Advertising and Sponsorship call

It is time for my usual pre-season request for sponsors of the blog.

If you have a business that would benefit from a line advert linking to your website, or you know a friend who has, please get in touch by emailing me at peakfan36@yahoo.co.uk

Rates are very competitive and those who have worked with me in the past have found it very effective.

Alternately, if you would like to sponsor the blog, as many of you very kindly do, please make a donation through the button that is displayed in the top left hand corner of your screen if viewing this on a laptop or tablet.

I'm also happy to do this through bank transfer, should you wish and can assure you that the support is very much appreciated. Again, please get in touch at the above email address for details.

Thank you to everyone who makes an occasional or standing order donation, and to any potential sponsors.

Alan Hill

Just a quick post tonight, to acknowledge the appointment of Alan Hill as club president.

It is well deserved. Alan was one of the game's great unsung heroes and was one of mine when I was growing up and starting to support the club.

He has remained in close contact with Derbyshire cricket over many years and has regularly been in attendance at home matches.

He has always been and remains a top bloke and it was a thrill for me to be able to interview him for my second book. It was an interview handled as professionally as he has always been.

Best wishes, Alan. 

The presidency in what could be a special year...

Nice to see the comments!

Thank you all for starting the comments coming in once again. It is good to see and is the surest of indicators that the season will soon be upon us.

It was good to see the teams set out by James, which showed the strength of our squad as we near the season. One player who was omitted was Mitch Wagstaff. He may miss some of the season with studies, but will certainly feature around those times. Nice as the thought is, I don't see Ian Bell featuring!

It highlighted the absence of a reserve wicket- keeper, although I do not see this as an issue. For a club like Derbyshire, carrying a player who may not play at all is an unnecessary expense. Realistically Brooke Guest is now our (very good) number one and had we had a young wicket keeper last season, it would have been around £30K of unnecessary expenditure, as Brooke never missed a game.

As Jasper has pointed out, we can easily loan a wicket keeper at short notice. All of the bigger counties carry two, sometimes three. They would welcome the opportunity for a young player to get first team experience. It was telling that among the ECB's 'Six young players to watch', besides Sam Conners there were three young glovemen.

We should also remember that in January the club held trials for players who were interested in playing for the second eleven during the summer. It could be that one or more of those who were successful were wicket keepers. So I don't see it is a problem. Lancashire alone has two or three talented young keepers on their staff, a county that has  proved a rich source for Derbyshire in recent years.

Anyway, I will be speaking about Derbyshire's prospects for the season on North Derbyshire Radio on Friday evening, between 6 and 7pm. If you aren't free at that time, you can hear it on catch up here - after the show has aired, of course!

Finally today, my surgery has now been  confirmed for April 14. It is estimated that I will be in hospital for between six and ten days, so I will miss the Leicestershire fixture.

I will do what I normally do when I go on holiday and publish a fixture header, under which any comments can be made. 

The speed at which those comments are published will very much depend on how I am after surgery!

Thank you for your understanding.

County Championship Division Two: the rivals

In considering the prospects for Derbyshire's season, one has to look at the other sides and see the challenge.

There doesn't appear to be a great deal between teams this year, so the edge will come from those who more often produce under pressure, who hold their chances, keep key players fit and who enjoy better fortune with the all-important weather.

Durham

Someone has to step up and take the place of Chris Rushworth this year. For so long he carried their attack and they need Mattie Potts to stay fit and out of England contention. Ben Raine will continue to be a good cricketer, but Bedingham and Lees need to score heavily for them to be in with a chance of promotion.

Glamorgan

Labuschagne is back again and their batting looks as solid as most in the division. Yet their attack is ageing and needs to avoid injury. They don't appear especially strong outwith a first choice side, but they can push for promotion if muscles and bones avoid undue trauma.

Gloucestershire

Logically, should be one of the challengers, having been relegated. Yet I don't look at the squad and worry unduly. Chris Dent and Marcus Harris should score heavily, but they will need support. The attack has plenty of young talent, but one or two need to step up to take the wickets that will be required to win games.

The loss of Ryan Higgins, who has returned to Middlesex, will be a big blow, as will the absence of David Payne at the start of the season, after ankle surgery.

Leicestershire

Wiaan Mulder is back, but they will need overseas batters Handscomb and Rahane to score heavily to be in the mix.

Their attack has some good players, but most have question marks over their sustained fitness. Much will depend on Parkinson and Ahmed as their 'spin twins', with wickets likely produced to suit them. Full marks to the latter, pulling out of a potential IPL deal to improve his red ball skills.

I expect a better season, but would be surprised if they were genuine promotion contenders.

Sussex

With Cheteshwar Pujara and Steve Smith in their batting at different times, they should get some runs, especially with the excellent Tom Haines at the top of the order.

The bowling will miss Robinson and Archer (with England) so much will depend on new Australian recruit Nathan McAndrew and how he adapts to English wickets. Fynn Hudson-Prentice will hope for better luck with injury than last season and the attack would appear to be key to their chances of success. Runs won't be a problem, but can they take twenty wickets on a regular basis?

Worcestershire

A club in transition for the past two or three seasons, but they have a solid batting lineup and Azhar Ali for the season. Adam Hose has joined from Warwickshire and will further improve them.

They will miss Ed Barnard, the depth he offered to the batting, as well as his seam bowling. Although Mitchell Santner is a solid overseas recruit, they need Dylan Pennington and Joe Leach to stay fit if they are going to bowl sides out.

Yorkshire

A full strength side would stroll this division, but they won't see much of their England men.

Shan Masood will hope to emulate his 2022 form for Derbyshire, but does seem to have gone off the boil a little over the winter. Adam Lyth should again offer runs at the top and Malan in the middle, if more readily available. When Bairstow  returns he will have a point to prove, so they should get runs on the board.

But will the bowlers back them? Neil Wagner is a good cricketer, but Matt Milnes and Ben Mike need to establish themselves quickly in pastures new. The former is returning from a stress fracture, so there will be initial reservations about his fitness.

Conclusion

If the ECB allow their England men to play more often than seems likely, Yorkshire should be favourites. Yet point deductions, still very likely, could blow that out of the water.

Glamorgan and Worcestershire look to be decent sides, but it is a very difficult division to call.

As I have written before, the side that keeps key bowlers fit and scores runs at sufficient pace to force victories will come out on top.

There is no reason why that side cannot be Derbyshire.

But two final points. 

In March everyone fancies their chances..

And with Lakmal, Ali, Labuschagne, Neser, Harris, Rahane, Pujara, Smith, Masood and Wagner, among others, plying the trade in the division, don't let anyone tell you that the standard is low...

County Championship preview

Can Derbyshire build on the promise of 2022 and make 2023 a promotion season from Division 2 of the County Championship?

In my opinion and with appropriate caveats in place, yes, they can.

There is no obvious stand out team in the division this year. Last season, Nottinghamshire's attack alone dictated that they would gain promotion and they were way ahead of the rest. I don't see anyone doing that this year, so it is who comes to terms with the change in playing conditions and has the playing resources to force the all-important wins.

Sixteen points for a win this year, as in 2022, but only five, instead of eight, for a draw. The onus is thus on wickets that will produce a positive result, a captain of similar mindset and batters who can score runs at a pace that will enable the bowlers time to do their job.

If the wickets at Derby can replicate the one at Chesterfield last year, then Derbyshire have every chance. In new captain Leus du Plooy we have a man with a positive attitude and an ability to lead by example with the bat.

He has many batting options at his disposal and a sign of strength is that a first choice line up is hard to call. With new overseas signing Haider Ali set to open, his partner could be Luis Reece, Billy Godleman or Harry Came. It is easy to state a case for any of them, but good players look like being outside a first choice eleven, regardless of the decision made. 

The middle order appears easier to call, with Brooke Guest, Wayne Madsen, du Plooy and new signing Matt Lamb likely to bat three to six, as they all did so well last season. The signing of the latter, from Warwickshire, was a real coup in my book and he should add power, quality and runs to a lineup that looks very strong on paper after doing so well last year.

Yet Tom Wood will want to make up for lost time, having missed most of 2022. Those who miss out on the opening berths could also slot in lower down, so competition is as strong as it has been for a long time.

Reece and Godleman will be keen to make up for the relative disappointments of last season, while Came showed signs of coming to terms with the demands of the county game towards the end of the summer. Another good season from Guest could see his Lions credentials being pushed, his stylish batting at number three an added bonus to wicketkeeping of a very high standard. Can he get through another season without injury, given his work load? I wouldn't bet against it and I eagerly await seeing what he has to offer this year.

The batting shouldn't be a problem, but there are two question marks over the bowling.

Firstly, one of the spinners has to push forward and stake a claim for a regular place. Mattie McKiernan, Alex Thomson and Mark Watt all had their moments last year, but one of them has to offer 30-plus wickets this time around. McKiernan appeared to be the best batsman, Thomson the best all-rounder and Watt the best bowler. Who will come out on top? Mickey Arthur likes a slow left-armer and if he can show his ability to regularly dismiss batters merely intent on survival, Watt will be an asset.

Then again, Thomson struggled with injury last year, so hopefully can show what he has to offer in an all round capacity. McKiernan will doubtless play a major role in the limited over formats, so all should enjoy opportunity.

The seam attack looks potent but must stay fit. Suranga Lakmal is back and will hopefully find wickets more to his liking than last year. Hopefully his elbow holds out and we can enjoy a very fine bowler in vintage form.

Ben Aitchison, Sam Conners and Zak Chappell are other hostile seam options, all of them tall, lively and talented. We need them to stay fit and if they do, the ability to swap them in and out to retain freshness could see Derbyshire in nosebleed territory at the top of the table. There will be few better attacks in the division if they hit their stride early and it could make for very entertaining watching. 

George Scrimshaw and Nick Potts are other options, though I suspect the former will play more T20 than four day cricket.  With Reece and the excellent Anuj Dal to add their skills, the seam attack looks as good as it has in years.

On the basis of last season, Dal suggested he was one of the best pound for pound, under the radar cricketers in the country. An organised, busy batter, a bustling seam bowler and brilliant fielder, he offers balance and genuine all-round ability. I enjoy watching him in every facet of his game and hope that he continues to bring his obvious enjoyment to the county landscape for many years to come.

Don't discount Archie Harrison playing a game or two, either. He had a good winter in New Zealand and has only just turned nineteen. One for the future, perhaps, but a genuine all rounder of considerable potential.

We need luck with injuries and we need catches to be held. There will be no shortage of chances with the bowlers we have, so maintenance of standards in the field will be key to success, while luck with the weather wouldn't go amiss.

There will be times when the batting fails, but both Chappell and Aitchison have potential with the willow. It is a team game and the onus is on everyone to contribute, even if it is just holding up an end. That will especially come into play if the top order fails and either Lamb or Dal have to nurse the tail.

This isn't yet a perfect squad, but the outlook is decidedly more rosy than it appeared only 18 months ago. What a difference a good head of cricket creating a sound structure, together with a collective of good coaches has made.

I will look at our one day prospects further down the line. But while every county, at this stage, will think they have a chance of silverware and a good season, Derbyshire have every reason, perhaps more than many, for confidence. 

Yet the feeling remains that some of the squad may have reached their peak and have no more to give. Maybe not, but that's my final caveat. Can the Head of Cricket get ten per cent more from everyone? 

Hold on to your hats, a perhaps special summer awaits.

Good workout at Trent Bridge

As much as it is possible to tell from one innings, pre-season, I suspect that Matt Lamb will be a very effective player for Derbyshire this year.

His unbeaten 60 from 78 balls was the highlight of the day. It was controlled aggression against a keen division one attack and served to illustrate the depth of Derbyshire's batting this year.

With Wayne Madsen missing, his teammates took the opportunity for time in the middle and they all did well. Skipper Leus du Plooy was the only one to miss out, but everyone will benefit from time spent at the crease.

Lamb looks a very good player. Tall, powerful and quick on his feet, there were shots around the wicket and he should be an asset in all formats.

It was nice to see Billy Godleman in form early, too. Both he and Luis Reece had their struggles last year, but the side will do better if they are both in top form.

With Madsen and Haider Ali to come back into this side, there is a wealth of talent available.

Derbyshire closed on 203-4 in their 60 overs of batting, with Nottinghamshire reaching 52-1 in reply. Ben Slater was the man out, caught behind by Brooke Guest off the bowling of Zak Chappell.

Rain ended play early, but hopefully they can get back out there today, to enable the bowlers to find the rhythm the batters largely managed yesterday

Weekend thoughts

I have been working on my season preview for the County Championship for the past few days and will be presenting it for your 'delectation and delight', as Leonard Sachs used to say, during the course of the next week.

There will be a few of them around, though I have to say I disagreed with the first that I saw, on Twitter, which came up with the following Derbyshire starting eleven:

Billy Godleman

Harry Came

Brooke Guest (wk)

Wayne Madsen

Leus du Plooy ©

Luis Reece

Mattie McKiernan

Anuj Dal

Suranga Lakmal

Sam Conners

Nick Potts

While appreciating this was a personal choice by someone not a supporter of the county, I would be very surprised if it was one with which many Derbyshire fans would agree.

For starters, the side doesn't include Haider Ali and I find it hard to believe that our first choice side wouldn't include both overseas players. Nor do new signings, Matt Lamb and Zak Chappell feature, which would appear very unlikely.

And while Nick Potts is a young bowler of considerable potential, I suspect that he is further back in the pecking order than Ben Aitchison, for who traditional early season wickets may well have been designed. 

I am unconvinced that a spinner would be essential on early season tracks, although the presence of Dal and Reece in any side means that you can go with three and would seldom need four specialist seam bowlers.

I think it is hard to come up with a definitive first choice side this year, because the quality of the squad has improved. Assuming fitness, at least a couple of good batters, spinners and seam bowlers will always miss out.

I don't envy Mickey Arthur. Assuming all are fit, Lakmal will lead the attack, but which two do you choose from Conners, Aitchison and Chappell? Then there is Scrimshaw and Potts, so there are plenty of options!

None of us see the players in the nets, so can only go on gut feeling. But a more likely eleven to start might be:

Ali

Reece

Guest

Madsen

du Plooy

Lamb

Dal

Chappell

Aitchison

Conners

Lakmal

But I could do that again in 20 minutes and come up with a different eleven!

Book Review: Gilly - The Turbulent Life of Roy Gilchrist by Mark Peel

When I saw that a biography of Roy Gilchrist was among Pitch Publishing's output for this Spring, I was excited.

I had heard a lot about the West Indian fast bowler over the years. Most of it, to be fair, erred on the side of 'nasty and unpleasant', while some offered balance and said that he was 'a nice guy when you got to know him and probably when he was on your side.'

Which is pretty much what comes out of this excellent biography by Mark Peel, an established cricket writer of some reputation.

Gilchrist appears to have gone through much of his life with a chip on his shoulder and a dislike of authority. There was a short fuse, that manifested itself on many occasions, not just on the cricket field.

It is hard to feel a great deal of sympathy for a bowler whose response to a batsman hitting him for four would frequently, all too frequently, be a beamer. That he never did anyone serious damage with such a delivery, bowled  at the pace that he did for many years, was a minor miracle. That he felt the need to do it against amateur cricketers in the Northern Leagues for many years was disappointing. 

The truth of the matter is that Gilchrist, had he focused on his devastating yorker, which got him most of his wickets, perhaps interspersed with an occasional bouncer, might have been a more effective player and more likeable to boot.

His devastating fallout with the then West Indian captain, Gerry Alexander, saw a premature end to his international career, which might otherwise have seen him regarded as one of the greats. As it was, he had to resign himself to a couple of tours, one of them to England in 1957, when some very good batters found him uncomfortably fast.

That some league cricketers managed to score runs against him spoke volumes for their techniques, as well as their bravery. There are countless tales of broken bones, cracked skulls and bruised thighs, not to mention numerous clashes with opponents, captains and many in positions of authority.

It is impossible to read this book with too much sympathy for Gilchrist. His temper was too quick, his attitude too questionable and his patience too short for that. Neither then nor now can his 'branding' his then wife with an iron during a row be excused, nor is it easy to feel sympathy for someone who showed little remorse for the damage that he inflicted on the cricket field.

Bowling bouncers at teenagers in friendly matches, as well as fast yorkers in charity games was not the sign of a competitive edge. Rather that of a bully and high level of petulance.

His end came after his return to Jamaica, when cricket could no longer provide a source of regular income. He was a man who perennially struggled with money and it went through his fingers too quickly, even - perhaps especially - in his salad days.

Yet there were those who claimed he was misunderstood, a gentle soul and a good teammate. I suspect the opinion of those who played with and against him was never indifferent, Gilchrist perhaps the epitome of a 'Marmite' cricketer.

We will not see his like again and that can only be a good thing. That he filled cricket grounds on the basis of his reputation is undeniable. Yet some time before the end of the book, the numerous  transgressions had tipped the scales of this reader to have little sympathy for a man who clearly had very little to give himself, at least until his more mellow, illness- ravaged decline.

This book is another terrific read, one that I got through in just a couple of days. It deserves to be successful and I suspect that it will be.

Yet again, Pitch Publishing have done an excellent job

Gilly: The Turbulent Life of Roy Gilchrist is written by Mark Peel and published by Pitch Publishing

Bell stays on as batting coach

With the season fast approaching, news comes today that Ian Bell will continue as Derbyshire's batting consultant during the coming season.

He did sterling work last year, as virtually the entire top, seven had prolific seasons and appeared to respond to his work with them. They were aided, of course, by some unusually good early season batting wickets, as well as by the prolific output of Shan Masood. It is always easier to bat when someone appears to be using a barn door at the other end and keeping the score ticking over.

The expectations have been set and it will be interesting to see how that line up goes without the Pakistan talisman. It is where Haider Ali can make an impact, his aggressive style, hopefully tempered a little, putting the bowlers on the back foot and enabling Derbyshire to score heavily and with sufficient speed to force winning positions.

It has been a winter of pretty much constant encouragement, on and off the field. The time is fast approaching to see whether supporter enthusiasm is justified.

Pre-season friendlies have been announced against Nottinghamshire and Lancashire, the former on 23/24, the latter on 28/29 March. Both are at the Incora County Ground and will be live streamed.

One assumes that each game will see either side bat and bowl for a day each and will give early opportunity to see the new players, as well as how longer term favourites are shaping up.

Where I am today it is minus six, a true indicator that cricket will soon be with us...

Book Review: How To Be A Cricket Fan: A Life in Fifty Artefacts by Matthew Appleby

The first cricket book that I have read in 2023 is by the experienced writer, Matthew Appleby. This is his seventh book and he is on sure ground with this biography, of his late father, Edgar.

In fact it is part biography, partly autobiographical and shows how the author grew up with a father who was cricket-mad, a serious collector of its memorabilia and literature, as well as a keen player, until age took its toll.

Each chapter focuses on a particular collectible and it is an engaging read. The book shows how the memorabilia and cricket collecting market has grown dramatically over his lifetime, the prices paid by his father seemingly good value in the modern era.

There are plenty of amusing anecdotes, as his father goes from cricket obsessive to being a renowned speaker and statistician of the game, getting to know many of those who played it and coming across as both a great character and a serious trencherman.

For many years he and his wife ran a bookshop in Keswick, as well as a market stall in the town. By the time I got to the end of the book, my overriding feeling was that I wished I had known this a few years ago, and I would have undoubtedly enjoyed a trip to the Lakes and some cricket purchases to complete the trip.

It is an enjoyable book and once again Pitch Publishing are to be commended for their willingness to publish a wide range of sporting books. Not necessarily those that guarantee huge sales, but ones where the tale deserves the telling. It will be of particular interest to the serious collector, although I have no means of verifying the values quoted for some of the items mentioned. 

I regard myself as a cricket fan and collector - certainly of Derbyshire-related material, but came to the conclusion that I am very much dipping a toe into the market, in comparison to Appleby senior.

I hope that the book does well. It is not without error, but I haven't read another like it and for that reason alone it made for a good read.

How To Be A Cricket Fan: a life in 50 artefacts is written by Matthew Appleby and published by Pitch Publishing, priced £18.99

Madsen set for international call

Wayne Madsen, as reported by Cricinfo, will miss two county championship games for Derbyshire in the coming season, between July 20 and 28, as he will at last be playing international cricket - for Italy.

An Italian passport through his mother, which enabled him to qualify and play in this country in the first instance, allows him to represent that country in the T20 World Cup Europe qualifier, which will be held in Edinburgh between the above dates.

Two teams will qualify and the hosts, Scotland, together with Ireland, will be the favourites to do so. Yet the recruitment of Madsen, as well as Kent's Grant Stewart and Australians Spencer Johnson and Ben Manenti, will make the Italians competitive, under captain/coach Gareth Berg.

Michael di Venuto previously played for them and it should make for an entertaining tournament. It is played on a round robin basis, with Austria, Denmark, Germany and Jersey also involved.

It is belated international recognition for Wayne, who could likely have done a fine job for England at different points over the last decade, especially on overseas tours, where his ability against spin might have seen him do better than others who got the nod.

Assuming that it is confirmed by the club,  he will miss home matches against Durham and Glamorgan, but only the churlish would deny him the opportunity to play some cricket at international level.

He has graced the county game for a long time now and most county supporters will likely have one eye on Edinburgh for the duration of the tournament. 

Mark Watt will also be involved, of course, representing Scotland.

Ali watching

Thank you all so much for your kind words below my last post. Which, when I come to think of it, should probably have a bugle call attached at the end of the sentence...

Those words were very much appreciated and I am grateful to you all for taking the time to message, or to send me an email.

I'm not doing much at the moment, on medical advice, which has afforded me the opportunity to watch Haider Ali in the PSL.

It is quickly obvious, in watching him, that he has talent to spare. He is one of these mercurial players who seems to have a shot, sometimes two, for every ball. What will be interesting in the coming months will be to see how he tempers his approach at the top of the order and on English wickets.

Even in the context of T20, a couple of his dismissals have been poor. In one of them, having just come in, he stepped outside leg stump to attempt to penetrate a fairly well populated offside and was comprehensively bowled by the leg spinner. The match situation did not require such an approach and it will be interesting to see how that improves under Mickey Arthur.

In the game yesterday, he played several scintillating strokes then charged, rather than sashayed, down the wicket in the manner of Ranjitsinjhi, in the famous Beldam photograph. It was a far from glorious end to an innings that promised much.

I think that as supporters we will need to temper our expectations. I don't expect batting conditions to be as favourable as they were last year, when April and May saw uncharacteristically docile tracks. In any other year it may well have been Suranga Lakmal with a perpetual grin on his face, instead of Shan Masood, but the latter got himself in, got into a rhythm and drank at the well while conditions were in his favour.

Ali is a completely different player, closer to Shahid Afridi than Masood in style, though a better batter. Once he grasps his responsibilities and the conditions he will entertain and, perhaps like Chris Wilkins, will be well worth the entrance money when he comes off.

We must remember that he is relatively inexperienced and still a young man. He will make the mistakes that all young men make, but provide the fearless approach that is also their major attribute.

If he succeeds on a regular basis, Derbyshire should score runs fast enough to force positive results, which they need to do, with only three points for a draw this year. Too many sides last year took the easy way out and ground out draw after draw, which would really do no one any favours, this time around.

It should all make for outstanding entertainment and I'm sure that I could probably put a capital E on that word, in due course.

Enjoy your evenings, I will be back soon, when I can.

A change to the advertised..

With the cricket season 50 days away, excitement is building among supporters around the country. Over the coming weeks, the ' big Spring jacket' will be brought out and checked, as will the location of the flasks, gloves and hats that are de rigeur for the start of summer cricket follower.

I was among them, having planned a trip to Derby in April for an early home fixture, one to Durham for my usual 'home' game and my attendance of the Chesterfield cricket festival, the date having worked for me for the first time in a number of years.

Alas, yours truly will be getting surgery in April - the date as yet unconfirmed - which will require a hospital stay of 7 to 10 days, followed by convalescence of 2 to 3 months and no driving. So it looks like my cricket watching will be entirely stream-based this year, at least until the tail end of the season.

What it means for the blog? At this stage I'm unsure but it will be dictated by how I feel. There will be a point at which it has run its natural course and various factors will determine when that will be.

Hopefully it isn't yet, but this is an early warning for there being an interruption to the advertised programme this summer.

I will prepare my season preview in advance and I hope, at least, to do a header for each match, so that comments on the play can go into their rightful place, much as I have done during our annual holidays in previous summers.

Time will tell, but I felt it fair to let you know that coverage may not always be as detailed as in previous years, especially in early season.

But if I can, I will.

In My Mind's Eye Number 2: William Chatterton (1861-1913)

On the basis of contemporary accounts, William Chatterton must have been one of the most graceful batsmen to represent Derbyshire, as well as being one of the most loyal.

Indeed, when the history of Derbyshire cricket is considered, there is strong argument that he, with George Davidson, were the main reasons that the club regained and retained first-class status in 1894, having been demoted in 1888 for poor results.

A batting average of 25, to modern eyes is indicative of a player of only modest talent. Yet Chatterton, or 'Chatty' as he was known, made many of his on poor, uncovered and under-prepared wickets. It was 'Fiddler' Walker, then groundsman at Trent Bridge, who started to top dress wickets with marl. The high clay content of this, rolled out, improved wickets considerably, The downside was that wickets at the ground became fast and true, high scores of up to 500 runs in a day not uncommon. Tellingly, when the quality of wicket improved, Chatterton's average went northwards too, although his sound defence, noted in reports of the time, enabled him to score more runs on awkward tracks than many of his contemporaries.

Born at Birch Vale in the High Peak, he made his first appearance for the County Colts in 1885 but took two or three seasons before returning any figures of note. Indeed, his slow round-arm bowling looked the best of his game at that time and he continued to bowl throughout his career, taking 208 wickets at an average of 21 in first-class cricket. He was also a reliable slip fielder in an era when fielding ability was not necessarily commonplace.

His batting gradually developed, however, as he became known as one of the game's stylists. In 1889 he averaged nearly 29 with the bat and 16 with the ball, this after a couple of seasons when ill-health prevented him from showing his best form. With Derbyshire demoted at this time, fixtures were limited, though a fine season in 1891 saw him invited to go on tour with an England eleven to South Africa. He played in one Test match, scoring 48 in his only innings, yet made over 950 runs on the tour, easily heading the averages. He would have passed the thousand-run mark, but for illness again ruling him out of several matches.

Commentators waxed lyrical at his sound defence and technique, while his stroke play, when he chose to unfurl it, was 'a delight'. Reports confirm several offers to play for a first-class county around this time, but he declined them all. There was also an offer to spend three winters in Kimberley, South Africa, for  a sum of one thousand pounds and 'perquisites', but Chatterton again declined the offer, as a condition was that he become a permanent resident there.

He returned to England and a celebration dinner at The Old Bell Hotel in Derby, where his admirers entertained him and presented him with a cheque for £160, referring to him as 'the great standby' of the county eleven. He in turn said that he had no interest in playing for anyone but Derbyshire, and saw only good times ahead for the county.

The club's return to first-class status saw his form blossom still further and an average of over 40 in 1896 was his best. 'No batsman has ever had a more graceful style' wrote one onlooker 'and when he has played himself in he is one of the most attractive batsmen that ever took guard. He is a master of many strokes and to be trusted anywhere in the field'. He made several appearances for the Players against the Gentlemen and was regarded as unfortunate that no further invitation came to play for his country.

He again passed a thousand runs in 1901, but his form deserted him in 1902 and he was released by the county. Ill-health returned to dog him and the man who had been talented at both rugby and football (he played a few games for Derby County) was a shadow of his former self.

He returned to his father's home at Flowery Field, near Hyde and died of tuberculosis on March 19, 1913.

Perhaps accepting that offer in South Africa might have helped to prolong his life, but William was Derbyshire through and through. Plenty of other batsmen have exceeded his near eleven thousand runs for the club, but his skill and loyalty at a time when they were both badly needed helped to establish the county in first-class cricket.

We were very lucky to have him.

(Image sourced courtesy of David Griffin at the Derbyshire CCC Archive)

NB for some reason this piece never published a couple of winters ago, so I thought it time for it to see the light of day

Good luck to Leus

This afternoon, Leus du Plooy will play in the semi-final of the SA20 for Joburg Super Kings, after his batting was a major factor on them getting to this stage.

There are a lot of very fine batters on display in the competition, but the Derbyshire captain has looked very much at home in such elite company. 

I am hopeful that this summer will see him truly emerge in all formats as a player of the highest calibre. There have been times since his emergence over here when he has looked that way, but others when his footwork has been hesitant and his scores disappointing as a result.

For me, he's always looked a better player when he has gone for his shots, rather than when occupation of the crease has been more the order of the day. Perhaps 'Bazball' might be his natural home and his ability to score runs around 360° makes him a very dangerous customer.

His first season of captaincy will be interesting. Some players thrive on the additional responsibility, while others struggle to maintain their standards when they also have to think about other players.

Leus has some experienced cricketers to lean on and I think the new role could be the making of him. In what should be an exciting batting lineup, runs should not be an issue for the side and we could see the blossoming of player and county.

It promises to be very exciting.

Warming thoughts ahead of the season

While not having made major changes to the playing staff over the winter, it is impossible to deny that Mickey, Arthur has substantially improved the Derbyshire squad in that time.

The hugely prolific and highly respected Shan Masood has gone, as have Dustin Melton and Mikey Cohen. The last two were players not without talent and capable of some fine spells, but injury issues and their South African roots conspired against them when it came to any cost/benefit analysis.

In their place we now have a very good seam bowler of genuine potential in Zak Chappell, a middle order batsman of power in Matt Lamb, spinner Mark Watt for the full season and now Haider Ali for most, if not all of it too. Not to mention securing some of our best young talent to improved, longer-term deals.

For what it is worth, I think the batting looks very good. An article in the Cricketer suggested Ali may open the batting in 50-over and 4-day cricket, which surprised me but may be part of his development plan. I could more understand that rationale in the 20 over game, but perhaps Luis Reece and either Harry Came or Tom Wood will get the nod, with Ali entrusted the role of late innings pyrotechnics.

A sign of a good squad is when you can't honestly name a first choice eleven to start the season. I genuinely can't this year. I think there are players who are guaranteed playing, bar for injuries and the rest will need consistency of performance or rotation of seam bowlers to play.

I would have a go at the following:

Reece

Ali

Guest

Madsen

du Plooy

Lamb

Dal

Chappell

Aitchison

Conners

Lakmal

But I could just as easily make a case for others. It is a position of strength when one looks at four very good seam bowlers and ponder which one is omitted if they are all fit and a spinner warrants inclusion. Which, with Dal and Reece in the side, I think should be the case. I have never been convinced in the need to have four, even five seamers in an attack, if you are picking the correct first three.

Equally, which spinner gets the nod? Watt has the international experience, Thomson can bat, as can McKiernan, but which is more likely to take wickets when the opposition doesn't have to slog?  Decisions..

The side above doesn't include Godleman, Wood or Came, good players all. Nor does it include George Scrimshaw or Nick Potts, or for that matter Archie Harrison, who I suspect will enjoy game time this year as an all-rounder of considerable promise. This is how far we have come in just one year under Mickey Arthur.

With so many players playing for their future, supporters will expect intensity of performance and competition for places like never before.

It should make for compelling and memorable viewing.

Postscript: I have finally got around doing a draw from those kindly sponsoring the blog. My sincere apologies to to everyone for the delay, but there is plenty going on at present.

I have made contact with those who have won and thank everyone for their kindness and generosity.

Another draw will take place in due course.

Haider Ali signs for 2023!

Haider Ali, eh?

That is a very bold and innovative signing by Mickey Arthur in picking up one of Pakistan's hottest batting prospects for all formats for the 2023 season, subject to his international commitments.

While he has played a fair amount of the latter for a young man of just 22, he is not currently a first pick, so Derbyshire may perhaps see more of him than we did Shan Masood last year.

He is a completely different player, of course. Where Masood is essentially a sheet anchor, a Roundhead if you will, Haider is a Cavalier, an entertainer, capable of reaching and clearing the boundary on a regular basis. He has a good range of strokes and while typical English early season wickets will prove a fresh challenge for him, Arthur will know him well and be confident that he can rise to that challenge.

It would be wrong, I think, to expect him to replicate the exploits of Masood last year. He is much less experienced and a totally different kind of player. Nor will he have cost so much, as a young man with a reputation to build. 

He most frequently bats in the middle order and will certainly offer valuable firepower in the Vitality Blast. But there are suggestions that he has been signed to open the batting, which is interesting. It will test him, but may also see an enhancement to and strengthening of his technique.

As for the middle order...Guest, Madsen, du Plooy, Lamb and Dal is a serious lineup, not forgetting Tom Wood. There should be high level, high octane entertainment this summer.

I can only say that if Haider discovers his best form early, then he could be the missing link in this side. He is an entertainer, albeit one who will want to see his one-day averages head northwards. Coming to the county game, as for so many before, could be the making of him. He will better learn to go through the gears, rather than aiming to get from nought to sixty in no time but perhaps to the detriment of his average.

Here he is below, showing what he can do from YouTube. 

Those tickets look like being in high demand this season!

Welcome to Derbyshire, Haider.

Haider batting

Conners signs new deal

Terrific news to start the day today, with the announcement that Sam Conners has signed a new 2-year deal with Derbyshire that will keep him at the county until the end of 2024.

It follows on from his pace bowling colleague Ben Aitchison doing the same earlier in the winter and with Zac Chappell having joined from Nottinghamshire, the seam attack looks to be in very good health, especially with Suranga Lakmal seemingly back to full fitness and Nick Potts showing potential.

Sam is a class act, an opening bowler who may well have been on tour with England Lions this winter bar for an elbow problem, that has necessitated an injection that will hopefully sort the issue.

His whippy and lithe style is somewhat reminiscent of Harold Rhodes and his ability to move the ball makes him a potent threat. There is no limit to his potential and  few sides will fancy batting against him on his best days.

There are times when the line and length can go astray, but that is par for the course in a young bowler. One has to look at the bigger picture and appreciate what he brings to the Derbyshire attack. There would be no lack of interest in his services and it is heartening that Derbyshire are able to retain players of his potential and quality.

Enjoy your day, after that early pick me up!

Especially you, Sam..

Weekend warmer

The nights are getting ever so slowly lighter and we are within a hundred days of the start of a new cricket season. We only need the weather to warm up and for it to stop raining and the excitement would be building even faster..

This week the cricket media picked up on what I posted last week and confirmed that Mickey Arthur was staying at Derbyshire, not that there was any real suggestion that he was leaving, other from those voices that emanated from Pakistan.

It didn't really make any sense, to your correspondent at least, and for reasons that are well documented over the past couple of weeks. He seems to be happy, totally focused on Derbyshire and hopefully ready to build on the sound foundations that were established in 2022.

There are new players in place and there will be even more by the end of this month, when our second overseas player will be announced. At this stage it is hard to say if this player will fulfil all of the duties of that position, or will be only for a part of the county commitments.

I have seen various names mentioned, in comments on this blog and on social media. The reality is that none of us know who that player will be and that is good to see. I have every confidence that Arthur will have picked up a very good cricketer, my main interest being whether he has opted for another experienced man, like Suranga Lakmal and Shan Masood, or has gone for a man with a reputation to build. There are a few names in that latter category, while the best fit in the suggestions I have seen for an experienced man was Usman Khawaja.

Masood has had a difficult winter and been nowhere near as prolific as many, self included, thought he might be. Perhaps Yorkshire will not have picked up the run machine that he was for Derbyshire and last year may have been a never-ending purple patch that isn't extended, when he takes over the reins at our northern neighbours.

With twelve of the current staff coming to the end of their contracts in September, a lot of people have much to play for. I think that is the right thing, though of course, the risk in not securing players to a longer deal is that they could be 'poached' during the summer. I would expect a few counties to be keeping a close eye on the situation with Leus du Plooy, Luis Reece and Sam Conners, while George Scrimshaw is likely to be another to come under close scrutiny.

By the same token, all of them can earn another deal with Derbyshire. Having been given the captaincy, I would be surprised if du Plooy left, while Reece has always been grateful to Derbyshire for giving him an opportunity when he was released by Lancashire. In an ideal world we would retain the services of all four players and of course I hope that we do.

Finally today, I will be doing a draw this weekend among the blog subscribers who have a chance to win a cricket book. I will put the names of the winners on a post over the over the course of the next 2 days and if those people could get in touch at their convenience, I can sort out the prize for them.

To all of you, thank you for your continued support.

Postscript: in an interview published on the club website this afternoon, Arthur said that our new overseas player was 'young, very exciting and someone he has worked with, but only briefly...'

Hmm ..my gut feeling remains Abdullah Shafique. Any other thoughts?

Putting to bed the rumours

My understanding, to calm down troubled souls across the shires, is that there is 'absolutely nothing'  in the stories that linked Mickey Arthur to a return to Pakistan.

He remains one hundred per cent committed to the county and it's progression, so we needn't worry about him boarding a plane to Pakistan any time soon. 

There may, of course, be other opportunities to coach teams and franchises across the globe out of the English season, but that will, in its own way, merely take the name of Derbyshire into parts of the world where we may be less known and will not impact on his work here.

It may be that his work in Sri Lanka gave hope to some in Pakistan that he was looking at options. It may also be that there was a little 'positioning' taking place among the powers that be in that country, but he is happy and fully committed to the 'Derbyshire project'

 I have this from a very trusted source, so worry ye not, Falcons fans. That there has been no comment from the club is likely down to the fact that there is no substance to the story, nor that it is deemed worthy of comment.

So just relax and enjoy the countdown to the season!