Madsen signs one-year contract extension!

It is fair to say that there will be no dissenting voices at the news that Wayne Madsen has signed a one-year contract extension, taking him to the end of 2026. Indeed, it is quite likely that street parties are being planned, to celebrate the news...

For the past few seasons, I have watched closely to see any signs of deterioration in eye, technique or commitment. Truth be told, there is hardly any. No thickening of the waistline, no reduction in the output of runs, no lessening in the safety of the hands at second slip. The hair may be a little grey at the temples (speaking as one who would love hair at my temples..) but Wayne, like a fine wine, gets better with age. 

His three innings so far this season have brought 236 runs, with a century and 96 among them. He still looks imperious at the crease and so far his feet, hands and eyes seem to be in perfect coordination. He remains the most prized wicket in the side and the man most feared by opponents. That has been the case pretty much since he first joined the county in 2009. 

What a servant he has been! With the way the modern game is going, it is fair to say that we are unlikely to see his like again. 

I am just thrilled that we have at least two more seasons to enjoy his contributions to the team and the club. 

He remains one of the nicest blokes you could wish to meet and I am sure that sentiment is echoed by anyone who has come into contact with him. 

Fabulous, fabulous news.

Madsen returns to red ball captaincy

The change that makes the most sense from a Derbyshire perspective has been quickly announced, as I fully expected.

Wayne Madsen has once again been appointed red ball captain, a post he held for four summers until 2015. He was the last Derbyshire skipper to hold aloft a trophy, when we won division two in that memorable summer of 2012.

Since then, a number of Derbyshire skippers have sought his counsel and he has been involved in most on field decisions. At 41 he is in his twilight years as a player, yet there were no signs last year of any dimming of the light. He is still the first name on most team sheets and this can only be a positive move for Derbyshire. 

I also think it gives David Lloyd an opportunity to show our supporters what he can do. I understand his preference is to bat in the middle order and he should now have that chance, with the arrival of Caleb Jewell, who will partner either Harry Came or Luis Reece.

I will not make any bold predictions, nor expect Wayne to channel his inner Eddie Barlow and galvanise his side as the latter once did so well. He is a different beast, but will command respect and will undoubtedly have the backing of everyone in and  around the club. He exudes calmness and knows the game inside out.

This is definitely the right appointment for Derbyshire. It might just be for a year, with the captaincy carrot dangled in front of someone elsewhere for 2026, or it might just extend the career of one of the few men for whom 'legend' is an an entirely appropriate epithet.

Congratulations skipper!

Postscript: with Wayne 41 and Samit Patel 40, I doubt any county has ever had both format skippers over the age of 40...unless anyone can say different?

Madsen signs three-year contract extension!

Without fear of contradiction, the best news of the post-season came tonight, with the announcement that Wayne Madsen will remain a Derbyshire player at least until the end of 2016.

It is wonderful news, as the club can continue to be built around our talismanic leader, who was first to a thousand championship runs this summer and will undoubtedly move forward as a batsman again next year. With Madsen and Shivnarine Chanderpaul in the engine room, Derbyshire will have a batting side well-equipped for division two, with the potential to develop further.

Supporters will doubtless be thrilled with this news, as I am. There would undoubtedly be interest from other counties in the club skipper, but the news that he has opted to stay with the county that gave him an opportunity in the first-class game speaks volumes for a man who is widely admired, inside and outside the county.

After a long and busy day, that's news to gladden the heart!

Wayne's World...Derbyshire's new skipper

Full credit to Chris Grant and Karl Krikken in announcing a successor to Luke Sutton with impressive speed.

That the new skipper is Wayne Madsen is no great surprise, especially given that he held the role, and made a decent fist of it, in a number of one-day games last season. An intelligent, affable and articulate man, he knows his cricket and is settled locally, having signed a new three-year deal to the end of 2014 fairly recently. A good team man, he will lead by example and will ensure that the team spirit engendered by Luke Sutton last year is maintained.

If you read yesterday's posts you will know he has my vote and I look forward to seeing him grow in the role and encourage a young outfit to express themselves, play positive cricket and get results. Perhaps one of the early decisions is where he will bat in the order. He was a middle order batsman in South Africa and was turned into an opener with success by John Morris. A few challenges last season saw him drop back down to number four and, as the best player of spin in the side, I see that as his best position - especially as we already have Messrs Guptill, Borrington, Lineker and Hughes who can open.

The reaction of players to captaincy can differ. Some thrive on the responsibility, while others find the weight of expectation cramps their natural style and has an adverse effect on their game. I think Madsen will do well and, like all Derbyshire fans, wish him the very best in the role.

May his tenure be a long and successful one. Who knows, maybe Wayne Madsen will be the man who oversees the resurgence in Derbyshire cricket?

PS Up here in Scotland, the term most frequently used for youngsters is "weans", which is pronounced the same way as our new skipper's christian name. I look forward to seeing the progress of Wayne's weans...

Madsen signs new deal

The contract news continues apace at Derbyshire, with Wayne Madsen now signing a three-year deal at the club, keeping him in our batting line-up until the end of 2014.

 I'm delighted. While the player has struggled in the long form of the game this season, he has had his best one day campaign and will bounce back next year without doubt.

 More later, but that's a great start to the day!

Wayne Madsen

In yesterday's piece on the day's play I inadvertently missed out reference to Wayne Madsen, who is now the club's most dependable batsman.

A first class average of 38 doesn't tell the full story as Madsen had a few early struggles in first class cricket back home in South Africa. 809 runs in 16 innings at an average of 58 in 2009 with 3 centuries and three fifties was followed by 940 at 34 with four centuries and 2 fifties last year. I think he will score heavily this year and looks set to become one of our best batsmen in a long time.

What I like about him is that conversion rate. Generally when he gets past fifty he goes on to three figures, which is a sign of a good player. I also like the fact that he is as adept against spin as pace and I would rate him the best player of spin bowling in the side. Certainly, I have seen few play the reverse sweep, not what Wilfred Rhodes would have called a 'business shot', better than Madsen, tribute to his talents in hockey and to a keen eye.

His record in the Lancashire Leagues was phenomenal but Madsen looks like translating that into senior cricket for years to come. While credit has to be paid to the player, a word too for John Morris, who took a man who had usually batted in the middle order and gave him the responsibility of opening, presumably seeing a technique that could cope with a moving ball.

Yet that ability against spin will probably be why Madsen will bat at four or five in one day matches, giving us the best chance of working runs from containing spin. A sound fielder, Madsen is no mug as a bowler either, but looks unlikely to do much bowling in a side where almost everyone can turn their arm over to decent standard.

Class act, Wayne Madsen. Long may he be the rock of our batting.

Madsen and Footitt sign for two years

Excellent start to the day for Derbyshire fans this morning with the news that Wayne Madsen and Mark Footitt have both signed new two-year contracts.


Put another way, we’ve secured the services one of the best batsmen to break onto the county scene in some time, together with perhaps the fastest bowler in the country for another two seasons.

What’s not to like? Big thumbs up from me!

Great piece on Wayne Madsen

Sincere thanks to John Phair of Unsworth Cricket Club in the Central Lancashire League, who sent me this terrific piece in praise of Wayne Madsen's contribution to the club.

It says a lot for the guy and although, as I said earlier, he just failed to reach the 2,000 run barrier, his was an extraordinary season. Here's John's article - thanks again John!

"71 is the magic number

The last First XI game of the season approaches and with it the final game in Unsworth colours for Wayne and DJ.

A significant milestone is in the offing as currently Wayne has scored 1929 runs for Unsworth this season in all competitions and hopefully he will get the 71 runs required to reach the magic 2000 run mark. The older ones amongst us will have to look back through the record books to see if this feat has been achieved before, by any other players in the CLL.

Good luck to Wayne and DJ in the last game of the season and please turn out to either the game or the festivities after, when we bid them adieu.


I thought I would take this opportunity to have a quick look back at Waynes achievements over the past few seasons.

When Wayne arrived at the club we all new he was capable of playing cricket. What we didn’t know was how good that ability was to become. Wayne flew in to our lives in April 2007 and made an immediate impact – caught and bowled for 6 against Crompton! Not the best of starts even he would admit. It didn’t take too long for us to see a bit more of the cavalier in him, when the following week he scored 96 (caught and bowled again) and took 4 for 36 in 16 overs against Middleton.

We had to wait until the end of May before we were celebrating his maiden century in the CLL, with 113 not out against Heywood on May 27. In fact that weekend he also scored 68 not out against Royton.

This set the scene for the remainder of the season, with centuries against Monton, Clifton, Oldham and Walsden, and half centuries against Littleborough, Royton, Werneth, Monton, Milnrow, Heywood and Rochdale. To finish the year off with 1227 runs at an average of 94.38 and 55 wickets in 277 overs an average of 17.42.


2008, saw the return of Wayne to the CLL and with an opening day 59 against Rochdale was this the portent of things to come? We managed to play more fixtures this year but the damper wickets seemed to take their toll on the South African Musketeer, that and the fact that most of our opponents had seen the reverse sweep the previous year and had learned to guard against it. Even so, May proved to be a fruitful month with 3 50’s and 2 tons to yield 485 runs. Then the rains set in. June brought 289 runs with 3 50’s, July garnered 314 runs, including the biggest CLL score of the season, 154 not out against Rochdale and August/September saw just 175 runs over the four games played.

Bad year? Well the average was down slightly, but Wayne still managed to accumulate 1263 runs and finished 2nd in the CLL batting averages losing out by less than ½ a run. So, not bad really.

We’ve always maintained that it takes time to come to terms with English Club cricket, especially for players from warmer climes. Our ‘temperate’ weather, generally has a fair amount of rain around – which most of us hope will descend during the winter – makes the wickets a little slower and harder to ‘get the ball away’. That combined with the idiosyncrasies of some grounds, can make things take a bit of time to get to know.

We hoped for great things in 2009, and we were not too disappointed. The first three games saw Wayne facing Middleton, Walsden and Rochdale and surprisingly, only one 50! Normal service was soon resumed and May saw clubs from all around the league searching for balls as Wayne bludgeoned 522 runs including 3 tons. The highest score being 131 not out against Crompton. June and July saw Wayne only achieving three figures once, 116 against Milnrow, but 6 fifties helped add 714 runs to the total.

Having scored as many runs as the previous two seasons with a month to go, Wayne set himself a new target – 2000 runs. It needed a big month! Rain washed out the first two games of the month, then came an 80 against Clifton, 59 against Werneth followed by a massive 156 not out at home against Rochdale. Just short of the clubs all-time record. An innings against Middleton added 41 runs, but then came a mighty innings against Werneth. Fourteen fours and six sixes saw a total of 167 not out to break the clubs batting record, followed by 104 not out against Walsden. Target in sight.

So at the time of writing Friday September 11, we have one game to go and we’ll all gather to watch and see whether Wayne is successful in his goal of 2000 in a season.

And now the disappointment. We had hoped to have Wayne returning for one more season with us, but unfortunately (for us) , Derbyshire CC have also realised his potential and he has signed a 2 year contract to play county cricket with them for the 2010 season onwards. He has played a number of innings for Derbyshire this season and his prowess with the bat has continued, scoring 170 not out on his debut – a record for Derbyshire debutants. So sadly as a season draws to a close we must wish Wayne all the best for the coming years and no doubt a number of his fans here at Unsworth will continue to watch and admire his progress on the county scene.

Good Luck Wayne and thanks for all your efforts over the last 3 years."

Brilliant stuff and confirms what a terrific talent we have acquired.
Just make sure the next guy you sign is as good John - and that he has a European passport...

Oh - and you WILL let us know, won't you!

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...

Gloucestershire v Derbyshire day 3

I've never been the sort of bloke who takes anything for granted, but logic suggests that if the promised weather materialises tomorrow, Derbyshire should wrap up a seriously impressive victory over Gloucestershire sometime before tea.

It could, of course, be considerably sooner, but while the formidable Alex Gidman is still at the crease, Derbyshire will know they have work to do. James Franklin will also sell his wicket dearly, but with the hosts still requiring 337 to win and only six wickets left, most punters would fancy a flutter on Derbyshire, if they could get odds to make it worthwhile.

That we have done so well in this game owes a lot to a fine team effort, but honourable mention today has to go to Wayne Madsen, who set a new benchmark for Derbyshire debutants by hitting a magnificent unbeaten 170. He was dropped on two or three occasions, but that should not detract from a wonderful effort from the South African.If he hasn't earned himself a contract after that knock I would quite frankly be astonished. He may be unable to play in all of our matches for the remainder of this year due to his contract at Unsworth in the Central Lancashire League, but perhaps the club could supply a replacement professional to them to allow Madsen to get more experience of English conditions.

We should not get carried away of course. He would appear to be a player of great potential, but he's not Bradman. There will be days ahead when he fails, just the same as any other player, but he has shown himself to be someone who can bat for a long time while keeping the scoreboard moving. Gold dust, quite frankly.

Today he was well supported by Wavell Hinds and Greg Smith, who both played cameos at a pace that enabled Derbyshire to declare in mid afternoon. With the weather as it is, Chris Rogers had to allow stoppage time in his calculation for bowling them out, as well as the fact that a good batting side couldn't do as badly a second time.

When Spearman and Ali posted 70 for the first wicket there might even have been a thought that Gloucestershire could make a go of it, but once again the Jones boy came up with the goods by removing both. Jones of Derbyshire seems a different beast than Jones of Somerset and the thought of Hayward and Jones opening the bowling is quite exciting. Having said that, Tim Groenewald produced an excellent spell of his own, which included the big wicket of Marshall, clean bowled for a duck to complete a miserable match in which he was run out in the first innings and dropped several catches. When Groenwald also dismissed the dangerous Taylor cheaply, Gloucestershire were facing a second successive defeat.

John Morris in the Derby Telegraph this morning mentioned the great impact that Steffan Jones has had on the dressing room. I wrote last night that I would be keen to sign him for next season and I can't think many would disagree. He's a player that fans love - Mr 100%, usually fit, extremely approachable and with a lot of talent. There'll be few better seamers on the market this winter and I don't think he'd need a lot of convincing.

This has so far been a highly impressive performance by Derbyshire. They have batted sensibly, bowled well and held their catches. If you do that in most matches you will win a lot of them. If tomorrow sees the expected Derbyshire win, we will have reached the halfway point of the season unbeaten in the Championship and top of the table.

The moans and complaints of the 20/20 campaign are a long way away just now. Morris' signings - Rogers, Park, Madsen, Hinds, Jones, Groenewald - are all producing the goods, while Hayward took wickets on one good leg in the last match. It augurs well. There's a lot of cricket still to be played this season, and two matches against Kent will be crucial in determining the end of season placings, but with a number of players in good form - add Smith, Redfern and Pipe to the above - there's no reason why Derbyshire should not have a major role to play in the final shake up.

Great, isn't it?

Party on, Wayne!

Yup, the lines from one of my favourite comedies Wayne's World are coming thick and fast as Wayne Madsen joined an elite group and became only the tenth Derbyshire player to score a century on his debut.

At lunch Madsen is unbeaten on 126 and currently sits fourth on the list of highest innings on debut for the county. Marcus North's 132 in 2006 is in his sights, as is Daryl Cullinan's 134 against Sussex in 1995.

Top of the tree is Peter Bowler's unbeaten 155 against the slightly less demanding attack of Cambridge University at Fenners in 1988.

Having lost the early wicket of Jake Needham this morning, Derbyshire pushed on well to be 233-4 at lunch, with Wavell Hinds also going well on 46. With the side now 395 ahead and showers forecast, I'd expect a declaration sometime before tea to allow time to bowl Gloucestershire out again. I cannot see it being so easy to bowl out a strong batting side a second time, so we'll need to allow as much time as possible and look to set something close to 500.

Fingers crossed it all goes our way from here.

Gloucestershire v Derbyshire Day 2

If you happen to be down Cheltenham way this evening and happen to see a bloke with a very wide grin on his face, there's a fair chance that it will be the Derbyshire coach John Morris, after a day in which his side have put themselves in a commanding position against the side currently top of Division 2 of the County Championship.

More than that, Morris has seen his two new signings, Steffan Jones and Wayne Madsen perform superbly on the second day as the county closed 288 runs ahead with two days to go. It was total vindication for Morris as Jones turned back the clock to 2006 and ended with the splendid figures of 4-44 in 18 overs. He was well supported by the other seamers, with Tim Groenewald and Greg Smith each taking two wickets and Graham Wagg one. Jones' dismissal of danger man Alex Gidman was the start of a middle order collapse from which the hosts never recovered, although Derbyshire were helped when Kiwi danger man Hamish Marshall, a century maker at Chesterfield a few weeks back, decided to take on Garry Park - arguably the best cover point in the country - and lost.

With a first innings lead of 162 Derbyshire could have enforced the follow on but with Graham Wagg off the field with cramp and the bowlers having had a long stint Chris Rogers opted to bat again. He may have had a few regrets when he went early, caught behind off the bowling of New Zealander James Franklin and when Garry Park followed with the score 28-2 the game could have gone either way.

At that point came what must have been a lovely passage of play as debutant Madsen and Dan Redfern put together a fine partnership of 89 to take the game away from Gloucestershire. Madsen started slowly against the testing attack of Lewis, Franklin and Kirby, but opened up as he became acclimatised and reached his fifty with three fours in an over from slow left armer Vikram Banerjee. A feature of the passage of play seemed to be the regular rotation of strike - left hand, right hand - by two young players who have a great deal to offer Derbyshire cricket.

In this morning's Derby Telegraph, Mark Eklid said that Madsen was "surprisingly" preferred to Steve Stubbings. I would disagree and suggest that the South African's stunning form in League and Second XI cricket was thoroughly deserving of an opportunity. No one likes Steve Stubbings better than I do, but for Derbyshire to progress as a side we need to gradually phase out the "decent" county pros and bring in highly talented, better quality and younger players.

While one swallow does not make a summer, Madsen has done enough in this innings to suggest a player of genuine talent. He'll face easier attacks on better tracks than this one and I wouldn't be surprised if John Morris isn't looking out his fountain pen for Madsen to put pen to paper on a two-year deal at this stage - if he hasn't already.

Likewise with Jones. He is in the final year of a three-year deal at Somerset and although 35, is an extremely fit bowler who could go on for another 3-4 years. It may well be that Morris considers him as a bowling option for next season, especially in the light of Tom Lungley's ongoing fitness battles and recent transgressions.

All in all, this is a great evening to be a Derbyshire fan. I'm not taking anything for granted, but if we can get 400-450 of a lead by mid afternoon tomorrow then get them in again, by the end of the week we could feasibly be top of the league. Only a slightly dodgy weather forecast (sunshine and heavy thundery showers for the next two days) prevents unbridled optimism.

Well done Derbyshire - especially Steffan Jones and Wayne Madsen - and well done John Morris!

Derbyshire set for Wayne's World

If you read this week's earlier posts, you'll see that I have been suggesting a move for South African batsman/all rounder Wayne Madsen (pictured), who has been starring for the Second Eleven this season and performing with distinction as captain and professional for Unsworth Cricket Club in the Central Lancashire League.

So I am delighted to be able to say this morning that Madsen will make his debut for the county tomorrow at Cheltenham, replacing Steve Stubbings in the batting line up.

In his appearances for the Second Eleven this season, the South African, who plays for Kwa-Zulu Natal and the Dolphins in South Africa, has registered scores of 69 not out, 0 not out, 135, 83, 29, 60 and 2 not out. In addition, he averages 87 as captain and professional at Unsworth, as well as taking 38 wickets at an average of ten each with his off spin. At 25 he looks a great prospect and is able to play County cricket on the same terms as Michael di Venuto, holding an Italian passport.

I applaud John Morris' speed in signing the talented South African in the face of interest from other counties but would urge a word of caution in anyone expecting him to translate the above figures into an immediate return at County level. Madsen averages 35 in South Africa and we should see his signing as a medium to long term one. It is unrealistic to expect him to drop straight into the County game and produce statistics like those above as the jump in level is substantial. Nonetheless, the South African is obviously a player of talent and one would hope that if he impresses a contract for 2010 will follow.

As for tomorrow's side, Nantie Hayward is injured, Tom Lungley suspended and Ian Hunter rested, although Steffan Jones is likely to make his debut for the second time (can you make two debuts?) I would expect the side to line up along these lines:

Chris Rogers (captain)
Garry Park
Wayne Madsen
Dan Redfern
Wavell Hinds
Greg Smith
James Pipe
Graham Wagg
Jon Clare
Jake Needham
Steffan Jones

There's a youthful look to that side, with only four of the side older than mid-twenties. Long gone are the days when we signed old lags from other counties and showed all the alacrity of an arthritic greyhound in the field.

As for Gloucestershire, they bring ex-Yorkshire spinner Richard Dawson into their squad, which suggests they expect the track to turn as the game goes on. With Needham, Smith, Redfern, Wagg and now Madsen all spinners or capable of bowling spin in the Derbyshire side, we shouldn't be found wanting if that happens. The hosts 12 is:

C.Spearman
Kadeer Ali
H.Marshall
A.Gidman (capt)
C.Taylor
J.Franklin
S.Snell (wkt)
R.Dawson
V.Banerjee
J.Lewis
S.Kirby
A.Ireland

It will be a good match and I just hope that the weather allows it to unfold properly. Gloucestershire have a strong batting line up with ex-Kiwis Spearman and Marshall fine players and Gidman a regular thorn in Derbyshire sides over the years. Meanwhile their opening attack of Lewis and Kirby is as good as any in the country, with James Franklin, the New Zealand all-rounder giving good support.

The game will be a good test for Derbyshire and we should not forget, in the face of the usual grumblers, that the side have almost reached the halfway point of the season (this match marks the halfway mark) as the ONLY unbeaten side in the County Championship Second Division. It would be a good game for Chris Rogers to produce the really big score we have been waiting for and for Wavell to continue his excellent form. If the others can continue to work and make us a hard side to beat, we have no reason to be frightened of anyone.

And if Steffan Jones makes a prodigal return and Wayne Madsen an encouraging debut, I hope that there's a few people prepared to eat a little humble pie. It would have been very easy for John Morris to sit back and say "this is what we have". Instead, he has gone out and strengthened the side for what should be a very interesting second half of the season.