Weekend warmer

Thank you all for your continued excellent contributions to the blog. It would be much less enjoyable from my perspective if there were never replies and while I may not always agree with comments, as I have said before, they are all relevant. 

Please ensure, however, that your comments are not personal about other contributors. No matter how well other sentiments may be expressed, I will decline to publish if I feel a line has been crossed.

I thought I would take a little time, for this weekend warmer, to write a little about team needs and recruitment, as I see it. 

I don't think that there is any doubt that our greater need is to strengthen the batting. There has been a worrying fragility about our top order all season and this has to be addressed.

As others have pointed out, if we have a full complement of bowlers, our resources are probably the envy of most counties. Yet Zak Chappell, Pat Brown, Harry Moore, Rory Haydon, Luis Reece and Anuj Dal missed at least a good chunk of the summer, while Muhammad Abbas was away far more than was expected. 

He wasn't as successful as we all hoped - or should that be expected? I did wonder if this might be because players at a higher standard were getting nicks, while lesser mortals were simply missing the ball, because they weren't good enough. I don't know, but as Wilfred Rhodes once said, you are wasting your energy getting extravagant movement - all you need is half the width of a bat to avoid the middle and take the edge.

I agree with many contributors that Brett Randell seems more the sort of bowler that we need, but given the choice pre-season, who would have taken him over Abbas? For that matter, who had heard of him? As many others have written in the past, it's a funny game. 

The bottom line is that Abbas is contracted for 2027 and we must hope that he returns to prove a point. He has enjoyed a long and successful career and will not want a stain on his excellent record. Fourteen wickets at 40 is a poor return for a player of his stature, especially when the man brought in to replace him has 20 wickets at just 18 runs each, as well as averaging 23 with the bat. 

There is always the chance, of course, that he will not be allowed to return. Given his success in recent series, the Pakistan Board may not sign the No Objection Certificate and will retain his services to protect him. I don't think many would object to Brett Randell replacing him were that the case, as he has been terrific. Less well known than even Blair Tickner, yet more effective with bat and ball and with the same, committed attitude. Abbas is contracted, however, so that can't happen at this stage.

The batting is the problem and there are question marks against all but Martin Andersson, who has been magnificent. 

Harry Came, Wayne Madsen and Luis Reece are all out of contract next year. Came is an enigma and can look really good, but the reality is that in eight seasons he has only four centuries and his conversion rate of another 21 fifties is poor. Derbyshire need more than a mid-twenties average from him and my concern is that he appears to be seen as a red ball skipper in waiting. The extra responsibility may be the making of him - but it could drag him down still further. Far better, for me, that an overseas bat of quality comes in, aided by the carrot of captaincy.

Madsen is justifiably a county legend, but he is some way short of a thousand runs this year and although he is third in the averages, the decline has been evident. I hope that he plays red ball next year, but it will almost certainly be his last summer, so we must hope for a grand tour to finish. He owes Derbyshire nothing, but I hope that the end of his county career matches the quality that preceded it for so long.

Reece has been an outstanding signing, but the question mark is whether his body will allow him to continue being the influential cricketer he has been. He averages 38 with the bat this year - quite remarkable given the off field challenges he has faced - and is probably our best opener, but there have only been three wickets and his left arm variation has been sorely missed. Can he still be influential in one skillset and is it asking too much for him still to be a game-changing all rounder at nearly 37? 

Matthew Montgomery oozes class at the wicket, but an average of 28 suggests he isn't yet right for number three in the order. No centuries and four half centuries confirm his struggle and perhaps four/five is better for him, long term? I certainly don't doubt his ability, but he has yet to convince in the position that he has been given.

Then there's Brooke Guest, also out of contract next year. An outstanding wicket keeper after a shaky start this year, but his batting returns have diminished and he has only 333 runs in 20 innings, if his one century is ignored. I would like to see him higher, but the evidence isn't strong in support of that. 

When all of these challenges are looked at individually, it isn't hard to see why there has too frequently been a collective failing of the batting.

The additional challenge, of course, is that this is far from a vintage year for available alternatives who promise better. As others have pointed out, we need a couple of good, solid batters and one of them will almost certainly be from overseas. Those who are out of contract elsewhere AND unlikely to be re-signed don't promise more, for me.

I would love to see Amrit Basra come through and he is a very exciting player to watch. But again, I haven't yet seen anything to suggest he could transform the order. My concern with Amrit is that he has all the shots but doesn't choose them wisely. Runs haven't come easily in the second team and he is another who needs a strong 2027 to remain part of the plans for the future. 

There is always the possibility that someone may come onto the market unexpectedly, perhaps needing to move because of personal circumstances. I have every confidence that the club will be monitoring the situation around the country, ready to move if opportunity presents itself. The flexibility to do so will be dependent on the announcement of the England central contracts, either in late October or early November. 

If Derbyshire need to cover the cost of Shoaib Bashir for 2027, the capacity to do much more than replace an overseas player will be limited. They have Ben Aitchison coming to the end of his contract next year and will want to do everything they can to retain his services, as they will with Harry Moore. Finance isn't easy at our end of the game and there is a clear gap between 'we need to do' and 'we are able to do'. 

If Bashir doesn't get a central contract, I assume there is then another decision to make next year. His cost has to be justified by returns and he may be another about who considerable discussion will take place. Is there someone out there who might offer a spin option at lower cost? Maybe one such option could be Shaariq Sheikh, who has had a good summer as captain of SACA. Last week at Chesterfield he scored 37 and 48, as well as taking 5-10 and 3-63 with his leggies. Again, that comes with the caveat that success at second team level is no guaranteed indicator of it happening at a level above.

So my projections for next summer and my hopes for our progression will be tempered by the knowledge that the batting has major concerns, alternatives aren't obvious and money is tight.

But to end on a bright note, we saw when we signed Shan Masood that one prolific batter can both carry and inspire a batting lineup. Techniques can be honed and people can come back into form. It is much easier coming into bat at 140-1 than in the first over. Never underestimate the contribution of an opening bat who puts overs into the legs of bowlers and takes the shine from a ball. 

That's why I would have loved us to be able to move for someone like Will Rhodes, but he has now signed a new deal with Durham so we move on.

It is going to need a lot of work, in the nets and offices, to get there.

But it can be done. 

It promises to be an interesting winter.

Postscript - a final word on the Northamptonshire 'light' story.  The umpires have taken considerable flak online and some of that directed at Sue Redfern has been a disgrace. 

Supporters need to realise that the ECB issue guidance on the level of light at which umpires have to take the players off. The umpires simply followed that guidance. 

So if any supporter out there, presumably from a Northampton postcode, has any remaining grouses about this, take it up with the ECB...

Northamptonshire v Derbyshire day 4

Derbyshire 372 and 286

Northamptonshire 310 and 326-6 (Vasconcelos 132, Procter 51, Harrison 50, Randell 3-54, Abbas 3-64)

Match drawn 

There wasn't a point today when I felt that Derbyshire would win the game against Northamptonshire. 

Any turn was slow, any movement off the seam, other than with the new ball was minimal. Both Mohammad Abbas and Brett Randell put in sterling shifts and their combined economy was probably what saved Derbyshire. Yet neither looked like running through the opposition batting on a very good fourth day pitch.

Ricardo Vasconcelos batted superbly and at lunchtime it seemed like a case of damage limitation, as he and Luke Procter opened with a stand of 152. The home side will rue the slow batting when he was out, when only 36 runs were scored in the next 14 overs against tight bowling and some good fielding .

They accelerated later,  but with only 23 runs needed, first bad light and then light rain prevented a home win. Part of me feels that they were robbed after a very professional run chase, but the reality is that they should have been aware of the weather forecast and pushed the game to a conclusion - notwithstanding the risks involved - before the weather front came in. The umpires followed the rules and them's the breaks, regardless of the comments of some Neanderthals on social media.. 

I understand the frustration of home fans and that they 'only' needed 23 and 'could' have played on. But conditions were deemed poor by the umpires, who took them off, never to return. Regardless of the challenge of batting, if you have ever had to field in bad light you will know that it isn't the easiest of tasks either.

Shoaib Bashir also bowled economically today, but for me it highlighted the importance - should that really need done - of Ben Aitchison to this side. So many times this season he has taken early wickets and that would have meant a totally different run chase today. No disrespect to Nick Potts, who did well when he came into this game as a substitute,  but he doesn't offer similar control nor penetration, as his second innings figures show.

So we move on to Worcester next week, with the last of the walking wounded. We won't see Aitchison, who will likely not be fit but wouldn't be allowed to play after being substituted, while Brett Randell would likely need to be be granted an exemption from his NOC to play one more game. 

There may also be a question mark over Brooke Guest, who had a lot of work to do in standing up to both Randell and Abbas and took what appeared a fearful blow on a finger near the end of play. 

We will find out in due course, but Derbyshire got out of jail here in the end. 

Hopefully we can get a result at Worcester, sending all of us into autumn and winter in good heart.

Northamptonshire v Derbyshire day 3

Derbyshire 372 and 286 (Andersson 62, Potts 57, Randell 45, Guthrie 3-61, Harrison 3-74)

Northamptonshire 310 and 37-0

Northamptonshire need 312 runs to win

Another spirited fight back by the Derbyshire lower order gave them a chance of a last day win at Northampton today.

Half centuries by Martin Andersson and Nick Potts (his first) with another good supporting knock from Brett Randell saw Northamptonshire set 349 to win. By the close they had reached 37-0 in 16 challenging overs.

Good as the recovery was, it does not mask another failure by the top order, something that has to be addressed over the winter. While allowances can be made for Yusuf Bin Naeem, finding his way in the game, neither Harry Came nor Matthew Montgomery can be happy with season averages of 25 and 28 respectively. More is needed - and is essential - for improvement in 2027.

Andersson was again excellent, but Derbyshire hopes were boosted by a stand of 99 between Potts and Randell. Potts has had a good game here and confirmed his season of promise with a crucial knock, mixing sound defence with crisp strokes. Meanwhile Randell again highlighted his importance in these closing weeks and has done an excellent job for the county.

Vasconcelos and Procter batted well to get their side to the close unscathed, but they will need to do more tomorrow, especially in the first session, which has yielded the most wickets throughout the match. 

I thought Abbas bowled beautifully in his spell tonight, conceding only one run in five testing overs.

We will need more from both overseas players tomorrow, but the game is beautifully poised, going into the final day.

Leicestershire decision rankles

I have to admit to feeling uncomfortable with the Leicestershire pitch verdict.

Their punishment consists of the loss of all 19 points earned in the win over Glamorgan, an extra eight-point penalty and a £5,000 fine. A further eight-point deduction has been suspended for a year. It all but condemns them to relegation. 

They scored 151 and 257 in the game, against Glamorgan's 152 and 214. Two batters, Sheridon Gumbs and Kiran Carlson, made 90s and the final innings lasted 86 overs, the game ending on the morning of the fourth day. 

Really, is that so bad? Or is that a very good cricket pitch that made for an absorbing game? 

I don't think they were overly bright in shaving both ends and leaving grass on in the middle. It didn't look good and yes, it made them an easy target. A non-Test ground county, trying to get a result...whatever next?  But there were a lot of low scores around that week and how is it worse than Yorkshire 185 and 82, Surrey 83 and 187-9, a fortnight later? Other than that the latter was at The Oval and finished on the third day...?

Nor do they appear to have thought through giving access to the unscheduled filming of scenes for a forthcoming  Bollywood movie, seemingly about Sourav Ganguly, in the days before the game. The head groundsman said that he didn't have access to the square, which seems a classic case of putting commercial needs ahead of the practical ones of running a cricket club. I have no idea what money that brought in, but I hope it was substantial.

But again, was it any worse than the anodyne pitches that produce a four-day runfest, too often artificially massaging the averages of batters and driving bowlers to frustration? 

The issue appears to have been uneven bounce and batters were hit on the hands a few times. I have sympathy, but that kind of thing has been happening since the game began and you should have seen it back in the 70s and 80s, let alone on uncovered pitches. Remember the story when Colin Ingleby-Mackenzie was repeatedly rapped on the hands when Hampshire were bowled out at Burton in 1958, during the game that effectively finished in a day? 'For God's sake someone catch the thing', he allegedly said, as Jackson and Rhodes caused mayhem.

I'm not advocating that sort of pitch, but there has to be some encouragement for bowlers, a challenge for batters. Goodness knows, the game is heavily enough weighted towards the willow, with bigger bats, shorter boundaries, blameless surfaces and better protection than there has ever been. 

Cricket isn't and shouldn't be just about the hitting of fours and sixes. I have watched too many matches where I lost interest at the end of day two, when it was clear that the massive score posted by the team batting first was going to be matched by their opponents. Thereafter, it simply became something of interest to statisticians and those wishing to inflate their average for the summer. 

It needs looked at and I would bet my shiniest shekel that this wouldn't have happened if the pitch in question was on the square of a Test-playing county, or that of a host of the 'other competition'. 

Don't get me wrong, Leicestershire returning to division 2 is probably better for the red ball prospects of Derbyshire in 2027. Durham were too good by far this year, but what looked like being an excellent relegation battle has now become something of an enforced formality. 

It is wrong and yet again evidence that in the ECB, cricket has an organisation that is unacceptably poor. 

Northamptonshire v Derbyshire day 2

Derbyshire 372 

Northampton shire 310 (Vasconcelos 58, Procter 54, McManus 53, Zaib 46, Randell 3-48, Potts 3-51, Reece 2-48)

Derbyshire lead by 62 runs

Apologies for the late blog tonight, but this has been family night and only now have I time to add a few thoughts on the day's play. 

I thought Derbyshire fought back well, after the home side had got themselves to 187-2 in reply to Derbyshire's 372. Vasconcelos, Procter and Zaib all batted well, but thankfully all got out before going on to a match-definimg score. The introduction of Nick Potts made a difference and his figures of 3-51 turned the game, after he came in as an injury substitute for Ben Aitchison, whose stellar season would appear to be finished.

Once again Brett Randell was excellent  and his 3-48 contrasted with the 0-62 of Muhammad Abbas. Their respective figures for the summer are interesting:

Randell has 17 wickets at 18, with a wicket every 41 balls 

Abbas has 11 wickets at 46 with a wicket every 105 balls

I know which one I would prefer for 2028...

It was good to see Luis Reece back bowling and his two wickets today were twice as many as he previously had all season. He has been missed and we must hope he is restored to full fitness next year.

As for the match, Derbyshire took a first innings lead of 62 and we must hope tomorrow doesn't see one of the anaemic batting displays that have tarnished the summer. With Kent almost certain to beat Lancashire, Northamptonshire have to chase whatever we set them in the final innings.

Derbyshire will hope that target is over 300, but tomorrow is a big day for both sides. 

It has been an absorbing contest so far..

Seconds win by one-wicket!

The young Derbyshire second team won an extraordinary one-wicket victory over SACA at Chesterfield today. 

59-3 overnight quickly became 68-4 with the wicket of Zak Chappell, before Niall McHale (37) shared in a stand of 64 with Mitch Wagstaff. 

When the former was dismissed, Joe Hawkins quickly followed, before 15-year old Theo Brown came in to share a stand of 85 with Wagstaff.

The latter proceeded to an excellent century before being dismissed for 105, which brought together Brown and George Blount. Their stand of 68 took Derbyshire to within ten runs of the win, before Blount was run out, then Brown was dismissed for an outstanding 87. 

It left Jake Green and Sam Keeling-Wright to seal the one-wicket win, after a wonderful game of cricket.

Scorecard and clips here

New one-year deal for Pat Brown

I think that supporters need to give the benefit of doubt to the new contract for Pat Brown in 2027, that has been announced today. 

We didn't see him play in 2026 and we saw a very limited version of him in 2025. Anyone who has had a bad shoulder injury will know how debilitating it is and Pat's affected both his ability to bowl and to throw. 

The club must be confident that the operations he has had on the shoulder - and a further one to tidy things up - will have the desired effect and allow him to play in 2027. It is important that comments on that contract reflect the bowler that we saw in 2024, when his variations, much as they did when he first burst onto the scene, caused consternation among batters. Back then, he was quick, yet with no discernible change to his action he had several variants. He could also nail the yorker with greater frequency than most and that was missed this year.

You don't make international standard without having something going for you and at his best both his bowling and fielding are of the highest class.

My understanding is that he is available for all formats, yet the likelihood is that Derbyshire will focus on getting him fit for white ball cricket, where where it is clear that his strength lies. 

I hope he returns to his best. If he doesn't, I would think it unlikely the contract will be renewed again, but if he can return to the player that we saw in his first season, he offers something special to the bowling line up. He needs only to look at how Ben Aitchison has recovered so well from major injury for inspiration.

There's a lot of work ahead, but I wish him well, as I'm sure you all do. 

Hopefully we can see Pat, Zak Chappell, Rory Haydon and Harry Moore all fully fit in 2027. 

It would make a considerable difference to our prospects.

Absorbing game at Chesterfield

There was another absorbing day of cricket at Chesterfield today, although the Derbyshire second team face an uphill task on the last day against SACA.

Replying to the visitors total of 279, Derbyshire were all out for 141, with Niall McHale making 34 and Feroze Khushi 32. Shaariq Sheikh took 5-10  with his well-flighted leg spin, before SACA were themselves bowled out for 167. Sheikh top-scored with 48, while Ajay Khunti made 43, leaving Derbyshire 306, the highest score of the game, to win.

Matt Stewart took 4-46, while there were two wickets each for Will Rogers and Joe Hawkins.

At the close, Derbyshire had reached 59-3, with Wagstaff unbeaten on 30. 

247 more to win seems a big ask for a young batting line up.

Scorecard and clips here

Northamptonshire v Derbyshire day 1

Derbyshire 372 (Madsen 151, Aitchison 106, Randell 36, Guthrie 3-66, Sanderson 3-72, Conway 3-75)

Northamptonshire 15-0

Derbyshire lead by 357 runs

It was a thoroughly absorbing days cricket at Northampton today, one in which Derbyshire recovered remarkably from the perils of 107-6 soon after lunch to end on 372 all out.

There was an element of deja vu for seasoned watchers. Back at Lord's in May, Derbyshire recovered from 130-5 to 338-6 thanks to centuries from Wayne Madsen and Ben Aitchison. Today, the same pair added 197 together, as each made their second century of the season.

It was a good toss to win, with the ball nipping around in the early morning dampness and Derbyshire's top order displaying the worrying frailty that has been an unfortunate feature of the summer. Harry Came failed to trouble the scorers and will likely be disappointed with his current  season average of just 26, while Luis Reece was unlucky to be given leg before when just outside the line, after he and Madsen had suggested a rebuild.

But the home attack made good use of conditions and I suspect that most people expected Northamptonshire to be batting before tea. 

Madsen and Aitchison had other ideas. The skipper came into the game on the back of a rare bad trot, only 95 runs in his last eight innings, with three ducks. He started sketchily but gradually the trademark sureness came into his batting. He became ever more expansive as the day wore on, without assaying anything overly ambitious. On this performance, rumours of his demise are premature, because this was height of summer Madsen, leading from the front and offering sage counsel to Aitchison, as he built his own innings.

And what an innings it was. I remember writing about Ben two or three years ago, when some were suggesting he wasn't a batter, merely a merry tail end clumper. There have been sufficient incidences since then to suggest another string to his bow, although there may still have been those who wrote off his century at Lord's as one of those things. After today, they can no longer do that, because some of his strokes were of the very highest order. A clip through mid-on was indicative of pedigree, while successive cover drives for four from the bowling of Conway could scarce have been bettered by the man at the other end. 

His century, like that of his captain, was greeted by a roar from the away dressing room and his return to the pavilion, after eventually being caught in the deep, was greeted as the return of the conquering hero and was fully deserved. 

Afterwards, Brett Randell came in to play a delightful cameo that took the score past 350 and highlighted his own ability with the bat, before he was bowled by a slow yorker from Conway.

Conway, like Guthrie and Sanderson, ran in hard all day, but his ridiculous 'celebrappeal' when he thought he had dismissed Yusuf Bin Naeem was unnecessary and frankly embarrassing. So too another appeal from Sales, a good cricketer, who blotted his copybook by only realising that no one else was interested when he had almost reached the striker's end.

There was even time for Abbas to hit a six over third man before the Derbyshire innings came to a close on 372, made at a very respectable 4.5 runs an over. Madsen had eventually been well caught from a leading edge for 151, an innings of which he can be very proud.

The home side faced ten overs before the close and Derbyshire's bowlers were very accurate, even though it was clear that conditions were easier than they had been earlier in the day. 

They reached 15-0 in the evening sunshine.

A word too about the stream, which I thought was excellent, while the two commentators were very even-handed in their comments and listenable. I don't know who they were, but they added to the enjoyment of the day, so fair play to them.

All in all, that was a wonderful day's entertainment.

In that, it was a reminder that there are all too few left this summer.

Hawkins stars for Seconds at Chesterfield

Zak Chappell captained the Derbyshire Second XI at Chesterfield today, at the start of a 3-day friendly against the South Asian Cricket Academy.

Indeed he won the toss and elected to bowl,  but would have been concerned when SACA reached 190-2 in the afternoon, Shafi making 68 and Tangirala 41. 

Then Joe Hawkins worked his way through the order to good effect and they were all out for 279, with the young all-rounder taking 7-63, his best figures by some distance.

Derbyshire reached 58-3 by the close, with Chappell and Khushi unbeaten and Rogers, Wagstaff and Kelly the men out. It will be interesting to see how a young Derbyshire side gets on tomorrow with the bat

Scorecard and video clips here

Northamptonshire v Derbyshire preview

There will be a strange feeling around the game between Derbyshire and Northamptonshire at Wantage Road tomorrow.

The main threat to Derbyshire appeared to be Yuzi Chahal, but he is unavailable for this game, while Rob Keogh, who has so often been a thorn in Derbyshire sides in recent seasons, today announced his retirement from the game through injury. 

He has been a fine servant to the county and will certainly be missed. As will Chahal and I just wonder if pitch preparation might change a little, in the absence of the leg-spinning talisman.

Mickey Arthur has announced a squad of fourteen and there is indeed a return for Muhammad Abbas. Brett Randell is also in the squad but I understand he will not play under the terms of his NOC from New Zealand. The rest of the selection will depend on that pitch, but given the history of Wantage Road it appears likely that two spinners will play. 

The likely Derbyshire side is:

Came, Naeem, Montgomery, Madsen, Andersson, Reece, Guest, Aitchison, Morley, Abbas, Bashir

Potts, Basra and Randell also in the squad.

The home side has also lost their Australian professional, Nathan McSweeney and their squad is as follows:

Procter, Bartlett, Conway, Guthrie, Harrison, Kimber, McManus, van Der Merwe, Miller, Sales, Sanderson, Vasconcelos, Zaib

They have enjoyed a very good season and are now in a shoot out with Kent to go up alongside Durham. 

It remains a source of frustration that Derbyshire beat Kent and Northamptonshire, as well as Middlesex, three sides above them. Had it not  been for those defeats against Lancashire and Gloucestershire they could easily have been in the promotion mix themselves.

The next four days offer an opportunity to lay down a marker for next season, when I think the side will again be stronger. If they can nail this consistency malarkey, anything could be possible. 

The forecast looks good for the next four days so hopefully Derbyshire can get on a roll to take us into the long winter ahead.

After the display against Kent, I think Derbyshire can win this one, albeit against a good home side. We looked a good team in that game and hopefully the performance has created confidence within the ranks. 

By the same token, any reduction in the intensity and we will struggle 

What do you think?

Anuj Dal

There were times in his nine years on the Derbyshire staff that Anuj Dal looked a very good cricketer indeed. 

Having said that, the announcement that he will leave county cricket to pursue a career outside of the game comes as no real surprise. The rumours of such a move have been around for the last 12-18 months and as an intelligent, thoughtful man, it seemed only a case of the timing being right. 

Nuj the cricketer has been a man of contrasts. At his best, his footwork was quick, his hands equally fast and the strokes all around the wicket. He wasn't a powerful hitter, perhaps why he was never a regular pick in the white ball game, but he could work the ball around and his speed between the wickets was up there with anyone you care to mention. Having said that, few will forget the century he made in a memorable 50- over win at Taunton, when he and Harry Moore turned a losing cause into a remarkable win.

Three of his five first-class centuries came against Worcestershire, against who he averaged 61. In 2022 he was within 43 runs of a thousand for the red ball summer, took 34 wickets at a shade under 30 and looked like the perfect county all rounder. 

Yet there was only one century and four fifties in the four seasons that followed, as he never quite recaptured those heights. The batting average declined, he could look more hesitant at the crease and became more of a 'bits and pieces' player, rather than the integral component of the engine room that he had threatened to be. 

To some extent it was the same with his bowling. There were three five-wicket hauls in 2023 but none since. Yet he remained a bowler who could keep an end tight, perhaps in a similar style to Tony Palladino, without quite the same level of penetration. In a stronger side, perhaps his role would have been even more important, but the fact remains that this hasn't been an especially strong Derbyshire lineup and the need is there for someone who can dominate in at least one of those disciplines. 

Having said that, we will do very well to find a better fielder than Anuj Dal. Perhaps injuries had slowed him down in the last couple of seasons, but before that he was like a whippet over the ground, with safe hands and a good arm. He remained sound and capable of moments of brilliance that could turn a game.

This is going to be a period of change for Derbyshire and it appears likely that the end of next season will see the departure of Wayne Madsen. The loss of two players who have been part of the landscape for a long time will see a different county side, yet this is an inevitable consequence of sport. How the county's top batter and long-time all-rounder are replaced will certainly dictate progress.

At the end of it all, Anuj Dal entertained and I thoroughly enjoyed watching him. I don't doubt the pressures of professional sport and they undoubtedly affected him as they did everyone else. Yet he always played with a smile on his face, always had a word for supporters and gave his all for the cause. 

Many people dream of a career in professional sport. Nuj realised that dream and at times he was centre stage and the star of the show.

I have no doubt he will make an equal success of his future career and I wish him the very best in it. 

All that remains is for me to say thanks, Nuj. 

It really has been a pleasure.

Charles Ollivierre

For those who like to read about the Derbyshire players of yesteryear, there is a terrific article by 'Old Ebor' on Charles Ollivierre, the first West Indian to play county cricket.

He was a Derbyshire star at the start of the 20th century and also turned out for Glossop

You can read the article here and it is well worth your time.

Here, as promised below, is Ollivierre when he played at Glossop. The photo was kindly sent to me by former Derbyshire bat Keith Mohan, who also played at Glossop for many years. It also contains Arthur Morton and Sam Cadman, who both became county stalwarts.

Cadman was later county coach and recommended Keith to the then Derbyshire coach, Denis Smith

Weekend thoughts

Continuing the good vibes of yesterday's win over Kent, Nye Donald hit an eight-ball 31 for England Lions as they strolled to a win over their Sri Lankan counterparts last night. They chased down a modest target of 118 to win in less than eight overs - a one-sided game following on from the series of the England senior side against Pakistan. 

I hope that there is more of that from Nye when the full series starts - and more, because we all know how destructive he can be in his best form.

But enough of international cricket - there are plenty of places writing about that. I am sure that we all awoke today, happy with the memory of an excellent 4-day win over Kent at Derby. It was another great advert for the red ball game and it remains my favourite form of cricket. Nothing matches the ebb and flow of the long form and while it can happen in shorter formats, there is so much to enjoy in 4-day cricket, as there was in 3-day, when it was played.

It again reinforced that for all of their inconsistency, Derbyshire are not too far from having a good side. They need better luck with injuries and any chance of improved fortunes in 2027 depends on having a full complement of bowlers to work with. We have been remarkably fortunate this year that Ben Aitchison has been able to bowl all summer, but no player can expect that every year. Injuries are a part of professional sport, especially among seam bowlers. I doubt there are many of them play through the season without aches, pains and niggles, because the whole mechanical process of bowling doesn't sit well with how bodies are supposed to move. I somehow doubt that cavemen threw their spears 120 times a day and certainly not off a long run up...

Moving on, I had a look at the averages this morning. Brett Randell, Rory Haydon and Ben all have their wickets under 23 runs each, while Martin Andersson has 21 at 28, as well as a batting average of 45. These are good statistics and each can be proud of their summers. 

For next season, as a bare minimum, Derbyshire need a top overseas bat. I said so in my latest interview with James Sadler of North Derbyshire Radio last night and strengthening the middle order is crucial. At least for next year, any two from three of Reece, Came and Naeem should serve us well at the top, but it depends on who becomes available. There is also the matter of replacing Wayne Madsen, almost certainly for 2028, but if someone came onto the market now then it would make sense to act.

In my lengthy bag of correspondence, I have been asked if I would take back Shan Masood, should he be available. Yes, although at 37 he perhaps isn't now at his prime. He has struggled in the series against England, but that attack is considerably stronger than anything he would face in division two next year. The relegation battle in division one is very tight, but none of the likely sides to drop carries remotely the threat that Durham did this year. 

The other issue, as we have seen with Mohammad Abbas this year, is the Pakistan penchant for short notice tours. Masood is currently their captain and it is important that whoever comes in is available for most of the summer. There may be wholesale changes after this awful tour that they have endured, but I'm sure that those at Derby will be carefully monitoring the situation, as they will be of several other options.

Another player who will doubtless interest counties for 2027 will be Leus du Plooy. He has decided to play for his native South Africa and has left his role at Middlesex. While I'm sure they would have him back as an overseas player, it may be that the debacle regarding the failure to register him to play in that role for the remainder of the summer is a disincentive. They don't seem awfully well organised down there, but I am sure that Leus will not lack suitors for 2027, given his record in the county game. 

Would he consider Derbyshire? Why not, although as we know money talks and the number of proven quality overseas players diminishes by the year. Like Masood, Leus may find himself involved in South Africa tours at full or A level and it prevents his playing in England next year, or for many seasons in the future. 

I am sure that Mickey Arthur and the cricket committee are working already on options for 2027. It must be difficult, because you can make all the plans and then find a later-organised tour throws them into disarray, much as happened with Mohammad Abbas. You can't wait and see, either, because otherwise you are searching in an even more limited marketplace.

Picking up a player who goes under the radar is very satisfying, however. Brett Randell is a case in point and at 31 he perhaps didn't expect another opportunity in county cricket, after a short stint previously at Somerset. Yet opportunity knocked, as Hughie Green used to say and he has snatched that opportunity with both hands. 

I will be honest, I only really knew him from the five wickets in five balls last winter, but he has impressed me, not just with his excellent bowling, but his overall attitude. He dives around in the field, contributes with the bat and looks the kind of bloke you are glad to have on your side. 

The acid test for any overseas player is the simple question - would you have him back? Most certainly, in the case of Brett, the answer is yes. But we must hope for an uninterrupted season of Abbas at his best in 2027. If he showed anything like his form in the Test matches, he should dominate the division.

One thing that has come out of the recent fixtures, however, is that it is unrealistic, given how the county schedule runs at present, to play two specialist spinners on a regular basis.

Historically, spin bowlers came into their own in July and August. The sun shone on used pitches, dried them out and the strength in that sun made the twirlers stride out with a spring in their step, their fingers twitching to get going. It is when they took the bulk of their wickets and earned their contract for the following year.

Dampness is coming back into September pitches and the sun isn't strong enough to dry it out. While it is always preferable to have a spinner in the side, two is a luxury that few can afford, unless one is also handy with the bat. 

If you have someone like Liam Dawson, James Coles or Matt Critchley in your side it is fine, as you know, they will contribute their weight of runs. But even someone as talented as Simon Harmer has only 34 wickets at 34 this year and Rehan Ahmed, oft-cited as Bashir's likely England replacement, has 18 wickets at 40.

Coles has 25 wickets at 29 but averages 35 with the bat, while Dawson has just 7 wickets at 53 and has struggled with the bat for once. Meanwhile Critchley has 19 wickets at 30, but also averages 50 with the bat, which isn't the worst of seasons.

Jack Morley can handle a bat as he has shown, but nor is he by some distance a genuine all-rounder. I am sure that Derbyshire will be hoping Shoaib Bashir retains his England central contract, because otherwise one of them will be sitting on the sidelines a lot. Besides which, the county would need to pick up the cost of his contract, which would certainly affect any ability to improve the squad this winter. 

Anyway, Mohammad Abbas, according to Mickey Arthur, is available for the next game, against Northamptonshire, starting on Tuesday. Logically two spinners WILL play there, because the pitches at Wantage Road always encourage spin. I remember Edwin Smith telling me the story of arriving at Northampton in the 1950s to find what looked like a very unusual green top. On closer inspection it turned out to be grass cuttings, laid on top of the traditional dry, sandy pitch! 

Yuzi Chahal will be waiting for his opportunity this week, as will Calvin Harrison. With Abbas, Morley and Bashir likely to be at 9-11, we must only hope that Ben Aitchison channels his inner Sobers at eight..

It may be that the final game, at Worcester, sees both Abbas and Brett Randell play, alongside Aitchison. While it will be the last game of the summer, that is a mouth-watering prospect...

Anyway, enjoy your weekend. Eight days of cricket to go before the long and pesky winter...hopefully they give us plenty of reasons to be cheerful.

PS in that interview link above, I am on at 23.30.

Derbyshire v Kent day 4

Derbyshire 300 and 352-8 

Kent 219 and 252 (Stewart 65, Singh 59, Foreman 38, Aitchison 5-44, Randell 3-39)

Derbyshire won by 181 runs

Despite a magnificent opening burst by Ben Aitchison, which reduced Kent to 38-5 in the morning, all the huffing and puffing thereafter looked like failing to blow down the remaining Kent houses.

Stoic resistance from Ekansh Singh, Grant Stewart and Bertie Foreman took the game into the last hour, then into the last three overs before the admirable Brett Randell tucked up Mahmud with a short ball that he could only spoon into the air and Brooke Guest ran in gleefully for the catch, shortly afterwards to be engulfed in his teammates.

Full credit to Foreman, who for the second time in the match defied the Derbyshire attack with a stoic and broad defence. He batted for 148 deliveries and looked like seeing his side to the draw until Bashir got one to straighten and trapped him in front of the stumps. Earlier Stewart had again been a thorn in Derbyshire sides before Andersson trapped him in front.

The Kent lower order all batted well and it spoke volumes for the team spirit engendered by Adam Hollioake. But equally good to see were the efforts of Derbyshire, again beating a side above them to claim their fourth red ball win of the summer. Had they only produced this focus on the last day in Manchester, or in the two games against Gloucestershire, they might have been in the promotion shake up.

Therein lies the Derbyshire dichotomy. If they could bottle the battle in this game, there would be no stopping them. In their wins this summer they have played some terrific cricket, but when they have fallen short, they have done so spectacularly. Narrowing the gap between best and worst will be the focus of the winter, but we know the talent is there. Over sixty summers I have seen sides where it wasn't so obvious, but the right winter additions *might* take the county on to the next level. And at least Durham won't be around next year...

Aitchison was magnificent, once again, but once the early movement had passed there was little in this fourth day pitch. The odd ball turned, an occasional one beat the bat and a couple of tough chances were spilled. But Derbyshire will be pleased to reverse the fortunes of recent games, overcoming the loss of overs after tea last night and the bad light at times today limiting what Wayne Madsen could do with his bowlers.

Top marks go again to Brett Randell, who has been an excellent signing. He runs in hard and consistently finds the dangerous areas, not especially quick but not wasting the ball either. 

Bashir also did a fine job for his side, keeping one end tight throughout and enabling the seamers to rotate at the other. There will be those who say he should have taken more wickets on the last day, but I saw little sign of excessive help for any of the spinners and it was important that they retained their discipline. 

The last day of county cricket at Derby this summer saw a home win and a wonderful finish.

Could you really ask for more? 

Derbyshire v Kent day 3

Derbyshire 300 and 352-8 (Guest 75*, Reece 53, Came 51, Andersson 50, Mahmud 3-52)

Kent 219 and 3-0

Kent require 431 runs to win

There was another impressive performance by Derbyshire at Derby today, as they set Kent an unlikely total of 434 runs to win in the final innings of the game.

Batting remained challenging, but fifties from Martin Andersson, Luis Reece, Harry Came and Brooke Guest saw them to 352-8 before the declaration came.

All batted well, but it was especially nice to see Guest return to form, in a typically busy innings full of wristy strokes. Ben Aitchison lent some bucolic late support and I suspect Mickey Arthur would have declared earlier,  had the light not meant they would have had to open the bowling with spinners.

As it turned out they did, but only briefly, before bad light and rain took them off for the day.

Andersson went past 1600 runs for the summer in all formats, again highlighting his importance to the side. His development since his arrival from Middlesex has been quite remarkable and I am surprised that there hasn't yet been a call up for either The Hundred or England Lions. Maybe he is seen as too old for the latter, but the selection of Nye Donald for the Lions this weekend and subsequently the full side should encourage him to keep going. The ability is certainly there and I always enjoy watching him.

So Kent will go into tomorrow needing a further 431 runs to secure the win that would boost their promotion hopes. 

I don't think they will get there and if Derbyshire play as they have throughout this game, the win points that they fully deserve will be theirs.

It would be the fourth of the summer, all but one of them against teams higher in the table. As I said in my latest interview with James Sadler of North Derbyshire Radio today, the losses to Gloucestershire and Lancashire have been the season-breakers.

Had they produced anything like their best form in those matches, a genuine promotion challenge would have been possible.

Until the gap between their best and worst narrows, it remains a pipe dream.

But there's always next year, eh? 😉

PS I will post a link to that interview, where we discuss the latest results, individual players and winter planning, when it is available tomorrow

Derbyshire v Kent day 2

Derbyshire 300 and 100-1 (Montgomery 42*, Came 34*)

Kent 219 (Foreman 49, Stewart 48, Aitchison 4-58, Randell 3-36, Andersson 3-39)

Derbyshire lead by 181 runs

Much better from Derbyshire today, who followed yesterday's outstanding century from Martin Andersson with an excellent seam bowling display.

Of course Ben Aitchison led from the front, taking four wickets and in the process passing fifty victims for the season. Testimony to his quality is my struggle to think of anyone on the county circuit that I would prefer to him in the side. On his form this summer, there isn't anyone. 

Besides his bowling, he has safe hands at slip and can handle a bat. There is much to like in such a player and his success is well deserved.

He was well backed up by Brett Randell, who has come in to replace Mohammad Abbas and done better than his predecessor. Eleven wickets at 21 each confirm the job he has done and today he was probing and accurate, never letting the batters settle and the ideal foil for Aitchison on this surface. Following on from his important support with the bat yesterday, he has had a fine match so far.

Then there was Andersson, perhaps now ready to take on the mantle of true all rounder, as opposed to the bowler who batted a bit who played at Middlesex, and the batter who bowled a bit when he came to Derbyshire. Three wickets to follow his century confirmed his talent and what a signing he has been.

Credit to Mickey Arthur, as I believe in being even-handed. The signing of Andersson has definitely earned brownie points, so too that of Randell, who has fitted in so well. 

Montgomery and Came did a fine job for their side in the evening session, playing straight and concentrating on occupying the crease. It is key to the result of this match that both press on tomorrow.

The pitch is far from easy and mention should also be made of Brooke Guest, who I thought kept quite brilliantly today. He has had his struggles with the bat this year, but when at his best he is quite excellent with the gloves. One single-handed take above his head - standing up, mind - from a ball bowled by Randell that exploded from a length was ridiculously good and his footwork and hands worked well together today. The seven extras conceded by Derbyshire compared very favourably with the 47 given away by Kent, the day before. 

There were signs of variable bounce, especially from the City End, but Derbyshire will hope to push on tomorrow and set Kent in excess of 350 in the final innings. 181 runs ahead, they are in a good position to do so, but they have squandered positions of strength before and must not do so again.

The visitors need to win, so realistically will chase most targets set. There hasn't yet been much sign of turn, but hopefully Morley and Bashir come into their own on the final day. Kent will hope for more from the names in their top order, though Foreman was resolute for them today and Stewart so often lends value with the tail.

Anyway, this was a good day's cricket. Fair play to all involved.

Let's push on tomorrow, lads! 

Edwin Smith book

I have had a few enquiries since the sad passing of Edwin Smith about copies of the book that I wrote on his life. 

You can get a copy of this in ebook form, by going on to Google Play and searching for either Steve Dolman or Edwin Smith under 'books'. It costs £5.

Alternately, I have come across one spare copy of the book in hard copy and pristine, which I can sell for £10 plus postage. This will be very much first come, first served.

To my great amusement, you can buy the same book on Amazon - their last one - for £167.27. Hmm...

If interested, please drop an email to peakfan36@yahoo.co.uk

PS On Google Play you can also download my post-war history of the club, 'In Their Own Words' for £9.99. Sadly, I don't see the royalties now, but such is life. 

Amazon are also selling it on a promotion in hard copy for the same price. 

Postscript: the book is now sold!

Derbyshire v Kent day 1

It looks like a good recovery after a dreadful start...

Fair play to Martin Andersson for an excellent ton that kept his side afloat, but 47 extras...that helped!

Good to see Ben get a wicket before the close..

So what are your thoughts...with Derbyshire playing two spinners and the ball expected to turn later, is 300 a decent score? 1

Derbyshire v Kent preview

Eighty two comments on a blog post..

While not scanning quite so well as 'Fifteen Men on the Dead Man's Chest', it reveals a depth of feeling about the current situation at Derbyshire. The natives are restless and with good reason, there's no denying that. 

It has been a hugely disappointing season. Perhaps all the more so because of the anticipation that surrounded the arrival of Mohammad Abbas. Perhaps the only positive that has come from that signing, at this stage, is that the club hasn't had to pay much from the rumoured £400 a wicket incentive that made the cricket press...

Anyway, we reach the final home game of the season and I will miss the first day, since I'm meeting up with old friends in Manchester tomorrow. As usual in such situations, I will create a page for your comments and normal service will be resumed in time for the second day. 

Kent are the opponents and they have been on a fine run since Derbyshire played them into form at Canterbury, back in May. It was another of those games that have littered the season... remember that we had them 55-5 in their second innings, just 103 runs ahead, then they made 335 and won? Mickey Arthur's men have squandered so many strong positions this summer, it is a surprise that they haven't registered for charitable status...

Luis Reece is back and he has been a huge miss this summer. In 2025 he took fifty wickets, whereas this year he has just one. Maybe, if his body had played ball, an opening attack with him alongside Ben Aitchison would have made a difference, but he will need better form and fortune in the final year of his current deal, next year. There have been off field challenges too, of course and we must hope that he returns to the form of his best days in 2027. 

Nye Donald is with England Lions for their two T20 matches against Sri Lanka, while Zak Chappell is missing, still building himself up from injury. Anuj Dal is also absent and I have a feeling we may have seen the last of him in Derbyshire colours, with his contract up this year, although that is a hunch, not based on any inside information.

I expect this to be the side, assuming Reece is fit to both bat and bowl:

Came, Naeem, Montgomery, Madsen, Andersson, Basra, Guest, Reece, Aitchison, Randell, Morley 

Potts and Rogers also in the squad. 

For me there is more to be gained by giving experience to Basra and having both he and Naeem as additional seam options, than in playing Nick Potts in this one. 

Kent currently set second in the table, 15 points clear of third place Northamptonshire. Adam Hollioake has done a good job with them this year and they must be favourites to go up with Durham, who hammered Darren Lehmann's side in the last match.

Kent will be aggressive and will go for the win, even though rain looks set to take some time out of the game on Thursday. They arrive with the following squad, which includes overseas bowlers Keith Dudgeon, Hasan Mahmud & Khaled Ahmed:

Bell-Drummond, Benjamin, Compton, Crawley, Dudgeon, Foreman, Mahmud, Khaled, Muyeye, Northeast, Parkinson, Quinn, Singh, Stewart

Given their most recent form, I cannot predict a Derbyshire win here. 

Time will tell if they can find the fight to make a game of it, which they singularly failed to do last time out. The main interest revolves around Ben Aitchison, who needs two more wickets to reach fifty in a splendid personal season.

I'm sure that he will get there and I am delighted that he has managed to recover from injuries to become a genuine force in the county game. 

Hopefully Zak Chappell, Pat Brown, Harry Moore and Rory Haydon can do the same next season.