Social media boycott

I am not sure how much weight is carried by a blogger, but I have decided to throw my support behind the social media ban.

Therefore I will not be on Blogger or on Twitter until Tuesday.

Comments on social media directed at players of clubs I support and people I know who I regard as friends have been unacceptable at times.

If this helps in some small way, or at least assures those with who I am friends of my unequivocal support, so be it.

Go well, people. See you on Tuesday, all being well. 

Derbyshire v Nottinghamshire day 1

Nottinghamshire 256 (Slater 107, Clarke 66, Hudson-Prentice 4-36, Aitchison 3-27)

Derbyshire 86-8 (Critchley 33, Fletcher 3-23)

Derbyshire trail by 170 runs

Judging by the events of the first day, my pre-match forecast of a draw in this game looks unlikely to prove prophetic.

Derbyshire fought back well in mid-afternoon, after poor bowling either side of lunch allowed Ben Slater and Joe Clarke to push the score along with unseemly haste. Both opening bowlers were off colour today, with more short and wide balls than usual, but the introduction of Hudson-Prentice and Aitchison into the attack saw wickets start to fall.

Both bowled splendidly and got their reward as the visiting batsmen assayed too many aggressive shots with the ball zipping around. They look fine bowlers and although relatively new to the county game, look very much at home.

The afternoon movement suggested that we would find it tough against Broad, Fletcher and Paterson and so it transpired. The former was clearly fired up by the 'derby' and roared in from the Racecourse End. He was too good for Reece, caught behind off a beauty, but Wood and du Plooy rebuilt, though neither suggested permanence.

A patently daft run out started the slide, Wood playing to Fletcher at mid on, wanting a single and being sent back. His dive failed to beat the throw and it was a silly way to go.

Madsen was leg before, du Plooy went the same way and Critchley was caught behind, after some fine shots. With Hosein also leg before (I thought his was missing leg) the batting had been blown away by high quality bowling. Fletcher was especially good when he switched ends but the batting was far from blameless for the premature demise. 

It is hard to see a way back into this game unless something spectacular happens. The first task tomorrow is to avoid the follow on, but even the greatest optimist will think that unlikely. 

I am not sure if it would be enforced anyway, but we will know soon enough. Much will depend on overhead conditions tomorrow. 

We have a mountain to climb.

Derbyshire v Nottinghamshire preview

It is a sign of how far Derbyshire have come under Dave Houghton that you don't fear a game against Nottinghamshire any more.

They have fine players and will be bolstered by England man Stuart Broad tomorrow, but it is some 30 matches since they last won a four-day game. The plan over the weekend is to make sure that run continues.

Mikey Cohen and Billy Godleman are added to the eleven that played at Durham. It will be good to see both of them back and it would be nice to win the toss for the first time this season.

I expect both to play and that George Scrimshaw and either Tom Wood or Brooke Guest will drop out. It will be tough on whichever one misses out, but my guess is that Tom will be the unlucky one.

The likely side:

Godleman, Reece, du Plooy, Madsen, Critchley, Hosein, Guest, Hudson-Prentice, Cohen, Aitchison, Conners. 

As for our visitors, there's no Samit Patel this year (saved for one day cricket) but Luke Fletcher is on the squad, as is South African seamer Dane Paterson. Their thirteen is:

Broad, Chappell, Clarke, Duckett, Evison, Fletcher, Hameed, James, Moores, Mullaney, Paterson, Patterson-White, Slater. 

Hasib Hameed has been in good touch this summer and Ben Slater will be keen to impress on his return to God's Own County. 

It is a shame that Billy Stanlake misses out due to English government guidance, while Glamorgan welcome back Marnus Labuschagne to their squad after only two days here because of the differing Welsh government advice. 

Hopefully Billy will be raring to go for Essex and we might even field both overseas in that one, with Dustin Melton almost recovered from a groin strain. 

It should be a good game and once more I am looking forward to it immensely. We have the ability to follow up on the win at Trent Bridge last year, but with rain projected for Saturday afternoon, I am going for a draw this year.

What are your thoughts? 

Harvey Hosein: an appreciation

With the benefit of hindsight, breaking the Derbyshire record for dismissals in a match and equalling the world record for dismissals by a wicket-keeper on first-class debut was not the best thing for Harvey Hosein.

After all, he was eighteen years old and looked considerably younger. He will have kept wicket far better subsequently and barely registered in the scorebook, but those eleven victims at the Oval in 2014 suggested that Derbyshire might be on to something. Given that at the time Academy alumni were not loitering on every street corner, he was celebrated with perhaps undue haste in some quarters.

He was, after all, far from the finished article. Why would he be, in such callow youth? There were times, especially standing up, when I thought his glove work left much to be desired, especially down the leg side, when balls were often not taken cleanly. It was to be expected. perhaps, but the signings of Gary Wilson and Daryn Smit saw him drop to third in the pecking order and at that time rightly so.

Some were dismissive of my constructively critical observations on him, but I grew up watching Bob Taylor, then Karl Krikken. If you are following on from such fine players, the expectations, at least of this correspondent, are high. Just like Paul Borrington, Harvey was elevated to senior cricket before he was ready and his limitations - primarily a slight frame -  were exposed.

There was an apprenticeship to serve, skills to learn but a good person in Smit to work with. There were also sessions with Jack Russell and the requisite skills for a long first-class career were gradually honed. None of us should underestimate the hard work that has gone into getting there.

Then there was his batting. The technique was always obvious, but the strength to score runs from anything other than deflections wasn't there for a long time. Watching him against brutish quick bowlers, one could admire the technique and the ability to keep them at bay, but the ability to do more than occupy the crease, nudge and nurdle was lacking.

Last season was his breakthrough year. Perhaps Dave Houghton having faith in him as number one and the retirement of Smit to coach the Academy was a factor. Being number one must have given him greater confidence and that was clear from the start. His wicket-keeping to Matt Critchley is now impressive, his footwork much improved, so much so that I notice him far less, always a good sign. He is more vocal in the field too and like all good wicket-keepers sets the tone for the side.

This season he has kicked on still further, his glove work steady, his batting simply astonishing. Including the pre-season Cardiff UCCE friendly, he has reeled off scores of 89*, 2, 78*, 83*, 55*, 63 and 34*. We can forgive the one aberration on a tricky wicket at Edgbaston, but these are the scores of a high quality performer, one who as a result sits atop the national averages with one of 157.5.

Heady stuff indeed. I always felt he was susceptible early to a yorker, which could trap him on the crease, but opponents have tried this in recent games and it has failed. He is quickly into position after seeing the ball early, plays a stroke of text book correctness and accumulates steadily.

Therein lies the secret of his success. He knows his game now and it is not as an aggressive player. He is not Jos Buttler, but I'll wager Jos wouldn't have handled the conditions at Edgbaston and The Riverside as well as Harvey did. Only four sixes in first-class cricket and one in List A tells a tale, but his isn't the counter-attacking game, such as played by James Pipe in the recent past. He is a steady hand, a calm presence, one who I could see batting higher still in the years ahead. 

He seems to have what it takes to bat first wicket down in time, as long as he could adjust from hours in the field to similar periods at the crease. His main shots are the cut, the glide through gulley, the flick off his hip. He can hook, but does so selectively and has an occasional cover drive of beauty. I don't expect him to be hitting bowlers down the ground for six, but that isn't for everyone and, like I say, he knows what works and does it well. I don't yet see him as the man to get us ten an over off the last ten to win, but very much one who could save a game or gradually work us into a position to go on and do so. That he has the third highest average for Derbyshire of any current player (34.57, behind Madsen and du Plooy) confirms both his development and potential.

I don't expect him to play in the T20, because we have the dynamic Ben McDermott for the dual role and he will hit down and out of the ground with raw power. I could however see him batting three in the RLODC, when Messrs Reece, Madsen and Critchley are elsewhere. Moreover, I could see him do it well, given time to build an innings rather than hit from the first ball.

I can also see him as a fixture in the Derbyshire eleven for a long time to come. He's one of our own, as they sometimes sing and has been since he was knee-high to a grasshopper at Matlock. Suitors may be out there, though I can't think of a county short of a good wicket-keeper at present.

Let's enjoy his talents. Recent Derbyshire history is littered with the names of those who promised, yet  fizzled out and either drifted from the game or to another county, with mixed results.

Harvey is in the vanguard of a youthful Derbyshire set up and is now one of the more experienced, alongside the likes of Conners, Cohen, Aitchison, Hudson-Prentice and Melton.

It will be fascinating to see how his career develops from here.

Derbyshire v Durham day 4

Durham 475 and 175-2 dec

Derbyshire 267 and 280-5 (Madsen 74, Critchley 69, Hosein 34*)

Match drawn

Derbyshire batted doggedly and with great skill on the last day at The Riverside, earning a creditable draw after an innings in which everyone contributed. 

A win was never an option for me, on a wicket where bounce was uneven and going for it would likely have presented the game to the home side. 

I don't think Tom Wood settled in this game. He seemed to be nervous and 'pushing' at balls outside off and should have been caught at slip by Bedingham before he was bowled for the second time in the game, to a ball cutting back. That he can bat is undeniable, but with opportunities likely to be limited, Tom will need to make the most of those that he gets. 

Luis Reece batted with admirable restraint until twenty minutes before lunch, when he swept at the leg spin of Borthwick and was leg before. The shot was unnecessary with runs irrelevant and it was a careless way to go after a lengthy vigil. 

I have to say Scott Borthwick's throwing his hands into the air after every ball while bowling or fielding annoyed me in this game. Maybe I am getting old and tetchy, but there is no need for such nonsense, especially when most of the time the delivery didn't justify such over-exuberance. 

Speaking of which, Ben Raine's excessive appeal earned him the wicket of du Plooy straight after lunch. He was well outside off stump to a ball that pitched well outside off. Raine's successful appeal was unacceptable to the Peakfan standards of cricket behaviour and I don't like the way this aggression is creeping into the game. It is intimidatory and frankly unpleasant to endure. Nor was I impressed by his running backwards down a line outside off stump for the left-hander. He did this for two or three subsequent appeals too and it is neither nice nor clever. 

The du Plooy decision wasn't umpire Richard Kettleborough's only dubious decision today. After a terrific stand between Matt Critchley and Wayne Madsen, a county record for the fourth wicket against Durham, the former was adjudged leg before to a ball that cut back a long way and looked to be going down leg. Madsen soon followed for his second fine innings of the game, which meant that the second new ball and the last 22 overs were likely to be nerve-jangling.

And yet they weren't. With eminent good sense and sound technique, Harvey Hosein (soon to be known as 'the undefeated Harvey Hosein' ) and Brooke Guest saw it through to the end. 

It was another battling effort from a Derbyshire side that continues to impress me. You can tell they are a team and they are a pleasure to watch. 

In Bedingham and Rushworth the home side had the game's outstanding players and the lion's share of the match. They have always been a county I had a soft spot for, but their antics in the field on this occasion were disappointing. 

Well done to Derbyshire, for keeping their unbeaten record going. 

Nottinghamshire next. That will be fun.. 

Durham v Derbyshire day 3

Durham 475 and 175-2 (Lees 78*, Bedingham 53*)

Derbyshire 267 (Madsen 76, Hosein 63, Rushworth 6-58) and 10-0

Derbyshire need 374 to win

I thought Derbyshire battled hard to stay in the game this morning, after Wayne Madsen got one that 'popped' on a foothold. Brooke Guest and Harvey Hosein then showed good technique and plenty of fight in their stand that lasted almost until lunch, before the former was caught behind.

Chris Rushworth has looked in a class of his own in this game and showed the merits of having a bowler of experience on such a wicket. When he bowled there was danger in every delivery, while at the other end, the going appeared to be easier.

Potts bowled Fynn Hudson-Prentice with another grubber and the tail didn't last long, Hosein the last man out for his fourth successive well-constructed fifty (and first dismissal in that time).

I never thought Durham would enforce the follow on and potentially bat last on a pitch of variable bounce, but I was surprised they showed no real urgency in their second innings. Maybe they think they can take ten wickets easily tomorrow and maybe they will, but their innings mirrored our second against Worcestershire, scoring runs but not especially quickly and getting a 400 lead and 15 overs at the opposition. I'm not sure how Bedingham survived an early lbw against Critchley, but he and Lees batted without any major alarms thereafter, which gives hope ahead of the final innings.

Tom Wood and Luis Reece saw it through to stumps intact and the task tomorrow is clear. Bat, bat and bat some more.

They know the odd one will grub through, but task one is to see off Rushworth's opening burst. While the others are decent bowlers, there is no real variety in the attack and they might regret the absence of Liam Trevaskis on the last afternoon.

We'll see soon enough. I entertain no hopes of a win, but a draw would do just fine. 

Durham v Derbyshire day 2

Durham 475 (Bedingham 257, Conners 5-83)

Derbyshire 148-5 (Madsen 76*, Critchley 40, Rushworth 4-27)

Derbyshire trail by 327 runs

All things considered I felt Derbyshire bowled with discipline in the long Durham innings over the past two days.

David Bedingham played a sublime innings of 257, the highest made for Durham against Derbyshire, but wickets fell steadily and 475 might be deemed slightly disappointing by the home fans, considering the South Africa's monumental effort.

He rarely looked troubled, had time to spare and appears to be a huge loss to his country's cricket. He is the first batsman this year who has played Matt Critchley with confidence, not that the latter bowled badly.

Yet it seemed a different wicket when Chris Rushworth got to work with the new ball. For me, he is the best bowler in the current county game not to play international cricket (Darren Stevens is a contender in April and May) and was a real handful in his first spell.

Tom Wood didn't settle at all, Leus du Plooy shuffled across and was leg before, while Luis Reece seemed to get a bad decision down the leg side. Luis is a pretty honest guy and his reaction on being dismissed confirmed that it was likely his thigh pad. A concerted Durham appeal did for him and we were in very early trouble.

Truth be told our top three hasn't yet fired. Chopping and changing, enforced and otherwise, hasn't helped and although Madsen looks more his old self at four, too often he is in early anyway. At Edgbaston we were three down for 7 and 17, were 54-3 in the second innings against Worcestershire and here were three down for 26.Only when du Plooy made 98 in the first innings at Derby have Madsen and Critchley come in at more than a crisis.

Again today they batted beautifully, despite the histrionics of Messrs Poynter, Bedingham and Borthwick in the slip cordon suggesting they were facing hand grenades. The pair mounted a splendid century stand for the second innings running, before Critchley, who had batted well  once more, was bowled by a horrible shooter from the returning Rushworth. If such a ball is straight the batsman hasn't a prayer and the batman's run of scores in excess of fifty to start the season was over.

I didn't understand the logic of Aitchison coming in as night watchman against the two best home bowlers and he didn't last long, Raine removing his off stump with one that jagged back a long way.

Madsen played the kind of innings we have enjoyed for years and remained at the close, with Hosein his partner. Derbyshire's two most technically correct batsmen need to bat a long time tomorrow, to keep the game alive. 

Durham v Derbyshire day 1

Durham 307-4 (Bedingham 170*, Conners 3-54)

v Derbyshire

I have to admit to not seeing as much of today's play as I would have liked. I saw most of the morning, none of the afternoon and a little of the evening session, pesky old work being the problem.

Sam Conners reinforced my impression of him as a 'coming' bowler. His early spell saw him on a hat trick, but that was as good as it got for Derbyshire, although Durham never really got away, scoring at a steady three an over across the day in the face of steady, if not penetrative bowling.

It looked a good toss to win and South African David Bedingham made the most of a good track with a fine innings. He looks an excellent player and certainly seems to capitalise on being 'in' when the time comes.

A few balls went past the bat but it was hard graft today and the bowlers stood up to the examination pretty well. No doubt tomorrow will bring more leather-chasing, but it is then up to a batting line-up sans Godleman to do unto others as was done to us. It is a good opportunity for Tom Wood to show what he can do, so too Brooke Guest, playing as an extra batsman. Fair play to him and I hope he does well, but Alex Hughes will feel aggrieved to miss out after his double hundred last week.

Finally, for those who don't follow me on Twitter, I am delighted to say that two leading blog ranking sites have ranked this blog number one and six respectively of the 'cricket blogs, websites and influencers' in the country, based on various parameters and taking information from a range of rankings. 

It came as a big surprise but is down to the people who visit it regularly, you, for making it so.

I am very humbled by those rankings in the face of the competition out there (others in the top ten are more than one-person operations) so thank you all! 

Durham v Derbyshire preview

In normal times I would be heading down the A74 early tomorrow morning and arriving at The Riverside just after 10 for the start of my closest trip to see Derbyshire in a season.

Sadly, that isn't happening this year for obvious reasons, so the stream must suffice for the next four days.

Dave Houghton has announced a fourteen-man squad for the trip, with ten of those who played against Worcestershire in there. Anuj Dal drops out (and it is good to see him scoring runs for the seconds today) with both Tom Wood and Alex Hughes involved for the first time this summer, after big scores last week.

There appear to be three decisions to make. Which of the two replaces Dal, which wicket-keeper plays and which one from Conners, Aitchison, Cohen and Scrimshaw misses out. Given our seam bowling all rounders, we would always lengthen the batting still further and play both Wood and Hughes, but it seems less likely.

The squad is:

Godleman, Reece, Wood, Madsen, du Plooy, Hughes, Critchley, Hosein, Hudson-Prentice, Cohen, Conners, Aitchison, Guest, Scrimshaw.

Durham have Scott Borthwick back in the fold as skipper and he leads a strong squad that lost against Essex in their last game after dominating for a good part of the match. Chris Rushworth will always be a handful on his own turf and South African David Bedingham has been in good form. With Ben Raine a perennial thorn in Derbyshire sides since his Leicestershire days, we will need to be at our very best to be on the positive side of the result. 

Their squad:

Scott Borthwick*, David Bedingham, Jack Burnham, Paul Coughlin, Ned Eckersley, Ben Raine, Chris Rushworth, Alex Lees, Matthew Potts, Stuart Poynter (wk) Matt Salisbury, Alex Thomson, Will Young

It isn't the happiest of hunting grounds for Derbyshire and last time out was an appalling effort against them in the Vitality Blast. We did well in the Bob Willis Trophy fixture last year though and I think we can come out on top in our best form.

The weather is set fair for the four days, so it should make for great entertainment.

So what are your thoughts? 

Derbyshire v Worcestershire day 4

Derbyshire 390 and 312-5 Dec (Hosein 55*)

Worcestershire 305 and 193-8 (Cox 60*, Aitchison 3-18, Critchley 3-76

Match drawn

It is easy to be wise after the event, but Derbyshire's decision to bat Worcestershire out of the match this morning came back to bite them tonight, as the visitors clung on to get a draw at the Incora County Ground.

Chasing 350-plus was going to be a challenge but the time taken out of the day became a factor as we batted on for around 40 minutes to set a winning target of 398.

A little more haste yesterday evening would perhaps have made a difference too, but the win points were not to be, despite a brave effort. 

It does not detract from an impressive performance in this game, with Matt Critchley the undoubted star, of course. Yet Ben Aitchison bowled splendidly today for three wickets and Fynn Hudson-Prentice bowled some fine spells. Wayne Madsen, skippering in place of the injured Billy Godleman, switched his bowlers regularly, but ultimately to no avail. 

In the end it was a battling knock from Ben Cox, one of the most underrated players on the circuit, that saved the game for Worcestershire. His stand with Ed Barnard was gritty and determined, fair play to them both. It took time from the game and made for a pulsating finish. 

In short it was a terrific game of cricket, the result in doubt to the final over.

Apart from a win, could you ask for more?

Oh, and Nottinghamshire lost.. 

Derbyshire v Worcestershire day 3

Derbyshire 390 (Critchley 109) and 268-5 (Critchley 84, Madsen 66)

Worcestershire 305 (Critchley 5-67)

Derbyshire lead by 353 runs

The chances are that if you live to a ripe old age you will not see a better performance than that of Matt Critchley in this game. 193 runs and five wickets (so far), made with a style and panache that would be hard to surpass.

Only Garnet Lee, in 1928, has scored a century and fifty, as well as taking five wickets in the same match. That was 93 years ago, against Leicestershire at Derby and whatever happens tomorrow, Matt can be immensely proud of his efforts. 

He was only 16 runs short of a new world record (thanks to David Griffin for the stat) and his brilliance enabled Derbyshire to overcome the early loss of Billy Godleman, who retired with a groin injury. 

I said before the season that it was a big year for him and his England ambitions. The evidence is becoming increasingly compelling with every game. 

Derbyshire forged a lead of 353 by the close, although bowling out the visitors tomorrow on a wicket that isn't unduly awkward will be tough. Some cloud cover would be nice in the morning.. 

And Critch will no doubt be twirling fairly early in proceedings. 

I can pay no greater tribute to his batting today than to say that Wayne Madsen played second fiddle for most of their partnership. He too played delightfully and Harvey Hosein worked it around before the close when Worcestershire had plenty on the boundary to slow the scoring, but it was Critchley's day. 

As indeed it has been his match and season so far.

Derbyshire v Worcestershire day 2

Derbyshire 390

Worcestershire 243-7 (Fell 69, Wessels 60, Critchley 3-56)

Derbyshire lead by 147 runs

Derbyshire, largely thanks to Harvey Hosein, stretched their first innings to 390 this morning. Ben Aitchison lent valuable support and Billy Godleman will have been delighted with such a total after being asked to bat first. 

Then Sam Conners, as he is developing a nice habit of doing, removed Jake Libby with his second ball, the batsman's first. 

It was harder after that, as first Fell and then Rikki Wessels played good knocks, but Matt Critchley followed his century yesterday with a high-class spell of spin bowling. The ball to remove Wessels, a regular thorn in Derbyshire sides over the years, was a beautiful googly and he can be well pleased with another top effort. 

Sam Conners took two wickets and the attack as a whole bowled with discipline. I thought Billy Godleman handled his attack well too, rotating and changing the bowlers  regularly and not letting the batting side settle. 

It was a good day, but chances of victory are linked to removing the last three fairly quickly tomorrow morning. Luis Reece's late removal of Ben Cox, who played on, was a big moment. 

Meanwhile at  Northampton, Alex Hughes made a superb unbeaten 231 as our seconds batted most of the last day to draw with the home side. 

The declared total was 535-3, with Tom Wood making 138 and South African trialist Justin Broad making 120.

Logic suggests Hughes will be back in the side for the next game after his marathon knock, which lasted seven and a quarter hours. 

Top work! 

Seconds in high-scoring game

A relatively young Derbyshire second team took a hammering from a strong Northamptonshire side over the first two days at Northampton, but fought back well on the third, ahead of today's last day.

The home side made 525-4, with Gay making 189 and Zaib 140. Luke Procter, Richard Levi and Wayne Parnell were also in the runs against a young attack, with Hutchinson and McKiernan both taking 2-79.

In reply, Derbyshire were bowled out for 232, Nils Priestley top-scoring with 74 and Tom Wood making 33.

Second time around they did much better. After losing Wagstaffe with the score on 36, Wood (114*) and Alex Hughes (73*) took the score to 218-1 by the close.

For me, the two not out batsmen must be in a shoot out for a place in the next first team match. The argument for Anuj Dal is strong, if he offers a bowling option. As he is currently not fit to bowl and has scores of 0, 4 and 0 this season, his place has to be under pressure.

It will be interesting to see how this unfolds, but Anuj, a player I have a lot of time for, has a big second innings in the Worcestershire game. 

Derbyshire v Worcestershire day 1

Derbyshire 360-8 (Critchley 105, du Plooy 98, Hosein 65*, Godleman 50) 

v Worcestershire

After losing the toss and being asked to bat, Derbyshire will be very happy with their position at the end of the first day.

Thanks to a fine century from Matt Critchley, a classy 98 from Leus du Plooy and an unbeaten 65 from Harvey Hosein, we reached 360-8 by the close of play.

Luis Reece went in the first over, playing across the line but to my eyes outside off stump. It seemed a harsh decision but Billy Godleman dug in and with Leus du Plooy batting beautifully they went into lunch with only one wicket down.

Billy was caught behind soon after making fifty and Madsen didn't last long, but Critchley must be seeing it like a football and played quite beautifully. A couple of on drives left me purring and he looks a batsman of real class. He was well assisted by Harvey Hosein (I could have copy and pasted that from the Edgbaston report) and they took the score past 300 with a stand that was part grit, part luck (Hosein was dropped twice) and at times very stylish.

Critchley was given lbw in the final session, which triggered a collapse of four wickets in four overs, but the close came with Derbyshire in a decent position on a wicket that offered something  for bowlers, all day. There was a bbit of carry in it too, which was pleasing to see. 

It will be interesting to see how we bowl on it tomorrow. Alzarri Joseph bowled quickly for the visitors, but often way too short and when he pitched it up, like Pennington, Barnard and Leach, he was a handful.

Let's hope we don't make the same mistake when we are bowling tomorrow. 

Derbyshire v Worcestershire preview

It looks like an unchanged side for Derbyshire in their opening first-class fixture at the Incora County Ground in 2021.

To the eleven that played at Warwickshire are added Brooke Guest and Nick Potts, though logic suggests an unchanged side. Despite its failings at Edgbaston, the top six virtually picks itself. We will wait to see if Anuj Dal continues at three, but dropping him down the order after one game would be harsh and suggest flawed thinking in the first place.

The make up of the side looks solid, with Dal and Tom Wood perhaps set to contest the extra batting place as the summer goes on. I do hope the latter gets opportunity, as this summer rather represents a 'free hit' as far as his ability at this level is concerned. If he succeeds, then we may have a long - term successor to Wayne Madsen, but we won't know if he doesn't get a substantial run.

It was nice to read online today that Wayne thinks he has a few more years in him yet. I certainly think so and it will be a sad day when he bats for the last time in county colours. It took two good balls to remove him at Edgbaston and I have no doubts that the runs will rack up again this summer.

The Derbyshire squad:

Godleman, Reece, Dal, du Plooy, Madsen, Critchley, Hosein, Hudson-Prentice, Cohen, Aitchison, Conners, Guest, Potts.

Worcestershire welcome West Indian quick Alzarri Joseph for the first time. He can play their first seven games and is a talented and lively bowler.

Their squad:

Daryl Mitchell
Jake Libby
Tom Fell
Gareth Roderick
Brett D’Oliveira
Riki Wessels
Ben Cox 
Ed Barnard
Joe Leach *
Dillon Pennington
Charlie Morris
Alzarri Joseph

They bat long and powerfully, with a good seam attack and D'Oliveira to provide the spin option. It promises to be a good game and I think we have enough to come out the right side of it, if the eleven plays to potential. There's no snow forecast and the four days looks like being uninterrupted. 

I am looking forward to the club's enhanced stream and a fine Derbyshire performance. 

What about you? 

Warwickshire v Derbyshire day 4

Derbyshire 189 and 244 (Critchley 83, Hosein 78* Hannon-Dalby 5-76)

Warwickshire 221 and 7-0

Match drawn

Last night I wrote that we needed a special effort to get something from this game. That came from two young players as we battled to a draw, snow ending play early.

Matt Critchley had a terrific game. With 64 and 83 in his two innings, he more than anyone else in the game came to terms with a far from easy early season wicket. Throw in  figures of 2-22 in the Warwickshire innings and there was no contest for man of the match.

I said pre-season that it was a big year for him and he could hardly have started it better. In prime form his bat has a delightful flourish and his play off his legs here was a joy. So too the security in his defence, which he has obviously worked on. 

Hosein was no less impressive. I sometimes feel he can struggle with his footwork when he first comes in and get trapped on the crease, but he was incisive from the start. Though his partner took the lead in scoring, Harvey showed fine technique and a full range of strokes. He batted through to be unbeaten at the end and can be proud of his efforts. 

It was a match-saving partnership that got through the crucial first session unscathed. Though wickets fell steadily after lunch, once a brisk knock from Hudson-Prentice complicated the win target, the run chase was 213 from 41 overs after tea. 

Snow ended play after four overs, but the approach of the home batsmen hadn't suggested they were going to go for them. Luis Reece bowled two maidens and, let's face it, few would send in Dominic Sibley in a run chase, regardless of his merits as an organised opening batsman. 

Derbyshire can be proud of their efforts here. There is room for improvement with bat and ball, but there were also plenty of reasons for optimism, at the start of a long season. 

Well done fellas. You made us proud today. 

Warwickshire v Derbyshire day 3

Derbyshire 189 and 71-5 (Hannon-Dalby 5-29)

Warwickshire 221

Derbyshire lead by 39 runs

Unless someone produces the spectacular tomorrow, or the bad weather that took out the second half of the day again intervenes, Derbyshire will slide to defeat.

They bowled better today and found a combo that worked in Mikey Cohen's skiddy pace at one end, with Matt Critchley's leggies at the other. They didn't take too long to dispose of the home side and the deficit was 'only' 32.

It is a 'sporting' wicket though and we were only two ahead by the time the fourth wicket fell, the top batsmen all spirited away by Hannon-Dalby. We came out almost in one-day mode, presumably wanting to hit the bowlers off their length, but it didn't work. Godleman batted well for a while, though never suggested permanence, but Dal completed a miserable match of four runs from two innings, while du Plooy bagged a pair, likely his first in senior cricket.

I saw a silly comment about Dal on Twitter this afternoon, which was totally unfair. If a player as good as Leus can bag a pair, surely Anuj shouldn't be expected to score a hatful? Especially when he has been elevated from eight last year to number three, on a wicket where all batsmen have struggled.

Critchley has batted better than anyone in the two innings and he, with Madsen, hinted at a recovery. Yet Hannon-Dalby took his fifth, with the second ball in the match Wayne could do little about, leaving Hosein at the crease just before play ended, first for bad light and then for heavy rain.

More rain is forecast for tomorrow afternoon, so the chances of escaping with a draw hinge on batting with grit and luck tomorrow morning. On this wicket it will be some effort, though the odds in favour are not good.

Anyone know any good rain dances? 

Warwickshire v Derbyshire day 2

Derbyshire 189

Warwickshire 169-5 (Lamb 41*, Aitchison 2-31, Conners 2-40

Derbyshire lead by 20 runs

While they made regular inroads into the home batting today, I didn't think this was an especially good performance with the ball or in the field by Derbyshire today.

All of the bowlers bowled some good balls, but there were too many that could be easily left by the batsmen. When lines were adjusted, they went too far and gave away easy runs off the pads.

Maybe I am being unduly harsh, but I am judging by the high standards of others I have seen over the years, when more often than not the batsmen were made to play. I acknowledge a little early season rustiness, but in a game of low scoring with a helpful wicket, we could have done better. The lack of a third man was a puzzle too, with four or five boundaries squirting off the edge. For me, Reece and Cohen were the best bowlers, though that was not reflected in the scorebook

Nor were we especially good in the field.  Du Plooy put down a fairly straightforward one at slip, while Hosein seemed to put a more difficult one down last ball before tea, certainly from the reactions of the bowler and slips. There were also bits of sloppy fielding, which in a low-scoring game makes a big difference.

I think an issue that Billy Godleman has, with the options at his disposal, is getting them on in the right order and at the right end. Reece and Conners did OK, the former unlucky, the latter proving he can get good players out. Aitchison did very well when he came back after a loose early spell, as did Hudson-Prentice. Cohen didn't get on until the ball was 30 overs-plus old, while Dal, who is a more than handy seamer, wasn't used at all.

At the end of a rain-hit day, Warwickshire were 169-5 and slightly on top. Lamb top-scored but led a charmed life, as batsmen will on here with the ball in the right areas.

We need to bowl better lines and field much better tomorrow, that's for sure. 

Warwickshire v Derbyshire day 1

Derbyshire 189 (Critchley 64, Reece 63, Norwell 5-32)

Warwickshire 13-1

A fine spell of bowling by Liam Norwell, slightly tarnished by overly enthusiastic appealing, was the difference between the two sides on day one at Edgbaston.

Norwell, with support from Oliver Hannon-Dalby removed the first three Derbyshire batsmen for ducks. Godleman got a second ball he would have struggled with in high summer and peak form, Dal looked correct but left a gap, while du Plooy assayed a leave but dragged on.

Madsen helped Reece bring up the fifty, but was well caught at slip to one that bounced, which brought in Critchley and the best spell of the day for Derbyshire.

He and the excellent, phlegmatic Reece put on the best stand of the innings, before the return of Norwell did for both. Luis showed good technique and concentration, while Critchley, as he often does, looked on a different wicket to the others at times.

He was becalmed after reaching a sumptuous fifty and was out soon after Reece, another held in the excellent slip cordon. Warwickshire held their catches well on a cold day, which is no mean feat. 

There was a somewhat disappointing end to the innings after Reece and Critchley batted so well. Only a few lusty blows from FHP were noteworthy thereafter, before he gave his wicket away to a loose shot, though Aitchison and Conners battled towards, but fell short of a batting point, the innings closing at 189.

There was time for Conners to remove Will Rhodes with his second ball, before bad light ended play early, with the hosts 13-1.

There's a big first session tomorrow. 

Warwickshire v Derbyshire preview

Well, old Peakfan dusted down his team selection crystal ball last week and seems to have got pretty close to the eleven that will take the field against Warwickshire at Edgbaston tomorrow.

To the eleven I named, Brooke Guest and George Scrimshaw are added. I am not sure if there are any doubts over Harvey Hosein that caused him to retire hurt against Lancashire, bit he seemed to bat easily enough against Cardiff UCCE. I suspect he will play and Guest will be 12th man, while I couldn't call the bowler who misses out from the thirteen below:

Godleman, Reece, Madsen, du Plooy, Critchley, Dal, Hosein, Hudson-Prentice, Cohen, Aitchison, Conners, Scrimshaw, Guest.

Meanwhile, the home squad contains England man Dominic Sibley, as well as the highly-rated Sam Hain. Tim Bresnan provides experience and their squad is:

Sibley, Rhodes, Hain, Bresnan, Briggs, Brookes, Burgess, Hannon-Dalby, Lamb, Miles, Mousley, Norwell, Yates. 

It will be a tough game, as they all are at this level. At this stage eighteen counties believe this is 'their' year and the home side has been bullish about their prospects. 

Those of every team depend on people staying fit and holding catches, of course. While there may be some concern at the lack of genuine experience in the Derbyshire attack, the flip side is that it contains players with reputations to make. 

In cricket, as in any organisation, that can be a potent weapon. 

Like all of you, I will be glued to my TV tomorrow and for the next few days. The forecast looks fair, even if it doesn't look like too many will be in a sleeveless top. No predictions at this stage, let's see how we shape up first. 

Good luck fellas. We're rooting for you. 

Derbyshire v Cardiff UCCE day. 3

Derbyshire 321-6 and 277-4 (McKiernan 101, Wagstaff 89)

Cardiff UCCE 258 and 137-1 (Ward 78, Palmer 50*)

Match Drawn

While neither are going to appear in the first team this week, there was much to enjoy in the batting of Mattie McKiernan and Mitch Wagstaff today.

The bowling may have been of dubious quality at times, but a century packed with powerful strokes was McKiernan's first for Derbyshire. One six caused the ball to be changed, no doubt shredded as it went over the stone chips of the car park across from the pavilion. He hit four sixes in all and perished going for a fifth, but it will have done his confidence a world of good.

Wagstaff again batted beautifully and in a controlled manner. Just about his only ugly shot was the one that saw him fall to a skier on 89, but he can be proud of his match return. At 17 he has a very bright future.

It was also a delight to watch Nafis Shaikh and he looks remarkably composed at the crease. His stature suggests someone drafted in to make up the numbers, but at the crease he has lovely footwork. It affords him time and watching him bat I was reminded of the Indian legend Gundappa Viswanath. He was also small but a wonderfully elegant player and Nafis looks a real talent.

Once the declaration came it was academic, but on a bitterly cold day there was no point in having the side out in the field for more than they needed to.

Cardiff batted in spirited fashion with close fields set and it was a good workout for the players.

One final comment. The stream was excellent. The additional camera(s) to show where the ball has gone are a real enhancement and it will be a treat to watch this summer.

Next stop Edgbaston on Thursday. I'm looking forward to seeing the squad announcement in due course. 

Derbyshire v Cardiff UCCE Day 2

Derbyshire 321-6 dec and 20-1

Cardiff UCCE 258 (Banton 75, Bevans 68 Hutchinson 3-17, Sylvester 3-31)

Derbyshire lead by 83 runs

This has been a good work out and two nicely balanced sides, with Derbyshire'mix of half staff players and the others from the academy getting a good work out from the students.

Seamers Hutchinson and Sylvester bowled splendidly for Derbyshire, who made regular inroads into the visiting batting. They recovered well from 127-6 to get close to the home total and it has made for a fascinating final day tomorrow, weather permitting. 

It will be another part of the learning curve for the younger players in facing batsmen hopefully going for a target, while for senior bowlers Melton, Hughes and McKiernan it is a chance for another early season bowl.

It was disappointing to see Wood dismissed in the day's closing overs, but he has runs in him when the season gets into swing. 

More from me tomorrow. 

Team for Warwickshire?

I have had a few messages and comments regarding my team for the first game at Edgbaston.

It is always tough to call these things, because we don't know who is fully fit, who has rhythm in the nets and who will best suit the likely wicket at Edgbaston.

I think the batting largely picks itself, and the good thing about our plethora of all round talent is that we can bat deep and still have plenty of bowling options.

I am putting this team out there now, because for the next three days my long hours will preclude a lengthy blog. They will, however, enable me to watch almost all of the first game on the stream that the weather allows.

So here goes:

Godleman

Reece

Dal

du Plooy

Madsen

Critchley

Hosein

Hudson-Prentice

Cohen

Aitchison

Conners

My understanding is that Billy Stanlake isn't here for this one and I think the three seamers picked have so far shown the best rhythm.

It is a sign of strength that Melton and Scrimshaw are omitted, but their turn will come. Madsen may yet bat three, but hasn't pre-season, which might offer an 'in' to Dal, Hughes or Tom Wood. Tom perhaps needs a big score in the second innings of the current match, while Melton needs to get his lines and rhythm right to change the above eleven.

We will see in due course.

Now let me hear yours! 

Derbyshire v Cardiff UCCE day 1

Derbyshire 321-6 (Hosein 89*, Shaikh 55, Wagstaff 45)

V Cardiff UCCE

The only disappointment for Dave Houghton today will have been that only Harvey Hosein of those around the first team enhanced his claims for a place in a first choice side.

Hosein's steady, unbeaten 89 restored an innings that looked set to run aground on the rocks after a good start.

Tom Wood and Mitch Wagstaff led off with a good opening stand, before Wood was straightened up by a good ball and caught behind. Hughes, McKiernan and Priestley got starts but failed to go on, while Mitch Wagstaff, a 17-year old left hander, looked good at the top of the order. He seems very strong through the covers and it was ironic that he played on, assaying another drive. 

Then came a splendid fifty for Nafis Shaikh. At 16 he has astonishing potential, but was helped by the opposition quicks forgetting that small players are generally strong pullers and cutters. There were nine boundaries in his knock, almost all of them square and he and Hosein steered Derbyshire past 300 with a century stand. 

He eventually went for 55, by which time Derbyshire were rock solid, reaching 321-6 by stumps.

Derbyshire v Cardiff UCCE preview

Dave Houghton has announced a youthful side for the final game of pre-season, a game against Cardiff UCCE which starts at Derby tomorrow.

The only senior players in the squad are Tom Wood, Alex Hughes, Mattie McKiernan and Dustin Melton, with Nils Priestley also likely to start.

All have an opportunity to get runs on the board and stake a claim for senior involvement this summer. My guess is that Melton will play in the season opener at Edgbaston next Thursday, as Billy Stanlake will not be over in time. I expect the giant Aussie to be treated well over here, not least because we will want him firing for the T20.

The rest of the squad is made up of academy players and Daryn Smit will be an interested onlooker to see how his young charges handle opposition that will be a few years older than them.

The rest of the squad includes Nafis Shaikh, Ben Hutchinson, Mitch Wagstaff, Archie Harrison, Chris Lawrence, Johnny Lawrence and Adam Sylvester and I wish them well.

It is a good opportunity to see how the young tyros are developing and there could easily be a county player or two for the future in that eleven.

I can't wait to see how they get on!

Go well, boys.