Northamptonshire v Derbyshire RLODC

Sorry folks, on a lightning trip to see my parents and too busy for a proper preview to the game. Nor will I be able to see any of it tomorrow.

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

Thanks! 

Derbyshire v Glamorgan RLODC

It rained, so we got a draw.

There are those who will see it as progress.. 

Derbyshire v Glamorgan preview

Mitch Wagstaff, at 17, is the latest young player to earn a short-term contract at Derbyshire, after a fine season with the Cricket Derbyshire Academy that has seen him score almost 600 runs and take 26 wickets at just sixteen each.

There is an obvious talent there and for those of a certain age those figures are reminiscent of what a certain KJ Barnett produced in his salad days. If Mitch becomes half the player that Kim was, we wouldn't complain.

It appears that Derbyshire is becoming the leg spin capital of the world, with Wagstaff, like Critchley, McKiernan and Marshall, a purveyor of the darkest bowling art. We should sign Ish Sodhi for next year and have dry bouncing tracks prepared...

Wagstaff gets his chance as Billy Godleman is out of the Royal London Cup with a pulled quad. Alex Hughes will again captain the side but isn't yet fit to bowl, while Michael Cohen's season is over with what sounds like it may be a stress fracture in his lower back. With Messrs Scrimshaw, Melton, Conners and Potts all recovering from injury, so too Wayne Madsen, and with Harvey Hosein seeing a specialist after two recent concussions, the named thirteen are effectively the last men standing. The squad reads:

Came, Wagstaff, Wood, Guest, Hudson-Prentice, Hughes, Dal, Thomson, McKiernan, Priestley, Marshall, Aitchison, Rampaul

It is our first List A game against Glamorgan in twelve years and they have the excellent Billy Root in their side, as well as former Derbyshire overseas player Hamish Rutherford. There are plenty of young guns in their side, so it may be a more even game than some this summer.

Their squad:

Carlson, Carey, Cooke, Cullen, Gorvin, Hogan, Pearce, Reingold, Root, Rutherford, Salter, Selman, Weighell.

Here's hoping that we can find a performance or two to get us on the right side of the line. 

Fascinating email

I got an email the other day from 'Long Time Supporter' which I found very interesting and thought provoking.

After gaining his permission, I publish it below. Your comments, as always, are welcome and appreciated.

OVERVIEW

Taking into account injuries and loss of form. It is becoming increasingly obvious that very little proactive planning is taking place and as a result, the club is not making progress on the field.

CAP AND COLLAR

As I understand it, the ECB have set counties a minimum cap of 0.75m and a collar of £2m for cricket payments. This will be increased in 2024 to 1.5m and 2.5m respectively. How this is calculated differs from county to county with some including just what is paid out on behalf of the players. Whilst other counties included expenses, coaching and support staff payments in the cricket budget. Unless the ECB have sorted this out and not made it widely known this mess needs urgent attention. We will then know by how much Derbyshire will eventually be required to increase their cricket spending. 

CURRENT FINANCIAL POSITION 

It will be very surprising if Derbyshire has not made a substantial loss when the accounts are published in 2022. This may change if money from the Hundred is received in time and the club is allowed to set it against any recorded loss. These are exceptional times that will hopefully be never repeated in future seasons.

NEXT FINANCIAL YEAR

If the cricket budget for 2022 is increased by a minimum of 10% from that year’s Hundred pay-out, also, if other economies were made within the cricket support structure and off-field without damaging the income streams, it should be possible to add at least £200,000 to the playing budget. However, it is important to not place too much reliance on the Hundred budget, as it may not continue to be available in the long term. The better the team’s results the greater the income generated. Profits from events and other non-cricket activities should also improve year on year.

MANAGEMENT BOARD

The members of the Management Board except for Colin Tunnicliffe have been appointed for their business expertise which is invaluable to the running of the club. Cricket is an area where the board seems to be poorly represented and the excellent Colin Tunnicliffe deserves more support. The addition of two other cricket representatives would help support the on-field performances of the team. All members of this small group would need to be given areas of special responsibility to work hand in hand with the coaching team (i.e. - to support the acquisition of new players, finding new sources for academy recruitment and marketing and the supply of information to members).

The suggestion that Adrian Rollins is asked if he would be prepared to sit on the board is a great idea. He would be looked up to both by white and non-white schoolboys who probably have never thought of taking cricket all that seriously. The third cricket representative, preferably a former cricketer, would be someone particularly adept at making presentations at all levels. Good ideas would then be properly debated.

COACHING

If David Houghton decides to retire or is not offered a further contract. An enthusiastic and inspirational leader should be appointed as Head Coach who relates to the modern generation of cricketers and is well respected for his coaching ability. Derbyshire is not a wealthy county and does not have a large squad of players and needs to act accordingly. The long-term objective should be to have a batting and a bowling coach one of whom would act as the Head Coach. The latter would largely be relieved of his office workload by the club administration to ensure he was left free to coach. If Wayne Madsen could be persuaded to help support and mentor some of the young players it would be a bonus.  The role of the academy coach is vital, but it must be borne in mind that the players are not available during the day except at weekends and holidays. This means he will have time to coach and support senior players.

RECRUITMENT 

Even if a new coaching structure is put in place it will struggle to bring anything more than marginal improvements in performance without additional funding. This is a priority for the management board if substantial progress is to be made.

In the short term, it will probably be more difficult than usual to sign players from other counties because of the extra demands placed on their squads when the Hundred is in progress. This will probably mean that if we wish to improve the quality of the squad, we will have to look at players born abroad who are eligible to play as non-overseas.

Currently, we have several players at the end of their contracts who might ordinarily be considered surplus to requirements. It may be necessary to give most if not all of the borderline cases a one-year deal. Replacements able to play in the first team without looking out of place will be difficult to find. The problem is that the squad has already been cut to the bone and add to that we are losing Fynn Hudson-Prentice at the end of the season.

Injuries have been particularly bad this season. But sadly, we can almost guarantee several fast bowlers will break down every season with either short- or long-term injuries. Batsman and wicketkeepers are not immune either. Some would say the squad that started the season was at least two adequate players short.

The recruitment of overseas players and the preparedness to be flexible if circumstances change is a must. Knowing what eligible players are emerging on the other side of the world and their suitability to English conditions is vital. It would seem unrealistic to sign a fast bowler for a full season and expect them to play in virtually every match. A batsman for a full season is more acceptable but somewhat unlikely.

THE FUTURE

With the right leadership both on and off the field, I am quite optimistic about the future. We have several young players who will improve particularly if they play alongside more experienced players and not too much is expected of them. If a bowler and batsman of first-team quality can be signed as well as two/four accomplished overseas players we could have a decent season in 2022. What we cannot afford is to carry on like we have been doing.

WILDCARD

Warwickshire signed wicketkeeper Alex Davies from Lancashire for the 2022 season and have Chris Benjamin a promising 22-year-old keeper on their staff. This would seem to leave current wicketkeeper Michael Burgess in limbo and Warwickshire might be persuaded to let him go. Why should this interest Derbyshire they already have two good wicketkeepers? Well, his first-class batting average is 34.2, which would probably improve if he gave up keeping. The other point is can Derbyshire do any better? If so, forget it. This is a very wild wildcard that I do not expect to come of anything. It is interesting to note that if England selected Bairstow, Butler and Pope for a test-match they would be playing with three wicketkeepers! 

Derbyshire v Warwickshire RLODC

Derbyshire 200-9 (Hudson-Prentice 50*, Came 45)

Warwickshire 207-2 (Pollock 103*, Yates 60)

Warwickshire won by 8 wickets

“I would give us as much of a chance as anyone, I think it’s a real lottery to predict who will win this competition. We start the tournament on a level playing field with every team'.

The words of Dave Houghton before the Royal London Cup and before we started with played three, lost three.

Having competed, at least, in the first two games, this performance, albeit of largely second eleven players, was not even of that standard, as Warwickshire ran out winners with thirteen overs to spare.

Poor Alex Hughes, given the captaincy for a game when he wasn't even in the announced squad. Billy Godleman sustained a groin injury in warm up and yet we got a decent start from Came and Wood, batting sensibly and well. Yet from 82-0 we were quickly 90-3, limping to an underwhelming 200-9 thanks only to another fine knock from the departing Hudson-Prentice.

Bethell looked a decent bowler for the visitors, his arm ball causing problems, but three run outs confirmed running of Keystone Cops quality.

Neither Rampaul nor Aitchison were able to apply pressure, although two potential catches at slip might have made a difference. After that, only Wood, McKiernan and Marshall were to bowl with any semblance of control. I felt for Alex Hughes, handling his bowlers well  but with no 'go to' bowler. Wood at least took a maiden wicket from a decent spell, but Pollock's century and 60 from Yates made this a formality. To lose with 30 balls to spare is pretty poor and indicative of a massive gulf in class. 

Another competition where we are left playing for pride. Based on today, we certainly won't be playing for points. 

No doubt we will get the usual sound bites tomorrow. 'I can' t put my finger on what is wrong' and 'We need to get back to winning ways' will get their customary airing. That might be fine for some people, but it isn't for me. We are a shambles right now and I have no idea where, as a club, we are going. 

Never mind. The football season will soon be here and we can see how the Rams get on. 

Oh... 

Contracts and change

I have been planning to do this short piece for a while, but it needed a little time, which is something I have been struggling with.

In response to questions on the Derbyshire contract situations, I have looked into it and come up with the information below.

It is always hard to give a definitive answer, as optional years are not always divulged to the media. I cannot think many of the names below will have that, but if anyone has information to the contrary, please let me know.

Ending 2021: Nils Priestley, Mattie McKiernan, Anuj Dal, Mikey Cohen, Dustin Melton, Alex Hughes, George Scrimshaw, Nick Potts, Fynn Hudson-Prentice (joining Sussex)

2022 - Billy Godleman, Wayne Madsen, Matt Critchley, Leus du Plooy, Harvey Hosein, Brooke Guest, Ben Aitchison, Sam Conners

2023 - Luis Reece, Harry Came, Alex Thomson

It would therefore appear that the close season affords opportunity for change for Derbyshire.

You know what I feel. The change should start off the field and let someone new come in with a long term strategy, fresh eyes and different contacts. There are players who have been signed yet have not developed, either through coaching, lack of opportunity or lack of motivation. We seem to have too many peripheral players, who cannot hold down a regular place and only a handful of the requisite standard or with genuine potential of becoming that.

There is a big winter in store.

Does Derbyshire CCC have a board that is prepared to be decisive and strive for better than being also-rans? Or are they  just happy to have their role on a LinkedIn account for professional development and to not rock the boat?

The coming weeks will tell. But despite Dave Houghton's assertion that if we finish top two of the bottom six it represents a season of progress, I can see precious few signs of that.

Too many mistakes off the field have caused too many issues on it.

When asked the question in years to come about when I felt the least 'in love' with Derbyshire cricket, I will forget the early 70s.

2021 is a clear winner. 

Mike Hendrick:an obituary

It is always sad when one of the heroes of your youth passes away. So, the increased sadness for me in today's announcement of the passing of Mike Hendrick.

'Hendo' was the last genuinely great Derbyshire-born seam bowler. That word is over-used in the modern world, but it is well-deserved in this instance.

He was always talented, but stepped up a level with the advent of Eddie Barlow. The South Africa's demand for a higher level of fitness from all of his players saw Mike capable of bowling long spells, zipping the ball around off the turf and at times being close to unplayable

There was a school of thought that he sometimes bowled too short, that pushing it up a little more might see balls that passed the edge take it. He could point to a career record of 719 wickets at under 20 and he led the Derbyshire attack with style and class for years.

Besides, for much of that time runs were in short supply for a batting lineup that was rarely prolific. Pitching it up would cost runs that, at least in his early years, we seldom had to play with.

I still recall a spell against Yorkshire at Chesterfield, when he opened from the Pavilion End after we had once again been summarily dismissed. Against a very solid batting side, including Geoffrey Boycott, he beat the bat and took wickets in a spell that was simply magnificent. Had the ball been on elastic he could scarce have jerked it around better and the challenge for lesser mortals was clear. Boycott survived to the close.. just.. but it was one of the most compelling sessions of cricket I have watched.

He was the last in a long lineage of outstanding seam bowlers from within the county borders. I saw Harold Rhodes and Alan Ward, but it was hard to think that his predecessors were massively better than Mike. Perhaps Les Jackson, maybe on his day Bill Copson, but if one considers that he bowled on covered wickets, his figures take on a different complexion. He rarely wasted the new ball, indeed would have regarded it a sin. He emerged from a tough school under Denis Smith, where young players were never molly-coddled and blunt talk was commonplace. 

'If he drives like he bowls he won't hit owt', he said of one trialist who roared away in a sports car after an erratic spell in the nets. They didn't get to leave many when Mike bowled. 

He wasn't really a batsman, but in time-honoured fashion hit merrily when his time came. While it lasted it was spectacular, but crease occupation was seldom his game. He was a fine fielder anywhere, a secure pair of hands at slip, which was one way he differed from the greats of the past.

Like too many others of his vintage and later, the end was acrimonious and he moved to Nottinghamshire for a while, then became a highly-regarded coach.

He was a man of contrasts off the pitch. He could be dour, but life didn't always treat him as it should have and he was poorly treated  and often ignored by Derbyshire in his later years.

Yet he could be witty and downright funny. Some will recall the sketches that he did with Geoff Miller, as two Derbyshire miners on local radio. His reference to 'thon Eric Bartlett, from South Africa - he baaarls big benders y' know' lives with me and always brings a smile.

So too does his bowling. A tall man, with long arms and sometimes shaggy hair, his marking out of his run marked the beginning of nigh-gladiatorial combat, quarter neither given nor asked for. A loping run, an arm thrust skywards and an action that was natural, repeatable and classic. 

He did it for Derbyshire and he did it for England, home and away. In that respect he was more fortunate than some of his predecessors, who got scant recognition at top level, but then he was a special bowler. 

Bestwick, Warren, Copson, the Popes, Jackson, Gladwin and now Mike Hendrick. 

That is quite a pantheon, all of them sadly no longer with us. 

Rest in Peace, Mike. It really was a pleasure to watch you over all of those years. 

Early RLODC thoughts

Derbyshire play Warwickshire tomorrow in their first home RLODC match of the summer.

Despite being on the wrong end of both games, I have enjoyed them so far. I have always enjoyed the format and it is a proper day of cricket.

I think an inexperienced Derbyshire line up has struggled to pace the innings until now. Hudson-Prentice and Guest did it yesterday, but others have approached it either too much like four-day or like a T20. Wickets have been good and we should be aiming for 320-plus. I am sure a first-choice side would handle it, but both sides who beat us had experienced players in their batting who paced the chase well.

Based on the prognosis when he was first injured, I would reckon Alex Hughes should be back sometime soon and would be a welcome addition. The batting looked light yesterday, which made the reckless shots of Godleman and Wood all the more stark. One of them, or Guest, needs to bat through and aim to score big, thus allowing brighter cameos around them.

We also need to bowl better. Ravi seems to have found a rhythm, if not yet penetration, but Aitchison's line was off yesterday and our three spinners had eleven previous List A games between them. Indeed, besides Rampaul, only Thomson (just) has double figures in experience in the format at first-class level, so it is hard to be too critical.

Given the inexperience, they could do worse than move Ravi up the order too. As the commentators like to say, he won't die wondering and his clean hitting could have been utilised earlier. We have seen it enough to know it was not a fluke and he will either score quickly or get out. 

My team for tomorrow (with fingers crossed on fitness) 

Godleman, Came, Wood, Guest, Hughes, Hudson-Prentice, Dal, McKiernan, Thomson, Rampaul, Scrimshaw

Warwickshire were well beaten by Nottinghamshire yesterday and fielded the following side, which should not see too many changes:

Pollock, Yates, Rhodes, Burgess, Lamb, Bethell, Brooks, Chakrapani, van Vollenhoven, Jahal, Sidebottom

If Hughes is fit, it would tip the scales, but both batting and bowling need to learn the arts of the format quickly.

Postscript.. no Hughes, add Priestley, Aitchison and Marshall to the side named above for a thirteen man squad

Somerset v Derbyshire T20

Derbyshire 298 (Hudson-Prentice 93, Guest 74)

Somerset 299-4 (Hildreth 110, Davies 94, Goldsworthy 57* Thomson 2-48, Hudson-Prentice 2-52)

Somerset won by 6 wickets with two overs to spare

Well, Derbyshire battled hard today, but in all honesty the result was a near certainty when we failed to top 300.

Being fair, that we got close was due to superb knocks by Fynn Hudson-Prentice, who looked set for a maiden List A ton before getting one that popped off the surface, and Brooke Guest, who looks an increasingly assured presence at the crease.

Both batted splendidly, but had to. Came never looked at home and quickly went, Godleman played an inexplicable shot with such a short batting line up, only to be outdone by Wood, who must have thought there were only ten overs to go, rather than forty.

It was car crash cricket, redeemed by the two above. Fynn highlighted what a talent we will miss next year with some wonderful strokes, his lofted cover drives a joy. Guest was less flamboyant but equally impressive and they batted beautifully together, occasional dodgy calling apart.

Thomson and Rampaul played little cameos that took us close to 300, the latter breaking a pavilion window in the process, but in these days when ten an over is chased with ease in T20, six barely seemed a challenge.

Thomson got a wicket with his first ball, but thereafter Davies batted with style and class, while Hildreth simply did what he has done for years. Dal held one very good and one routine catch in the deep, but the Derbyshire attack rarely threatened and it became an exercise in perfectly pacing a run chase.

Hildreth completed an excellent century, cramp being his biggest threat to the landmark, as the home side eased to victory.

Competitive then, but I struggle to see where a win is coming from.

I doubt I am alone in that. 

Somerset v Derbyshire preview

Tom Wood replaces Harvey Hosein and Alex Thomson comes into the thirteen - man squad that is otherwise what played against Leicestershire.

George Scrimshaw appears to be over the foot injury that ruled him out of that game and the thirteen is:

Godleman, Came, Wood, Guest, FHP, McKiernan, Dal, Thomson, Priestley, Marshall, Aitchison, Rampaul, Scrimshaw.

Logically, either Aitchison or Scrimshaw will miss out, or two of the four spinners. Hopefully we can get runs, on the board more quickly and give the bowlers something to work with.

Somerset won this competition in 2019 and even in the absence of a number of top players will be good opponents. They lost to Cornwall in a warm up match in the week, when the team was:

Byrom, Young, Nartkett, Goldsworthy, Thomas, Baird, Green, Aldridge, Leach, Leonard, Baker. 

No side announced by them yet, but this is a game that Derbyshire have a decent chance of winning. 

I guess we will find out tomorrow.. 

Postscript: announced Somerset squad:

Ben Green, Kasey Aldridge, Sonny Baker, George Bartlett, Eddie Byrom, Jack Brooks, Josh Davey, Steve Davies, James Hildreth, Lewis Goldsworthy, Jack Leach, Ned Leonard, James Rew and Sam Young.

Quite a bit stronger... 

Leicestershire v Derbyshire RLODC

Derbyshire 275-7 (Godleman 116, Guest 40, Hosein 38 Lilley 3-49)

Leicestershire 279-4 (Harris 75, Patel 70, Hill 51, Aitchison 2-51)

Derbyshire were comfortably beaten at Leicester today, a result that looked likely from the middle of our innings.

There was a return to form for Billy Godleman, who made a good century, but there was little support for him, bar for Brooke Guest's 40 and Harvey Hosein's 38.

It was steady, but too slow throughout and we never looked to have scored enough. I swapped messages with a friend at the end of our innings and said we were around 40-50 runs short of a competitive score on that wicket. So it transpired, but expectations have to be tempered with what is a second choice batting line up.

Hosein failed to take the field after another blow to the helmet during his innings and while the bowlers worked hard, they needed the insurance of the extra runs to make the home side take risks. I would have had McKiernan and Dal above Hosein in this format, the latter equipped to rebuild if required, but not really a forcing player. Godleman slowed too, as he neared his century and we lost impetus at a time we should have been accelerating. 

When we Rampaul looked lean and fit, if naturally match-rusty, while Ben Aitchison was the pick of the bowlers, taking two wickets, but the attack didn't look unduly dangerous. The openers led off at steady pace and they never let up, surviving the loss of Welch to an injury that caused him to hit his own wicket. Thereafter they mixed low-risk aggression with good running and won with ease. 

Taunton next, on Sunday, but I am not optimistic after seeing this display. 

Connor Marshall signs short-term deal

Credit where it is due, the signing of Connor Marshall is a little thinking outside of the box by Dave Houghton and I applaud his addition to the squad for the RLODC.

With the heat and sunshine of recent days, wickets are likely to be dry and offer turn. I would expect most sides that win the toss, to bat and perhaps get the better of conditions.

I have seen Connor a time or two in second team cricket, where he has done well. He has also had a fine summer for Sandiacre, taking 41 wickets at 15, as well as scoring over 400 runs. His average in second team cricket for Derbyshire is over 40 and, with counties shorn of many big names, he could offer a surprise element, certainly lengthening an inexperienced batting line up. 

With Alex Thomson and Mattie McKiernan on the staff already, we aren't short of spin options, even in the absence of Matt Critchley. But another option is never a bad thing. 

I wish him well. 

Royal London Cup preview

On the face of it, Derbyshire have a chance to make a decent fist of the Royal London Cup this year.

At least, on reading the Cricketer article on players missing from the competition. Many other counties are badly affected, but besides the listed Reece, Critchley and du Plooy, Derbyshire will be without Wayne Madsen. But Billy Godleman is back. 

For all his struggles  this summer, Billy  has been a standout in this format and his return, hopefully in prime form, is good news. 

The return of Ravi Rampaul is also welcome and if the bowlers are refreshed from their enforced break, we should have no major issues on that front, but the composition of the batting is going to be key to our hopes.

It can only be a guess, but my suggestion for the opening game is as follows:

Came

Godleman 

Wood

Guest

Hosein

McKiernan

Hudson-Prentice

Thomson

Cohen

Rampaul 

Scrimshaw/Aitchison

Mitch Wagstaff and Nafis Shaikh seem the most advanced of our young batsmen and both may get opportunity as the tournament progresses, as may Nils Priestley. Yet the above seems about the strongest side we can put out, from a wafer-thin squad.

We are in a group with Glamorgan, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire, Somerset, Surrey, Warwickshire and Yorkshire. There are undoubtedly winnable games there, bit whether we can win enough to progress is an entirely different question.

I would make Essex, missing only two players, the favourites, though I have a fancy that Leicestershire might do well. Despite losing seven players, I suspect Lancashire and Yorkshire have big enough squads to remain in the mix too.

We will see soon enough, starting at Leicester on Thursday.

Weather and Covid-willing...

Postscript : Derbyshire squad announced as: Godleman, Came, Guest, FHP, Dal, Hosein, McKiernan, Priestley, Aitchison, Scrimshaw, Rampaul, Marshall

Vitality Blast review

There are those who will say that we over-achieved this season in the T20. Especially when one considers that we played without two of the regular stand outs in the format, Wayne Madsen and Alex Hughes, as well as fielding our fourth choice overseas (behind Stanlake, McDermott and Melton) and only one of them to boot.

I can accept that rationale, but history will show that, depending on the last games for a frankly awful Northamptonshire side, we came either bottom or next to bottom. In fifty years time, when looking back on this summer, I don't expect historians to be looking at it through rose-tinted spectacles, following on from bottom place in the four-day group. 

The frustration is that we SHOULD have beaten table-topping Nottinghamshire twice. We had the games in our grasp and blew it. We likely would have won but for the missing personnel, but the fact remains that we didn't.

The bowling was fairly consistent, with George Scrimshaw the standout. Until the last couple of matches, few played his pace and bounce with comfort and he will hope for better luck with injury to build on that. Matt Critchley was also consistent, varying flight and pace to command respect from most sides. Early wickets often came from Logan Van Beek, who fielded brilliantly throughout, but was seldom the same force when he returned for a later spell. His tendency to bowl one or two awful deliveries and wides an over were detrimental to his figures and the bottom line is that he was too expensive for an overseas bowler.

Hudson-Prentice also took wickets and did well in the 'danger overs'. He will be missed next year and would have been even more effective with someone like Rampaul at the other end. Other flitted in and out of the side and in some cases simply lacked opportunity, or were under bowled when they made the eleven. Both McKiernan and Thomson were unlucky from that perspective and the knee injury of Luis Reece was keenly felt - and his overs missed - in the middle overs.

The batting cost us. Both Reece and du Plooy played memorable innings and strokes, but neither went on often to a match-winning or defining score. Critchley started well but latterly reigned in his attacking instincts when given the captaincy. Harry Came hinted of good things to come, but often got out in horrid fashion, while Brooke Guest suggested there is a player of talent in there, but was, often too low to change the course of a game. For a successful side there are too many 'buts' in there. 

The season and tournament was lost by management. The inexplicable sticking by Billy Godleman, when he was clearly low on form and confidence, aside from playing a format that has rarely suited him, was inexcusable.

Tom Wood, a player that most would have thought a shoo-in for the format, was belatedly given opportunity and finished top of the averages. Who would ever have thought that picking horses for courses might work? Clearly not the coaching team. McKiernan was another who could have been better utilised and selection must have been an equal frustration among the squad. 

There IS potential, but for another year we have to get the overseas recruitment right. Through bad luck and bad thought process we didn't this year. Had we done so, we might have upset the odds and qualified for the knockouts. A look at neighbouring Leicestershire, who used analyst data and ended up with two cricketers that few had heard of topping the batting and bowling lists, would prove beneficial another year.

It will be - it has to be - a winter of change. For the club to move forward, someone has to come in who can do the right recruitment, make the right team selections and steer the side through the choppy waters when things go wrong. I remain firmly of the conviction that better performances were down to personal pride and talent,  rather than any cunning plans or motivational speaking. 

If we don't, I have a feeling I can do a copy/paste job here next year, changing only the names to protect the innocent... 

Fascinating chat with former County player

I had the pleasure of a lengthy chat the other day with a former county player.

It was one of the more fascinating I have been involved in for some time and covered a range of subjects, not least how Derbyshire could do better another year and improve on overseas recruitment.

We both agreed that change was required and that the need was for a communicator, as well as coach. Not just someone who gives soundbites to the media, but engages with the players, sets up a sound structure and makes goals and pathways easy to understand for them.

A couple of names were tossed around, but until the county were to announce any change it would be unfair to throw them into a mix. Both were interesting, however and I would have thought very feasible.

With the game changing we also agreed that the club board needed greater cricket representation, ideally with at least one person who had recent playing experience at county level. The game has changed over the past five years and someone who could relate to the modern game and its demands would be essential. Colin Tunnicliffe has done a fine job (and is a lovely bloke) but his county career ended almost forty years ago. Like it or not, the game has changed dramatically. 

Then the subject changed to overseas recruitment and whether Derbyshire used personal contacts or analysts to identify potential targets. I was told it 'very unlikely' that we used analysts, because anyone looking at pitch maps, and how bowlers get their wickets, would have shown that Billy Stanlake was the wrong kind of bowler for us. Our need is for a Mohammad Abbas or Michael Neser-type bowler, to zip it around, not someone who will bang it in to the pitch with less consistency of line and length.

Leicestershire used analysts to pick up Inglis and Naveen, their T20 overseas players this year. With the former averaging 37 and the latter taking 21 wickets and going at only eight an over, you would have to say it has been a success. 

'So if you were in charge of Derbyshire cricket, who would you look at for next year?' I asked. 

There was a laugh and something about 'being put on the spot' was mentioned.

'I would split it. Two for four-day cricket, two for one-day, assuming the overseas regulations stay the same. Look at Essex. They split Wagner and Siddle to great effect'. 

I pressed for names. I was enthralled and the knowledge of the person concerned shone like a beacon.

'You need a batsman and a bowler for four-day cricket. A bowler and an impact all-rounder, or batsman who can bowl, for one day.

Because budgets are likely to be tight, look at players who take wickets on unhelpful wickets for them. Perhaps one of the Sri Lankans, Vishwa or Asitha Fernando. They take good wickets, do it on batsman friendly pitches and likely wouldn't cost the earth. Chameera may be another good option'. 

And a batsman?

'Same idea. Look at someone with a reputation to build, who gets in and then scores big. Someone whose cricket board would want them over for experience and so wouldn't cost the earth. A similar idea to when we picked up Khawaja and Guptill a few years back. 

Will Pucovski.'

The batsman is rated the 'next big thing' in Australian cricket. Six centuries and six fifties in his first 38 first-class innings, at an average in excess of fifty. He made his Australian debut at the start of the year, against India and made 62. There are question marks - he has had a few concussions and had a spell out of the game with mental illness - but what a player he looks likely to be. With scores of 255*, 202, 38, 1, 23*, 62, 10 in his last seven first-class innings, he won't be affordable, or available for long. 

What a player to have in Derbyshire colours...

It was a memorable and hugely enjoyable chat, coming out of his interest in recent pieces I have written.

I am hopeful it won't be the last, either.

'You could do much worse than Ravi Rampaul as the one - day bowler next year' he said.

'As for the other, let me think on it...'

Hopefully we can pick up on that another time!

Games off as T20 campaign fizzles out

Disappointing, but understandable and expected  news today that Derbyshire's remaining T20 games against Northamptonshire and Yorkshire this weekend have been cancelled, due to the positive Covid-test among the squad.

That meant that all fourteen on the bus to Durham last week have to self-isolate and with six others currently injured we couldn't field a side 'that would have maintained the integrity of the competition'.

Realistically, any such side would have had to be from the Academy and the local leagues and would have been a total mis-match.

The points will be divided on an 'average points per completed match' basis. 

Meanwhile, the ECB has announced that the Essex County Championship game has been declared a draw, each side taking eight points plus the bonus points accrued from the game. Derbyshire thus take nine, Essex eleven.

No blame can be apportioned to the club for this. They have obviously followed the protocols but someone has still fallen ill.

Best wishes go to the player concerned for a speedy recovery. Fingers crossed that no one else in the squad or travelling party is affected. 

Derbyshire v Essex day 2

There isn't much that I can say about the abandonment of this game.

It is not without precedent in these times, nor, I suspect, will it be the last time that a game is abandoned for such reasons.

On Twitter earlier today I saw an Essex fan claiming that it was abandoned 'because Derbyshire didn't want to play', which is a weird old way of bending a story.

What it means moving forward I don't know. We have scheduled T20 games on Friday at Northampton and on Sunday against Yorkshire. Will any/all/most of the squad that travelled to Durham and was involved against Essex be able to play? Much will depend on the PCR test result.

We don't have many non-injured available players outside of that squad. Whether the games are cancelled, or whether we have to raise a side from the academy and perhaps emergency league recruits will be revealed in due course, subject to ECB ratification of course.

One thing is for sure. Just when you think you have seen it all, something else comes along and catches you by surprise.

All I can do is wish the player concerned a speedy recovery and hope that it remains an isolated incident.

More from me when we know more, in due course. 

Derbyshire v Essex day one

Derbyshire 146 (du Plooy 43 Snater 3-45)

Essex 86-3 (Hudson-Prentice 2-24)

Essex trail by 60 runs

I am not sure why, on winning the toss this morning, Dave Houghton opted for Derbyshire to bat.

Overcast conditions, green wicket and a batting line-up shorn of personnel and  short on confidence - what could possibly go wrong?

I can only assume that there was concern about batting last against Simon Harmer, but we were four down by lunch and gone by tea. 

Tom Wood struggles at this level against the moving ball and didn't last long, while Luis Reece should have been caught before he was adjudged lbw. Had Leus du Plooy been caught behind by Wheater soon after his arrival, lunch could have been a very sorry affair.

Guest looked composed in his time, at the crease, but will need to turn his undoubted technique into a greater weight of runs. Critchley looked in decent touch but for insufficient time, while Came straddled only the lunch interval.

When the normally composed Hosein played a shot he will want to forget, another sub-150 total looked yet again on course.

Du Plooy batted steadily, though was more restrained after lunch, before getting a decision from umpire Middlebrook that was questionable at best. The batsman was two steps down the wicket and the ball had a long way to travel, the trajectory seemingly down leg side, but the umpire belatedly gave him out, almost as the leg bye had been completed.

Thereafter the end came swiftly and regardless of the loyalty and duration of your support, it is desperately hard to be a Derbyshire fan at present. I know we have played some strong sides this year, but..

It isn't an easy wicket and Essex struggled at only two an over in reply, but Browne played a dogged innings and, with Neesham, saw them to the close only 60 runs behind. Hudson-Prentice confirmed what we will miss next year, with two of the wickets. 

We have much to do tomorrow. 

Hudson-Prentice leaves at season end

Whichever way you look at it, the loss of Fynn Hudson-Prentice at season end will be a big one for Derbyshire.

His whole-hearted attitude will be sorely missed, as will that rare ability to make things happen. Several times he broke a partnership, or took a couple of quick wickets, while his variations in one-day cricket made him a good option in the Powerplay and at the death.

His career certainly took off with us, arriving from the MCC groundstaff to score runs and take wickets in the second XI, before taking to the senior side like the proverbial duck to water.

He has become a key all-format player for the club and undoubtedly one of the first names on the team sheet. He will get better, too and it is just a shame that it won't be in our colours. 

I don't blame the lad for moving home, where he gets a chance to show them they were wrong to release him in the first case. He will be closer to family and I am sure that he will thrive in the surroundings.

My concern, however, is how such an important player was allowed to get into the final year of his contract. Surely, as Head of Cricket, you aim to secure your key talent as soon as possible and for as long as possible? Unless Fynn didn't want to discuss a deal before, it would have made sense to get a contract extension sorted last year.

I wish him well. He is a lovely lad and I will follow his fortunes with great interest. As supporters we will remember his exuberance on the field, especially on taking a wicket, together with hairstyles seldom seen in Derbyshire colours.

Most of all we will remember that wonderful knock against Nottinghamshire last year, largely made on one leg. For a lad whose home was in Nottingham that would have been sweet. Just as it was for us.

Thanks for everything, Fynn and all the very best for your future. 

Communication breakdown all around..

As well as being a line from the ELO hit 'Sweet Talkin' Woman', today's headline is pretty apposite for Derbyshire this season.

I am not sure why the club are so slow, or so reluctant to keep supporters and members informed but it continues to be a deep frustration.

Exhibit A - the engagement of Conor McKerr. Why not tell supporters that we were taking him on because everyone else was crocked? That would have avoided the many comments that were flying around that did neither club nor player any favours. 

Exhibit B - the return of Ben McDermott to Australia. People knew about that several days before it was announced, so I am unsure why we were so reluctant to go public sooner.

Exhibit C - the engagement of Logan Van Beek. Again, this was on BBC radio and around the county leagues several days before the news broke officially

Exhibit D - the signing of Ravi Rampaul. I am sure that Dave Houghton realised he needed a batsman, but to not say something about the rationale of 'we will be losing five batsmen but have signed a bowler' is just odd. No issue with signing Ravi, who would have been my pick way ahead of Billy Stanlake, but surely some acknowledgement that they looked for a batsman, but couldn't get one might have been useful?

Exhibit E - the continued selection of Billy Godleman 'because there is no one else'. We all saw Tom Wood, Mattie McKiernan and Harvey Hosein playing in the second team. Surely one of them was a better option - as two have subsequently proved when given opportunity - than a bloke averaging five and clearly struggling? 

Exhibit F - the absence of Billy Godleman. I think the handling of this has been very poor. That he should have been rested/dropped before he was is undeniable. Then we were told he was resting for the remainder of the T20, but subsequently  fails to reappear for the four-day stuff.

Why not say that he has been given an extended leave of absence, if that is the case? Rather than leave speculation to mount that there is a bigger issue?

Exhibit G - the Palladino legal case. I have seen no club statement to acknowledge this, even to say 'we will be making no further statement at this time'. 

If that level of communication is standard within the dressing room, I can visualise players being told they are not playing by text message, rather than face to face or over the phone. Goodness knows what the end of season contract talks will be like.. 

It just seems a mess. I maintain that we have seen some performances of merit and signs of encouragement DESPITE the coaching set up, rather than as a natural consequence of it.

The minimalist approach to communication certainly doesn't do anything to allay my concerns on that score. Good communications are key to the success of any organisation, whether for those in the centre or others on the periphery.

I am not convinced we have anything remotely close to that, at this stage. 

Derbyshire v Essex preview

Derbyshire return to red ball action tomorrow and a four-day game against reigning champions Essex at the Incora County Ground.

It will be a tough match, one in which Simon Harmer will likely bowl at one end for much of it, as he did in the fixture at Chelmsford. That seems ages ago now, offering as it did the only sighting of the rare Billy Stanlake.

There is still no sign of Billy Godleman, which is a little concerning, so there is a youthful look to the home squad, which is:

Reece, Came, Wood, du Plooy, Critchley, Guest, Hosein, Thomson, Hudson-Prentice, Aitchison, Cohen, Scrimshaw, McKiernan.

Logic suggests that either Alex Thomson or Mattie McKiernan will miss out, as we surely don't need three spinners, while my guess is that George Scrimshaw may be the other, especially with concern over the batting continuing.

There is no news regarding the Essex side yet, but they will be strong and dangerous.

There is nothing in this game for Derbyshire, but professional pride and a chance to restore or build reputations should see us battle hard.

It looks like the weather may play a major part on Monday, but I hope to see Derbyshire bat with greater resilience than of late.

I'm not going to predict a win, though.. 

Durham v Derbyshire T20

Durham 176-9 (Thomson 3-23)

Derbyshire 180-4 (du Plooy 47, Guest 34*, Critchley 33*, Wood 32)

Derbyshire won by six wickets

That was a good effort last night by Derbyshire.

It was our highest winning run chase against Durham and the first time ever we have won a match off the final ball batting second (stat courtesy of David Griffin).

It came with a professional performance, the kind that frustrates a little. We KNOW the team has that in them, but too often this year they have lapsed into mediocrity,.

I was impressed by how they dragged the home side back from a flying start, mainly thanks to an excellent spell from Alex Thomson, who mixed his pace and flight to get good figures. The skipper again bowled well and so too did FHP, but there were too many wayward and poor balls from the other seamers for comfort. Good catches were held though, which made the difference in the end.

The early loss of Luis Reece was a blow and when Came went after a couple of fine shots, Tom Wood and Leus du Plooy put on a record third wicket stand against Durham of 68 runs. They ran well and found the boundary regularly enough for us to be up with the required rate at half way.

When they both went in quick succession I was not overly confident, a state of mind that continued until the third last over. But Matt Critchley accumulated well and together with Brooke Guest brought the winning total down. 

A huge six over mid wicket by Guest was a game-changer, as the four overs of Potts went for 50. Eight were needed off the last, from the wily Ben Raine and it went to the last ball, when, with one required, Guest pulled him behind square for the winning four. 

Critchley and Guest showed no little skill and a lot of common sense in their stand of 64 from the last six overs. It was a fine captain's effort and another example of why Guest is a player who has emerged from this competition with his reputation enhanced. 

Well done guys. It doesn't change anything, but it shows what can be done when common sense and skill are harnessed together. 

Rampaul returns for RLODC

On the one hand, the return of Ravi Rampaul for the RLODC is something that supporters will welcome. He was missed in the past two years Vitality Blast and will likely offer his trademark control at the top and tail of an innings.

On the other hand, we have lost Critchley, Reece and du Plooy to the new competition, as well as Madsen to injury. There may be a question mark over the involvement of Billy Godleman and we don't know how soon Alex Hughes will be back. Might our greater need  not have been for a batsman?

He is apparently available for the last three T20 matches too, which some supporters will see as too little, too late. He may not have been available earlier of course. 

I have two reservations. One is that we don't know if we are getting prime time Ravi of his last spell here, or unfit Ravi who turned up from Surrey. He hasn't played since February, so that is hard to call. 

Two is that if he plays in the 'dead rubbers' of the T20 for match fitness, we will also presumably play Van Beek, as the other overseas, Scrimshaw as our best T20 bowler so far and Dernbach, because he is in on loan and was star turn last time out. 

Which leaves a very, very long tail and also excludes a raft of young bowlers who might benefit, long-term, from a game or two in a competition where it no longer mattered. 

While welcoming back a very fine bowler, it strikes me as similar to when we signed Venkat in 1973. Again, a bowler of world renown, but we had two talented young off spinners on the staff in Geoff Miller and Bob Swindell, as well as Fred Swarbrook. We had a batting line up that couldn't buy a run, yet signed a fourth spinner. Yes, he took wickets and was a lovely bloke, but we rarely made enough runs for him to work with. 

Deja vu all over again... 

Nottinghamshire v Derbyshire : summary

Just time before we head out for the evening to pen a few words from Berwick-upon-Tweed.

I didn't see any of the second and third days, bar for the highlights on Twitter. I don't doubt the players are giving it their all, but there is a gap in class, together with obvious signs that the coaches are not getting the best out of them.

I just don't get why we went into the match with seven bowlers, including two spinners, when one spinner bowled four overs and one seamer five. Leaving out a batsman on such a wicket seems a ludicrous decision, in a season full of them.

Yes, I know they are a better, more affluent side. Yes, I know we have players missing. But were it not for the rain that could have been over in two days. 

The excitement of last season's win is well and truly gone. Surely there has to be a discussion and review at board level? Or is the board simply happy to roll along with a quiet life? 

Fair play to Fynn Hudson-Prentice, with his first five-wicket haul, but aside from that and a couple of fine catches in the field, this was a dispiriting display. 

I will let you append your thoughts and will catch you again on my return home at the weekend. 

Nottinghamshire v Derbyshire day 1

Derbyshire 91-5 (Critchley 23, du Plooy 21*, Fletcher 2-28) in 47 overs

v Nottinghamshire 

It was tough going at Trent Bridge today.

Whichever captain won the toss was going to bowl, with the wicket akin to what we used to see at Derby back in the day. Back then, we bowled teams out by early afternoon, or they put us in to bat, rubbing hands with glee, ahead of Kim Barnett hitting them to all parts.

The wicket two across from the one used here looked a better bet, but this was always going to be a tough gig for the batting side.

So of course, Matt Critchley lost the toss. Neither Luis Reece nor Tom Wood lasted long, the latter likely very disappointed at such a wicket when he needs to impress in the remainder of the season. Guest and du Plooy battled hard around rain breaks, before the former played a shot he will want to forget.

Critchley also worked hard and unveiled one or two fine strokes before edging to slip, while Hosein was in and out quickly, trapped leg before on the crease.

Through it all du Plooy had shown admirable self control, subjugating his natural attack instincts in a long vigil that saw, him to the close on an unbeaten 21, made in 32 overs of attrition. He should have been caught, offering a relatively straight forward catch to the wicket keeper on 14, but Hudson-Prentice kept him company until the early close. There is much to do tomorrow.

No complaints tonight though. Batting was far from easy and our seamers would have enjoyed the conditions as much as theirs did.

We battled, which was pleasing to see. 

Nottinghamshire v Derbyshire preview

Derbyshire return to Trent Bridge tomorrow, scene of the extraordinary win last year that is in danger of becoming like the 1966 World Cup win, brought up at every opportunity.

I have said before that, fantastic as it was, it masked shortcomings that we have failed to address. The next four days will be an altogether different challenge, with a young and fairly inexperienced side.

There is no Wayne Madsen and no Billy Godleman, who I suspect will be given a period of time off after the T20. Harry Came comes in for a four-day debut, while Tom Wood should have a chance in the remaining four-day games to show what he can do.

Luis Reece is the not so grand old man of this squad:

Reece, Came, Wood, du Plooy, Guest, Critchley, Hosein, Hudson-Prentice, Thomson, Aitchison, Cohen, Scrimshaw.

My guess is that the final place will be between Thomson and Scrimshaw, though as always the pitch will decide.

The home side have selected the following squad:

Mullaney, Slater, Hameed, Clarke, Duckett, Chappel, Compton, Evison, Fletcher, Harrison, Hutton, James, Paterson, Patterson-White.

There is rain about, but I will refrain from any forecasts in light of how we batted in the reverse fixture. If those with points to prove do the business, we might get a draw, but it needs to be a team effort, like last year.

I will do a report on tomorrow's play, but after that please append any comments to that day, if I haven't had a chance to add to the blog. Mrs P and I are going away to Berwick upon Tweed with our dog for a few days and I may not have a chance to blog (or find decent WiFi...)

Fingers crossed! 

Thomson and Cohen sign deals

Alex Thomson has been rewarded for promising displays in his loan period from Warwickshire with a two-year contract, while Michael Cohen has signed for another year.

Cohen has struggled with his line at times, but there have been signs of improvement and some very good displays. He is young enough to get better and faster, while his coltish enthusiasm in the field is always appreciated. I think he can come on with the bat, too and at 22 he has time on his side to develop his all round game. 

It is some time since we had a regular off spinner of quality at Derbyshire and Thomson, at 27, has served his apprenticeship as a spinner. Back in the 1950s and 1960s, every county had a good one, but times have changed and there are few in world cricket, let alone on the domestic circuit.

It will be interesting to see how he handles bowling in first - class cricket and I feel he has been underbowled in the T20. I wasn't honestly sure if his performances had done enough to convince, but they must see something. Yet with McKiernan preferred to him in the last two games in that competition, you could be excused for thinking otherwise. 

It is another example of muddled thinking this year. Surely we won't also re-engage Mattie McKiernan and have three spinners on the staff? I think Mattie has also been under-utilised this season in the T20, which we got badly wrong. 

One also assumes from this that Dave Houghton will remain in charge in 2022. I have made my thoughts on that known already, but if there were plans to change the Head of Cricket, would you let the current post-holder recruit for next year?

One thing is sure, this winter is massive for Derbyshire. Critchley and du Plooy are out of contract at the end of next summer and their heads may be turned with good displays in the new competition. I would assume that they need to be assured of being part of a competitive Derbyshire to stay and so a good summer next year is vital.

Billy Godleman will also be out of contract, assuming that he and the club come to an agreement on what I understand is an optional year for next summer. 

Might offering the captaincy to Critchley be an option? Perhaps the time is right for Billy Godleman to stand down and focus on his batting? Such an offer to Critchley would be difficult for others to match, but we need also to get the overseas recruitment right next year and a quality overseas as captain might be an option. 

Let's be honest, which I always try to be, this year's overseas recruitment has been a disaster. Billy Stanlake lasted one game, Ben McDermott little more. We have hardly seen Dustin Melton with a succession of injuries  and while Logan Van Beek is the leading wicket-taker in T20 and has fielded brilliantly, he is too expensive, going at ten an over.

A young side has to be led by good overseas players, with good reputation and character. For me, they have to enhance the side and be obvious star players, not just a couple of extra bodies around the place who are of a similar standard to the rest.

If there is doubt we can attract such a player, I would sooner put that budget to getting a quality county pro in. Perhaps we need to have a smaller, tighter, better quality squad, without as many peripheral players.

There are a lot of questions and the Head of Cricket is going to have to come up with some very good answers.

Maybe it's just me, but I feel we are simply papering over cracks and hoping they disappear. We are bottom of the table in 4-day and T20 cricket. We have a looming court case. We bring in a loan for a few games, then another one, neither of them likely to be anything more in the club's history than Chris Harris once was. 

I don't feel there is anything akin to a structure, long-term strategy or even Baldrick-style 'cunning plan'.

It also appears that we have a board that is content for this state of affairs to continue.

Maybe that is the saddest thing of all. Because if we can tolerate and accept mediocrity, we are on a very slippery slope. 

Derbyshire v Worcestershire T20

It was no great surprise, but was still disappointing, to see Derbyshire slide to another T20 defeat last night.

Again we bowled pretty well and if you keep the opposition to under 170 in this format you usually have a chance.

Jade Dernbach showed the skills that made him an England player in two good spells to top and tail the innings. Varying his pace and line, it was the sort of spell that Ravi Rampaul and Charl Langeveldt would bowl to great effect, which has been missed this year. George Scrimshaw was less effective against his old county, while Logan Van Beek was again expensive, but Matt Critchley bowled a clever spell that kept the total 'gettable'.

Yet it was almost like a copy and paste of previous matches. Lead off well in the Powerplay, get bogged down as soon as the field goes out, make a late recovery but ultimately fall short.

There's no point going over old ground and there are signs of potential. Came and Reece could be a good partnership in this format, but both played ill-advised shots, the one by the former the kind swiped at club level, with six needed off the last ball.

Ten an over from the first six, but then only eighteen off the next four as the slow bowlers again tied us up. That's where the game was lost  and although Tom Wood batted well, there was little support and the rate had become too challenging against a keen attack and well set field. 

Whatever protestations to the contrary, the tournament had gone before this game. We had won three games in ten and the overall batting in the absence of key personnel, left me with little expectation of changing that by winning four from four. 

We will see what the RLODC brings, but appear to need a batsman or two. With du Plooy now also recruited for the new competition and Hughes, Dal and Madsen unavailable, we seem to have Godleman, Came and Wood for a top five.

Regardless of form or experience, that seems light to me.. 

Derbyshire v Worcestershire T20 preview

Four matches to go in this year's Vitality Blast and while Dominic Cork remains bullish and feels that we can still qualify for the knockouts, I don't.

We need to win all four games to have a chance and are four points behind fourth place. I am an optimist but tend to mix it with a touch of pragmatism and it would need a remarkable combination of circumstances to get to that stage.

We must still aspire to win, however and still have the injury list from hell to contend with. What frustrates me is to hear the coaches still talk about 'we should have rested Billy Godleman earlier' when that was patently obvious to many. To claim that there was no one else, when McKiernan and Hosein were clearly fit, is ridiculous. While Harvey wouldn't be my choice for the format, he would have averaged no less, while McKiernan showed his value in the game against Nottinghamshire.

Still no news from the club, but several media sources are saying that Jade Dernbach has signed on loan and I would assume goes into the side tonight. He has played only second team cricket this year for Surrey and didn't play any last year, but at 35 he at least provides experience for an attack that has been shorn of several options by injury.

Likely side:

Came, Reece, Wood, du Plooy, Critchley, Guest, Hudson-Prentice, McKiernan, Van Beek, Scrimshaw, Dernbach.

Worcestershire are a good team in this format but have had a mixed competition and may yet fail to qualify. Their chances will be enhanced by a win tonight and they will hope to do so against a Derbyshire side that has too often failed to press home a position in the ascendancy.

We will see what happens later.

As always, I appreciate your thoughts! 

Breaking.. Dernbach signs on loan

Breaking news tonight that experienced Surrey and former England seamer Jade Dernbach has joined Derbyshire on loan, as reported by the County Cricket Podcast.

More on that from me and a Worcestershire preview tomorrow. Dernbach is in the squad for the game.