Derbyshire v Middlesex CB40

The more cynical among our support might well have expected Derbyshire to lose today. After all, most important matches in the last couple of seasons have gone the way of the opposition as Derbyshire have either frozen, played below par or been pretty dreadful. Quite often the latter.

We lost today, but there was encouragement in the performance. Peter Burgoyne bowled a good spell at the death, while Tom Poynton played a lovely innings that hinted at things to come. With respect to a range of incumbents over the past couple of years, Derbyshire have struggled to replace James Pipe's pugnacious batting. Poynton, following on from a series of aggressive innings for the second string, may just be the man to do it.

While the bowlers did well to pull Middlesex back to "just" 253, the feeling remained that any challenge was going to require a Guptill special. Once that failed to materialise, there was to some extent an air of inevitability about proceedings. Having said that, it was good to once again see the side battle, with both Chesney Hughes and Wayne Madsen making runs and playing themselves back into the reckoning for Chelmsford this week in the process.

By the same token, Greg Smith departed for  a second ball duck and must now be marginally behind me in the list of those likely to play Essex. Whatever is going on behind the scenes with Smith's contract and future career, he is simply not performing for Derbyshire just now and would not be in my first choice side.

I've had a change of mind about the composition of that side and would probably bring in some more experience. Given that Matt Lineker has outperformed Paul Borrington at Second Eleven level, he would get my nod in this team:

Guptill
Lineker
Hughes/Madsen
Durston
Redfern
Whiteley
Clare
Sutton/Poynton
Groenewald
Palladino
Turner

There may be a need for a specialist spinner, presumably Knight, which would be another big decision for Karl Krikken. Peter Burgoyne did well with the ball on debut today, but his time will come and he is not yet ready for senior action on a regular basis at 17. Conversely, Mark Footitt bowled two dreadful overs today and the jury is still out on the left armer. That he has talent and pace is undeniable, but producing it once or twice a season is neither here nor there.

After the disappointments of Chesterfield week, I just hope that the team can pull together for one last effort at Chelmsford and ensure that our Championship finish befits a season in which we have played some pretty good cricket.

We'll see.

Derbyshire v Middlesex day 3

A day to go in an absorbing match. Who's your money on?

I suppose Middlesex are slight favourites with eight wickets in hand, but the thing about this game has been the movement in the first session, generally when the most wickets have gone down. Cloudy conditions forecast tomorrow, so we can still win this.

Of course, we need to bowl the right line and length as we did first innings but apparently did less well today. We're also a bowler light, which could be a deciding factor. The final morning promises to be absorbing though and Mrs Peakfan was her usual understanding self when I phoned home this evening.

"You'll be staying on tomorrow given the state of the game?" she said, impressing me with her knowledge of things once more. Apparently she's taking my mother in law for a new washing machine. Sounds like a good swap...boom, boom!

Yes, I'll be there tomorrow to see the denouement and whatever the result this has been an enthralling game of cricket. We could win tomorrow and I'll float back to Scotland, or we could lose and it will be a somewhat longer drive. Irrespective, I've seen enough from the side in this game to encourage me for the rest of the season.

The second innings batting was again excellent, down the order. If we can sort out the first dig we could do well in the Championship - certainly better than last year. Good to see Dan Redfern in the runs and the form of both he and Wes Durston has been a plus from this match.

Will we win? Not sure just now. Can we win? Most definitely.

Derbyshire v Middlesex day 2

Well, I think a few gloom and doom merchants on IMWT might be feeling a little silly tonight...

Honestly, it is quite sad how some 'fans' - never has a term been used more loosely - are quick to criticise after a bad session but never seem to summon the moral fibre to come back and say 'I was wrong.'

This morning the County Ground resembled a scene from casualty. Luke Sutton was unable to take the field after severe bruising to his little finger (thankfully not broken), Jon Clare had tweaked a hamstring and Usman Khawaja didn't look fully over his injury. Mark Footitt thankfully told me that he should be fit for next week, which was good news and not the last of the day.

Derbyshire were, quite simply, superb. In the morning session Tony Palladino (pictured) showed everyone what a fine bowler he is with a devastating pre-lunch spell. Regular readers will know I labelled this an astute signing when John Morris pulled it off back in December (16th if you wish to check) when I wrote:

"Critics say he can be expensive and loses his radar from time to time, but I tend to take a more pragmatic view. Five-an-over in List A and seven-an-over in T20 is hardly cafeteria bowling. In addition, Palladino, like Footitt and Mark Turner, takes wickets with impressive regularity. Eight four-wicket and two five-wicket hauls in 52 matches is impressive, as is a career record of 117 wickets at 34 with limited opportunity. Comparisons may be odious, but Lungley took three five-wicket hauls in ten years, as did Hunter and neither took four in a Championship innings.


Palladino is thus more penetrative and crucially four years younger. With opportunity he can get better, which realistically wasn’t going to happen with the other two. All things considered, John Morris has again strengthened the squad. Two aging bowlers of questionable fitness have been replaced by two who are not yet at their peak."

On today's showing Palladino is a class act who will only improve. He was aided by some sharp catching from a team who were obviously up for a fight and credit goes to Tom Poynton who stepped in for Luke Sutton and kept well at short notice. Tim Groenewald bowled well with little luck, while Chesney Hughes bowled some impressive spin to end the innings quickly, bowling Finn behind his legs and having Collymore sharply taken by Poynton. Mention should also be made of Ross Whiteley, who occasionally dropped onto leg stump but bowled some good balls in an improved spell.

A deficit of 76 was less than most expected, but fully deserved for a very aggressive display in the field. In the context of the game it was still substantial though and we needed a good start. Sadly Wayne Madsen fell to a brilliant piece of fielding and at 10-1 we were struggling.

Then came some marvellous batting on a difficult pitch by Durston and Khawaja. The odd ball was lifting sharply and some kept low, but by punishing the bad ball and leaving anything they didn't have to play, the two eroded the lead and we crept ahead. Durston played some delightful drives and sashayed down the track a time or two against the spinners for impressive boundaries. Khawaja still didn't look fully fit and it was noticeable that there were no sharp singles and they weren't pushing between the wickets. Yet the commitment and self restraint of the young Australian augurs well. He made the bowlers pitch it on the stumps where he picked off anything short or overpitched. One pull from Collymore went through mid on, testimony to how quickly he picked it up, while he played a delightful drive past the bowler that oozed class.

Wes looked set for a deserved century when he missed a leg glance and was lbw to sounds of disappointment from the crowd, while Khawaja was eventually to fall to an attempted cut. Yet even at that stage Derbyshire did well, with young tyros Hughes and Redfern batting sensibly and with great skill to the close. I've seen people label this a 'crucial' season for Redfern, which is nonsense. He's 21 for goodness sake! Bear this in mind -his record at that age is better than a player named John Morris at the same stage. If he turns out as good as that feller we'll have few complaints...

The match? 117 ahead with seven wickets in hand. Anything over 200 will be tough to get if we bowl right. If we get 250 lead they'll be really worried.

As for the rest, I was really impressed by today. The ground looked magnificent, the team were up for it and I met some lovely people - you all know who you are! I enjoyed the company of everyone and had the pleasure of a chat with Chris Grant, who I can assure you is passionate about his cricket and has great plans for our club. Having spoken to him I have no doubts that the future is bright and that the club is in very safe hands.

More of the same tomorrow gentlemen and we'll be some way towards back to back wins, just reward for some very impressive cricket today.

PS You will notice a picture of Tony Palladino at the top of this article. That's different to the Derby Telegraph, who currently seem unable to match the fine writing of Mark Eklid with a sub-editor who can add the right photo to the prose. Bet they'd not make that mistake with Derby County...

Derbyshire v Middlesex day 1

Not exactly what we were looking for today, being bowled out for 154. As I write Chris Rogers has made his expected 50 against us and Middlesex, at 77-1 are halfway to our total with nine wickets in hand.

The County Ground this year could be that sort of track and there'll be days when it will go our way and days when it won't. If the day had adhered to the script we'd all written mentally Usman Khawaja would be 120 not out right now and we'd be closing in on the final batting points.

It didn't happen but hey - them's the breaks. Rogers will be a key wicket and we'll see what happens when (if?) he goes.

More tomorrow, when I'll be there to watch events unfold.

Derbyshire v Middlesex preview

Having previously said that the division is wide open, I would suggest that if any side were equipped to challenge for the title it would be Middlesex.


They have recruited extensively and one assumes expensively over the winter and have added some ballast to a failing side. Having nicked our erstwhile skipper by offering riches beyond our compass, they picked up the talented Corey Collymore from Sussex to replace the mercurial Pedro Collins. They then added Anthony Ireland from Gloucestershire, to partner the talents of England man Steve Finn and the underrated Tim Murtagh in an impressive seam line up. More recently Jamie Dalrymple has re-signed for them after leaving Glamorgan and he will add more durability to the middle order, as well as a useful spin bowling option. Presumably he’s not yet fit after his winter travails and isn’t in their squad for Derby.

While Owais Shah has gone to India…sorry… Essex, Scott Newman and Neil Dexter also line up in a side that should be in division one. Except they’re not and they’ll have to do it where it matters to get to that level, always harder than it appears.

Their squad of 12 is as follows:

Scott Newman, Chris Rogers, Dan Housego, Dawid Malan, Neil Dexter, John Simpson, Gareth Berg, Ollie Rayner, Tim Murtagh, Steven Finn, Corey Collymore and Toby Roland-Jones.


So there’s a decent line up, but I genuinely feel that we can compete against them and others in that division. Our own side has plenty of talent and if we can get runs on the board there will be few sides enjoy batting against disciplined bowling and some fine fielders.

As for us, its 'G'day' to Usman Khawaja, who lines up for his county debut after missing the opening fixtures. There's also a recall for Steffan Jones and Jake Needham is in the 12, which reads:

Wayne Madsen, Usman Khawaja, Wes Durston, Chesney Hughes, Dan Redfern, Greg Smith, Luke Sutton, Jonathan Clare, Tim Groenewald, Steffan Jones, Tony Palladino and Jake Needham
The latter is interesting. If we assume that Clare, Groenewald and Palladino will be the main seamers, Smith as back up gives us four of good quality. Do we need a fifth, or could we more productively play a spinner or an extra batsman on occasion? At this time of year I think the extra seamer gives John Morris a chance to keep them all fresh and bowl them in short spells. The fact that three of the four seamers named above can bat makes a big difference to the balance of the side. We've not had many better number tens than Steffan Jones in our history...

John Morris has nice decisions to make at the moment, with his bowlers staking a claim for a place in the side. If he can get Park and Redfern in the runs, or Lineker if he gets a chance, there will be tough calls to make.

Promotion battle? No. Way too early to talk about any teams as promotion contenders. When they’ve all had a chance to do something significant, good or bad, we’ll start to sort the wheat from the chaff, but both of these sides have the ability to be in the mix.

From a purely selfish point of view I hope we win the toss and bowl tomorrow. That way I've a good chance of seeing Mr Khawaja on a subsequent day. Maybe see you down the County Ground over the next day or two!

Middlesex v Derbyshire day 3

244 runs ahead with a day to go. So what do we do tomorrow?

A thrilling opening stand by Chris Rogers and Wayne Madsen of 181 at six an over gave Derbyshire a chance of a mid/late morning declaration tomorrow. Madsen just missed out on a second century in the match, while the skipper is still there, unbeaten on 75.

My guess is that we'll either thrash (or be given through joke bowling) another hundred tomorrow and leave Middlesex 350 in around 75/80 overs. Maybe even as I type Shaun Udal and Chris Rogers are having a friendly chat about what they will go for and above anything we need to allow time to bowl them out. 85 overs would be handy but would need some serious hitting.

We need to risk losing in order to win, dangle a carrot and hope that we can take wickets at regular intervals. Pray for cloud cover, a crumbling track (some hope!), maybe even a 24 hour bug to affect the Middlesex batsmen...

Sorry, went too far with the last one, but we need to figure out a way to dismiss Nick Compton, who is developing a penchant for Derbyshire bowling of late. With the exception of Compton and "Ice" Berg, there weren't many contributions from their batsmen, with the prolific Dexter going cheaply to Greg Smith. Four more wickets for Steffan and a huge day for the guys tomorrow.

Last chance saloon really. If we don't win, a draw doesn't matter. It would need a strange combination of scores for us to leapfrog Northamptonshire in the last game. As things stand, with Northants looking like drawing their game, a draw here would leave us eleven points behind them in the table with a game to go.

We'd then need to take maximum points - i.e. score 400, take nine wickets, then win - from our game against Essex while Northants didn't do the same against Leicestershire. IF (sorry, can't make that IF any bigger)they dropped a couple of bonus points, then we could theoretically pip them by one point.

Too tight for me and its making my brain hurt. Let's hope for a day to remember tomorrow, which will make things much clearer. If it doesn't go our way there's always next year when we'll win it.

Just one thing, please. If we don't do it tomorrow, no nonsense on 606 about "choking" or "not turning up". The guys will be going flat out and giving their all.

Let's just hope it is enough.

Middlesex v Derbyshire day two

Try as I might, I cannot think of a single Derbyshire batsman who has burst onto the scene as Wayne Madsen has this year, since being plucked from the Central Lancashire League by John Morris.

I know that Daryl Cullinan reeled off a few early centuries for us when he was our overseas player, but to be honest you hope that an overseas player might do that for you and the South African had a reputation before he joined us as a batsman of real talent.

While Madsen was known in South Africa, it is fair to say that his deeds there had put him in the "talented but nothing spectacular" pile. One century and some decent scores, but an average in the mid-30's suggested steady, rather than spectacular.

Yet this year seems to have seen him transform into a genuine top batsman. 704 runs in 13 innings at an average of 64 is spectacular stuff, yet perhaps pales alongside his record this year at Unsworth.

In 29 innings for the club he scored 1995 runs at an average of 99.75. Seven hundreds and eleven fifties. Oh, and 41 wickets at 16. That's almost 3,000 runs and he has exceeded that if you count the runs he scored in our Second Eleven. Mr Morris, you have found us a star...

Don't get me wrong, he'll have less fertile periods with the bat, but with the news that we are likely to be able to keep Chris Rogers next year, who can honestly say they're not excited at Rogers and Madsen opening together next year?

Today he scored 167 and what I like about him is that he starts steadily and then, when he's got the measure of the track, opens up and scores as quickly as anyone. He also scores BIG hundreds. I like batsmen who don't just slog it when they get to a hundred. Rack them up on that scoreboard.

With good support down the order he allowed us to declare once we'd reached the maximum batting points. There was selfless batting from Smith, Pipe and Hinds and John Sadler was again left cursing what might have been on a belter of a track, left unbeaten at the declaration.

Yet anyone who thinks Middlesex will roll over and die will be disappointed. The early wicket of Housego was welcome, but little else looked likely until Dawid Malan was run out in the last over. Earlier Housego was reprieved by Peter Willey who gave him out lbw then recalled him having realised he'd made a bad decision. Maybe he just wanted another go at the decision as Steffan got him in front shortly afterwards.

The hosts are effectively three down as Adam London, their young opening batsman fractured his right little finger stopping a ball in the covers and is unlikely to bat in the match. Shame for the youngster, but on such things can seasons turn...

Much will depend on the first session tomorrow. If we can split Compton and the in-form Dexter (how redolent of English cricket at its best are those names?) then there's still a chance we could break through. If we don't, then we're probably looking at a last afternoon teasing run chase, enough to keep them interested, enough to risk defeat - but maybe enough to nick that priceless win.

Meanwhile Northamptonshire were bowled out for 299 (missing that extra bonus point - shame...) at Essex, who closed on 3-0. All we need tomorrow is for them to post a big total, then for Kaneria to bowl Northants out on the last day.

Now if we can just sort our side of things...

Middlesex v Derbyshire

Dear Santa,

I know that I'm being greedy but...

Hey, it worked last week so don't knock it! Tomorrow we take to the green sward at Uxbridge in as big a game as we have played in recent years. Not so much a "winner takes all" as a "winner might take something if that other team beats the team above us and then we beat another team in the last game while they don't do quite as well".

Phew. We will in all likelihood be faced with a track that will offer increasing turn as the match progresses and so John Morris has taken a squad of 13 with every spinning option available to him in this squad:

Chris Rogers
Wayne Madsen
Garry Park
Greg Smith
Wavell Hinds
John Sadler
James Pipe
Graham Wagg
Tim Groenewald
Jake Needham
Tom Lungley
Steffan Jones
Mark Lawson

The final team? I haven't a clue as I've not seen the track, but given our opposition have three spinners in their squad (Udal, Kartik and Toor) there is a chance that Mark Lawson could get one last crack at the business end. A little bounce, essential for a leggie, might see him get the nod over Jake Needham, with Tom Lungley my other man to miss out. Given that Graham Wagg, Greg Smith and Wayne Madsen can all bowl spin, one full timer might be enough.

Middlesex have the following 12:

Shaun Udal
Gareth Berg
Nick Compton
Neil Dexter
Steven Finn
Dan Housego
Murali Kartik
Adam London
Dawid Malan
Tim Murtagh
John Simpson
Kabir Toor

I'd have to say that I don't look at that side and worry unduly. With Shah, Morgan and Strauss away with England, their batting is dependent on Nick Compton and Neil Dexter and both have responded well, Dexter making a century in each innings in the last game. There are talented young players but hopefully our greater experience will be of use and the season will go right down to the last game.

We'll need the weather to be on our side, we'll need to hold catches and the toss could be crucial. Whatever happens, it will be a fascinating four days and I hope the boys do us proud.

Middlesex v Derbyshire Pro 40

Today effectively summed up the frustration of being a Derbyshire fan. We went from a sublime performance on Friday to a frustratingly average one against Middlesex where we failed to get going with the bat having pulled the hosts back from what looked like being a 250-plus total.

There were again good bowling perfomances. Chesney bowled a steady spell of eight overs and Steffan and Timmy G were as effective as ever. Still 242-6 was a total that required both a good start and someone to make a big score and on both counts we fell short today.

Six players got to 16 yet none of them went past 32. To have challenged the hosts we needed someone to match Nick Compton's century, but it was not to be. Still, it's one of the things about young teams, they make more mistakes and today was a defeat but far from a disgrace. The youngsters will have benefitted from the game and we'll move on from there.

Elsewhere, Essex surprisingly held out against Glamorgan, albeit by the skin of their teeth with a wicket in hand. Both sides would have loved the win points, but they had to settle for four draw points each. It leaves an intriguingly balanced table as follows (matches/points):

Kent 14 203
Northamptonshire 14 167
Essex 14 155
Gloucestershire 14 154
Derbyshire 14 152
Glamorgan 14 152

With points on the board Northamptonshire will fancy their chances at this stage, but most go to Essex this week in what is a huge game. Meanwhile Glamorgan host Gloucestershire while we play Middlesex at Uxbridge. IF Essex were to beat Northamptonshire and we beat Middlesex while Glamorgan and Gloucestershire draw, the last game of the season at Derby is a massive - no, mega massive match. It would effectively be winner takes all, although there'll be many an eye cast on the game in Northampton where Leicestershire will be visitors.

As always, a lot will depend on the weather for these games and on players rising to the big occasion. I'll look at the teams for Uxbridge tomorrow.

It all makes for a wonderful end to the season and I'm just happy that we're down to the penultimate Championship match with Derbyshire still in the mix, even if we're outsiders at this stage.

The stage is set, mes amis...

Derbyshire v Middlesex day 3

The first hour tomorrow is crucial.

What we really need is a little cloud cover and we could yet win this game. The two current batsmen for Middlesex are the last "name" players, although wicket keeper Scott has played some fine innings this year. Twelve runs on with two good batsmen out is a good position but the concern must be that the weather, which has been very kind thus far, may intervene and ruin a potentially exciting (and winning) finish.

Top marks to Chris Rogers, who battled to another good score but who will doubtless be disappointed with 80, albeit the highest of his fifties this year. The real plaudits go to Greg Smith (pictured), who scored his first century in first class cricket. He really seems to have moved to another level with his batting this year and has made good progress. John Morris' signing of him on a two-year contract may well prove a significant piece of business, as he now seems to have married a better shot selection to an expansive range of strokes. Over the next two years he could emerge as a very fine batsman.

Those who have been quick to write off Dominic Telo should think about how long Smith has been on our staff before consigning him to the rejects pile. I suspect that the Telo will benefit from an intensive winter of coaching and living in England and may well emerge a better player in 2009, although he is four years younger than Smith and has time on his side.

There does seem a more solid look to our batting recently and it seems to have come with the introduction of Paul Borrington to the side. The youngster has done well, although he failed in this game and Dan Birch has also looked a better player in recent weeks. Wavell also failed in this innings but the West Indian has played some good hands recently.

Tomorrow we must hope that Charl will produce one of his golden spells or that Waggy will do similar. On the last day we wouldn't be wanting to chase much more than 200 and the Middlesex batting suggested that they would be happy with a draw here.

The bowling was very impressive this evening, with 31 overs producing only 53 runs. No extras, which is all too rare these days.

On a different tack, I've been interested reading the comments of Stuart Law about the departure of Dominic Cork, as well as the comments of their fans on 606. There is pretty much unanimity that he should have been kept on and that they loved his never-say-die spirit. It suggests that Corky may be a changed man from the somewhat fractious image we had of him at Derby.

Could he work with Morris? Could Morris work with him? I read an article a few months back where he said that he'd love to finish his career at Derby, with his stepson emerging as a young player of note. The opinion of fans on here was that signing him would be a big mistake and certainly a divisive influence in the dressing room would not be of any use. Yet it also flies in the face of what comes out of Manchester and I've a foot in both camps here.

I remember his latter days here with little relish, but the fact remains that there will be few better bowlers available this winter, especially ones who can also bat well. Irrespective of how he left the county, I'll always remember his innings against Lancashire at Lords where he was quite brilliant. Take away that personality (can you?) and you'd have to say that an attack next year of Langeveldt, Cork, Wagg and Clare would be a bit useful. I suspect that he will prefer to play at the highest level and rumours abound on the Durham board that he will go there.

It promises to be an interesting winter and if we win tomorrow it could be a very interesting next few weeks...

Close of play

128-3 at the close, Rogers 59 not out.

So the captaincy hasn't affected Buck. I thought I'd go back over his scores in the Championship this season

In order, they read:

13, 77, 19, 64, 69, 10, 63, 11, 14, 52, 20, 1, 118, 57, 20, 15*, 59*

So in 17 innings he's had 7 fifties and 1 century. Interestingly only one single figure score.

He also had a century against Bangladesh A and is just short of the 800 mark. Only six players have scored more runs this year in division two and only eight in division one. So all things considered, he's had far from a bad season.

The problem lies in that conversion rate and no one will be more aware of it than Rogers himself. Of his seven fifties his highest innings is 77. Maybe we'd have been more understanding if he'd scored 3 centuries and 4 fifties? He still has time to score more centuries and will, as a thoroughly professional man, want to lead by example. The stories emanating from the club when Travis Birt was there have not been replicated with this chap and we should all be grateful that we have a man of that substance.

Last night I suggested Cameron White for next season, but I wouldn't be disappointed if we had Rogers again. Where we missed a trick this year was in not signing someone for the 20/20 and White's explosive style would be useful in that competition. Until the 20/20 our season was going quite steadily, but it went down like a balloon after the early success at Headingley.

Rogers isn't a top class one day batsman, but he has 2 fifties in 3 Pro 40 games and had 3 in five FP trophy matches. Throughout the season he has maintained an average between 40 and 50 and with our batting frailties, we'd have been in serious trouble without him.

Derbyshire v Middlesex preview

Middlesex, Warwickshire, Glamorgan, Gloucestershire, Leicestershire

With the exception of tomorrow's opponents, all teams we could easily beat. I'd qualify that by saying we could beat them too, given the rub of the green, mainly from the weather.

We could go to fourth in the Championship with a good performance here and John Morris has named the following squad:

Rogers
Borrington
Birch
Hinds
Smith
Clarke
New
Wagg
Clare
Langeveldt
Doshi
Hunter

I suspect Hunter will be the one to drop out as I think we need the variety that Doshi brings to the side. His bowling has been controlled without being especially penetrative this season but I'd sooner have one spinner (Greg Smith is currently an extra to me, rather than a genuine spinning option).

I've been impressed by the methodical way that Paul Borrington has gone about his game. He is not a fancy player and at times is soporific, but young players need to fill out to time the ball well in many cases and the fact that he seems to have great powers of concentration sets him apart from his peers. I remember the young Glen Turner coming to Worcestershire and he was almost strokeless but had a fine defensive technique. Once he filled out, the confidence to hit through the ball came and he was eventually one of the finest players of his generation. I'm not saying Borrington is in that class, but after the many wickets we've given away this season it is refreshing to see a youngster prepared to graft and sell his wicket dearly.

The visitors are likely to be without Owais Shah and Andrew Strauss, so we should waltz to victory (sorry).

Their side has not been announced but will include exciting batsmen such as Eoin Morgan, Ed Joyce and Billy Godleman. The bowling attack relies heavily on Tim Murtagh in the seam department, but their spinners, veteran Shaun Udal and Indian Murali Kartik are fine bowlers. One assumes our groundstaff won't prepare a raging turner...

Can Derbyshire win to stay in the promotion hunt? Can the weather stay fine? Can Langeveldt's knee hold up? Can our batting put on a score in the first innings to put them under pressure? Can Jon Clare do pre-match warm ups without getting taken to hospital? Can Waggy get his swing and length back after some torried spells lately?

The answers to all these questions will become evident in the next few days. The big question will not be answered until the season end - namely, can John Morris get the same attitude side to turn up for successive games? We're capable of thrashing this lot then losing heavily to Leicestershire. Until we sort out that mentality issue, we will remain among the also rans.

Legendary match

So, its raining at Worcester, typical. Just when we were well set for a last day victory charge to knock off the required 404...

Never mind, we'll await developments as the day progresses and look forward - or more accurately back - at our next fixture, a home game against Middlesex. We had a good game against them at Lords and probably should have done better than we did, a poor last day bowling performance letting them win a fairly close game.

We'd all settle for a repeat of the game between the two sides that took place in July 1957, a year in which we finished fourth but at one point won six successive matches to surge to the top of the table. A feature of this run was the fact that the side was able to remain unchanged and although a defeat at Edgbaston ended it and signalled a slump in form, they were in good heart when the southern county visited Chesterfield on July 17th.

The first day was curtailed by the weather but Middlesex limped along to 74-4 by the end of the day in conditions that suited our attack. Headed by the legendary Cliif Gladwin and Les Jackson, all rounder Derek Morgan was a fine first change bowler while Edwin Smith's cannyoff spin offered variation. Middlesex had no Denis Compton, but Jack Robertson and Bill Edrich were still in a strong batting line up, as were future England players Fred Titmus and wicket keeper John Murray.

The following day (Thursday) the remaining batsmen had little offer against Gladwin and they were all out for just 102, Cliff bowling 25 overs and taking 6-23. There were also two wickets each for Smith and Morgan, Jackson unusually going wicket-less.

Derbyshire also struggled on a lively wicket that suffered the effects of rain. Charlie Lee and John Kelly added 41 for the second wicket and George Dawkes and Morgan a very valuable 50 stand for the seventh, but few batsmen got established and Lee's 33 was top score in a total of 153.

A deficit of 51 on first innings against the Derbyshire attack on that wicket would have worried Middlesex, but they could have had no idea what was to follow when they began their second innings just after 6pm. Jackson removed the prolific Jack Robertson leg before wicket in the first over before Gladwin took over. After a single had got the scoreboard moving, he bowled Baldry then had the dogged Edrich and Titmus held in his leg-trap without further score. Middlesex were 1-4...

Gale and Delisle battled to take the score up to 9 and hoped to make it through to stumps but the former was caught behind from Gladwin's bowling and then Cliff held a caught and bowled to remove Murray immediately to leave the score on 9-6 with his tally being five wickets. His first three overs had seen figures of 3-3-0-3. Even regulars, used to their bowling, had seen little like this. Extra time was claimed to claim a 2-day win but the rain returned and Middlesex went back to their hotel with a score of 11-6. Gladwin's figures at this stage were 5 wickets for 5 runs and 10-17 in the day.

The next morning Jackson removed Delisle, clean bowled and then had Tilly lbw to leave the score 13-8. Hurst came in and was promptly run out (probably trying to keep away from the bowling!) and Middesex were 13-9. Don Bennett, later a coach at Lords, battled his way to an unbeaten 14 and became the only Middlesex batsman to make double figures in each innings before Derek Morgan had last man Alan Moss caught by Arnold Hamer to leave the visitors all out for 29 and Derbyshire winners by an innings and 22.

Most good judges felt that had their innings continued on the Thursday evening they would not have made 20, but Gladwin had second innings figures of 14-8-18-5 and Jackson had 11-6-7-3.

Today with covered wickets such tracks are unknown, but so are the skills for both batting and bowling on them. When the wicket "flies" there is a tendency to bowl short, but Jackson and Gladwin knew the length alright.

An interesting aside to this is that the two innings for Middlesex lasted 97 overs, with the only extras being four first innings byes and two second innings leg byes. Not a no ball or wide in sight, in stark contrast to Worcester the other day. There's a lot to be learned from the old 'uns.

Middlesex v Derbyshire day 3 - TEA

This is a game that has been a great advert for County cricket, played on what appears to be a very sporting wicket, with something for batsmen and bowlers alike.

Yesterday I wrote that I thought we could win with a lead of 250. Well, at tea we lead by 242 with one wicket in hand. The innings has been the result of an excellent team effort that shows a willingness to fight and for each man to do his bit for the cause. It would appear to be a track on which you are never truly "in", as evidenced by the number of dismissals on either side for 30+

Rikki Clarke led the way with 37, but when Fred Klokker was out cheaply and we slipped to 91-5 I felt that we were going to subside and lose the match.

Not so. John Sadler batted with admirable restraint and concentration for a crucial 37 in three hours of batting, while Graham Wagg batted for almost two hours for 41. The crucial partnership may yet turn out to be that between the highly talented Jon Clare (unbeaten at tea on 46) and Charl Langeveldt, who carved the bowling to all parts in he course of a typically cavalier 30 from just 17 balls. There is a big psychological difference between chasing 200 and 250 and the pair might have made all the difference to the result of this match.

After tea? Taking the lead over 250 would be great and it would be great to see young Clare make another 50 in what is turning out to be an excellent season for the young all rounder. Then its all up to the bowlers and if Charl and Dean (cue cinema tune!) have their radars right we could make early inroads into a talented if brittle Middlesex batting line-up. Much will depend on skipper Ed Smith and on Owais Shah, but this should be an excellent finish to a very good game of cricket. Hopefully the result goes the right way

Middlesex v Derbyshire day 2

Well, this one is wide open.

If ever the stage was set for a captain's innings, this is it. At 49-2, 31 runs ahead, this game is in the balance. Given the delicate state of our batting, you might say that the home side were slightly on top, especially as they have removed our two steadiest batsmen in Chris Rogers and Steve Stubbings.

I have been impressed by the way that Dan Birch has knuckled down over the last two games and I'm probably not alone in thinking he didn't have it in him. Admittedly, I'll be even more impressed if he's still batting mid-afternoon tomorrow, and a captain's innings from Rikki Clarke would go down a treat.

Considering that the press were calling this a belter of a batting wicket, the first innings scores have been only average, but credit should go to both sets of bowlers. It was good to see Kevin Dean back in the side and bowling what appears to have been an exemplary spell of 17 overs to take 4-28. We've got real competition in the seam bowling ranks and while Jon Clare was a little more expensive than usual, he got two wickets, as did Charl Langeveldt and Graham Wagg.

Speaking of Waggy, those of you who read today's earlier post will know about my "dispute" with a certain Worcestershire fan and the BBC 606 administrator over a comment made about his past. I'm pleased to say that I've now had an e mail from them to say that they agree the comment was potentially libellous and has been withdrawn. I'm quite happy with that, and fully agree with the Silver Fox who commented earlier. Free speech should be a right, but not when it

descends into insult and blatant inaccuracy.

Back to the game and what do we need to win? 400 would be great, but unlikely, but 250 might take some getting for them. I've not seen the wicket but it appears to offer help to the seamers and I think our attack could win it if we give them something to bowl at.

So come on boys - let's fill those batting boots and go for a win at the greatest of grounds.

Well, outside Derby and Chesterfield of course!

Middlesex v Derbyshire day one

Round of applause please for this, the hundredth post on the Derbyshire blog..

Sadly, our batting was once again underwhelming in the first innings of a game as we wasted another good start. At 87-0, John Morris must have been thinking we were on course for maximum batting points for the first time this season, but a combination of a lively track, accurate bowling and loose strokes meant we were all out for 244.

Part of Morris' frustration must be that people get starts, sometimes good starts, then fail to go on to the big score. I remember once Geoff Boycott saying that being out for less than 20, and certainly for single figures, was more understandable and acceptable than giving it away on 40 onwards. Chris Rogers is a very fine player, but has had a number of 50-80 dismissals this year. That may sound a churlish comment, but we need a man of his calibre to go on to the REALLY big score. There is little doubt that our greatest need of strengthening is in our batting. Perhaps Wavell Hinds may make a difference, but you don't yet look at our batting line up and sit back in anticipation of carnage to come.

I've only felt that way once as a Derbyshire fan. That was back in the 1980's when a sample batting line-up read John Wright, Barry Wood, Peter Kirsten, John Hampshire, David Steele, Kim Barnett. Latterly, the Barnett, Bowler, Morris, Adams line-up was superb on its day, but there were plenty of occasions when it fired on only three cylinders.

Having said that, there seems to be enough in the wicket for our seamers to look forward to tomorrow. A little cloud cover tomorrow and Messrs Langeveldt and Dean will enjoy their game at the home of cricket. With Wagg and Clare in reserve, we're well placed unless the track rolls out easily tomorrow and Owais Shah hits top form.

Credit to Dan Birch, who I had effectively discounted as a first class player pre-season. He has battled well today, having done so against Glamorgan. Whoever gives way to accommodate Wavell Hinds next week is not clear, but Birch is making a strong argument to maintain his place in the side, while John Sadler is probably feeling a little pressure at this point. With Paul Borrington and Dan Redfern available soon, and Greg Smith getting closer to fitness, no one is guaranteed a place.

Middlesex v Derbyshire preview

After the rain-induced disappointments of the FP Trophy, Derbyshire return to Championship action tomorrow against Middlesex at Lords.

The county still ave injury problems and James Pipe is still troubled by his finger injury. Coach John Morris is less concerned than might have been the case as he is happy with the way that Fred Klokker has deputised behind the stumps. The focus must be to get Pipe fit for the rigours of 20/20.

With Greg Smith still out and Tom Lungley rested as he is still having blister trouble on his feet, there is a welcome return for Kevin Dean. The balance of the side is the main problem, as Rikki Clarke's thumb fracture still prevents him from bowling. It may be that Ian Hunter is also in the frame for a game, but I would expect Derbyshire to take the field with more of less this side:

Stubbings
Rogers
Sadler
Telo
Clarke
Klokker
Wagg
Clare
Langeveldt
Needham
Dean

Middlesex have some good players, with the mercurial Owais Shah the lynchpin of the batting, but they can usually expect runs from Ed Joyce, Eoin Morgan, Ed Smith and the talented young Billy Godleman.

The bowling is dependent on Tim Murtagh making an early breakthrough, though overseas duo Vernon Philander and Dirk Nannes will aim to impress. Shaun Udal has been playing well but may be doubtful after an injury in yesterday's FP Trophy.

It is a game that Derbyshire are very capable of winning, but much depends on the ability to raise a first innings score. The side could make a promotion push, but needs the valuable first innings points for batting to augment anything that our powerful seam attack acquires.