Weekend warmer

There were a couple of good interviews on the club site this week, if you missed them.

In the first, the club's Head of Science and Medical, Ryan Smith, discussed the various long-term injuries that had plagued the season this year and how those involved were recovering. It makes for a good listen and I'd recommend it.

In the second, Mickey Arthur discusses a range of topics, apologises for 'Ignorantgate' and talks about the plans for next year. Again, it is a decent listen and I can't always say that about his interviews. 

Towards the end of the interview he said that he's looking for an overseas batter for the full season, as well as a spin bowling all-rounder for the Blast.

Both signings make sense and it would be especially so if the batter in question either opened the batting or was comfortable at first wicket down. Paramount to expectations of improvement next year has to be a more robust, confident top order. Too often last year we were two down too quickly and it was heartening, at least, to hear Mickey talking about addressing the 'mental' side of the issue.

I will be honest, my personal preference for a batter would be someone from either South Africa or Australia. Both countries have served Derbyshire well over the years and I feel they bring the requisite grit and attitude to the ranks. I would like to see someone younger with a willingness to learn, to work hard and to earn a reputation, rather than someone who has been there and just wants another payday. Another Peter Kirsten, perhaps? That'll do nicely...

I know Mickey has got contacts galore in Pakistan and Sri Lanka, but the players from these countries are not necessarily at home on English pitches. The added issue is that the cricket boards in that part of the world are always likely to throw additional tournaments and series into the mix, that eat into the availability of players. 

The PSL overlaps with the English season to a considerable extent and I am neither a fan of a player coming in late, nor of a revolving door process with overseas players. It would be very easy to take on a player from Pakistan who may miss the first half dozen games, by which time your chances in red ball cricket are perhaps already diminished.

I also feel it is important that whoever comes in is comfortable in the language and can contribute to the dressing room dynamic. It is fair to say that neither of our signings for last summer's Blast were especially fluent and this has to have an impact on the discussions ahead of and during matches, regardless of others acting as interpreters. 

So my preference would be for players from South Africa and Australia, with New Zealand as back up. The slight issue is that it is an Ashes summer, so you need to steer clear of expected participants, while New Zealand also tour in September for 3 T20s and 5 ODIs.

All of which makes the case for South Africa the more compelling. The good thing is that they have a number of players who have played international cricket but are not necessarily seen as regulars at this stage. So they may welcome an English stint to state their case, much as David Bedingham has done so well at Durham.

For example, I watched earlier in September as they beat Namibia and was very impressed by two young batters. Jordan Hermann looked both composed and powerful, a stylish left hander with a fine range of shots. His averages across the formats suggest serious potential and he had a short stint with Somerset last year, when he made a century and averaged 45 in division one.

His opening partner in that series, Connor Esterhuizen, also looked a serious player and has already attracted the attention of IPL recruiters. Tall and another powerful stroke player, he also keeps wicket, which would be an asset in The Blast and would allow Aneurin Donald to concentrate on his batting and the captaincy. 

I would be happy with either of those, but Kiwi batter Bevon Jacobs is another player of talent. Perhaps better known as a T20 finisher, his average in first-class cricket is also respectable and perhaps a stint in England for him, as with the other two, would be seen as a good finishing school.

Brian Bennett of Zimbabwe has been mentioned by another contributor to the blog and is a young player with a growing reputation. I'm just not sure if he has played enough cricket to be confident he could handle the strain of a long county season, but at some point I would expect someone to take a punt on a player who has clear talent.

For the Blast, my fantasy signing, as I have written several times before, would be Cooper Connolly. He is an immensely powerful left handed bat and a talented slow left arm spinner who would be a useful foil for Matthew Montgomery's off spin. He will be playing alongside Aneurin Donald for the Perth Scorchers in the Big Bash, so my fertile imagination sees Nye extolling the virtues of the Peak District in early summer and Cooper reaching for his pen and asking 'where do I sign'? 

It probably won't work that way, but you have to hope, don't you? Another good player would be Michael Bracewell of New Zealand, a powerful hitter and handy off spinner, although with the caveat that he has seldom produced figures outside of New Zealand to match what he's done domestically. Of course there's also Mitchell Santner, who we almost had before, but he is in demand around the world and I would think it unlikely that he would be available, such is his importance to New Zealand.

You probably wouldn't say no to Shadab Khan, a. mercurial all-rounder. Yet his stock will have risen after his remarkable century against England last week, while my comments on players from that part of the world still apply. I would be surprised if he was available for the entirety of the Blast, since he pops up in almost every franchise competition you care to look at.

There's also Matt Renshaw, who I mentioned a few months back as a potential season-long batter. He is now back in the national side and has done well, but he might fancy a short spell in the Blast, where his powerful batting and useful spin would be an asset to many sides.

A few names then, to take into the weekend. Hopefully you might have a few more and you might care to share your thoughts. I'm sure Mickey and the team at Derby are in discussions with a few people and their agents at present. 

I wondered about the possibility of a romantic return for Leus du Plooy, but having made himself available for South Africa I suspect they will want to see what he can do and his availability could be limited. But that country has so many young players of talent and you could also add in Dewald Brevis and Lhuan-dre Pretorius, though both seem to their futures exclusively in T20 franchise cricket. You could also include Marques Ackerman, who played two excellent innings against Australia this week and has a fine first-class record as an aggressive left-hander, either opening or in the middle order.

Anyway, enjoy your weekends and stay safe around the fireworks this week! 

Thoughts on Jimmy Anderson

I have had a few emails and comments in recent days, asking what I thought of the Jimmy Anderson situation at Lancashire, and whether I thought Derbyshire would/should make a move for him.

I can see both sides of the argument. In an ideal world, Anderson would have been able to leave on his own terms, after 25 years with Lancashire. He has become a national bowling legend, a Knight of the Realm and has had an end named after him at Old Trafford. He took 50 wickets at just seventeen runs apiece last year and still looked a class act.

But..

He will be 45 next summer and although some players are able to hold back the tide of time, Canute-style, such as Darren Stevens and our own Wayne Madsen, there comes a time for everyone when the body starts to tell you that enough is enough.  

You never know when that next season, that one year too many, is when it happens. And regardless of talent, reputation and fitness, time really does wait for no man. 

I totally understand why Paul Farbrace wants to start afresh, with a new team and players who he wants to grow together as a team. Last year, when I watched them it was Jimmy Anderson plus ten, not Lancashire. There was nothing in the way of fight shown at Chesterfield, when the great bowler himself looked pretty disinterested once the wickets stopped falling and conditions eased. Nor was he capable of lifting his team.

Farbrace is a very good coach and for what it is worth I would have done the same thing. There is no room for sentiment in sport and although it will be difficult, I hope that Wayne Madsen walks away at the end of next summer, ideally after one last fine red ball season and with his reputation untarnished.

Various news outlets suggest other counties are interested in Anderson's services and, based on his reputation and 2026 form I do understand that.

Would I want Derbyshire to be one of them/do I think they will be one of them? 

No and no. It is important that we build for the future and I would be disappointed if Anderson were to arrive at Derby. I accept there's a certain romance in having Anderson, Abbas and Aitchison opening the bowling (unless you are an opposition opening bat). But where does that leave Chappell, Moore, Haydon, Brown and Potts? Let alone Reece and Andersson? If we had spare money for a bowler, I would sooner take the much cheaper route of a deal for Matt Stewart and the long-term benefits that offers.

It is important that our recruitment doesn't reduce opportunity for players of potential and I hope the short termism that we saw in the early 1970s never returns to the club. It is much the same with a potential move for Ben Cox, admittedly a very good cricketer. We already have a very good wicket-keeper/bat in Brooke Guest, who struggled this year but has the talent to return after a good winter in the nets. We also have terrific potential in Theo Brown, who may be first team ready in another couple of years and we cannot afford to block his path.

What we COULD do is look out for a batter who has wicket-keeping as his 'other' skill, one good enough to play as the former but able to fill in, at least, if required by injury or loss of form. That would also allow Aneurin Donald to skipper and lead the batting in the Blast, but not have to keep wicket too. 

There's no one obvious in that category who is out of contract this year, but one thing I have learned in sixty summers of watching Derbyshire is that players sometimes come onto the market, unhappy in their role at another club and wanting to move for personal reasons. 

I think Derbyshire's major needs for next year are around the top order weakness that was evident in 2026. If there is a little scope for a signing outwith the overseas recruitment this winter, a discontented, ideally young and hungry top order bat would be my focus. 

That may be the stuff of fantasy. But while Jimmy Anderson will not lack offers IF he decides to play on, I wouldn't want Derbyshire to be making one of them.

Not least because I don't think we could afford him, but mainly because we have areas of greater need and a finite budget.

Weekend roundup and perhaps the end of Ignorantgate...

I had a long chat with Tom Skinner this week at Derbyshire County Cricket Club, regarding 'ignorantgate' and how it had been perceived among the Derbyshire support. 

I made my feelings clear, that it was totally inappropriate for Mickey Arthur to use such words in any situation, but I was told, categorically, that these comments were not directed at loyal members and supporters, nor at those who express their considered and intelligent observations on here. 

It was agreed that the wording was both unfortunate and inappropriate and this was tackled  with Mickey straight away. In the heat of the moment he referred to individuals he knows who feel they have 'influence' and made unsubstantiated claims about certain topics. It was made clear by Tom that this was not aimed at me, at members nor contributors to this blog.

This is going to be the first item on next week's forum and the aim is to encourage an open dialogue with supporters, as Ryan Duckett said in his recent interview.

I think it is fair to say that if they did not want such a dialogue, they are under no obligation to hold the forum and might just wait for time to wash things away, which it may or may not do.

If you are going to that forum then feel free to make your thoughts known, but I can only speak for myself and say that I accept the explanation. Mickey was silly to air the comments and I hope that he has learned from the unfortunate, souring episode. 

He is naturally bullish, but the time for that is when he has done something worthy of note. He hasn't done that yet at this level, so perhaps a touch more restraint and humility would go a long way, moving forward.

Despite what appeared in The Cricketer end of season review, which suggested that he is only contracted until the end of next year, I can confirm that he is tied to Derbyshire until the end of 2028. Unless something else happens which forces the issue, of course...

Anyway, moving on, the story from earlier in the week has now been confirmed and Aneurin Donald will play in the Big Bash this winter with Perth Scorchers. 

I hope he does well and, like other Derbyshire supporters, will look out for their scores. Their first game is the tournament opener which is being held in... Chennai. No doubt hoping to capitalise on the massive interest in the game in India, but I hope that it is never replicated in the English game. It was a hard enough sell for Derbyshire to play a T20 game in Birmingham and I doubt they will run buses to Chennai...

Nye's game could be suited to the historically fast, bouncy pitches in Perth, once he gets used to them and he will be a strong addition to the side that won last year's competition and has the best overall record in the Big Bash, winning it six times.

I wish him well, as I am sure you all do.

This week I concluded my interview with Daryn Smit, which was absolutely fascinating. I am now in the process of transcribing it and look forward to publishing it in the not too distant future. I think you will find it every bit as interesting and enjoyable as I did. 

Finally today, I was delighted to receive an email from Feedspot to say that the blog is ranked number seven in their assessment of UK-based cricket resources.

Apparently their lists are curated based on factors such as relevance to the category, content quality, activity, and overall influence. They consider a range of sources, including independent blogs, publications, and official websites, where relevant to the topic.

You can see the list here and I am pleased to be regarded in this kind of company, especially being a one-man operation and only writing about one county.

That's enough for today. This morning saw my big winter coat on for the first time, so the cricket season seems as far away as ever right now. 

On the other hand, this week will see me playing walking cricket twice weekly until Christmas, which keeps me fit and ensures cricket remains in my life. 

And it won't be long until the fixtures are out...

Have a good week! 

Heads of Cricket and the continued rumbling of discontent

I was fascinated to receive some statistics from a friend this week. He had gone into the records of Derbyshire's recent past to examine the results of the respective county coaches/Heads of Cricket.

There was a time when the position rarely changed, of course. Denis Smith became county coach in 1951 and retired in 1971, having overseen a period of relative success in the 1950s and a more transitional one in the decade that followed, as bona fide club legends gradually retired. 

He was no shrinking violet and a hard task master. The stories are legion about how he could put people firmly in their place with a look, or a pithy comment. His methods would likely not have been appreciated today, but they were different times, in school and in the work place.

'I don't mollycoddle them. No one holds their hands in the middle' he was fond of saying, while Edwin Smith told me how, after being dismissed by the opposition off spinner, he got back to the pavilion to be told 'you bowl it, you should know by now how to play it..'

Edwin took over from his namesake, tasked with bringing through young players because there was little money for anything else, and then sacked because those youngsters had - unsurprisingly - no success in too short a time frame. He was poorly treated, but a good few of those youngsters subsequently went on to long county careers.

Fortunes improved under Eddie Barlow and then Phil Russell, in contrasting styles restoring pride and respect to the county. Both of them, crucially, excellent man managers. You can get so much more from people if you take them with you as you go.

Since the millennium, there have been more frequent changes. The rankings for the various club coaches who had any real time at the club  - and the match percentage of their wins in red ball cricket - are as follows:

Karl Krikken - 27.1%

John Morris - 22.2%

Graeme Welch - 20.6%

Mickey Arthur - 16%

Dave Houghton (2004–07) -11%

Dave Houghton (2018–21) - 8%

I have always maintained that Karl Krikken was poorly treated, but the tenures of the top two in that list were both shorter than they perhaps should have been. 

It is fair to say that John Morris had a very good eye for a player. It was he who brought in the likes of Wayne Madsen, Chesney Hughes, Tony Palladino, Tim Groenewald and Jon Clare, as well as the mercurial Wavell Hinds, at a time when Kolpaks flooded the county game. He also signed Chris Rogers and Charl Langeveldt, both of them outstanding overseas recruits. The strong nucleus of the 2012 promotion squad is right there.

Yet John Shawcroft's excellent Celebration of Derbyshire County Cricket Club, published to mark the 150th anniversary, records skipper Luke Sutton saying that 'the feedback from every single player was very, very negative...it was the right thing to do' when Morris was relieved of his duties.

It is equally appropriate to acknowledge that Karl Krikken was a beneficiary of Morris' work. Again, John Shawcroft records Karl Krikken obtaining 'a negotiated release from his contract 'after the club introduced an elite performance model, which was to be overseen by an elite cricket performance director' - a role subsequently taken on by Graeme Welch. 

The results of both men were better than we have experienced at any time since. Krikken took us into Division One with a young squad and should certainly have been given more time with them. What he might have done with five years and a young team is a moot point.

Dave Houghton's results are damning, and one can only ponder how he was deemed the 'best option' for a return, after the 'effectiveness' of his first stint. I liked Dave as a man, but the results second time around were even worse and therein lies my concern for Derbyshire right now. 

I don't think the current squad at the county is at all bad. There are some good players among their number, but the reality is that Mickey Arthur has proved consistently unable to get the best from them. He hasn't managed it in five years, so why should we expect an improvement over the next two? By his own admission, as well as those in wider sports coaching, players stop listening to a coach after three years, because they hear nothing new.

There have been a couple of relevant stories in The Cricketer in the past week. One of them, by George Dobell, said that up to five counties are looking for Heads of Cricket this winter. I am unaware of any stories connecting Mickey Arthur to those roles and that tells a story, I think. So does the fact that none of the Hundred franchises had him involved last summer. His stock has fallen, beyond doubt, though seemingly not in Derbyshire. 

In the second story, Nick Howson in his end of season roundup said that Arthur's referral to supporters as ignorant 'may be tough to come back from'. For all the protestations that the comment was taken out of context, I maintain the club handled this badly. 

Ryan Duckett said that it showed his passion and commitment, which is nonsense. There are plenty of people with equal commitment about what they do who do not resort to insulting the fan base. He should have been censured for this and a statement released accordingly.

Nick also says the following, at the end of the article:

Arthur might be bathed in international experience, be as big an advocate of the county game as any of his contemporaries, be a member of the newly- formed County Insight Group and give Derbyshire global appeal. But promotion challenges haven't consistently materialised and the support has all but evaporated.

I know mine has. My expectations for next year, if he remains at the helm, will be the lowest they have ever been. Regular readers will know that my unfailing optimism has been a feature of my time in writing this blog, but I would like to think I temper it with realism. 

Five years into a three-year project, two years after players 'stop listening', members and supporters have another two years of this to 'look forward to'. Well, whoopy-doo, wait while I get out the bunting..

I just feel the laissez-faire attitude at the club is worrying. Off the field they are great, doing brilliant stuff, but there appears to be little accountability for a man who has had far longer than other, more able ones were ever allowed. If any of the players were to say 'But I am passionate about my job, I work hard on my skills, I am hurting and this club means a lot to me', when they had averaged 20 with the bat and their contract was up for renewal, do you think it would save them? 

Mickey talks about the 'currency' of players being runs and wickets. By extension, his has to be results. You can't judge a coach on how hard he works, how he reflects and how much it hurts when we lose. Sport is a results-driven basis and he hasn't been on the right side of anywhere near enough of them. With or without HIS team.

We might have won a few red ball games, but we were still 16th out of 18 counties and I don't think that is good enough. I also think we can do better than that with a different coach and not too great a change to the staff. 

The recovery can start here, but only if those in charge are big enough to make the call. Maybe canvassing the players, as they did with John Morris, is a good place to start?

As for members, the forum this month is an opportunity to make your voice heard, if you agree.

And as always, your comments are much appreciated.

Madsen signs one-year red ball deal

There's good news to start a Thursday morning, as Derbyshire announce a new one-year, red ball deal for Wayne Madsen.

It will be his 19th year with the club, which marks a level of loyalty rarely seen in the modern game. Madsen joined the club in 2009 and has gone on to score more than 24,000 all-format runs, including 52 centuries, establishing him very much as a modern great of both Derbyshire and the wider county game.

Quite what the club would have done without him in that time is a moot point. He will be 43 by the time next season starts and so we must assume that it will be a long farewell to the game that he has graced for so long.

It needn't be, of course. If the eyes, feet and hands still move well and the runs still flow, there is no reason why he shouldn't perhaps have one more year after that. Standing at first slip won't test his stamina but we must hope a few hours at the crease are still well within his compass.

Will he be skipper? Maybe, but there's always the possibility that it could be a lure for the right, all-format overseas bat, which is on top of the shopping list for the winter. 

I do feel that next season will be a watershed for the club in many ways, with a number of contracts coming to an end. There has to be a higher level of performance, across the board, than we saw in 2026, because looking at players out of contract next year, there are a number who would strengthen both Derbyshire and other teams. It would be remiss of those involved not to pursue such opportunities should they present themselves. 

Finally today, there is an interesting interview with Ryan Duckett online, which is well worth a listen. 

It is clear that he shares the frustration of members and supporters at the season just finished. He mentions an opportunity for members to bring these up at a forthcoming forum and I would urge those who are able to do so to attend and express their own feelings. 

The club is admirably run - one has only to listen to the Derbyshire Chief Executive and to hear about plans for the future to understand that. 

Yet at the end of the day, this is Derbyshire County CRICKET Club and the name is on the gates. It is all well and good registering profits and doing a lot of good in other areas. But there should be no reason why we should not emulate other smaller counties with limited budgets and challenge for silverware. 

I accept that injuries played a part in 2026, but we were not the only county to be so affected.

It is down to Mickey Arthur to get more from his squad than he managed to do this year, or in those that preceded it. 

If he can't do that, then one has to question the wisdom of retaining his services any longer than is strictly necessary.

Good news for Donald and Bashir

Great news for Nye Donald and Derbyshire today, with his selection for the England squad in a five-match T20 series against Australia next month.

It is huge opportunity for him to showcase his talent. If he can show his best form down under, the opportunities for him in franchise cricket could quite easily change his life.

I really hope that he gets the opportunity and is able to show his best form.

Like all of you, I wish him well.

Equally good news came yesterday with the confirmation that Shoaib Bashir has another one-year central England contract.

It represents a considerable saving for Derbyshire in their budget, which can be redeployed in whatever way they feel appropriate.

Excellent news to start the week!

Weekend warmer

It's been a good week.

It started with media news that Shoaib Bashir has been awarded an England central contract, which has yet to be confirmed by the ECB. This would be good news for Derbyshire, if true, because they have doubtless been keeping money aside to cover the cost of his deal, 'just in case'. 

One assumes that Cricinfo wouldn't go public if there was any doubt, but until the puffs of smoke come from the ECB offices, we will hold our horses on the celebratory lap of honour...

In other news, both Martin Andersson and Nye Donald have enjoyed success in the Canadian T10. Sixes rained from their bats, although to be fair they rained from everyone's bats on football grounds, where the straight boundaries, playing across the pitch, were minimalist. It reminded of Heanor, back in the day, although the mid wicket boundaries, to the ends of the football pitch, were bigger. Anyway, it is good to see them playing on the world stage and I wish them continued good. fortune. I wouldn't want to be a bowler, on those grounds, that's for sure!

Vancouver Anchors, coached by Mickey Arthur and featuring Andersson and Donald, lost in the final to the Toronto Sixers, despite scoring 164-3 in their ten overs. Their opponents lived up to their name by scoring nineteen of them, in winning off the final ball. Doesn't sound like my kind of game, but each to their own...

There's been a little to-ing and fro-ing in cricket, with the most surprising departure being Ben Cox leaving Leicestershire. He had a very good summer with bat and gloves for them and apparently didn't miss a chance in red ball cricket. I had assumed he would go to Nottingham, where he has played for the Trent Rockets, but they have signed John Simpson from Sussex and the other likely option, Warwickshire, have the highly-rated Kai Smith behind the stumps. 

I would be surprised if Cox, a multi-format player, dropped out of the first-class game, because I've always rated him highly. It is worth keeping an eye on that one.

Moving on, I have enjoyed your comments this week and the standard remains very high, so thank you. I have to say that whether paid early, on a discounted scheme, or at the usual rate cricket membership at Derbyshire, for me, represents very good value. 

If you compare what you get for it with a season ticket for the football, for example, the value becomes clear. I do understand the reluctance in some quarters to shell out, after the comments made by Mickey Arthur, but what you get for your outlay is pretty good value. 

Having said that, they do need to do something about the food offer on the ground. I was disappointed on my visit to Derby this year, to find you couldn't buy a sandwich on the ground. This would seem a very basic need for people who will be at the cricket all day, as well as being something easily sorted. Not everyone wants an industrial-sized sausage roll and when these, or pasties, were the only visible options, the club is hardly catering for the healthy eating agenda...

Yesterday I was thrilled to enjoy a lengthy chat with Daryn Smit,  on his coaching career, his work with Derbyshire and his hopes for the future. 

We covered a lot of ground, so much so that we will finish things off this week, before I start to write it up. I can say with great confidence that you are going to love this and I am grateful to Daryn for giving up his time to talk to me. 

In closing tonight, I'm thrilled to announce that the blog has now gone past nine million views. I remain both humbled and flattered by the continued interest of so many people and I really do value both your comments and also the emails that I get on a regular basis. 

Thank you all so much for your support. I WILL continue with the blog, at least until this time next year, when I will review things after what will have been twenty seasons of coverage. 

Where did that time go? 

Enjoy your weekends!

Weekend news roundup

So Simon Hughes is the latest former player to decide to have a pop at Derbyshire, in a column in The Times this weekend.

He has made a good career in the media after playing for a number of years as a bit-part player at Middlesex. He had his days in the sun but never established himself as a regular and moved to Durham before slipping into the media.

This weekend he said: 

You question the raison d'etre of a club like Derbyshire... with a perennial position in the nether regions of Division Two and who haven't produced an England cricketer since Dominic Cork in 1995

For Hughes read Atherton and Pietersen. They were all happy enough to earn a crust in the first class game, but are now happy to question the existence of the member clubs who made their career.

I do get it, but it still annoys me. This is why I am so keen to see Derbyshire promote their own. Why I want to see the Pathway more obviously assimilated into the grand plan. Why I see no point in giving a short-term deal to a player who learned his skills elsewhere, rather than that opportunity going to one who has come through our age groups. You know who I am talking about..

But Hughes, like the others, neglects the fact that there is another side. Having more clubs ensures that late developers can sometimes throw themselves into contention for national selection. Mark Footitt came close, Nye Donald, George Scrimshaw and Shoaib Bashir made it, thanks to the experience and exposure that they got in Derbyshire colours. 

There were no takers for Bashir when he left Somerset. Had Derbyshire not taken him on, we would potentially have seen England 's number one spin bowler without a club. Of course, we don't know what happens with his central contract for the year ahead and a new decision will need to be made at the end of 2027, regardless of whether he retains it or not. I suspect he will need better figures than 2026, but we will see.

He is a young man with obvious talent yet needing the opportunity to bowl and keep bowling. The same with Nye Donald, who could easily be outside the game now, were it not for the opportunity he got in the East Midlands.

It isn't JUST about bringing through youngsters, but for Derbyshire to retain their relevance, it is imperative that we do more than merely pay lip service to the Pathway.

There is the quandary. In Mickey Arthur, we have a man who sits at the top table of English cricket and is well-placed to state the case of players like Bashir, Donald, maybe even Martin Andersson, if his upward trajectory continues. 

But his background shows zero evidence of the development of young players. You look at Glamorgan, Leicestershire, Worcestershire and even Gloucestershire and see counties who have had recent success with teams largely reared by themselves. Yet Derbyshire can't match that and until we have a Head of Cricket who is prepared to offer opportunity, my concerns will still be there. 

Of course, you can't just throw them in. You couldn't pluck Theo Brown out of school and expect him to flourish, any more than you could play Matt Stewart and expect him to take five wickets a match. To succeed, they need to come into a side where they can play a part and learn at the same time. But it is crucial that Arthur - assuming he remains after recent events - is seen to consider them for senior action. 

Yousaf Bin Naeem will only develop if he gets regular cricket at a higher level. And I will die on the hill on which I argue Matt Stewart being around the first team squad would have had greater value long term than Will Rogers providing 'a different angle'. 

When Arthur goes, it is crucial that he is replaced by someone who has clear evidence of being able to work with young players, get the best from them and encourage them into a senior side where they are surrounded by seasoned pros of quality. Like Barnett, Adams and Morris, when they joined people like Steele, Hampshire, Wright and Kirsten.

Hughes' article goes on to say that counties earn 'on average' £1.25 million a year on membership fees. I think it is fair to say that Derbyshire would love to earn that...

In other news, The Cricket Paper reported:

Wayne Madsen's retirement from T20 cricket was followed by his departure from the professional game, closing a 17-year Derbyshire association 

Thank you to Simon for alerting me to this. I can confirm that there is no truth in it at this stage and any development will be announced by the club when they are ready to do so. 

For what it is worth, I fully expect Wayne to play the red ball season next summer, which may well be an extended farewell around the country. 

But that old saying 'you're a long time retired' still holds true and if he showed that the old magic is still there, you never know. Just like Old Man River, he might just keep rolling along.

I am sure that he will want to join his family in South Africa before too long, but while the body is willing and the returns are good...

Anyway, enjoy your weeks and I will see you soon.

Radio interview

My final interview of the 2026 cricket season took place last night with James Sadler of North Derbyshire Radio

We covered a good few topics and I hope it is of interest to some of you 

You can listen to it here

I am on just after the 25-minute mark.

Exciting news for the winter blog!

The winter months allow me a chance to recalibrate and get my breath back after a busy summer. 

I'm not sure how I ever found time to work, to be honest! Between Dad stuff, things around the house and garden, walking the dogs and days out with my wife, I can certainly fill my time without any issue at all. With books to read, music to listen to and Netflix to watch, there aren't enough hours in the day!

But I will keep the blog going over the winter. As and when there is any relevant cricket news to report, you will find my thoughts on it here. I expect to do a weekly round up, so do please keep checking in as you have been doing.

Now for some BIG news! 

Next month I will be doing an exclusive interview with popular former Derbyshire star Tony Palladino, which will probably appear in time to mark the 20th year of the blog's existence next year. I will be discussing his time with Derbyshire, life after cricket and his thoughts on the current situation at the club.

There will also be a competition giveaway of books to those who kindly contribute throughout the year. So if you would like to make a donation, either as a one off or as a regular thing, please use the donate button that shows up when viewing on a laptop or PC. You can also email me for details if you prefer to make a bank transfer and cut out PayPal.

Moving forward, next year I hope to do a monthly update on the Derbyshire women's team and I have an interview over the winter with Gareth Marshall, the senior coach of the Girl's Pathway and Assistant Coach to Derbyshire Senior Women's side.

I am also delighted to confirm an interview in the coming weeks with Daryn Smit, the Head of the Derbyshire Pathway. I am looking forward to that one immensely and finding out how they recruit and develop young players and who we should be keeping an eye on in the years ahead.

Last, but certainly not least, I will have an interview with Ben Aitchison, who will be discussing his recovery from injury, Derbyshire's and his season and his hopes for the future. 

If anyone has any questions you would like me to ask any of the above, please mail them to me at peakfan36@yahoo.co.uk

Between times, if you are missing your cricket fix, the YesPlay Pro20 Cup is on YouTube from South Africa and is well worth a watch. Many of the big names are involved and there have already been some excellent matches.

All that and at a time when you don't need to keep your eyes open with matchsticks...

See you soon!