2-55)

Derbyshire 266-3 (Godleman 106, du Plooy 73*, Madsen 60) D/L

Derbyshire won by seven wickets

Derbyshire finally limped over the line against Leicestershire today, but made more of a meal of the game's closing stages than should really have been the case.

It was a good batting performance, batting second, tarnished only by two run outs that were shoddy, both featuring Billy Godleman.

It is again difficult to be unduly critical of a man who has scored a century. His average over the past two seasons in this competition is Bradmanesque, but he was at fault in the run out of Luis Reece, while it was a classic case of the 'biter, bit' in the closing over of the game.

There were an easy  three runs when Luis was out. He made them, only to find that midway through the third his captain had not moved and turned his back on him as he made his ground. Reece had to go, unfortunate as he looked in good touch.

Wayne Madsen came in and batted beautifully, easing past fifty before assaying a reverse sweep off Colin Ackerman and being palpably leg before.

Billy had played some fine shots himself and looked in control, as he and Leus du Plooy ate into the target and kept us on target. Both players cleared the ropes and du Plooy looks a player of high quality. The more I see him, I am reminded of JP Duminy, his speed between the wickets and languid stroke play very similar, so too his build.

Tom Taylor bowled well at the death for them and it left 8 runs required from the last. Having swung and missed at the second ball, the skipper called for two from the fourth and du Plooy didn't move. Godleman was run out by the length of the pitch. It was a fine innings again. though once more strangely becalmed after the century, when he added only five runs from his last eleven deliveries.

It left six runs from the last three balls, but after a swing and miss, the South African  delivered. Four from the first, a sprinted two from the last, to complete an excellent innings and seal the points.

There were no doubt amicable discussions in the dressing room tonight, but having the game won, we made that a lot harder than it should have been.

Earlier, a makeshift attack, shorn of its most experienced bowlers, did well to limit the home side to under 350. Ackerman batted beautifully, but wickets fell often enough for our purposes. Reece bowled splendidly, Hughes did well and Watt was tidy.

Alfie Gleadall was brought to earth after his three wickets at the weekend, but I thought Sam Conners had a good debut in the tournament, and it is an unforgiving game for young bowlers, as we know.

We must hope for the return of Rampaul for Friday, or we will be looking down a barrel. Yet we largely batted very well today, not for the first time this season.

Two wins from three games is where we would have hoped to be at this stage.

As a team, they could scarce have done more.

Leicestershire V Derbyshire preview

Tony Palladino comes into the Derbyshire squad for tomorrow's game at Leicester.

He replaces Ravi Rampaul, who is still unwell and my guess would be that he will be one change to the side, replacing Mark Watt in the eleven that lost to Nottinghamshire.

He had a bowl today for the second eleven and will benefit from that spell.

Logan van Beek has family commitments and so there may be an opportunity for Sam Conners to make a first team List A debut, which as you will read later, will be well deserved.

Our hosts won their last game and we will need to be at our best to come out on top. South African Colin Ackermann  is in fine form, while Mark Cosgrove has been a regular thorn in Derbyshire sides over the years.

Tom Taylor has made an astonishing start to his Foxes career with both bat and ball, getting back to the bowler we once had high hopes for at Derby. Will Davis has been less spectacular, but both players will have points to prove tomorrow, just as Ben Slater had on Monday.

If we turn up at our best, we will win, because there is plenty of talent in this side. Any drop in intensity and the home side are well placed to take advantage.

In closing tonight, there was a fine win for the second team against Lancashire, or in keeping with the local way, Daryn Smit's Second Eleven...

The home side was bowled out for 216, with Steven Parry making top score of 86, while there were three wickets for Sam Conners.

Only Tom Wood (34) made any runs in the top order, but Conners hit 6 sixes in his 51, Hamidullah Qadri made an unbeaten 19, and in company with Smit (36*) steered us home by two wickets.

Smit is doing a fine job with the second team, which is so far unbeaten. Given it is largely made up of youngsters and trialists, that is very impressive.

I will be back tomorrow, with my thoughts on the game at Leicester.

Monday musings

I don't think that there is any need for a major inquest, after our defeat yesterday.

By and large we acquitted ourselves well. The absence of Rampaul was a factor, though I don't think his presence would have changed the result. I hope Ravi is recovered in time for the Leicestershire game on Wednesday.

The only change that I would make to the eleven would be Ravi coming in at the expense of Mark Watt. Someone has to give way and it would be silly to omit Alfie Gleadall, after an impressive list A debut.

Having come into the squad late, Mark doesn't look as fit as the rest of the team and can work on that ahead of the T20. Madsen and Critchley offer a spin option, as does du Plooy if needed. Matt McKiernan would surely be in the side, but for his stress fracture.

We just need to capitalise on a good start and break down the innings into segments. If you reach 150 in thirty overs, with plenty of wickets in hand, the rest of it becomes a T20 mindset, where a par score is now around 180.

That would have given us 330, probably still not enough on this occasion, but challenging against lesser opposition.

It is little things like this that Dave Houghton referred to pre-season, improving by ten per cent. Thirty extra runs is a lot in a one day game and Billy took 25 balls to move from 95 to his final 116. I admire and respect the man completely, but on this occasion it was too slow and put additional pressure on the new batsmen coming in, with the bowlers allowed to dominate.

Little things to work on, but as the old song goes, little things mean a lot.

More from me tomorrow, when the squads are announced.

Derbyshire V Nottinghamshire RLODC

Derbyshire 297-8 (Godleman 116, Reece 88)

Nottinghamshire 299-4 (Slater 83, Mullaney 68*, Moores 52* Gleadall 3-43)

Nottinghamshire won by 6 wickets

Derbyshire gave a decent account of themselves today, in the East Midlands derby, but in the end we were simply outplayed by our more affluent neighbours, who hardly seemed to need to change gear.

Batting first, supporters enjoyed a fine opening stand between Billy Godleman and Luis Reece. The skipper went on to a fine century, but the heat of the day clearly affected him as he approached the landmark. By the end of his innings he was accumulating in singles, when a little more was needed.

It seems churlish to be critical of a fine innings, but at 224 in the fortieth over when Madsen went, we really should have been exceeding 300. I would have to say that Luke Fletcher and Jake Ball bowled excellent closing spells, but it is an area for improvement and the rest of a long batting line up were left with no time to play with.

Reece batted splendidly and is a fine sight in full flow. A century seemed there for the taking, when he top edged a sweep, but he was also struggling with the heat towards the end.

The consensus was that we were at least thirty runs short at the halfway point. Slater and Clarke set off in imperious fashion and looked in little danger, until Clarke hit the second ball from Alfie Gleadall down the throat of Reece on the boundary.

Duckett didn't last long, but Libby joined Slater and the score moved merrily along. I was again a little underwhelmed by van Beek, whose control was poor, though there was an encouraging debut for Gleadall, who returned to remove both batsmen, bringing Moores and Mullaney together.

Hosein had earlier got his fingers to a very difficult chance and looked to miss a stumping from the bowling of the burly Watt, which might have made the finish more interesting. I thought the Scot bowled steadily enough, before late 'treatment' ruined his figures, but nor did he look like taking wickets on this surface.

Pick of the bowlers was Reece, who commanded respect from all of the batsmen and completed an excellent all-round game.

In the end, it was all to no avail and the visitors cantered to their target
with time and wickets in hand. Moores again showed a liking for our bowling and has very fast hands, illustrated by several mighty blows for six. He and Mullaney carried them across the line with ease.

Beaten then, but not disheartened against one of the best sides in this format.

We pick ourselves up and go again.

Derbyshire's Kolpaks

There has been a lot of comment in the media and social media regarding players getting Kolpak status and how this happens. It has come to attention again with our signing of Leus du Plooy.

It is first worth knowing that the term 'Kolpak' is a generic one. There are various ways in which players are able to qualify, but in terms of South African, Zimbabwe and West Indian cricketers, the key legislation is the Cotonou Agreement.

It means that citizens of countries that are part of European Union Association Agreements, free trade treaties between the EU and other countries, also have the right to work in the UK. This will likely end with Brexit.

The normal entry route for overseas professionals requires specific criteria to be satisfied, including having played a certain number of international matches. Without an EU passport, players need to have played a minimum of one Test match or 15 one-day and/or T20 internationals in the two years prior to the visa application. This was the original entry route into the country of Ravi Rampaul, who thus satisfies what is called 'tier five visa criteria' .

There are other options and Daryn Smit plays here under an ancestral rights visa, having a grandparent born in the UK before 1922. He is banded as a Kolpak, despite having made his home in Derbyshire and retired from South African cricket. By ECB regulations, he had to sign as a Kolpak to confirm that he had no plans to play in South Africa as a 'local', which does appear to be over-egging it a little.

As for Leus du Plooy, my understanding is that he has a Hungarian passport, which gives him those rights to work freely within the EU.

Like anyone else registering as a Kolpak, he had to sign a declaration which states that he has no intention to play cricket for any full member country, except England, at any time in the future. Nor seek to play any first class match in those countries, except as an overseas player.

It is reversible and from the top of my head, such names as Jacques Rudolph, Faf du Plessis and Ryan McLaren came here, did well, and elevated their claims to play for South Africa

I have no idea of the future plans of Leus du Plooy. He may opt to go down the same route as Duanne Olivier and qualify for England, but that requires playing for a county for seven years. He may play here for a few years and go home, like those above.

To a great extent it doesn't matter. All we can do is enjoy the entertainment while we have him and hope that it goes on for a long time to come.

Maybe he is the new Wayne Madsen.

We can only dream...

Derbyshire V Nottinghamshire preview

I do not expect any change to the Derbyshire side for the visit of Nottinghamshire tomorrow.

Both teams recorded wins yesterday, our visitors winning margin surprisingly small on a wicket that was far too much in favour of the batsmen of either side.

Our wicket yesterday was close to perfect and I would not be surprised to see the same one used tomorrow. Gloucestershire did that earlier in the week against Surrey and won handsomely, negating a free-scoring side on a worn wicket and correctly using home advantage. I would have no issue with our doing the same.

The side looks good. The batting depth came into play and, as I said last night, we bowled better lengths than our visitors.

With regard to Logan van Beek, it needs to be remembered that he has played only eight more games of first class cricket than Matt Critchley. He does have a tendency to that one bad ball an over, but also the better one in that he gets wickets. I enjoy his whole-hearted attitude and think his ability to hit a long ball may earn him elevation in T20. I don't see many opportunities otherwise for a long innings.

Mark Watt was tidy yesterday and I could see him playing a lot of white ball cricket this year. The unfortunate stress fracture sustained by Matt McKiernan leaves the way clear for him, especially with Hamidullah Qadri likely to be with England under-19s for much of the summer.

Tomorrow's game will be tough. In financial terms it is David V Goliath and Nottinghamshire, like Surrey, really shouldn't lose many matches with the budget and players at their disposal.

They can and they do though and money doesn't always buy team spirit.

That, and a team of considerable talent, will help Derbyshire to do well this season.

Likely sides:

Derbyshire - Godleman, Reece, Madsen, Lace, du Plooy, Hughes, Critchley, Hosein, van Beek, Watt, Rampaul

Notts - Clarke, Slater, Duckett, Libby, Mullaney, Moores, Patel, Fletcher, Ball, Pattinson, Chappell.

Derbyshire V Northamptonshire RLODC

Derbyshire 268-6 (Godleman 87, Critchley 64*)

Northamptonshire 215 all out (Procter 50*, Hughes 4-44, van Beek 3-50)

Derbyshire won by 53 runs

In keeping with the way of things this season, Billy Godleman opted to bat after winning the toss in glorious sunshine.

Luis Reece was caught behind from the bowling of Jason Holder in the first over. Then Madsen and Godleman batted with fluency to take the score quickly past fifty, before Wayne played at a ball he should really have left alone and was quickly followed back into the pavilion by Alex Hughes.

Leus du Plooy announced himself with successive boundaries as he and the skipper rebuilt the innings. He looks a player of class and, after the score had passed the hundred mark he was unlucky to chop on, from the bowling of the giant Muzarabani.

I thought at the time that the giant fast bowlers were bowling too short and each was punished as the innings came to a conclusion. Godleman had found the middle of his bat elusive in the early part of his innings, but timing eventually came and he played some fine strokes, first accompanied by Lace and then Critchley. The latter took control when Billy was eventually bowled for 87 and he played a mature knock in the circumstances. His partnership of 47 in the last 5 overs with Hosein took the total from an average one to something more challenging. They were quick between the wickets and played some audacious strokes.

Last night I mentioned the dangerous openers of Northamptonshire and they were both back in the pavilion inside the first  four overs. Both Rampaul and van Beek bowled well, each assisted by a brilliant catch by Alex Hughes.

Alex then ripped out the middle order and came back to take the final wicket after late resistance from Procter and Sanderson. His 3 catches and four wickets must have run his captain close for the man of the match award, but without the skipper's dogged determination and runs, the result could have been quite different.

It was, again, a fine team performance by Derbyshire in which everyone contributed. They will face sterner opposition in this group and Nottinghamshire on Sunday will present a far bigger challenge.

Yet tonight we are still unbeaten and a good-sized crowd will have gone home happy and enthused about the prospects for the season ahead.  

Derbyshire V Northamptonshire preview

I have a few observations, as you might expect, on the announced fourteen-man squad for tomorrow's RLODC game against Northamptonshire.

First, it would appear likely that Anuj Dal is one of those outside the eleven. On Twitter today he was advertising his availability for a sub Pro role on Saturday. Something I would think unlikely were he playing on Friday and Sunday.

Second, there appears a likely change to the batting order, which for me would make eminent sense. If Tom Lace moves up to open and Leus du Prooy slots in at five, we can have a left/right combination through the top six. In one-day matches this makes sense, and anything with potential to mess up the lines of opposition bowlers is no bad thing.

If my likely eleven take the field, Sam Conners and Alfie Gleadall will also miss out from a side that bats down to number nine and offers eight bowling options.

That side:

Godleman, Lace, Reece, Madsen, Du Plooy, Hughes, Hosein, Critchley, van Beek, Watt, Rampaul.

So, as I predicted the other day, Mark Watt earns an early elevation to the first team. He is a good cricketer, experienced beyond his years and will let no one down.

Northamptonshire have not announced their side yet, but it is unlikely to show any change from the one that was beaten by Durham in their first game.

Derbyshire will be aware of the danger in hard hitting opening pair Josh Cobb and Richard Levi, while Alex Wakely is the strength in their middle order. They also have perhaps the tallest pair of opening bowlers on the county circuit, in West Indies captain Jason Holder and Zimbabwe international Blessing Muzarabani.

Their likely side:

Cobb, Levi, Newton, Wakely, Rossington, Holder, Keogh, Procter, Buck, Sanderson, Muzarabani.

It will be a tough game, but they all are and I have confidence that a battling Derbyshire side will come out on top, ahead of the East Midlands derby on Sunday.

As always, I welcome your comments.

President Rhodes and unfair criticism

First up today, warm congratulations from me to Harold Rhodes, the club's new president, as announced last night.

I was never comfortable when the club moved away from a long-standing process of the most senior capped player getting the role. Of course, both Geoff Miller and Michael Holding were high profile players and personalities, but it did not sit comfortably with me that the claims of loyal club servants were being overlooked.

Harold was a great fast bowler. Only flawed and biased testing stopped him from showing that on an international stage. An elbow that hyper flexed beyond straight gave an illusion ONLY of throwing, but by the time the perpetual clowns in charge of our national game realised that, it was too late for Harold.

I was fortunate enough to see him in the latter part of his career and he was a proper bowler. Frighteningly quick in his pomp, when his speed was estimated as over 90 mph. No wonder a few batsmen developed injuries ahead of a trip to Derby or Chesterfield, when Gladwin or Jackson gave way to him as first change.

Later, he shared the new ball with Les Jackson, then his namesake Brian, in a golden period of Derbyshire seam bowling. In 1965, he and Brian were first and second in the national averages.

May he enjoy his year as president. Make sure you find out all you can about a wonderful bowler and lovely man by reading his excellent autobiography, written by John Shawcroft, usually to be found in the club shop. Or by reading the interview I did with him as part of my 'In Their Own Words' book...

Moving on, there have been a few murmurings on social media regarding the signing of Leus du Plooy. These have suggested that he is 'blocking the progress' of a young batsman.

I disagree. We don't have another young batsman on the staff, with Anuj Dal seemingly seen as a bits and pieces player, rather than a top six option.

My expectation is that we must make the most of Tom Lace this summer, as Middlesex will almost certainly want him back next year. That being the case, this summer is an excellent opportunity for Tom Wood to have an extended trial in front of Dave Houghton. Tom isn't on the staff, but weight of runs in the second team and in local cricket may well see him get a contract for next year, if not before.

Houghton has said that he wants to promote young local talent and I am sure that he will, when the time is right. He will know, better than me and better than most readers of this blog, what it takes to make runs at first class level.

If Tom can convince Dave this summer, opportunity may well knock next year.

But let's not say that Leus is blocking anyone's path, because in a small squad there simply is no-one to block.

I will be back later, with squad news ahead of tomorrow's game against Northamptonshire.

Leus du Plooy signs Kolpak deal

Today's announcement of the signing of Leus du Plooy from South Africa, on a Kolpak deal, is both an interesting and very exciting one.

Of course, detractors will say that counties should not be giving opportunity to players from other countries, but I am sure that Derbyshire will continue to promote the best of young local talent, regardless of this signing.

Yet those same detractors cannot have it both ways. As the bigger, more affluent counties siphon off the cream of the talent that they work hard to produce, sometimes alternate mechanisms need to be in place to maintain competition. Unless circumstance requires the recall of Daryn Smit, the player, with Ravi Rampaul, is the only Kolpak we will field this year and Smit is here on an ancestral visa anyway, Kolpak status only so he cannot play in two countries as a local.

du Plooy, 24, arrives at the Pattonair County Ground with an already impressive first-class record, yet crucially one on which he will be keen to build. A first-class average of 47 and a List A one of 54 takes some doing, though not all were made at the highest level in South Africa, where he plays for Northerns province and the Titans franchise. Enough have been to be very excited, however and a rate of a fifty or hundred in less than every three innings in first- class cricket makes one sit up. So too a similar rate in List A matches, and an average over 30 in T20.

Two years ago, du Plooy hit the Sri Lankan attack for 142 from 159 deliveries, including 25 boundaries, while his winter has been awash with runs and wickets. He also bowls more than useful slow left arm, with an economy rate of under seven an over in T20 and best figures of 4-15, making him even more of a signing.

He signed off with successive scores of 119, 155 (List A) 85* (List A final) and 119, suggesting a rich vein of form and a player of serious talent and potential. Yet we should not expect too much, too soon.

He looks impressive, yet so too did Dominic Telo, who never made it in this country. English wickets, especially in the early season, have no South African equivalent and supporters will likely need to be patient while he gets used to the tracks. Those of us of a certain vintage will recall Chris Wilkins' early travails against the moving ball, that necessitated his dropping down the order to number four.

Yet there he was a great success, and an entertainer to boot. We must hope that du Plooy, who arrives with a reputation as a hard-hitting, left-handed batsman who usually bats at number four, follows in the footsteps of Wilkins, rather than Telo. For all his subsequent success, few had heard of Peter Kirsten when he came over here either, and that turned out rather well, for all parties.

The player is highly-rated back home and they will be rightly disappointed at losing him. Yet no one can be blamed for doing the best for themselves financially, and he is another victim of the country's quota system and a failure to properly remunerate the best players. He has a lot of time to make a huge success of his career here, and it will be one to watch with interest.

Dave Houghton is no fool and would not squander money on a deal were he not confident in the player's ability to succeed. If he comes off, as I suspect he will, it will go down as a magnificent signing, one that adds missing firepower to our batting, as well as yet another option to our bowling.

If it doesn't, then at least we have tried and it is encouraging that we have the requisite 'fingers on the pulse' to spot talent, wherever its origin.

I wish Leus well, as I'm sure all of you do. Watching him bat will be another reason to enjoy watching Derbyshire this summer.

RLODC prospects

As regular readers will know, I tend to be one of those people who looks at life through a half full glass.

So too my cricket. I appear to be in a very small minority who predicted anything other than trials for Derbyshire this summer. I remain confident that we will acquit ourselves well in the T20 and County Championship.

As for the RLODC, I am less sure.

In the four-day game, our seam attack, long batting order and range of bowlers will serve us well. In 20-over cricket, I suspect our spinners will prove especially effective, as batsmen try to dominate from the off.

I am less sure about the 50-over game.

One would assume that at this early stage of the season, spin bowlers will be less effective. At the same time, historically we have not used Tony Palladino in this form of the game, and Logan van Beek has not yet convinced me of his ability to control the scoring rate as will be required.

While I feel the Derbyshire side is capable of chasing a total in excess of 300, in a very strong section it is possible that may be some way short of targets.

Messrs Reece, Rampaul and Hughes will thus be important and I suspect there will be an early elevation to senior ranks for Mark Watt, after fine bowling for the second team yesterday. Wayne Madsen will doubtless bowl an over or two, as may Matt Critchley.

The makeup of the announced squad will be carefully watched. Will Dave Houghton put in one of his young seam bowlers? Will there be a place for Matt McKiernan, who hasn't yet featured for the second team? Or will there be an enhanced role for Anuj Dal, which includes a few overs?

Will there even be a role, as the summer progresses, for Tom Wood? He seems to have brought his Australian form with him and is scoring big runs in the second team. Crucially, he usually does so at a good rate.

With no announcement as yet regarding our new batsman, it would seem unlikely that he will be here for the game against Northamptonshire. That will be a blow and we can only hope that the deal has not hit a snag.

Plenty of questions then, and only Dave Houghton has the answers. We will know more in the next 48 hours and like the rest of you, I eagerly await the news on the squad.

Second team beat Warwickshire

There was an excellent win for the county second team today, against Warwickshire in the Second Eleven trophy.

Batting first, Derbyshire  lost an early wicket but then a partnership of 163 in 30 overs between Tyler McGladdery, formerly of Lancashire and Tom Wood set us on the way. Wood made a splendid 116, including 11 boundaries and a six, while McGladdery made an enterprising 63 at almost a run a ball.

Later cameos from Fynn Hudson - Prentice (46), who was on the Sussex staff, and Daryn Smit (31* from 16 balls) took the score to 303-6 in 50 overs.

The home side went off like a train and the second wicket went down at 113 in only the 13th over. The introduction of Scotland spinner Mark Watt slowed the scoring, however, and wickets began to fall regularly.

Sam Conners replied to earlier treatment by taking three wickets, including that of England man Chris Woakes. Alfie Gleadall removed the dangerous Ed Pollock and when Alan Mellor was run out by Conners, the writing was on the wall.

Watt completed an excellent spell with figures of 3-43 in ten overs and although a last wicket stand made the result more respectable, Derbyshire were excellent and clear winners by 87 runs.

It continues the feel good factor around the club at this early stage of the season.

Wayne Madsen: an appreciation

Yesterday, in the course of his masterful double century against Gloucestershire, Wayne Madsen scored his 29th century for the county, reached 10,000 first-class runs and 15,000 in all formats. He is one of only nine batsmen to reach that landmark and is a bona fide legend of the club. Given the way that players move around these days, he may be the last to reach that tally, certainly for a long time.

Madsen has been a huge asset to Derbyshire since he first came out of the Lancashire Leagues in 2009, with a run of scores that highlighted a very fine player. An average of 58 that summer owed a lot to being the unknown quantity and also to some decent tracks, but there was little doubt that John Morris had unearthed a gem in the South African-born player.

He had scored thousands of runs as professional and guest professional in the leagues and, cricket anorak that I am, his name stuck in my mind when he made scores of 38 not, 83, 29 and 57 in second eleven championship games, as well as 135 against Durham in a one-day game. To his credit, John Morris signed him on soon after I suggested Madsen as a worthwhile talent on this blog - though I am not, of course, claiming responsibility for the deal!

When he came into the senior eleven he was an instant success and Madsen quickly became established as a very good county cricketer. Many worse have played for England and had that opportunity come his way I have every confidence he would have taken it in his stride. The chance has gone now, but we can look forward to a few more years of appreciating him at the crease in Derbyshire colours. He is contracted to 2022, and he will still be scoring plenty of runs then, at the age of 38. There might even be another contract after that, if he wants it. 

There have been opportunities to go, of course, but Wayne has shown a loyalty rare in the modern game, just as he has shown the highest level of honesty, integrity and sportsmanship over the years. This has been recognised with awards, but I am sure the greatest of his awards was winning the championship of division two in 2012, as captain.

His captaincy was steady, supportive and reliable, rather than from the 'Eddie Barlow Book of Daring Deeds and Inspirational Feats', but perhaps confrontation didn't come easy to him and the demands of the role, on top of being the side's key batsman, made him give it up, in favour of the admirable Billy Godleman.

He is a thinking, intelligent man and that has been as obvious as the broad smile that has lit up the club since his arrival. Yet it has been his triumph over adversity that marked Madsen down as someone quite special. Lesser men would have stayed off the pitch with the painful rib injury that made a monumental innings at Northampton quite astonishing. Mere words cannot reflect the admiration of Derbyshire fans for a century against Gloucestershire, shortly after the death of an unborn baby daughter with his wife, Kyla. It was a quite extraordinary effort, but then we have become accustomed to the extraordinary from Wayne.

When he agreed to write the introduction for my second book, he declared himself flattered to be asked, when that state was all mine, especially when I saw the words that he had written. When he turned up for the launch of my book on Edwin Smith, it added another dimension to the event and I will forever be grateful for his thoughtfulness, when he had many other things to do.

He and his wife swapped Durban for Derbyshire and have made it their home.They now have two lovely daughters, both of who will have the finest of sporting genes. I could see him involved in the club as a coach in the future, but his level of fitness and technique are such that he could easily play past forty. His wife's successful sports coaching business may also be a lure at some point, but we must hope, for purely selfish reasons, that this is some time off.

It would be hard to find anyone in cricket who had a bad word to say about Madsen the man, equally hard to find anyone in Derbyshire who had anything but respect and admiration for what he has done for the club these past eleven summers.

Enjoy his stylish batting, handy bowling and reliable hands while you can.Whether showing his skilled defensive technique over several hours, as he did yesterday, or unveiling the reverse sweeps and that classic on drive that are surely the most aesthetic in the business, his remains the wicket most valued by opponents.

As they sing around these parts, when will we see your like again? The chances are, never.

Congratulations on another milestone, Wayne.

May there be more to come.

PS Apologies for any font issues, a problem with the voice software I am using. Normal service will soon be resumed...

Gloucestershire V Derbyshire day 4

Derbyshire 291 and 388-3 (Madsen 204* Hughes 109*

Gloucestershire 350

Match drawn

When Tom Lace was dismissed for a well made 57 this morning, Derbyshire were only 51 runs ahead and Gloucestershire entertained a glimmer of hope in forcing an unlikely win.

Several hours later, the players shook hands on a draw, with no further wicket having fallen. I flicked the radio commentary on and off and the home side's commentator seemed obsessed with when the declaration might come.

It was never going to come on a wicket that was slow and offered less and less help to the bowlers as the game went on. Why would Derbyshire declare and have their players run around the outfield for a few hours on a freezing day? There would be no way to force a win, so we settled for comfortably saving the game.

That we did so was because of a magnificent unbroken  partnership of 278 runs between Wayne Madsen (204) and Alex Hughes (109). Both were superb, defending diligently at the start, before opening up with more expansive stroke play.

I said pre-season that Madsen would make a thousand runs and here he scored 20% of that total. He is a master craftsman and you know that he feels in prime form when the reverse sweeps are unveiled.

An appreciation of his feat in becoming only the ninth Derbyshire player to pass 15,000 runs for the county, and 10,000 in first class matches, will follow this week.

Hughes seems to be playing straighter this year and offers, with Tom Lace and Harvey Hosein a greater solidity than we have known for some time in the middle order. With our new South African batsman to be announced this week, there should be no shortage of runs in this Derbyshire side.

There is a long way to go, but after the first two matches we sit on top of county championship division two.

That has to count for something.

Gloucestershire V Derbyshire day 3

Derbyshire 291 and 97-2 (Lace 48* Madsen 41*)

Gloucestershire 350 (Roderick 98, Higgins 74, Reece 3-60, van Beek 3-75)

Derbyshire lead by 38 runs

With a day to go, it is hard to see where a positive result can come from in this game.

The home side, largely through the stoic efforts of Gareth Roderick, took a first innings lead of 59 runs. Roderick batted with great common sense and no little skill and was very unfortunate to be caught behind, just short of his century.

I was more impressed today by Logan van Beek and he, with Ravi Rampaul, mopped up the tail quite nicely. Logan and Luis Reece each had 3 wickets and the lead left Derbyshire a tricky spell before and after tea.

They lost Reece to the second ball of the innings and Godleman didn't last long either. Neither opener has yet got going this season and the concern that Reece's bowling may be to the detriment of his batting goes on. I suspect it is only a temporary hiatus in the usual flow of runs for both, as soon as they get on to wickets with fewer early demons.

Yet after a few initial alarms, Wayne Madsen and Tom Lace steered us in a professional manner to 97-2 at the close, the former unbeaten on 41 and Lace two runs short of a third successive half-century. He looks an increasingly impressive player and pre-season concerns over a batsman with no first class fifty have been allayed. He offers composure and class to the county middle order and will doubtless be a big asset this summer.

As for the game, we are 38 runs on and it is hard to see a positive finish here, unless the two captains contrive something tomorrow. While the wicket does not appear to contain any obvious problems , nor is it easy to score quickly enough to force a win for either side.

It will need something spectacular on one side or the other for anything but a draw tomorrow.

Gloucestershire V Derbyshire day 2

Derbyshire 291

Gloucestershire 202-5

Derbyshire lead by 89 runs

It was a mixed kind of day for Derbyshire today.

They pushed their overnight score to 291
all out, but impressive Gloucestershire batting saw them close the day slightly ahead on 202-5.

By and large the bowlers did well, but I was a little disappointed by Logan van Beek today. He bowled some good balls and ran in with purpose, but my perception so far is that each new spell begins with a poor over and he has a tendency to bowl at least one bad ball an over, which ruins his figures.

I am sure that he will come good, but he was the weak link in an otherwise controlled Derbyshire display today.

Billy Godleman used eight bowlers during the day and the rest bowled with the requisite discipline. Undoubtedly, the slower bowlers on each side have proved the most difficult to score from.

I thought that Alex Hughes and Tony Palladino bowled well, as did Luis Reece, while a reluctance to have a third man for Ravi Rampaul cost well into double figures of runs.

The first session tomorrow may well prove to be the critical one of the match. We need early wickets and to ensure that the home side do not get a substantial first innings lead. The second new ball is due and how we use it is key.

Batting last on a wicket that has shown signs of variable bounce will not be easy. Derbyshire will need to show the resilience that has so far characterised their cricket, in what has been an absorbing game.

Much as in the first game, any first innings lead, for either side, will be precious.

Big day tomorrow...

Gloucestershire V Derbyshire day 1

Derbyshire 256-7 (Lace 83, Hosein 41, Reece 39, Critchley 39)  V Gloucestershire

Both sides will, I think, be reasonably happy with the first day of this game.
Derbyshire may just have thought they had shaded it, before the late dismissals of Harvey Hosein and Matt Critchley edged it for the home side.

It was a day for the cricket purist, fairly attritional at times, and only in the afternoon, when Tom Lace beat his career best for the second successive time, did batting look especially easy.

Most seemed to struggle on a slow pitch with their timing and I lost count of the number of failed drives and cut strokes. In their defence, each batsman worked hard to preserve their wicket on a pitch which encouraged the bowlers throughout.

Lace was a standout. He seems to get into position for his strokes very early, obviously judging the length well. He is especially strong off his pads and it will not be long before he registers that first century. He looks a player of class and we are lucky to have him.

Critchley and Hosein looked in control as the bowlers tired and it was a surprise to lose one, let alone both of them. They capitalised on the earlier resistance of Alex Hughes and Luis Reece, after Godleman and Madsen went early.

The home side stuck to their task well and it will be interesting to see how our own seam attack fares on a wicket that offers assistance.

A little cloud cover tomorrow might make things interesting, but Derbyshire are very much in this game.

If we can make 300 tomorrow, it will be game on.

Gloucestershire V Derbyshire preview

Understandably, Dave Houghton has not tried to fix what is some way from being broken, and has named an unchanged squad for tomorrow's championship match against Gloucestershire at Bristol.

Whether there is a change to the final eleven will depend on the pitch. If that were the case Sam Conners would likely replace Anuj Dal. Conners took two wickets and made an unbeaten 42 runs for the second team today, and will be high on confidence, following on from a good performance in the pre-season university fixture.

The side will be the same and that can never be a bad thing. While it will be the season opener for our hosts, Derbyshire have seen that a committed effort from eleven players can bring dividends. The togetherness was obvious at Derby and that will help to see them through the harder times that will undoubtedly come.

Our hosts lost two good bowlers to Warwickshire over the winter and have had to rebuild. They are a side, however, that frequently delivers results and have some fine players.

Chris Dent, their captain, always seems to score runs against us, while Ryan Higgins is a player who has clearly benefited from his new environment. He has become a key all rounder and will hope to follow on from an excellent 2018.

Benny Howell is another fine all rounder and wicket keeper batsman Gareth Roderick has proved himself a fine asset to the club.

Their squad:

Dent (c), Hammond, Bracey, G Hankins, Roderick, J Taylor, Howell, Higgins, van Buuren, M Taylor, H Hankins, Shaw, Drissell.

The weather appears to be dry and overcast for the next four days and I see no reason why Derbyshire cannot build on their success last week.

If they can replicate the same level of commitment then a win is very possible.

As always, I would appreciate your thoughts. 

Derbyshire v Durham day 4

Derbyshire 197 and 334 

Durham 171 and 235 (Harte 69, Lees 59, Critchley 3-54)

Derbyshire won by 125 runs

In a game in which they were all heroes, Derbyshire's match winner today was a man who perhaps was most wanting to impress.

Until mid afternoon, Logan van Beek had enjoyed a tidy, yet not unduly impressive debut. He had  looked useful with the bat and tidy with the ball, though not, it is fair to say, especially threatening.

In the space of fifteen minutes, a spell that was almost Barlow-esque, he held a blinding catch at short mid wicket to remove the dangerous Jack Burnham, clean bowled the dogged Gareth Harte and then had Stuart Poynter caught behind. It was a spell that will give him great confidence and will, I think, let us see the best of him in the games to come.That he can play is patently obvious, and I liked the way he ran in hard, every ball. And that catch...

The game had been drifting at that point and despite two wickets in two balls from Matt Critchley, in his opening over, at 178-3 the visitors looked in no trouble. Indeed there was even the slightest possibility of pushing for an unlikely victory, slim as it had always appeared. Alex Lees batted well, until Critchley dismissed him and Smith with successive balls, while Harte was a model of defiance, until van Beek defeated his forward prod.

After that they imploded, with Billy Godleman's frequent and impressive bowling changes not allowing them to settle. The wickets were shared around evenly, with special mention for some  nice loop from Critchley and another excellent spell from Ravi Rampaul. He looks like an international bowler this year and would appear to be thriving on the responsibility as  leader of the attack. He took thirteen championship wickets last year, when he appeared over the hill and unfit for the first-class game. This year, he looks the business, and five wickets was just reward for fine bowling, where he, like the others, made the batsmen play.

After Trevaskis and Rushworth took the game almost to the tea interval, it was left to Luis Reece to finish things by pinning Rushworth leg before. He had earlier excelled with a direct hit to run out Weighell, and it was all wrapped up in time for supporters to head home before the rush hour.

This was a very impressive display by Derbyshire. They lost the first session of the game and then won them all thereafter. It looks a tight unit and one with very good team spirit. Dave Houghton and his coaching staff are to be commended on that, as is Billy Godleman, who I thought skippered the side very well in this game.

They will face tougher challenges in the months ahead, but with Leicestershire beating fancied Sussex today and Northamptonshire having the better of their game against Middlesex, the suggestion is that the division is wide open, together with the three promotion places.

Success will go the way of the sides who force wins and wickets like this will give Derbyshire a very good chance of making the Pattonair County Ground an unpopular place to visit.

A side that bats long, has plenty of bowling options and has a new batsman en route might just surprise a few people. If the level of commitment, concentration and technique is shown in every game, they will make themselves a tough nut to crack.

Yes, Durham were missing Cameron Bancroft and Mark Wood, but that's what I referred to at the start of the summer, when I discussed luck. Whether it is the opposition missing players, avoiding rain showers or holding a flukey, or brilliant catch, they all contribute to the wins and the points tally.

Played one, won one. Bristol next, and if we can win that, it will make a few people sit up.

Well done lads, that was all very impressive.

And well done to those behind the scenes, for an excellent stream that enabled those of us at a distance to be a part of it all. 

Derbyshire V Durham day 3

Derbyshire 197 and 334 (Hosein 62, Lace 61, Critchley 51)

Durham 171 and 10-0

Durham need another 351 to win

In a day of dogged, defiant and at times dazzling batting, Derbyshire would appear to have batted Durham out of any chance of winning this game.

To do so, the visitors will need to overcome the vagaries of the wicket, score more quickly than has been managed so far and make the second highest score in a successful run chase at the ground. That is a tall order, and we will need to bowl badly to lose this one.

Judging by the attritional way that they handled the Derbyshire opening bowlers, as the effects of the roller were wearing off, it is likely to be a day of toil tomorrow.

Derbyshire will keep one wary eye on the weather, with light showers predicted from mid/late afternoon, but will hope to make inroads tomorrow morning.

They did very well today, with consistent batting down the order ensuring that hopes of winning this opening fixture remain high.

Tom Lace and Alex Hughes did remarkably well in the morning session. Their powers of concentration ensured that the ball was older and the bowlers tired when Harvey Hosein and Matt Critchley came in. They took full advantage and the lead quickly moved past 300.

Hosein looks a very special player, well-organized and with an increased range of strokes, while Critchley has enviable timing. Any fears over the Derbyshire batting would appear to have been allayed by this performance, as well as the news going around the ground of the new batsman, believed to be from South Africa, coming in this week.

As the innings came to a climax, the crowd and those watching  the excellent stream were treated to a lovely cameo by Ravi Rampaul. He hit two huge sixes and a reverse swept four in recording his highest score for the county.

It made for excellent viewing and while the result is still to be decided, those who wrote off the home side's chances this year may well be having second thoughts.

It was a tough day for the visitors, who again let themselves down with fielding and catching that was at times very poor.

If Derbyshire can improve on that tomorrow, and the chances will come, we may just have a little celebration on our hands.

Derbyshire V Durham day 2

Derbyshire 197 and 107-3 (Lace 41*)

Durham 171 (Reece 5-47, Rampaul 3-47)

Derbyshire lead by 133 runs

Derbyshire's bowlers bowled as a unit today and hunted like a pack.

They were well supported in the field and the outcome is, halfway through this opening game of the season, that we have a very good chance of winning it.

With two days to go, we are 133 runs ahead with seven wickets in hand. On the basis of the first two days, the visitors will not fancy their chances of chasing anything much over 200. The further above that we can push the total, the greater our chances of winning on a fourth day pitch. Anything less and it is wide open.

They all bowled well today, and with discipline. That was not a word often associated with our bowling last year, when the pressure was released too often at one end.

The lines were better and, after his opening two overs, Logan van Beek's length was better. The off stump was probed with a pleasing monotony and when the edge was found, the catches were held.

There were five wickets for Luis Reece and three for a resurgent Ravi Rampaul. Only Jack Burnham, returning to the side after a year's ban, looked like he might get away, but it was a disciplined performance by Derbyshire and heartening to see.

A lead of 26 runs on such a track was precious and our second innings was no more easy than the first. Our cause was again helped by some generous Durham fielding, several chances being dropped. It was hard work out there and both openers were gone inside the opening eleven overs.

Then came a 50 stand between Wayne Madsen, who looked in fine touch, and Tom Lace, who batted extremely well. After a couple of imperious strokes, Wayne was held by Alex Lees at slip, a catch diametrically opposed from some of the other fielding.

It may well turn out to be a match- defining stand, but Lace and Alex Hughes took us through to stumps in adding a further 24, without being parted.

There was a claim for a catch at second slip near the close of play, but the umpire adjudged the ball to have bounced and Alex lived to fight another day.

Lace is three runs away from a personal best score. He may well play many major innings in the years ahead, but would savour fifty here as something quite special. His technique was well tested today, and he was not found wanting.

There is much work to be done and as we all know, winning matches at four-day cricket is all about winning one session at a time.

We have only lost the first session so far. If we win the next, tomorrow morning, we will be a very good position to win this game. 

I have been highly impressed by every aspect of this Derbyshire side so far.

Hopefully, I am still saying that at the end of the game.

If we maintain discipline and focus, I will be.

Derbyshire v Durham day 1

Derbyshire 197 (Hosein 78)

Durham 41-3 (Reece 2-15)

Derbyshire lead  by 156 runs

After going to lunch at 68-5, Derbyshire can be pleased to have reached a total of 197 all out today.

That they did so was largely due to a masterclass of batting from Harvey Hosein. Apart from two loose strokes, one of which was dropped, he showed great technique, admirable footwork and no little style. It was an innings of class that kept his side in the match.

Dave Houghton said before the season that he wanted 6 mm of grass left on the wickets at Derby. This seems certain to produce results, based on today's cricket.

Twitter was awash with comments suggesting that Billy Godleman had got it wrong on winning the toss. Those comments, however, ignored the fact that Durham had not taken their opportunity to bowl and would have batted too. The presence of some turn in the afternoon reinforced the skipper's call, as the ball zipped around all day.

Luis Reece and Wayne Madsen were both gone in the first three balls of the innings, as Chris Rushworth appeared to have the ball on a piece of elastic. He bowled beautifully and deserved far more than two wickets. A journeyman professional, there are few better new ball bowlers in the county game. He was well supported by the returning Ben Raine and batting was never easy.

Credit is due to the Derbyshire lower order, who showed sound technique and a willingness to battle that will serve them well this summer. They will bat on easier wickets and have a chance to score the runs that were hard-fought today.

When Durham went in, there was a strong appeal for caught  behind from Rampaul 's first delivery, but Ravi bowled a little too wide, though  finding the edge on two or three occasions.

It was the advent of Luis Reece into the attack that saw the breakthrough, the first with the assistance of a stunning catch by Alex Hughes at second slip, an early contender for 'grab of the season'.

An in swinger took the second and he looked very dangerous, as did Tony Palladino, niggling away around off stump.

Supporters got one brief glimpse of Logan van Beek before the close and his second ball hurried on to Michael Richardson, who looped a catch to Tom Lace. He will bowl better overs this summer, but an early wicket will settle him nicely.

The visitors were 41-3 when bad light stopped play early, their captain Alex Lees showing grit for an unbeaten 12 in 18 overs of graft.

It will be hard work for them tomorrow morning, with the traditional first session movement at Derby awaiting them. If we bowl better lines than this evening, a first innings lead is a distinct possibility.

That seemed long way off at lunch today and the players are to be commended for a battling effort.

Derbyshire V Durham preview

In my season preview, I suggested that Derbyshire would need their share of luck to do well this season, as any side does.

They have certainly had that for the season opener against Durham. The visitors' contentiously chosen captain, Cameron Bancroft, has been detained in Australia for, of all things, a dinner. Meanwhile, their very dangerous fast bowler, Mark Wood, has been pulled from the game by England, to protect his workload.

That said, the visitors will arrive tomorrow after a busy winter of changes on and off the field. Former Derbyshire batsman Marcus North now calls the shots as Director of Cricket , while Alex Lees and Ben Raine have arrived from Yorkshire and Leicestershire respectively.

Both will improve an already talented squad, which came close to beating  us at Derby last year, after doing so at the Riverside in a dreadful capitulation.

Warning signs then, but a side we should be beating if there are genuine aspirations of a promotion challenge. Chris Rushworth will lead their attack, with good support and Derbyshire, as Dave Houghton said pre-season, will need to bat time better.

Although unrecognised at the time, the role of Paul Borrington in our promotion season of 2012 was overlooked by many. While he would liked more runs, to convince the doubters, he saw the shine off the new ball, tired the bowlers and made the job much easier for the later batsmen.

A side that has first class centurions down to number ten is likely to find runs at some point, if they're doing it under more beneficial conditions.

Dave Houghton has announced a twelve-man squad that includes Sam Conners. He was the pick of the young bowlers in the MCCU game last week, but the eleven likely to play, for me is:

Godleman, Lace, Reece, Madsen, Hughes, Critchley, Hosein, Dal, van Beek, Palladino, Rampaul

As for Durham their squad is:

Alex Lees (c), Gareth Harte, Will Smith, Michael Richardson, Jack Burnham, Stuart Poynter, Ned Eckersley, Ben Raine, James Weighell, Liam Trevaskis, Josh Coughlin, Matt Salisbury, Chris Rushworth.

We will almost certainly be asked to bat, on the first track of the summer.

How the top order does, against a keen visiting attack, will set the tone for the game.  It is, I would have to say, very winnable.

Go well, boys.

Further thoughts on the new batsman

I have had a bumper post bag since my  last post on a new batsman. So much so, that I have given it further thought.

I don't think, to answer one question, that it will be Calum Macleod. He may come under consideration for the T20, but not for a full season contract. His strength is in scoring runs quickly, so I see that format as one where he will be in demand, less so for four-day cricket.

I have also largely discounted a Kolpak signing, because of our budgetary constraints. Such players cost serious money and having last night announced a loss for last year, I don't think we would go down that path again, in a hurry.

Such players must be internationals and by extension, command appropriate salaries, money we just don't have.

More likely, for me, is that we pick up a young player from Australia or New Zealand, one with a reputation to make and crucially with a British passport.

It makes sense from a budgetary perspective, while fitting well with the rationale behind the signing of Logan van Beek. With John Wright down there scouting for us, the likelihood gains even greater credence. But with our South African contacts, don't discount the Cape, just yet.

It is, I think, the way forward for us, as a county, especially at a time when the game is clearly fragmenting into the have and have nots.

That is why I was pleased to see yesterday that there are plans for counties to be remunerated when their best players are signed by bigger clubs.

It is hardly a level playing field when, for example, a club at one end of the A52 can register a million pound profit and pick up the best young talent from its neighbours, while others scratch around trying hard to break even. Warwickshire did the same to Gloucestershire, signing their best two bowlers. It is only right that the clubs that nurture talent and spend a lot of money doing so are compensated for their loss.

Anyway, the season proper will soon be upon us. I will be back tomorrow with a preview of our game against Durham.

New batsman incoming?

When a recent article revealed that Derbyshire will be adding a batsman to their ranks for the coming season, I suggested that it may be Tom Wood.

I hope that there is a role and opportunity for Tom this summer, and he will doubtless get a chance to play some cricket in the second team, at the very least.

However, I do not think that the batsman referred to is Tom.

My understanding is that he has been back from Australia for several weeks. Were he to be signed, logically this would have happened by now and he would have been involved in pre-season nets and training.

This leaves me to suspect that the new addition is either another loan signing, a Kolpak or someone who will play on a British passport.

Unless it was a player with an established reputation, I would be a little disappointed in another loan. We already have Tom Lace from Middlesex, who may do well. He will likely return to them at the end of the summer, with a reputation enhanced, I suspect, but will not benefit us in the long term.

To have two such players would be disappointing, especially if it meant that someone like Wood missed out on an opportunity.

Which leaves me to think that it is more likely to be a player whose domestic season has just finished.

New Zealand could well be a source of someone with a British passport, while a Kolpak signing would be no surprise pre-Brexit.

The right player could be a big asset to the county, as long as they came with the correct credentials.

Dave Houghton has said that the money is there for the right player. If one assumes that improved contracts for existing staff were done with the savings from the departure of Gary Wilson, Will Davis and Ben Slater, there may well be the considerable savings from Hardus Viljoen to play with.

I would be confident that Dave Houghton will deliver someone appropriate.

If it is who I think, it will make a big difference...