Dal signs, Palladino conspiracies and Lancashire prosper - day 2

Derbyshire 244

Lancashire 269-2 (Bohannon 150*, Livingstone 70*)

Lancashire lead by 25 runs

The best news emanating from the Derbyshire camp yesterday was that Anuj Dal has signed a new deal that takes him to the end of 2021.

To some extent the jury is out on a batsman who has a lovely wristy style in full flow, a bowler who was perhaps the best on show against Australia. He has had limited opportunities in a strong batting side this summer, but several displays have hinted at a player worthy of perseverance. Certainly at 23 he has his best years ahead of him, and we should know over the next two years if he will make it or not. By then he will be 25 and will know his game. It is no coincidence that we have seen the best of Luis Reece and Alex Hughes since that age and I expect to see 'Nuj' prosper in the next two summers.

I also expect him to bowl more. His spells in the games I have seen him have been bustling and tidy, his usefulness moving forward in the one-day game especially obvious. While not quick, he runs in hard and may again get better. Meanwhile, he is an outstanding fielder and often has runs in the bank before he walks out with bat in hand.

His challenge will be gaining a higher position in the batting order. With Fynn Hudson-Prentice and Alex Hughes, not to mention Matt Critchley, he offers the county a batting order of enviable depth but the question of who bats where is a fair one. It can only be decided on those making the most of their opportunities when all are quite similar.

I wish him well. He's a lovely lad with a regular smile, one who looks like he enjoys his cricket. Long may that continue.

Meanwhile, comments elsewhere have hinted at there being 'trouble at mill' with regard to Tony Palladino's absence from the Lancashire game. Those comments rather ignored the fact that he didn't bat in the second innings against Australia because of injury and later yesterday took to Twitter to explain he had an ankle injury.

Why, oh why do supporters always need to look for something being wrong, and if they find nothing, try to create it? Why not trust a very good Head of Cricket to pick the best AVAILABLE side for every match?

I'm surprised to see Ravi Rampaul playing, to be honest, though he is a bowler of rhythm and his doing so likely keeps him ticking over ahead of finals day. Logan van Beek has had niggles for a few weeks, so they are obviously trying to keep him fit for Edgbaston, while the youngsters just haven't progressed.

I'd make exception for Sam Conners, who has looked to have potential in limited displays, but has had too many injuries for comfort. I am not yet convinced that Alfie Gleadall and James Taylor are anywhere close to senior selection, however and there must be concerns that a county with a finite budget cannot simply retain players on the staff  in the hope that they may make it down the line. That is surely a lesson learned over the past few years. There has to be something to justify retention.

Better for me that they go away, develop their physique as time allows and perhaps get a second crack when they are ready, if they get there. Dustin Melton has played second team games around the country for a few years, but perhaps now, physically and mentally, he is ready for the challenge.

Which is why we saw Lancashire ease past our first innings tally yesterday, with Josh Bohannon making a maiden first-class ton on a truncated day. They are runaway leaders of the division on merit and we don't want players injured with our biggest day in decades around the corner.

They will likely cruise past 500 today, I would guess, before putting us in again.

Time to dig in, boys.