Bert Richardson

With the passing of Bert Richardson, Derbyshire cricket has lost one of its few remaining 1950s players.

Indeed, from the fine team that started that decade, only Edwin Smith remains, thankfully still in good health as a conversation this week confirmed. Harold Rhodes is still with us too, as are Keith Mohan and Peter Eyre, but many of those heroes are long gone, but not forgotten.

Bert Richardson was not a regular in the Derbyshire side, but he played 27 first-class matches between 1950 and 1953, with a best score of 29. He was an orthodox slow left arm bowler and took 33 wickets, with a best of 4-39 against Hampshire. The advent of Edwin Smith in 1951 saw his opportunities dwindle and he drifted from the county game two years later.

He was a regular at former players events for many years, but had been in poor health for some time. I had hoped to interview him for my second book, but it proved to be impossible. 

He was the earliest surviving county debutant, a mantle that now passes to Edwin Smith.

Rest In Peace, Bert. 

Tony Palladino: an appreciation

 It will be a very different Derbyshire next season, with no Tony Palladino running in from the Media Centre end after ten years of service. With Ravi Rampaul also unlikely to return, unless as an overseas player, there will be little experience in the seam attack.

At 37, Tony was unlikely to be the bowler that he has been and any deal was only likely to be for one year anyway. From the club's perspective, he will be one of the bigger earners but generally only plays one format, so I do appreciate the rationale.

It is also hard to be overly critical of the decision without knowing the plans that Dave Houghton has and who is (presumably) going to come in. The one sure thing in sport is that however good or loyal you have been, the end comes for everyone and it is rarely on their terms.

That there is an abundance of talent in the young seamers who played this year is undeniable. Ben Aitchison, Michael Cohen, Sam Conners and perhaps Dustin Melton will be the ones for next summer, with support from the all rounders and, one assumes, an overseas player. That the county, like others around the country, has to balance the books post-Covid 19 is also undeniable. I don't know the true picture, but without a lot of off-field income the playing budget must have taken a hit and the only way to try and sort that is in players at the end of contracts. From the club's perspective again, the savings from Tony and Ravi may enable recruitment in key areas and/or allow us to stay within view of a break even, or at least minimise the loss.

But it hurts. It will be hurting Tony right now and anyone who has been in similar positions will empathise. He has been an outstanding cricketer for the club, since his arrival from Essex. You always knew that he would test techniques, take wickets and at the very least keep things quiet on the shirt fronts. He ran in as hard at the end of the day as he did at the start and over the course of those ten seasons was a reliable bowler, the club's highest wicket-taker of the 21st century.

He could bat too. There was that memorable century against Australia A, plenty of key contributions when others had failed and some uncomplicated hitting that enlivened many an innings. I always got the impression of a good team man, another reason why, in ideal circumstances, he would have been useful for one more year to advise the young bowlers, take a spell when the going got tough.

But it is not to be. I feel for supporters too, as many would have loved the opportunity to say goodbye and wish him well in person. I have got to know Tony over the past decade and always enjoyed the experience. We had a long chat in the bar in the aftermath of the title win in 2012, plenty of others when I was able to visit the County Ground at other times. He was no different to me than to plenty of others, friendly, courteous and thoroughly professional, always with a regular smile. 

At the end of the day 'professional' is the most apposite word for Tony. I have recorded his career with us in interview last winter, which you can find if new to the blog. I wish him the very best for his future and suspect that someone will end up with a very good coach when he gets the opportunity. They will get a top bloke, for sure.

It has been my pleasure to watch him and to get to know him. The club will continue, of course and although he will be hurting right now, I am sure that his next role is just around the corner.

For all the young bowlers at the club, Tony Palladino has set the benchmark for you. If you can reach his standards on the field and be as well-regarded off it, you will do all right.

Go well, TP. You will be sorely missed and thank you for the memories.

Dean Jones

The desperately sad news today of the death of former Derbyshire overseas player and captain, Dean Jones, has cast a shadow over the world of cricket. 

'The Professor' was a thinker, analyst and commentator on the game which he graced for many years. He was one of the finest Australian middle-order batsmen and even now would likely get into an all-time one-day side from that country. 

His time at Derbyshire was short, but memorable. 

The dressing room of the mid-1990s was full of talent, yet a strong-willed and disparate bunch of players often seemed to lack direction. The atmosphere could change as frequently as the wind direction, but one had the feeling that if someone could galvanise this group of players they could do something special.

There had been a number of blunt-speaking players in our legendary team of the 1930s, of course, but Arthur Richardson had overcome any personal shortcomings as a player to lead the side with considerable skill to top three positions in 1934 and 1935 before taking the title in 1936. Something similar looked feasible in 1995, but a dressing room that was all too easily fragmented needed a strong leader.

Enter Dean Jones for the 1996 season, as close to the stereotypical Australian as you could wish for. Hard as nails, blunt and with a never-say-die attitude that was just what the doctor ordered. With the benefit of hindsight it was never going to last, but it was, without doubt, magnificent while it did.

Jones was a fixture in a fine Australian side and came with the reputation as being perhaps the best one-day batsman in the world, a title for which only Michael Bevan could challenge him. By the end of the 1996 season, 'Deano' had confirmed himself as an outstanding player, but proven it across all formats. He had also, despite a brusque, often confrontational persona, managed to turn a side of talented individuals into a team that came tantalisingly close to championship success.

Jones scored 1502 championship runs at 52 that summer, but he inspired Chris Adams to over 1700 runs, while Kim Barnett contributed 1400. Adrian Rollins passed a thousand too, while Karl Krikken averaged 40 from almost 900 runs down the order. Individually and collectively, there have been few seasons when Derbyshire have batted better. Jones added a further 1151 runs at 68 in the one-day games. 2653 runs in a summer led firmly by example, which was the Deano way. 

Having addressed Derbyshire's perennial weaker suit, an attack featuring Devon Malcolm, Dominic Cork and Phil de Freitas was always likely to win games. Jones set bold fields, encouraged and cajoled his charges and finished the season with a side that managed second place behind Leicestershire. With his friend and coach from Victoria, Les Stillman, Jones became an instant hero. Younger players loved him, older ones, for a season at least, tolerated and responded to his way of working. 

As a batsman he had all the shots, strong on anything short, unforgiving on the overpitched ball. His footwork was quick and precise, with perhaps his strongest area between mid-wicket and mid-on. A strong bottom hand, like MS Dhoni today, often saw any bowling shortcomings treated savagely in that area. 

 Yet it was his running between the wickets that seemed an even stronger suit and so impressed me. When he was batting, ones became twos, twos became threes... Derbyshire looked professional, challenging....good. We took quick singles, where previously batsmen might have held the pose of a correct defensive stroke. It was magnificent to watch.

Like Peter Kirsten before him, Jones played himself in and worked the ball around before unveiling a wide array of shots. He was not a stylist, like Mohammad Azharuddin, but generally looked to be balanced, composed and in control at the crease. In over forty years of cricket watching, he remains the best pacer of a run chase I have seen, never seeming to panic if the run rate mounted. He worked the ball around, timed his shots so there were two to a boundary fielder, chipped over the infield and clubbed it to and over the boundary . He would have made a fortune in the IPL, so it is ironic that his death, from a heart attack, came while employed as a commentator on that competition. 

The 'season of Deano' was magnificent yet, like all good things, it could not last. He returned for 1997 but went home in June, the dressing room once again split into factions. Senior members of the side found his abrasive style of leadership hard to deal with and a player with a track record of fall-outs back home decided he simply didn't need the hassle. His departure set off a chain of events that arguably took fifteen years from which to recover, ensuing winters seeing the gradual departure of key members of a very good side.

Whatever his personal foibles - and we all have them - cricket history will see Dean Jones as an outstanding player. His many fine Test innings, including the legendary one at Madras where he ended up on a saline drip after eight hours in the intense heat, confirm he was much more than a one-day scamperer. While he was batting, irrespective of the match situation, you always felt there was a chance of salvaging something. That is a rare and special gift for any player.

His commentary career was not without controversy but he came through it and was respected as an honest and analyst and commentator on the game that he graced for many years. 

Rest in Peace, Deano. 

You will always be a legend in Derbyshire. 

End of season T20 Blast review

Writing a review of the T20 season this summer is quite different from last year, and indeed from writing the Bob Willis Trophy review a few short weeks ago.

We never got going this year in the short format and frankly didn't look an especially good team.

There were mitigating circumstances, of course. We played all our matches elsewhere, there were no overseas players and we badly missed Ravi Rampaul, not just for the wickets he took or the tight spells he bowled, but also for the effect on the opposition. They had to take greater risks against the others when Ravi was at one end and in much the same way that others profited when Jackson and Gladwin were bowling in their usual parsimony, wickets often fell as a consequence. Fynn Hudson-Prentice was also missed, a thigh injury wrecking his season and robbing us of not just a fine bowler but a dangerous batsman. Nor was Ben Aitchison available, likely the most accurate of the youngsters who debuted in the summer.

Yet selection was odd. At one point Alex Hughes was omitted, which seemed strange for a player who would be first on many team sheets for this format. He responded as most would expect, but the decision to drop him was puzzling. Even more so the omission, until the last game, of Tom Wood. 

His game is naturally aggressive and you can look around the counties and see the successful sides all have a top order dasher. There was no real surprise in that he scored a 31-ball half century against a decent home attack, more so in that Dominic Cork opted not to include him until then, when the top four was misfiring like an old car. The non-utilisation of a lad who has been the most prolific home-grown batsman in at least a decade at lower levels remains a mystery. If there is any justice, an opportunity to break into the top five next year should be forthcoming, because in common with many of you I don't think he got that this year. For the life of me, I can't rationalise that one.

Last year the success of the side was in a top four who chased down any target or set one beyond the compass of most opponents. It was clear, when we lost however, that it was to sides who generally opened the bowling with slow bowlers. Both Luis Reece and Billy Godleman are fine players, but more destructive against seam than spin. We rarely got a start and were quickly two down, too quickly, too often for comfort. The change should have been made earlier, proactive rather than reactive, because we had been 'sussed'.

For all his success last year, I am not sure Billy is a right 'fit' for T20 and until we score at more than six an over in the powerplay, we won't win many matches. Maybe next year a T20 specialist skipper is needed, letting Billy concentrate on the formats where he is undoubtedly excellent and letting him have the breather which all players need. He averaged 'only' a run a ball in the competition, which really isn't enough.

While perhaps not the force of his younger years, Wayne Madsen remained the key wicket and, as the best player of spin in the club, would be an obvious choice at the top of the order another year. He and Du Plooy scored the only other fifties in the ten matches, which was the crux of the problem. Any of the top four were likely to be sought after for the Hundred after last year's exploits, but Madsen's top average of 24 told a story. Luis Reece played only one innings of note and looked jaded after a lot of work in the four-day game, while Du Plooy for the first time slipped from a lofty pedestal. Both will surely return to erstwhile glories next year, when normality hopefully resumes

Matt Critchley and Alex Hughes played some handy cameos and largely reproduced their 2019 form with the ball, but there were insufficient runs to play with and neither was able to play a game-changing innings when required. This was mainly because they had to press the accelerator from the start - such cameos would have been fine in a better performing batting side.

Of the seamers, Dustin Melton looked the best, perhaps that latter-day incarnation of Ole Mortensen in his intensity, though with some way still to go in the sustained accuracy to match the aggression. Michael Cohen troubled with his pace and, with a better radar could be a serious talent, as could be said for Sam Conners in this format.

Mattie McKiernan finished top in the economy averages, and is a solid, if not spectacular player. The same could be said of Anuj Dal, whose bowling might have been better utilised and whose fleet-footed running was an asset in the field, as well as the closing overs if he got in. Meanwhile the two wicket-keepers shared duties, although Brooke Guest looked better suited to the style of batting required than Harvey Hosein. They are equally good behind the stumps and it will be interesting to see if either forces their way ahead in 2021. However, in a limited staff there is likely to be discussion on whether another keeper is the right way forward for next year, when Ben McDermott is pencilled in to play. Mind you, McDermott and Wood might be an opening pair to savour...

As for the coach, it may be that we go a different way in 2021. Dominic Cork is shrewd and intelligent, so will know a coach is only as good as his team statistics in the season just finished. Despite last year's success and the mitigating circumstances, one win in ten games and the worst record in the country confirms a disappointing campaign. Most noticeable was a drop in fielding standards, which reached its nadir on that awful night at The Riverside.

With four coaches already on the staff, perhaps the additional cost could go to the playing budget next year, with Mal Loye a likely candidate for the T20 role. 

As always, I welcome your thoughts on any or all of the above, just as I appreciate your support through the last few hectic months.

Derbyshire v Yorkshire

Still away at present, folks and won't see the game today.

Please put your comments in below and I will again make them live as soon as I  able.

Fingers crossed we finish with a win! 

Nottinghamshire v Derbyshire T20

As I said the other night, I am away with family this weekend.

Please comment on tonight's game below and I will publish as soon as I am able!

Fingers crossed... 

Thoughts on the Blast

Family Peakfan are going away for a few days this weekend, so last night's win against Leicestershire was the last I will see this summer.

On the face of it, we were substantially worse than last year, but the table doesn't tell the full picture. I would have expected us to beat Leicestershire in the rained off fixture, much as I thought we would Durham. The frankly awful bowling and fielding effort at The Riverside was an aberration and the subsequent introduction of Dustin Melton has been a positive. So too the improvement in Michael Cohen, who looked to have learned quickly where he was going wrong.

These two, were Melton able to stay, would be an asset another year, as would Ben Aitchison, of course. We badly missed Ravi Rampaul, whose accuracy last summer meant additional risks had to be taken at the other end. 

Of course, we were also missing Ben McDermott and Sean Abbott, who at this stage look likely to play next season. My only concern is that McDermott, who would undoubtedly add firepower, would presumably see two wicket keepers omitted. On a small staff, that reduces the selection options and a batting all rounder, like Marcus Stoinis or Mitchell Marsh, might be better for us.

The batting order needs looked at anyway. I hope Billy Godleman is restored to his erstwhile form next year, because we can't have the two best batsmen coming in with valuable time used up. The suggestion of Madsen to open is worthy of consideration, especially if the favoured tactic of bowling spin at the start is continued against us. It also seems a little wasteful having Du Plooy not coming in until almost half the innings has gone. Perhaps Reece/Madsen/Du Plooy should be the top three, with Billy down the order to face the usual return of seam at the death?

Alex Hughes continues to be a good value player in this format. Last night he became our record wicket taker, while his ability to come in and hit from word go is always appreciated. He and Anuj Dal are huge assets in the field, too.

What we lack is serious power with the bat and a Rampaul/Langeveldt influence with the ball. If we could get that for next year, I would be confident in results coming again. 

Leicestershire v Derbyshire T20

Derbyshire 147-8 (Godleman 34, Madsen 33, Hughes 25)

Leicestershire 143-4 (Dearden 36* Welch 32 Cohen 2-23)

Derbyshire won by 4 runs

A disciplined bowling and fielding performance by Derbyshire got us out of jail tonight, registering a first win in the competition for the summer.

It didn't look that way for much of our innings. Opposition sides have got wise to our tactic of last year and now open with spin, something that Godleman deals with less convincingly. Madsen was the only one in the early order to come to terms with a slow pitch, but he was run out by a poor call by the skipper. In his defence, it was his call, but so slowly was he batting that he might have been better falling on his sword at that point.

Once again it was Alex Hughes who injected much needed momentum and my comment to a friend that 140 would be a challenge was realised in the final over.

Leicestershire set off like a train, but the introduction of Cohen, who bowled very well, pegged them back. Critchley and Hughes did their stuff in the middle, mixing it up to good effect, but the game was in the balance with the home side needing 36 from 4, then ten from the last.

Massive respect to Melton, whose final over conceded only five singles with intelligent bowling to his field. Derbyshire edged it by four runs and it will be a relief to all concerned. The home side, however, will query how they lost in a narrow finish with six wickets in hand.. 

One final comment - I thought Guest kept splendidly tonight and his catch/stumping of Ackermann from a wide delivery was neatly done, perhaps a pivotal moment in the match.

I think he will push Harvey Hosein next season and that can only be good news. 

Nottinghamshire v Derbyshire T20

Nottinghamshire 198-6 (Clarke 57, Hales 49, Melton 2-37, Hughes 2-34)

Derbyshire 185-6 (Madsen 68, Critchley 44, Hughes 36*)

Nottinghamshire won by 13 runs

It was another defeat for Derbyshire at Nottingham today, but this time there was no disgrace.

They ran a Nottinghamshire side with a near international attack pretty close, eventually losing by 13 runs. This after a spirited run chase that was always just behind the required rate, after the early loss of both openers for ducks.

Madsen made a sparkling 68 from 46 balls, Critchley an excellent 44 from 28, while Alex Hughes improvised to great effect for his unbeaten 36 from 20 balls.

It ultimately wasn't enough against a side with two overseas stars and an England man who plays only one-day cricket, but it was a fine effort.

I didn't see the home side's innings with a family commitment, but the figures are far more respectable than the other night. I will let you all comment on it and any missed opportunities, but Dustin Melton's figures look impressive and he held two catches too, while Alex Hughes confirmed a fine all round game with two wickets. Matt Critchley too can be proud of a good  effort in the game.

I look forward to your comments, but for me, a thirteen run deficit is the kind you would expect to be made up, with bat or ball, by your overseas stars. 

No disgrace, no major disappointment. 

On to the next  - and something similar may bring a long - awaited win. 

Durham v Derbyshire T20

Durham 223-2 (Lees 77*, Raine 71)

Derbyshire 168-5 (Reece 42, Du Plooy 53*)

Durham won by 55 runs

While giving due credit to the home side's powerful batting, I can only say that was one of the worst bowling and fielding displays I have seen by a Derbyshire side tonight.

With the exception of Wayne Madsen, no one seemed to be able to bowl anything close to the requisite line and length. There was poor handling in the field, fudged catches, dives over the top of the ball.. genuinely I cannot write about how poor that was.

There was never a chance of a win after such a display. Luis Reece batted nicely, as did Du Plooy, but we were never close to the rate. Even Durham fielding that was equally bad failed to make a difference. 

I will leave it there. From a fan's perspective, that was woeful.

Let's just say I am not hopeful, ahead of Trent Bridge on Sunday. 

Season review - the Bob Willis Trophy

 At the end of a season that was far shorter than anyone wanted, Derbyshire ended up a second in their group, pipped at the post by Yorkshire. They were the fifth best performing team in the country, with the best record of any side ostensibly in division two of the County Championship. They were ahead of Lancashire, Surrey, Hampshire, Warwickshire, Northamptonshire and Gloucestershire, all done with an attack in which their two most experienced bowlers never played. Had the weather stayed out of the game at Durham, they may have done better still.

Even more impressive is that the side is some way from its peak. An attack largely made up of youngsters making their formative steps in the county game was able to somehow bowl sides out. A batting line up in which no one really excelled was able to cobble together the runs with contributions down the order. In this regard, it matched the best county sides of the past, where they always managed to get the runs together for the bowlers to work with.

In a side packed with all round talent, two stood out. Luis Reece averaged 46 with the bat and took thirteen wickets at 26, often opening the batting and bowling. Such herculean efforts confirm his value to the side, as well as his unique standing in the game, as no one does that, or to my knowledge ever has over a sustained period. He bowled more overs than anyone and was second top scorer, as well as remaining a man who appears to enjoy every single minute he is on the field. We are lucky to have him, but in Derbyshire he has found his home.

Matt Critchley also blossomed, with seventeen wickets at 26 and a batting average of 39. In both departments he improved his game and if such progress continues he will play international cricket. His batting was straighter and he looked a fine player, even if he was unduly creative in his dismissals. His bowling was more accurate and the variations in flight and spin caused problems for more than a few. He is one to watch and the new contract signed pre-season means Derbyshire supporters can enjoy that for the immediate future.

The rest of the top four each played one good innings without discovering their sustained best form. They will all come again and likely threaten the thousand run mark in a normal summer. Leus du Plooy played an innings of genius at Trent Bridge to keep his side in the game, before second innings heroics down the order saw an extraordinary win. Billy Godleman sometimes looked to impose himself too quickly, while Wayne Madsen looked more vulnerable to the moving ball than in the past. Both will come again, though there may be merit in Wayne moving down one in the order, better to take toll of the bowlers with the shine gone from the ball. 

Fynn Hudson-Prentice was rarely fully fit and his bowling was missed. His batting won the game at Nottingham and his value to the side for the future is clear. Anuj Dal chipped in with bat and ball, as did Mattie McKiernan and the challenge to each is to confirm their undoubted ability and cement a place in a first choice eleven. As the two best fielders in a decent fielding side they give themselves a good chance, but competition for places, even in a small squad that favours rotation of players, is hotting up. Alex Hughes is another who found himself on the periphery and will be looking for a better summer in 2021.

Harvey Hosein kept better than I have seen him before and did a good job, both standing back and up to the stumps. He batted well in the first innings at Liverpool and remains an organised player , even if not one who can lead a counter-attacking rearguard action. He will remain the first choice for now, though new arrival Brooke Guest will hopefully push him to show his best form through a long, normal season.

As for the bowlers, Sam Conners showed good progress and produced some excellent spells, even if his line needs a little work at times. That issue is there for others too, with Michael Cohen showing rare pace but an inability to sustain the lines to cause a constant threat. His potential is clear, however and another winter under Steve Kirby could see the emergence of a serious bowler. Both showed they could handle a bat, too, which was heartening to see.

Dustin Melton was much improved and bowled very well at Leicester and Liverpool, though a reversion to previous erratic lines in the second innings of that final game was frustrating. He may return, depending on the final decision on Kolpak deals, as my understanding is that he becomes qualified by residence next summer. 

The best of the young seamers, for me, was Ben Aitchison. Before an ankle injury curtailed his summer, he bowled accurately and intelligently throughout. After looking to bowl too quickly on his first appearance at Trent Bridge, he got into a lovely rhythm with his well grooved action and troubled good batsmen on a regular basis. His final figures don't fully reflect his contribution and I have no doubt that his season trial will be extended to a longer deal in the coming weeks.

Which leaves another on a short-term deal, Tom Wood. His only opportunity was in the one innings at Headingley, when he let no one down, even if his dismissal was unusual. I had hoped that his contract might afford greater opportunity and if Madsen were to drop down to four he would be an obvious option at three for another year.

I'm not sure how much more we know about him though. Hopefully he gets a chance in the remaining T20 matches to show what he can do, because there is a good batsman in there.

In summary? T20 finalists in 2019, fifth in the Bob Willis Trophy in 2020. With shrewd winter recruitment, promotion from division two next summer is a distinct possibility. The all round strength of the side means we bat long and can use seven or eight bowlers if required. That will be appreciated by Billy Godleman, who again led a contented squad well and will look forward to further success and progress in 2021.

'Little' Derbyshire? Not any more. Go down to Trent Bridge and they will put you straight on that..

Lancashire v Derbyshire day 4

Lancashire 219 and 356-6

Derbyshire 195 and 202 (Reece 69, McKiernan 52)

Lancashire won by 178 runs

The last day of the four-day county cricket season was a disappointing one from a Derbyshire perspective.

While there were suggestions on social media that we 'should go for these', the likelihood of repeating the heroics of Nottinghamshire on a vastly different wicket were as slim as my chances of becoming Miss World. 

I didn't understand why Lancashire felt the need to bat on this morning. I felt they had enough anyway and it seemed unnecessarily cautious. Their doing so set a notional 380 target but left only a draw to play for, yet the Derbyshire reply was a disappointment. 

Luis Reece batted well, as did Leus Du Plooy for a while, but the rest put up minimal resistance. After the cricket they have played this summer it was all rather underwhelming. There was a doughty ninth wicket stand between McKiernan and Conners, not for the first time in the match, but there was too long left in the game. 

There's not much more to say, really. Five more T20 matches, where there is only pride to play for, then that is it for another year. Time to take stock, improve the squad as finance allows and hope for a start in April of 2021. That seems so far away right now. 

In closing, I will say one thing about Mattie McKiernan. He perhaps isn't the most gifted player in the side, but he makes the most of what he has and gives his all, whatever he does. In both innings he was prepared to battle, but the question is whether his bowling is trusted enough for him at this level?

He hasn't had a long bowl all summer and the impression one gets, rightly or wrongly, is that he isn't trusted to get people out, or keep things quiet. If that is the case, the next question is if his batting is good enough for him to play as that alone, with his leg spin only an occasional option? 

With his contract up at the end of the summer, only Dave Houghton knows the answer to that one. Yet on the evidence of this game, and other cameos in the summer, he would be very unlucky to be released.

As is ever the case in professional sport, if there is someone deemed better available, then the club will go down that route. 

But Mattie has let no one down. Least of all himself. 

Lancashire v Derbyshire day 3

Lancashire 219 and 312-6 (Davies 86, Jennings 81, Balderson 56*  Critchley 4-126

Derbyshire 195 (Hosein 84, McKiernan 31, Lamb 4-60)

Lancashire lead by 336 runs

Don't weep for Derbyshire today. Don't be angry either.

They fought well to get within the five runs required for the crucial batting point, that from a nadir of 61-7 yesterday.

Hosein, McKiernan, Conners and Melton (career average before this 0.3) did their best, but ultimately fell short. Attach no blame to them, however, because on the first two days, as a team, we neither caught nor batted well enough.

It is hard to be overly critical. In the past two years we have reached T20 Finals Day and vied for a four-day final to almost the end. This with an attack of youngsters and a squad that was small to start with and became even more bijou without Ravi Rampaul and Tony Palladino. Fynn Hudson - Prentice has had an injury that has limited his bowling too, while we also lost the promising Ben Aitchison, so the challenges have been obvious. 

The progress from where we were even two years ago is startling and there is more to come from this squad. They will learn from this and will know that even on a tricky wicket they should have made 200, against ostensibly a second team attack.

After lunch Alex Davies and Keaton Jennings led an assault on the bowlers as attention turned to what we might chase second time around. It wasn't a great session for us, but a long spell from the admirable Critchley saw him with another four wickets, two for Luis Reece lending support, as we dragged Lancashire back a little in the final session. 

It will speak volumes for their mentality if they drag themselves up from the lunchtime disappointment today to force a win. Whatever the result, we can surely all see progress and with solid winter recruitment we should make a push for four-day promotion next year. Always assuming there are two divisions, of course - we may end up in a top seeded group based on this year's performances.

That's all for next year. Here's hoping we can make a better fist of a tricky run chase tomorrow.

Lancashire v Derbyshire day 2

Lancashire 219

Derbyshire 120-7 (Hosein 44* McKiernan 19*)

Derbyshire trail by 99 runs

After writing yesterday that the Josh Bohannon century may be match-defining, I am afraid that our first innings today confirmed my psychic ability.

We quickly polished off the home side's first innings, but then a combination of injudicious strokes, good bowling and frankly poor umpiring disposed of our batting.

It isn't a good wicket and the toss will likely prove key to the result, but we didn't help ourselves early on by 'pushing' at the moving ball, or playing across the line. Du Plooy is currently doing this early in his innings, going for square leg when previously it was mid on. On this wicket a ball keeping low ensured he didn't last long, and none of the top order batted time, but Matt Critchley got a shocker from umpire Graham Lloyd.

He presumably lost the ball but expected a beamer, ducked and was hit on the full, well outside off stump. It may also have been too high as it dipped, but the decision, one of village standard, seemed to have derailed a battling attempt at recovery, as we slipped to 61-7. Given this was effectively Lancashire's second team attack, we have to be disappointed at that. 

A crucial and gutsy partnership between Harvey Hosein and Mattie McKiernan then almost doubled the score by the close. Both showed admirable technique and fighting spirit. IF we could somehow get to 200, a batting point and go on to win the match we COULD still qualify for the final, but with the games elsewhere going the way of Essex and Somerset, that is a serious set of circumstances from where we are right now.

Even my perennial positivity struggles to see another 80 runs in the rest of our batting. If we don't make it, my understanding is that Essex will qualify, having had more wins and the rest of this game is largely academic, bar for pride.

If we do...well, there's one heck of a final day in store.

Harvey, Mattie, Sam and Dustin...you know what you have to do...

Lancashire v Derbyshire day 1

Lancashire 206-8 (Bohannon 94, Melton 3-46, Conners 2-25 Reece 2-49)

v Derbyshire

Derbyshire did well at Liverpool today, restricting Lancashire to a total of 206-8 by the close. Indeed, their three big batting 'guns' of Jennings, Davies and Vilas made but five runs between them.

Yet Josh Bohannon rode his luck to make a dogged 94, taking them to a higher total than may have otherwise been possible, one that may be match-defining. He was dropped a time or two, one to Madsen at slip from the bowling of Melton fairly routine, but his side would have been in real trouble without his grafting. Let's hope that our batsmen can replicate that grit, on a slow wicket where stroke play is not easy. Staying in gradually got a little easier with the older ball, but it was cricket for the purists after tea. 

At one point after the interval, just nine runs came from ten overs, as Dal and Reece bowled accurately. Had there been a crowd, I suspect a few naps may have been taken in the evening sunshine, or books proved a more attractive alternative. 

While he bowled very well and showed astonishing stamina, I thought we overbowled Luis Reece today and I was surprised that Mattie McKiernan wasn't asked to bowl at all. Having earned a place in the eleven, he put down two difficult chances at slip and the selection seems odd for such a peripheral contribution. Given the uncertainty caused by Matt Critchley, I would have thought him worth an over or two, at least. Perhaps he is there for the second innings... 

Critchley bowled well, without luck, but Melton was again excellent. I suspect he is the most improved player on the staff, going from the fast but erratic bowler who faced the Australians last year, to one who bristles with aggression and commitment but now has much better control. 

We need to finish things off tomorrow then aim for a good first innings. We certainly won't want to chase big on the final day.

Whatever happens, we control our own destiny. 

Could we ask for more? 

Lancashire v Derbyshire Bob Willis Trophy preview

Lancashire may have three debutants in the four - day game against Derbyshire that starts at Liverpool tomorrow.

Steven Croft is injured and Tom Bailey is rested from the following 14-man squad:

Dane Vilas (c), George Balderson, Josh Bohannon, George Burrows, Alex Davies, Tom Hartley, Liam Hurt, Keaton Jennings, Rob Jones, Danny Lamb, Jack Morley, George Lavelle, Matt Parkinson, Owais Shah

As for Derbyshire, we travel with thirteen. My guess, based on the wicket for the T20 the other night, is that Mattie McKiernan will play. I am also assuming that Fynn Hudson-Prentice will, since he is in the squad, so I assume two of the seamers will miss out.

I would include Michael Cohen, for variation, but the thirteen is:

Godleman, Reece, Madsen, Du Plooy, Critchley, Hosein, Hudson-Prentice, Dal, McKiernan, Cohen, Conners, Melton, Barnes.

I would leave Barnes and either Conners or Melton out of the final eleven. We need to secure maximum bonus points and ideally win the game to get to the final, so on what may be a tricky pitch, depth of batting and variety of bowling may be crucial.

Our four-day and one-day form has been diametrically different this year. If we can quickly dispose of Jennings, Vilas and Davies we have a good chance.

Will the wicket turn as the game goes on? Probably, so whoever wins the toss will want to bat big and then bowl the other team out twice.

Billy's not had much luck with the toss of late, so here's hoping he calls correctly tomorrow.

Good luck, lads. Do us proud. 

Lancashire v Derbyshire T20

Derbyshire 98-7 (Hughes 32, McKiernan 24*)

Lancashire 102-2

Lancashire won by eight wickets. 

While I think it was a good toss to win and the wicket wasn't especially easy to bat on, Derbyshire were poor at Aigburth this afternoon.

The skipper gave it away with an ungainly heave, Luis Reece ran himself out, Wayne Madsen tickled one down the leg side and Leus Du Plooy popped one up in the air with unseemly haste. Maybe Sunday's big game was on their minds, but our much vaunted top four had been blown away, well inside the Powerplay.

Alex Hughes batted well for a while and there were late runs from Mattie McKiernan, but 98-7 reflects a poor collective batting effort. 

It is always easier on an uncertain wicket to bat second and know what you are chasing. While the home side had to take their time and didn't win until the 18th over, the game was gone at the halfway stage - for that matter at the end of that first Powerplay. 

McKiernan followed his handy innings with a tidy spell of four overs for just thirteen. As things stand, I would be surprised if he wasn't in the side on Sunday. 

The only consolation is that the wicket does not look as if it will be a run feast for that game and a positive result is likely.

We will need to up our game considerably to be on the right side of it, however. 

Lancashire v Derbyshire T20 preview

As someone once said, it is like deja vu all over again tomorrow, as Derbyshire play Lancashire at Aigburth, Liverpool. Always assuming that pretty ground has recovered from its soaking yesterday, of course.

The teams are likely to be similar as in front of the Sky cameras, though Tom Wood is a possible swap for Wayne Madsen. Although Wayne is in the squad, the greater need may be for his involvement in Sunday's four-day decider.

Having had two abandoned and two losses so far, the chances of qualification are slim, but we all know the mitigating circumstances that have made it challenging this year. We will aim to win all those remaining and see what happens. 

Lancashire may welcome back Luke Wood, but Liam Livingstone and Saqib Mahmood are still on England squad duty.

There was little between these sides on Monday, but a change of luck for Derbyshire could easily see tomorrow's result go the other way. The fielding was excellent, the bowling improved and the the mood is obviously good. 

Fingers crossed we get out there, this time. 

Durham v Derbyshire T20

And it rained. The end.

Frustrating that two games we would have had high hopes of winning (Leicestershire the other) have come to naught, but there is little we can do.

We go again, and I know the level of performance will be there again. 

It's the Derbyshire way. 

Durham v Derbyshire preview

It is perhaps typical of Derbyshire's luck of late that they play in theory the weakest team in the group tonight, just as they have been strengthened by the addition of former South African international Farhaan Behardien.

The North East Side has looked poor in previous matches, but will be hoping that the veteran's arrival might kick start their competition.

Derbyshire take a full squad to Chester le Street and will doubtless ring the changes in the attack once more. Unless a miracle has occurred, I would be surprised to see Wayne Madsen tonight, so Tom Wood is the obvious replacement.

The home squad:

Nathan Rimmington (Capt), David Bedingham, Graham Clark, Ben Raine, Scott Steel, Farhaan Behardien,Alex Lees, Sean Dickson, Paul Coughlin, Liam Trevaskis, Stuart Poynter, Ned Eckersley, Matthew Potts, Mark Wood, Brydon Carse.

It won't be easy and a home attack featuring Ben Raine and Mark Wood will be stronger than of late, but there is enough talent in the Derbyshire squad to come out on top. The key will again be our young attack keeping the opposition within range, but similar purpose in the field to the Lancashire game will serve us well. 

I will be back later with my thoughts. 

Horizons need adjusting for T20

Like many of you, after last year's performances in the Vitality Blast I was enthused by prospects for 2020.

We had signed Sean Abbott, a proven bowler in the format, as well as Ben McDermott, a boundary-bashing wicket keeper for Australia in T20. Add them to an already strong squad and optimism was high.

Then came Covid 19. While it ruled out overseas input for many counties, I felt that the two we had engaged covered our greatest need in an otherwise already strong group. Neither has been able to travel and we have had to manage with a small squad.

Small and reducing by the game. Ravi Rampaul has been unable to leave Trinidad and looks to have played his last game for us. Tony Palladino was granted time off for personal issues, though he rarely played T20 anyway. Ben Aitchison went over on his ankle and is out for the season, Fynn Hudson-Prentice has a thigh injury that needs careful management and now Wayne Madsen looks to have done his achilles tendon.

We are getting close to the 'you are fit, you can play' model of team selection. Our first three bowlers last night, Messrs McKiernan, Conners and Barnes, had four previous T20 matches between them at first-class level. The only fully fit players outside the eleven, Guest, Cohen, Wood and Melton, barely make double figures between them.

Of course you can win some matches with inexperience, as we have shown superbly in the Bob Willis Trophy, but sustained levels of performance generally require greater experience. There is no short cut to this, so supporters must expect some difficulties in the remainder of the Blast. 

I may be wrong and would be delighted to be proved so, but Dominic Cork will earn his money this year and I have mentally written it off as one where that crucial experience is gained. 

We can't just take people on loan either, because finances are already tight and we are better to use the time to assess what we already have, in my opinion. 

I watched the articulate Liam Rosenior at the weekend, discussing how being hammered 3-0 at Nottingham Forest last season in the Carabao Cup was a major factor in the development of the group of young talent at Derby County. It allowed them to see the pressures and challenges of playing at this level, even if it hurt at the time. Short term pain, long term gain and if they are good enough they will come through it, perhaps the better, on the other side. 

Wayne Madsen's injury should allow Tom Wood a run in the side, to show if the run machine at all lower levels can translate at county standard. I hope it does, because he looks to have the talent and such matches will allow him to go for his shots without an array of slips awaiting error.

As for the bowlers, there are contracts to be earned and reputations made. I thought Ed Barnes bowled well last night, especially in closing the innings. I am not yet sure if he has that in him on a regular basis and a few games will hopefully clarify that. The same goes for Matty McKiernan, who has bowled steadily in two matches and fielded brilliantly. Is he worth another deal? We might know by the end of the season.

Then there's Michael Cohen. We know already that he has wicket-taking deliveries in his locker, but can he bowl the lines and lengths to keep the score down? The same goes for Sam Conners and both will know that 1-26 in this format is as good as 4-87 in the four-day game.  Games ebb and flow by the ball and you can quickly go from a hero with a first ball wicket, to villain by leaking 16 runs afterwards.

As supporters we must all show the requisite patience. These lads are living out our dreams in front of an audience in the thousands. Very few can deliver under that pressure  and there will be times when it goes horribly wrong. 

But it is not for the want of trying, and sometimes you have to accept that someone else was better than you on the day. 

While some may fall by the wayside, I have a feeling that we may unearth a nugget or two of gold before this weird old summer is out. 

Keep the faith. Last year we made finals day in T20, this year we are a match away from a Lord's final in the four-day game. 

There are plenty who have gone decades between such experiences, not winters.

I'm one of them.