Durham v Derbyshire day 3

There isn't much that I can add to my report of yesterday's game, in summing up the conclusion of it today.

Fair play to both Matt Lamb and Luis Reece, whose skill and willingness to battle in the first session was an object lesson to their team mates.  Lamb looks a very good player, especially stylish through the offside, even if there is a perceived weakness as a compulsive, and not always controlled hooker of the ball. 

Reece merely showed again what a good player he is and it is hard to see how he could be omitted from a first choice eleven, given the all-round option that he offers.

But only two of eleven players come out of the game with their reputations intact and enhanced. Brooke Guest also battled last night, but we were totally outclassed in this game, more than I thought was possible.

Very much back to the drawing board for next week's game against a resurgent Leicestershire. Both Mickey Arthur and the club's loyal support will be looking for a reaction in that game.

Lose again and hopes of a promotion challenge will be pretty much out of the window before the season is a month old.

A sobering thought.

Durham v Derbyshire day 2

I don't recall doing this before, but today I switched off the stream from Durham.

By any standards against which you care to judge, this has been a shocking display by Derbyshire. One of the kind that most of us hoped had been consigned to the dump bin of history.

We didn't bowl very well, but the batting was a shambles. From the point at which we lost a wicket in the only over faced before lunch, through an afternoon of horrific batting, this was heavy going. I have enough going on at the moment, without having to endure watching that, so I decided not to bother and go for a nap.

Godleman faced seven balls in total for a pair, Ali doing only one run better. Madsen perished on a flamboyant drive, Lamb on a rushed hook...it wasn't good.

I doubt Mickey Arthur will sleep well tonight and he will have some food for thought. As I replied to a comment on yesterday's play, I didn't think the wicket as good for batting as our bowling made it appear, but nor was it as bad as our batters made it look when their turn came.

Don't get me wrong, this is a good Durham attack. Man for man, given the choice, you would swap each of their three main seamers, with their greater experience, into our side. But the body language of the Derbyshire side has worried me in what I have seen here. I didn't see it last year, but there wasn't the same level of intensity that we came to enjoy and respect last season. Both the bowlers and batters need to get it together quickly, because the optimism of pre-season is dissipating far too quickly for most tastes.

A bucolic last wicket stand between Luis Reece and Sam Conners showed what was possible, but this has to be the nadir of our season's fortunes. Whether it is true or not, such displays will only add fuel to the fire of comments that I have seen, suggesting the Head of Cricket is distracted, the players concerned.

It is now down to all of them to prove such assertions incorrect. We need to bat all day tomorrow and hope that the threatened Sunday rain saves us from defeat. I wouldn't be putting any money on our doing so. 

Madsen and Guest resisted for a while, but the former seldom looked comfortable and the end came with an air of inevitability, as he sparred once too often at the hostile Carse, who earlier completed a maiden and excellent century. du Plooy went to a careless shot and lunch tomorrow seems to be the summit of our ambitions. Fair play to Guest, who resisted well, as Reece did earlier, but he too went before the close.

There was no need for some of the knee jerk comments on social media. It is one game and most sides have such a performance in them once a season. These have not suddenly become bad players, but we cannot afford a repetition of this kind of display.

But the highlight of my day, family and dogs aside, was a visit from the district nurse. 

Which kind of tells you everything, really.

Durham v Derbyshire day 1

Durham 410-8 (Robinson 114, Carse 77*, Coughlin 52 Aitchison 3-111)

v Derbyshire

I'm not going to say too much tonight, because between a hospital clinic appointment and a lengthy afternoon nap I didn't see that much of today's play.

What I did see confirmed the Derbyshire bowling attack has yet to really hit its stride this year. When most of them go for four or five an over it would be hard to imagine them bowling especially well. The exception appeared to be Sam Conners, but Brooke Guest earned his money today, having to make some acrobatic stops.

The fields set seemed rather to be those for an attack struggling with line and length. Having got the home side's big guns out, Derbyshire were frustrated by a fine century from Robinson and healthy hitting down the order. It looked a decent track for batting and we must hope that Derbyshire reply in kind when their turn comes tomorrow.

The highlight of the day was a superb catch at second slip by Haider Ali to dismiss Jones, but the bowling was too erratic for comfort.

The home side will be happy with their efforts. For Derbyshire, there still appears much to do on the bowling front.

Durham v Derbyshire preview

Mickey Arthur has named a 13 man squad for tomorrow's trip to the delights of Chester le Street and the county championship game against Durham.

Both Anuj Dal (side strain) and Suranga Lakmal (groin) miss out. I have to admit to being a little uneasy about the viability of the Sri Lankan to lead our attack throughout the summer. Indeed, I wouldn't be at all surprised were Mickey Arthur to look for an alternative for the T20 Blast, spreading the load and allowing Lakmal to focus on the four day and fifty over formats. 

It may indeed be better to have someone whose all round game is better suited to that format. Time will tell, but I have my reservations at this stage.

Logically, Luis Reece will replace Dal, with the other place likely to be between Alex Thomson and Mark Watt.

Likely side: Godleman, Ali, Guest, Madsen, du Plooy, Lamb, Reece, Chappell, Watt, Aitchison, Conners. (Came and Thomson make up 13)

As for Durham, Lancashire and England spinner Matt Parkinson has joined on loan for 2 weeks and will almost certainly play against Derbyshire tomorrow. 

Their squad:

Bedingham, Borthwick, Carse, Clark, Coughlan, Jones, Trevaskis, Parkinson, Lees, Macalindon, Potts, Raine, Robinson, Killeen

The weather forecast suggests that rain will take a sizable chunk from this game, so it may be difficult to force a positive result, unless the wicket is green. Durham have made a good start to this season, albeit without Chris Rushworth, whose move to Warwickshire probably robbed him of 10 to 15 Derbyshire wickets this season. He has been a wonderful servant to them and will be missed.

Yet Derbyshire can get their season going here. If the seam attack has found line and length in the last week or so, it should make for entertaining viewing.

I'm going to predict to draw. What about you?

Hello again!

I'm so pleased to say that this morning I was able to return home after surgery.

It was a huge relief and an emotional experience. I would like to go on record with my gratitude to a wonderful surgical and medical team, who not only with considerable skill removed a 'very large and growing' cyst from my abdominal cavity, but also managed to preserve the kidney that was threatened by it.

The surgeons have pronounced the operation a great success and I will eternally be in their debt. There is some way to go yet, and I have a lot of muscles to repair, together with the sizeable wound itself. But Peakfan is back and I cannot tell you how happy I am to write those words.

I hope to be able to resume blogging duties and may do so for the Durham game, depending how I feel each day. If initially there is a day when I do not feel up to doing so, I will at least put a header for that day and your comments on it.

But it was nice to see some of Derbyshire's players get good action for the second team against Nottinghamshire. Especially good to see Mark Watt and Alex Thomson bowling well in tandem, during the final innings, to ensure a comfortable 10 wicket win. Although equally so to see Tom Wood in the runs.

It was also good to follow the Derbyshire Premier League action at the weekend, with plenty of favourites past, present and maybe future in action.

I remain confident that we will enjoy a good summer. The main thing missing so far has been bowling rhythm, the fairly awful weather legislating against that. But with Lakmal getting back into the groove at Lady Bay, I expect to see an improved performance at Chester Le Street this week.

I cannot tell you how much I am looking forward to watching that. Even if part of me, a sizeable part, will wish that I was there in person, as originally planned.

One final comment, in this brief but essential catch up, I am very pleased that. Mickey Arthur, in all of the press pieces surrounding his new role with Pakistan, has reiterated his commitment to Derbyshire. I fully understand that a man used to involvement year round would find a winter hard to handle in this country. With the right structures in both places, which he has certainly established at Derby, then there shouldn't really be an issue.

What will be interesting is his pull for overseas players now, from that part of the world. One would assume that Pakistan players with the desire to impress their national coach would be very keen to impress him in county colours. That might well be worth keeping an eye on.

As hopefully will this blog!

See you soon.

Leicestershire v. Derbyshire comments

Please append your comments in the usual manner below

Thanks!

Leicestershire v. Derbyshire preview

Luis Reece drops out of the squad for the game last week, for tomorrow's game at Leicestershire.

It is the only change, as Mickey Arthur announces the following thirteen for the fixture:

Godleman, Ali, Guest, Came, Madsen, du Plooy, Lamb, Dal, Chappell, Watt, Aitchison, Conners, Lakmal.

Logically, unless someone is carrying an injury, one of the seamers will drop out, together with Harry Came. The side would be better balanced with the inclusion of Mark Watt, a change of pace and action beneficial, even if there is no substantial turn.

As I write, there is no news of the Leicestershire side, but again applying logic they should be close to unchanged from the remarkable win over Yorkshire

Their lineup is thus likely to be along the lines of:

Patel, Budinger, Hill, Ackerman, Handscomb, Mulder, Ahmed, Wright, Finan, Salisbury, Hull.

Matt Salisbury is, however, likely to be sidelined with a calf injury, while  Callum Parkinson is struggling with an injury to his side and is unlikely to be fit.

The home side has recruited well over the winter months and there is a solid look to their batting lineup. Much like Derbyshire, but both sides need to show that they are capable of taking twenty wickets to win matches.

Notwithstanding contrasting fortunes in the season opener, I think Derbyshire will be much better in this one and could get one in the win column with an improvement in the different disciplines of the game.

However, the forecast for Friday suggests that a fair amount of time will be lost, so we must await the two sides showing that they have what it takes to force a win in reduced time.

I am following this preview with a header, under which you can put any comments on the different days of the game as it plays out. I will publish those comments as soon as I am well enough to do so.

Between times, stay well, stay positive and root for the lads!

See you soon.

Derbyshire v Worcestershire day four

I'm writing this post ahead of what appears an inevitable defeat for Derbyshire, on the final day of their game against Worcestershire. I will be out for the rest of the day and tomorrow looks busy, ahead of my pre-op assessment on Tuesday.

As well as Leus du Plooy and Zak Chappell batted, there simply were not enough runs to play with in the last innings. By and large we batted well in this game, but my considered opinion is that we are shooting ourselves in the foot in pitch preparation.

We have a raft of tall, lively bowlers, all of them six foot and plenty. Why then, would you not prepare bouncy tracks that are a little green, giving them encouragement? While I accept that the returns thus far of Suranga Lakmal have not been great, they're not likely to be when we are preparing low, slow wickets for him to bowl on.

If this game is to be a barometer of the season, then Lakmal and the other seamers will have to work very hard for their wickets at home. Other counties seem to be able to get the wickets that they want at home, so we should be doing the same.

Part of our success under Kim Barnett was in preparing wickets that suited a strong attack of fast and fast medium bowlers. Yes, the conditions at times could be challenging for batters, but our lineup is strong enough and deep enough to score runs on a wicket better suited to our bowling strengths.

It isn't the end of the world. There's another game on Thursday and I am sure that the bowlers will enjoy conditions at Leicester. The side looks in good shape and I remain confident that we will have a good summer, despite the disappointment of this defeat.

I wouldn't subscribe to the thoughts of some that Lakmal should be omitted for that game. He has proven himself in the past to be a world class performer. With the right wickets to bowl on, he can do the same for Derbyshire.

And I am sure that he will be determined to do so.

We do need a better balance, however. While I wouldn't go so far as to say anyone deserves to be dropped, the inclusion of a spinner at Leicester is essential. On returns in this game, Ben Aitchison may miss out, but it could be Sam Conners who gets a breather.

I would also like to see Luis Reece in the eleven, but honestly cannot see how that can happen at this stage.

I will be back with a preview of the Leicestershire game, ahead of an enforced absence which you all know about.

Derbyshire v Worcestershire day three

Derbyshire 321 and 269-6 (Godleman 86, Ali 65, du Plooy 52*)

Worcestershire 473 (Waite 109*, Waite 89, Chappell 5-69, Conners 3-104)

Derbyshire lead by 117 runs

Derbyshire have a lot of work to do tomorrow to avoid defeat in their opening county championship game of the summer.

There is still hope, with skipper Leus du Plooy and Zak Chappell at the crease, but one would think a minimum lead of 200 would be required and that may be a bridge too far.

With the exception of Chappell, we have bowled poorly in this game. The lack of pre-season match action, because of the weather, has left most of the bowlers looking ring rusty and lacking in rhythm. To concede sixty runs as extras is frankly ridiculous and unacceptable at this level and I would expect an improvement in time for the next match.

Chappell was the exception, bowling with hostility and greater control than his team mates. With two good innings in this game, he already looks a very sound winter acquisition.

Matthew Waite lived up to my advance billing last night with an excellent maiden first class century for the visitors. He got good support from the tail, but the sight of du Plooy and Lamb bowling 'occasional' spin confirmed a wrong team selection.

Ali and Godleman led off in fine style and almost wiped out the arrears. There is a touch of the former Pakistan stylist, Majid Khan, in the batting of Ali, who manages to combine grace and power in his game. The former skipper again batted very well and his positive intent augurs well for the season. 

Yet with the exception of du Plooy, no one else got going. Guest failed for the second time in the match, although he got a good ball, Madsen and Lamb got in then got out, while the demeanour of the genial Dal on being given out suggested he had hit the ball when given leg before.

The skipper batted sensibly and well, while Chappell showed himself to have an uncomplicated technique. 

He should have gone before the close, Libby dropping a skier. Will that come back to bite Worcestershire?

We have some way to go before they will be unduly worried. Hopefully we see the Mickey. Arthur patented fighting spirit tomorrow..

Derbyshire v Worcestershire day two

Derbyshire 321

Worcestershire  331-6 (D'Oliveira 87*, Haynes 62, Libby 42, Waite 34*, Conners 3-82,  Chappell 2-47

It was hard going for the Derbyshire attack today, with Worcestershire batting doggedly down the order. By the close they already have a first innings lead, which could yet to become match-defining.

The issue with the team selection was that we had five very similar right arm fast medium bowlers in the attack. That would have been fine had the wicket given the expected help, but after a first session where we probably bowled a little short of the required length, the ball didn't really do much thereafter.

Credit to the visiting batters. They all got their heads down and got some runs. Likewise, Derbyshire's bowlers worked hard, but apart from but an afternoon spell where Sam Conners had them three down, we didn't really look like running through them. Conners bowled some good balls, but still has a tendency for that bad ball each over, to the detriment of his figures.

Even if Luis Reece had been included, there would least have been a different angle to test Worcestershire. As it was, once they got used to the pace of the track, nothing really worried them unduly. Giving over 40 runs in extras was also very disappointing and we will need to do much better.

Ben Aitchison was the most economical, but Derbyshire will need a good first session tomorrow, or otherwise risk the game getting away from them.

We will see. But well done to the visitors. My prediction for them is that Matthew Waite will prove an extremely astute signing.

As for Derbyshire, much to do tomorrow 

A friendly reminder!

As we are getting into the season, hopefully a lot of reports and plenty of comments, just to remind everyone who chooses the 'Anonymous' option to please include a name.

No one on this site is unfair,  but professional sport being no different to any other level, there will be days we do well and others less so.

It is only appropriate that everyone puts a name, even if it is one of their choosing,  to a post. It helps other users understand and get to know you.

I will not publish any anonymous comment that is critical, as it would be unfair. I appreciate it is easy to forget, when you've typed what you want to say, but I know this site is well read by players, their families and people at the club, as well as supporters of other counties across the country.

As Derbyshire are doing so well on and off the pitch, it is important that all of us, as supporters, offer comment and criticism that is worthy of their progress. 

Given the usual level on here, I know that will not be a problem, but I just want to ensure that everyone adheres to the same standard.

Thank you all, I look forward immensely to your continued involvement.

Derbyshire v Worcestershire day one

Derbyshire 300-8 (Madsen 87, Godleman 70, Chappell 40* Waite 3-43)

v Worcestershire 

It was very considerate, after a long winter, for Derbyshire to put on what was effectively a highlights reel for supporters in the first session of the new season.

While the overnight rain prevented play until 2pm, the home side played purposeful, attacking cricket to reach 156-3 in the 29 overs before tea was taken. Suffice to say that yours truly has watched many a Derbyshire side that failed to score that many by tea time, even when they started at eleven. 

It was heady stuff. Debutant Haider Ali and a revitalised Billy Godleman brought up the half century in the seventh over, both capitalising on bowling that lacked both line and length. The young Pakistan player showed his class in a too brief innings, which ended with a stroke unworthy of the talent shown before it.

Meanwhile, Godleman played in the aggressive style that is often much more effective for him, twice sashaying down the wicket to hit Leach into the stand. A third six over square leg looked like the stroke of a returning hero and his innings was only ended by a fine catch at mid wicket. It was nice to see Billball baggin' a half century first up. No longer captain, but perhaps Lord of the inner ring?

Brooke Guest, like Ali, played on, but Madsen came in and resumed in his form of 2022, as if winter had been a mere tea interval. Even now, there are few on the circuit you would sooner watch than Wayne in fine touch. 

It was a different proposition after tea. The Worcestershire bowlers found better lengths and the ball moved around more, with the odd one keeping low. Run scoring was more at the rate we have come to expect from 4 day cricket, but the Derbyshire score went past 200. du Plooy wasn't in prime form, but the early sighting of Matt Lamb was very positive. 

Waite returned to the field after treatment for an injury to eventually remove Madsen for an excellent 87. It was a deserved wicket for the best bowler of the away side and when Lamb was run out by a direct hit and Dal well caught at slip, The innings look to be in decline.

Yet Chappell and Aitchison launched another counter attack that took the score passed 300 before the close. I don't know about anyone else, but that was considerably higher than I expected when Derbyshire lost the toss today. 

I had written in the winter that Chappell can bat and have previously asserted that Aitchison has it in him to become a bowling all rounder. Both did a fine job for their side, the former Nottinghamshire man striking some fearsome blows, including a somewhat remarkable six, one-handed, over mid wicket.

In short? An exhilarating day's cricket. If this is the way we are going to approach things this year, there's going to be some memorable entertainment.

I'm looking forward to seeing how our seam bowlers get on tomorrow...

Tipped for the top!

If not unique, it is certainly unusual to see Derbyshire tipped to top the table by Tanya Aldred in The Guardian 

You can see her article on the 'runners and riders' here

Derbyshire v Worcestershire preview

Looking at the forecast, there will be early morning rain in Derby tomorrow, which may delay the start of the county's game against Worcestershire.

But hey, cricket is back! We have six months of watching our favourites, winning our share of matches and enjoying balmy summer days and nights. I am more confident in the start of that sentence than the last part...

The eleven that I suggested the other day could still be the one that takes the field, with Harry Came and Mark Watt also in the squad. I had a fancy that the Scot, as an international player, would be regarded as our number one spinner and so it has transpired. Mickey Arthur is on record with regard to liking a slow left arm bowler and the genial spinner looks set for a lot of cricket this summer. If he hits his best form he will be a big asset, though I remain unconvinced he will play in this match.

Haider Ali is set for his county debut. It would be unwise to expect too much, too soon from a still young and relatively inexperienced player. But if he comes off, it will be quite special. 

In correspondence with a friend the other night, I referred to the arrival, over 50 summers ago, of a young South African 'dasher' named Chris Wilkins. The English conditions took him by surprise, but when he moved from opener to number four he gave rich entertainment. His dismissal could be quick, but when it was his day, it was magnificent. Ali may be a similar player, who can frustrate and entertain in equal measure, but what a talent he is!

Squad:

Godleman, Reece, Ali, Guest, Madsen, du Plooy, Lamb, Dal, Came, Aitchison, Chappell, Conners, Lakmal, Watt.

Worcestershire recruited well over the winter months and they have got a strong batting lineup. Having said that, the squad announced by them today has two notable absentees, wicket keeper  Ben Cox and seam bowler Dillon Pennington.

Azhar Ali is available for the whole summer and Adam Hose has arrived from Warwickshire, together with Matthew Waite from Yorkshire, to take their places in the following squad:

Pollock, Libby, Ali, Haynes, Hose, d'Oliveira, Roderick, Waite, Leach, Baker, Tongue, Finch, Gibbon

The forecast for the rest of this game looks good after a possible delayed start, so with a wicket that is likely to help seam bowlers, I would expect a positive result here.

The toss will be important and I would be surprised if whoever won it opted to bat. But I think that Derbyshire have recruited well and can put out an eleven that can win this game.

A good start helps to build momentum and if a team gets on a run, anything is possible.

Wishing the very best of luck to the Derbyshire players and staff for the long summer ahead.

I have a sneaking feeling that we are all going to enjoy this one...

Two more sleeps..

Looking at the scores in the very few matches where play has been possible in the past week, I suspect that the wicket for Derbyshire's first match - indeed the wickets for all of the first round of matches - will be very much in favour of the bowlers.

It has thus far been a Spring pretty much diametrically opposed to that of last year, when it was dry and batters around the country racked up large scores on almost blameless wickets. Thus we saw the nigh permanent smile on the face of Shan Masood, while it was closer to a grimace on that of Suranga Lakmal.

The experienced Sri Lankan seamer will be eagerly anticipating this week's game. It would be a major surprise were any side to win the toss and bat, while Kent or someone might even consider a match by match contract for Darren Stevens, with conditions likely to offer the veteran all rounder what he has thrived in for the last two decades.

Could Derbyshire go with an extra batter for the Worcestershire game? We are very fortunate to have Anuj Dal and Luis Reece in our side, which gives us two seam bowlers before we consider the specialists.

Lakmal will play, as almost certainly will Zac Chappell, which would leave the final place between Sam Conners and Ben Aitchison. Much as I prefer a balanced attack, which would normally include one of our spinners, I can't see conditions favouring them at this stage.

So Derbyshire may go with:

Godleman

Ali

Guest

Madsen

du Plooy

Lamb

Reece

Dal

Chappell

Conners/Aitchison

Lakmal

I am not a fan of playing four seamers, because if you pick the right three, you don't really need a fourth. Playing five when two are all rounders is OK, I think, but Mark Watt may otherwise get the nod if it is felt variety is more important than the extra batter.

But I am happy to leave that to Mickey Arthur, who has seen them all through the winter and knows who is in form.

Two more sleeps..