Weekend warmer

Being one of life's 'glass half full' brigade, I don't subscribe to suggestions made that Derbyshire have signed players who are looking for one last pay day.

Certainly, in the cases of Messrs Lloyd, Brown, Donald and Amir they have signed cricketers who are either at or yet to approach their peak.

So the 'accusations' are levelled at Ross Whiteley (35) and Samit Patel (38) and in neither case do I think the argument stacks up. Wayne Madsen will be 40 when next season starts and it is still hard to imagine a Derbyshire side taking the field without him. His level of fitness is exemplary and no one would omit him from a first choice side. Darren Stevens went on to his mid-40s and a niche was found for him in the Kent side that worked. 

Patel has never looked an athlete. Maybe his best batting days are gone, a suggestion that he is more vulnerable than he was against pace probably valid for him and for most of his age. But he hasn't been signed for that, so much as his wily spin variations, where his skills are undiminished in limited over cricket. Any runs will be a bonus, but he will doubtless contribute his share. He still gets picked for global franchises, which suggests a lot of people know what he brings to the party.

Whiteley has suffered by being the 'last few overs' player in a strong Hampshire side. You don't average in the 20s by having to go in and clear the ropes from the start. I would suggest that if he went in at five in the Derbyshire side, he would score a lot more runs in T20, able to take a look before blasting, than he would do at seven. Yet the chances of him going in that high in a strong batting order are perhaps slim. Nonetheless, he affords an ability to rescue losing causes and turn games on their head. 

Comparisons with Tom Wood are not really valid, accordingly. I liked him, a lot, but you can't compare the average of a player in the top four with that of someone lower. I wouldn't argue that Tom could have had greater opportunity than offered him and he played two of the best one-day innings in recent memory, but his day has gone, at least at Derbyshire and we must move on.

But here's a question for you...who is the fastest run scorer on the current Derbyshire staff in T20 cricket?  No cheating, but the averages and scoring rates of the main batters in next year's squad are as follows:

Reece 22.8 at 130.6

Came 23.9 at 134.5

Madsen 31.4 at 138.2

Donald 18.6 at 133.6

Lloyd 23.4 at 132.6

Whiteley 23.2 at 136.5

Patel 24.9 at 124.7

Guest 29.5 at 137.7

Some valid comparators: Tom Wood 38.3 at 140.6, Haider Ali 22.7 at 133.8, Shan Masood 27 at 127.5

The quality of Madsen and Guest, both in average and run rate is clear. There is an argument for Guest to bat higher, especially given his speed between the wickets.  But all of these are good run rates and if they can be maintained, Derbyshire should set some challenging totals. 

Of course, our season will be more than just T20 cricket, but given the reputation of some of those recruits in that format, it is easy to see that as a focus next year. 

Both Matt Lamb and Mitch Wagstaff will hope to force their way into the 4 day squad and both have much to offer.

There will be competition for places, that is clear. 

Even before we announce the name of the second overseas recruit..