Book Review: The Cricketers' Who's Who 2026

I have been a big fan of The Cricketers Who's Who since it was produced by Iain Sproat in 1980. 

Since then it has become as much a part of the start of summer as the smell of cut grass and linseed oil (as it used to be, back in the day!)

It is THE book to pack in your bag for a day at the cricket. The Playfair Cricket Annual will have its fans, of course, especially if space is at a premium around your sandwiches and sun cream. Yet the newer, expanded version of this annual is simply wonderful.

You get a nice foreword (this time written by writer and broadcaster Annie Chave), a look at each club, their winter signings, prospects and averages from all competitions the previous year. Then there are biographies and career statistics for all of the male players and the top tier women equivalents. 

It packs so much into the 672 pages, yet still manages to be very readable for those of us whose eyesight isn't as it once was. For this reader, that's the issue with the modern Wisdens, that there is simply so much cricket played these days that the font size has come down to something below my comfort level. I'm not yet at the magnifying sheet stage, but I am sure you take my point. 

Where else could you find out that Amrit Basra is fiercely competitive about Articulate, the board game (me too..!)? Or that Ben Aitchison's nickname is 'Biggen'? Or that Caleb Jewell has two 'sausage dogs', while Luis Reece loves a game of Mario Kart? 

You could talk to them, of course, but this is a book that shows the 'human' side of those who play the game at elite level. 

Which they all are, like you and me. Just ordinary people whose work we envy, admire and follow avidly. Some are more forthcoming with their likes, dislikes, interests and ambitions, but this is a book into which you can dip and find something every time.

I just wonder if Harry Came and Ben Aitchison know that they are part of a fantasy slip cordon of Sam Conners, alongside himself and...Tiger Woods!

Highly recommended

The Cricketers' Who's Who 2026 is published by Fairfield Books and is available from all good book shops

Derbyshire v Worcestershire Day 2

Derbyshire 625-8d (Andersson 227, Reece 114, Dal 55 Taylor 3-160)

Worcestershire 113-2 (Latigan 77*, Chappell 2-21)

Derbyshire lead by 512 runs

Derbyshire advanced their first inning score to 625-8 before declaring today. The ease with which the runs mounted was my cause for concern, as far fewer deliveries passed the bat than yesterday. 

Nonetheless Luis Reece completed a splendid century, before being caught at mid-wicket, ending a wonderful partnership of 273 with Martin Andersson. It brought in Anuj Dal, perhaps not who the visitors would have wanted to see, given his first-class average of over 60 against them. 

It dropped slightly today, Nuj 'only' making 55, but Zak Chappell and Ben Aitchison hit well to take the score over 600, the second successive time - across two seasons - that the side has managed that. Given it has only occurred six times in a history of 156 years, it is fair to say there is little currently wrong with the county batting. Full marks to all concerned and especially to Ben Smith, the batting coach, who will have enjoyed his birthday while watching his charges rack up the runs. 

Bestriding all was Martin Anderson, who made a quite magnificent 227 and confirmed his talent as a middle-order bat. It is extraordinary to think he was seen as a bits and pieces bowling all rounder at Middlesex, since this was his fourth century for Derbyshire. Once again, the George Davidson record individual score of 274 was threatened, yet it still stands as the county highest, 130 years after it was recorded in 1896.

Of course, everyone wanted to see Mohammad Abbas bowl and he didn't disappoint. Indeed, he should have had a wicket in his second over, but Brooke Guest dropped a routine catch of the kind I've never seen him do before, such is the standard of his wicket keeping. Abbas beat the bat a few times and there were a few edges to attest to his quality. He will take wickets, be sure of that.

The Worcestershire reply was attractive, with Dan Lategan looking more confident than the average 19-year-old should do. The South African has a pleasing, languid style and look set for a very bright future. That dropped catch should have ended his involvement in today and Jake Libby was put down by a more difficult one to Caleb Jewell at slip, from the bowling of Ben Aitchison. 

On pitches such as these, catches really need to be held, no matter how cold and unpleasant the weather. At the end of the season they generally win and lose trophies, so it wasn't the ideal start.

Jewell redeemed himself by holding a more routine one from the bowling of Chappell, who also deceived Ali with a yorker that had him plumb leg before.

That was as good as it got for Derbyshire, with the day coming to a premature halt through bad light. Aitchison bowled a very good spell, as did Dal, but there were only moral successes thereafter, which count for nothing in the scorebook.

The home side will have wanted more than two wickets by the close of play and it's going to need a special effort by person or persons yet unknown, to break down what is sure to be stubborn Worcestershire resistance over the next two days.

Early wickets will be needed tomorrow and there is much to do. 

Derbyshire v Worcestershire day 1

Derbyshire 391-4 (Andersson 134*, Reece 89* Jewell 56, Came 50, Guest 36, 

v Worcestershire 

Having been put into bat after losing the toss this morning, Derbyshire will have been delighted to lunch at 100-1, thrilled to reach tea at 241-4. Ecstatic to add a further 150 by the close, to finish 391-4.

It was an early season pitch, with plenty of movement, a few examples of the ball 'stopping' and a couple where it kept worryingly low. Especially worrying, if in winning the toss you had consigned yourself to the final innings on the pitch...

Despite losing on the coin, Cap'n Came did little wrong afterwards, in a lovely innings that helped his side to a very good start. He was sound in defence, committed in attack and looked in little trouble, until he edged behind with the score on 82. 

At the other end Caleb Jewell was more circumspect than usual, but there was still opportunity to unveil his trademark cover drives, which remain a thing of great beauty. Key for both players was playing straight and being prepared to wait for the bad ball. Impatience saw the early dismissal of Montgomery, who struggled to come to terms with the pitch, despite getting off the mark with a square drive for four from his first ball.

Brooke Guest was quickly into his stride and was markedly timing the ball better than in the previous pre-season game. Jewell's vigil ended on 56 and when Guest fell victim to one that clearly stopped and lobbed a gentle catch to gulley, the game was back in the balance with Derbyshire 181-4.

Batting at five, Martin Andersson looked in control from the moment he came to the crease. His stroke play today was redolent of high summer, the shots of a man who had a thousand runs behind him and was booking in for a few more. Both his timing and placement could scarce have been bettered and in company with the ever-reliable Reece, the tea interval was reached after an afternoon that produced 141 runs. This despite very good spells by Waite and Taylor, who dragged their side back into the game with lengthy and challenging spells.

It should not be forgotten that the stroke play down the order was largely possible due to the diligence of that opening pair, putting overs in new-season legs and in the ball. If Derbyshire are to have a memorable summer, they will need plenty of this, such as Paul Borrington and Martin Guptill produced in 2012, when we won the second division. The top order were secure in defence, played straight, yet never missed an opportunity to go on the offensive.

The visitors didn't help themselves with poor catching in the slip cordon. A couple of bowlers looked rusty, but at this stage of the year everyone is in the same position. There were a few unnecessarily lengthy appeals, a couple that bordered on dissent and the visiting frustration was evident by slumping shoulders.

After tea, D'Oliveira and Libby entered the attack for the first time, less because conditions appeared favourable, more because the over rate earlier had been extremely tardy. The scoring continued apace and there is much to enjoy in having an experienced opening bat in the middle order. Luis Reece, having played himself in before the interval, discovered his fluent game and the runs mounted as the slow bowlers were milked around. The partnership passed a hundred and the county 300 came up with 20 overs to go in the day, Reece reaching his fifty with the same stroke.

Soon afterwards, Andersson reached a century of considerable charm and remarkable early-season fluency. I can pay no greater tribute than to say the absent Wayne Madsen wasn't missed on this occasion. He is a very watchable player and the Middlesex loss has been very much Derbyshire's gain. He went on to his highest first class score in a magnificent display.

The day ended with Derbyshire in complete control at 391-4, the stand at 210 with power to add.

Finally tonight, a word about the excellent stream. Despite running it at a fraction of the cost of others on the circuit, the Derbyshire model is always very impressive. The use of the different angles and cameras were appreciated and those involved deserve every credit for making the output as professional as today, so early in the season.

If Carlsberg did days at the cricket, eh? 

Well done fellas. Great effort today! 

Derbyshire v Worcestershire preview

There is no Wayne Madsen in the Derbyshire fourteen for tomorrow's opening first-class County Championship match at The Central Co-op County Ground, against Worcestershire.

With a long season ahead, it is better that we err on the side of caution, especially when the squad depth is good.

There's no news on who will be captain. I have listed the players as they appear on the club site and one could infer from it that Harry Came will be skipper, as he was for the preseason matches. Equally, Brooke Guest is an option, so too Nye Donald

Harry Came
Martin Andersson
Luis Reece
Aneurin Donald
Shoaib Bashir
Ben Aitchison
Jack Morley
Matt Montgomery
Caleb Jewell
Brooke Guest
Zak Chappell
Mohammad Abbas
Anuj Dal
Rory Haydon

Without having seen the players in the nets, none of us can make an informed choice at this stage. My best guess would be that Haydon, Morley and either Donald, Dal or Came miss out, but that's all it is.

As for Worcestershire, they await news of their overseas player and have brought in Oliver Hannon-Dalby on loan from Warwickshire for two matches. It will buy them breathing space, although I'm not sure what message it sends to bowlers already on the staff. Hannon-Dalby is experienced in the top tier and won't let them down. Tom Taylor will be keen to impress against the county where he got his start, while Jake Libby will aim to get his season off to a flier as the experienced leader of the batting.

They have also named fourteen, namely:

Libby, Waite, Singh, Roderick, Edavalath, Taylor, D'Oliveira, Hannon-Dalby, Gibbon, Latigan, Ali, Hose, Finch, Brookes

It is a good squad and of course they were a division higher than Derbyshire last year. Both sides will want to show that they mean business in 2026 and the toss may prove important, as it so often does at this time of year. 

The forecast isn't too bad. A few showers tomorrow and Saturday, but there's every chance of enough time in the game for a positive result. 

Which way will it go? Place your bets, but I am going for a home win, with Mohammad Abbas playing a key role, on what is expected to be a bouncy track.

Let's be honest, we're all a bit excited tonight, aren't we?

Go well, fellas.

Final thoughts on season eve..eve!

With the exception of the injury to Wayne Madsen, it has been a remarkably serene last couple of weeks for Derbyshire. 

Both overseas players, Caleb Jewell and Mohammad Abbas have arrived and look to be fit and raring to go, according to the videos from the club site. Even a beanie hat on his head could not detract from the menace of Abbas, the videos showing his team mates looking on in a combination of fascination and awe as he zipped the ball around in the nets.

Elsewhere, however, there are a good few counties not having to look too far for challenges. 

I mentioned Friday's opposition, Worcestershire, in my previous piece. They may or may not have the services of Beyer Swanepoel in Friday's game, but the thinking money would be on him being unavailable. 

Lancashire will not have the services of Australian seamer Mitch Perry, who has been ruled out of his spell with them due to a stress fracture. Marcus Harris will not be over in time for the first game, after appearing in the Sheffield Shield final, while Keaton Jennings has also been ruled out with a pulled calf muscle.

Gloucestershire has been rocked today by the news that Ben Charlesworth intends to leave at the end of the season. Having already effectively lost their seam attack from last year, it cannot do much for morale at this early stage.

Further afield, Leicestershire have had to replace both of their overseas players, Sussex are facing losing their Head Coach, Paul Farbrace, at season end, Middlesex had an overseas player lined up but he too is injured, while Hampshire had to replace Michael Neser with Jaydon Seales, who in turn had to he replaced by South African Codi Yusuf.

It doesn't make for ideal season preparation, nor anything close to it. Injuries will always occur, especially when recruiting seam bowlers, but it seems to be far more common these days than it used to. 

Every club makes signings that they feel are right for the balance of their squad, then any subsequent change appears from distance to be the equivalent of a supermarket panic buy. Certainly there will be limited availability at this stage, with most of the big names snapped up or contracted elsewhere to one franchise or another. 

I honestly don't think Derbyshire put a foot wrong in the winter. Jewell was signed before the end of last year, while the pursuit of Mohammad Abbas was lengthy, dogged and ultimately successful. It may well be that Hampshire are currently wishing they had been more prepared to fight for the services of a player who has never let any side down.

As for Matt Montgomery, his was a signing I advocated some time before it was announced and there is something reassuring about a middle order that will eventually contain both he and Madsen. On top of all that, we secured the services of England's number one spinner, which as recruitment goes, is the equivalent of a campaign undertaken by a well-known brewery. 

The acid test is when the action starts, of course. That Derbyshire has a squad depth better than in years is undeniable. It is now down to Mickey Arthur, his coaches and staff to keep them fit and provide an environment in which they can produce their best cricket. 

I expect us to be in the mix at the end of the red ball summer. Further than that will depend on our managing game situations better than we did last year. We should have won away matches at Glamorgan and Gloucestershire, both of them run chases that petered out poorly after very good starts. 

Improvement on that this year - and with a stronger attack to boot - shouldn't see us too far away.

It won't be long now..

Derbyshire v Leeds/Bradford UCCE day 3

Leeds/Bradford UCCE 200-7

Derbyshire 248-7 (Donald 58, Andersson 58 retired, Dal 32*)

Match drawn

The gap in class between 'very good' and 'first class' cricketers was never better exemplified than in the truncated game between Derbyshire and Leeds/Bradford UCCE.

Make no mistake, there are some good players among the students, but their innings of 200-7 took 80 overs of hard work to accumulate. The home bowling was tight, accurate and constantly probing on a pitch that offered encouraging help to the bowlers throughout.

Conversely, when the Derbyshire players finally had a chance to bat today, they rattled along quite merrily at almost six runs an over. There was still plenty of lateral movement, but the home players took things in their stride and accumulated nicely, in the last action before the first match (proper) of the season. Bad balls were despatched and there was plenty to enjoy.

If there were still places to be played for, Nye Donald might have given Mickey Arthur food for thought. While accepting the standard of attack was less than will be faced on Friday, he batted fluently and in fine style in making 58 from just 50 deliveries. There were 12 boundaries among his runs, so he clearly didn't plan on running too many of them. Harry Came also batted well, before edging a catch to slip. Was it a face off between the two of them to partner Caleb Jewell on Friday? Only one man knows the answer to that.

Matt Montgomery went early (though seemingly unconvinced he had touched the ball), while Brooke Guest struggled initially with his timing. He got going quite nicely, before being bowled by a good delivery from Hawkins and while Luis Reece went first ball, playing across the line, Derbyshire had passed the visiting total by that stage and it was all rather academic thereafter. Dal and Aitchison shared a pleasing and unbroken stand of 36, the latter again showing he can handle a bat.

Perhaps the best batting came from Martin Andersson, who has looked in very good touch pre-season. If Wayne Madsen is unfit to take his place on Friday, the side largely picks itself, with Martin slotting in at number five and Anuj Dal at seven. He also looked in good touch, both with bat and ball, in this game and would be unlucky to miss out.

The only other decision would appear to be which among a strong seam bowling contingent will get the nod alongside the eagerly awaited debut of Mohammad Abbas. I expect that to be Ben Aitchison and I see the following eleven taking the field on Friday:

Jewell

Donald/Came

Montgomery

Guest

Andersson

Reece

Dal

Chappell 

Aitchison

Bashir

Abbas

If Madsen is fit-  and he is undertaking a fitness test today - then perhaps the final place will be between Dal and Aitchison. I don't see the omission of Bashir, because if we need more than five seamers, something is radically wrong, regardless of the message it would send.

What do you think? 

Finally tonight, I was quite staggered to read about the new Worcestershire overseas player, Beyers Swanepoel, and the actions that have left his contract and, of course involvement on Friday in doubt.

I have no idea what has gone on there, but I wouldn't be best pleased were I a fan of either team involved.

Postscript - this should have been published at the end of the day and for some reason the publication was deferred. 

Apologies to those who were looking for it

Derbyshire v Leeds/Bradford UCCE day 2

Leeds/Bradford UCCE 200-7 (Pearson 44, Carney 40)

v Derbyshire

There's not much to report on the second day of this game. 

The sixth wicket stand between Carney and Pearson reached 83 in 35 overs of laudable defiance, before both went within four balls. The former went to a fine catch from Donald at mid wicket, before Guest held a tumbling effort down the leg side to see Pearson 'strangled' from the bowling of Andersson.

It looked bitterly cold and there would have been little disappointment among the players when heavy rain took them off, eventually for the day. 

The high point was to see in social media footage the first nets of Caleb Jewell and Mohammad Abbas, the latter wearing a bobble hat, though not obviously a body warmer that could have proven useful.

Hopefully tomorrow will see a day of batting practice for Derbyshire, before thoughts turn to the season opener proper against Worcestershire on Friday. 

Hopefully the weather warms up a little in between times...

Derbyshire v Leeds/Bradford UCCE

Leeds/Bradford UCCE 147-5 (Tangirala 41, Lloyd 30, Dal 2-22, Reece 2-23) 

v Derbyshire

Amid the many showers, there was an attritional day of batting and some good work outs for the Derbyshire bowlers. By the close, the visitors had reached 147-5.

Rahul Tangirala, who spent his winter in Australian grade cricket, was the major resistance, his organised and solid defence keeping an end going for 137 deliveries and 41 stoic runs. Later, Harry Pearson from Yorkshire and Jack Carney, erstwhile of Lancashire (and Derbyshire Seconds in recent summers) added an unbroken 39 in 20 overs.

The Derbyshire bowling was steady, accurate and probing. There weren't too many loose deliveries and the ball frequently beat the bat. No one bowled badly, though the pick were Anuj Dal and Luis Reece, each with two wickets and great control. Rory Haydon bowled well at the top, while later there was a first opportunity to watch Shoaib Bashir twirling away on home turf.

All in all, the rain notwithstanding, a handy day for all concerned.

Hopefully it will be the same for the Derbyshire batters tomorrow.

Pre- season thoughts

What, if anything, can we read into the team selection for Derbyshire's pre-season friendlies?

I suspect that there are places still up for grabs, especially with the seam attack. Indications of rhythm and form could go a long way towards swinging a berth in the side for this Friday. 

Wayne Madsen hasn't been in either side, so one assumes that his involvement against Worcestershire will be in doubt. Much depends on how he is this week, but given his absence, the likely top seven is as appeared at Leicester and will at Derby, starting today. Caleb Jewell will logically replace Nye Donald, who would surely otherwise have batted in his likely position this week. 

It would mean Martin Andersson slotting in at number five, reward for a very good 2025 in which he scored three championship centuries. He looked good at Leicester, as Derbyshire scored 243-7 in 60 overs. So did everyone else, with only Harry Came (43), Donald (10) and Zak Chappell (5) being dismissed, the rest retiring. Matt Montgomery looked classy, Andersson was the most fluent and all will be grateful for time in the middle. Brooke Guest looked in good touch too, as did Luis Reece, again batting at six.

It was great to see Harry Moore back, both batting and bowling (unfurling the first reverse sweep that I have seen this summer, in the process). I expect them to slowly build his workload before he perhaps becomes a first choice. Then again, Rory Haydon could play himself into the eleven with wickets in the game that starts today. 

Wickets were shared around as Leicestershire made 136-6, including one with his second ball for Shoaib Bashir. It counts for little in his career record, but will do his confidence no harm as Ben Aitchison neatly pouched a catch at slip. 

The rain took a lot of time out of the scheduled play and it may do again over the next days. The Derbyshire lineup for Leeds/Bradford UCCE

Came

Donald

Montgomery 

Guest

Andersson

Reece

Dal

Chappell 

Aitchison

Haydon

Bashir

Morley

Potts

With light rain showers forecast, they may be on and off today, but we will all either don appropriate clothing and head down there to watch, or get the stream on and enjoy our first sighting of the county side in 2026. 

I will be watching at 11am, like most of you!

Squad announced for first pre-season friendly

Mickey Arthur has announced his first Derbyshire squad of 2026, for the 3-day friendly against Leicestershire at the Uptonsteel County Ground today.

With our overseas players set to arrive before the opening county championship game, the 13-man squad is a mixture of youth and experience. Matt Montgomery and Shoaib Bashir could both feature, but there is no place in the side for Wayne Madsen in this one.

The Derbyshire squad: 

Came

Donald

Montgomery 

Guest

Andersson 

Reece

Dal

Chappell

Moore

Aitchison

Bashir

Haydon

Morley

I won't be reading too much into that selection, nor will I be especially worried if things don't go according to plan. This is merely a workout, a chance to get some overs and some time in the middle under their belts.

I just hope that the weather is better than we are currently experiencing in the Lake District. With the amount of rain in the last 24 hours it's unlikely there would be any play over the 3 days, let alone today..

I won't report every evening, since it is a friendly and I am on holiday, but I will do an end of match round up in due course. 

A decent phone signal would be handy, too!

Assessing the competition

In assessing Derbyshire's prospects in red ball cricket, one has to consider the opponents that they will face. Here is a brief 'state of the nation' in Division Two...

Durham 

I was astonished that the northernmost county were relegated last year. They will aim to bounce straight back and will probably be strong favourites to do so. 

Tales of dressing room unrest didn't help them and the possibility is that the horrific final day that they experienced may have lingering  aftershocks.

David Bedingham will again lead the batting and they will hope that Kemar Roach, who has moved from Surrey, has a similar effect on the bowling. Kasey Eldridge has joined from Somerset and Archie Bailey from Gloucestershire. They will need to cover the likely absence of their England men, although Ben Raine will again be the workhorse in the attack. It will be interesting to see how much game time Sam Conners gets there, after a troubled year in 2025.

They *should* go back up.

Gloucestershire

They lost SIX seamers over the winter and that will take a serious recovery. Will Williams has signed from Lancashire and Craig Miles has returned to the county from Warwickshire, but they will need to stay fit and there's not a lot of depth to the attack. Both have experienced challenges in that respect and they will need their fair share of luck.

Cameron Bancroft returns and the batting should be fine but the largely unknown Australian seamer, Gabe Bell, will need to hit the floor running, for them to push for the top places.

Kent

Another county that lacks depth in its attack. They have brought in South Africans Keith Dudgeon and Glenton Stuurman and Adam Hollioake says that he aims to address that bowling issue by preparing pitches to last three days, so they don't have so much work. Watch this space...

The return of Matt Milnes from Yorkshire will help, as will that of Sam Northeast from Glamorgan, but they don't look like promotion candidates at this stage and fitness will be key for them, as for others. Milnes and Mikey Cohen are good bowlers, but have struggled to stay fit long enough in the past. Nathan Gilchrist will be tough to replace, after his move to Warwickshire

Lancashire 

With their budget they really shouldn't be in Division Two. Sir James Anderson will be skipper this year, but it is surely asking a lot for a man who will be 44 during the season to lead the attack all summer. 

Australian Mitch Perry will join Ajeet Singh Dale and Paul Coughlin in a new look bowling line up, while Marcus Harris will lead batting that too often misfired last year, despite a lot of experience. George Balderson will continue to be one of the unsung heroes of the side and they should be in the mix, IF they can keep a large squad happy. 

I always see them as a better white ball side, but they should challenge.

Middlesex

The county has not had far to look for off-field challenges. They have not yet recruited an overseas player, while the only change to last year's staff is the departure of Steve Eskinazi to Leicestershire.

Leus du Plooy will be key to their batting once more, with support from Matt Holden, while Ryan HIggins remains one of the very best county all rounders. He and Toby Roland-Jones will need to be at their best for them to figure, however. The emergence of England under-19 star, Caleb Falconer, could be a season highlight, but a promotion challenge would appear unlikely.

Northamptonshire 

Australian Nathan McSweeney will lead the batting for most of the summer in his first time here, while experienced fellow countryman Harry Conway returns and will do the same for the early-season attack. If Ben Sanderson stays fit they might challenge and they have done well in recruiting Calvin Harrison from Nottinghamshire. 

The arrival of Yuzi Chahal may be key to their chances when he arrives in the second half of the summer, but he disappointed last year with only 12 wickets at 46. Runs shouldn't be an issue, especially if Saif Zaib rekindles last year's form, but can they take twenty wickets to win many matches? 

Worcestershire 

Theoretically they should challenge, since they were in Division One last year. They always seem to be a side greater than the sum of its constituent parts, but their only overseas player so far is South African all-rounder Beyers Swanepoel, who struggled for Kent in 2024, taking only five wickets at 53 and averaging just over 20 with the bat.

Runs won't be a problem for them, with the admirable Jake Libby leading the way, but Tom Taylor and Matt Waite will need to stay fit and be in top form to force the required wins for a promotion push.

Conclusion 

Durham, Lancashire and Worcestershire are the strongest squads but even the bookies have got Derbyshire on short odds this year.

That is the reflection on sound recruitment. There isn't long to go now and a good start is important. Yet so too is going on a run, as Glamorgan proved last year. 

The sides that keep their key men fit, hold their catches and have their share of luck will, as usual, prevail. 

It will be a long summer, but it could be a special one for Derbyshire supporters. No doubt with bumps in the road along the way..

Stick with them!

And this blog, of course...

County Championship preview

At this time of year, there isn't a cricket team in the country that doesn't think this might be 'the' season.

I have felt that many times with Derbyshire. Most notably when we signed Eddie Barlow and Dean Jones, when it went as hoped, but I also remember when we signed Lawrence Rowe, among many others, when it didn't.

Big names have come and gone, yet there are few bigger in the context of the county game in recent seasons than Mohammad Abbas. His record speaks for itself and there will be few sides in division two who are confident of handling his many skills with a cricket ball. 

Abbas was the cherry atop the icing on a particularly fine winter cake, as Mickey Arthur recruited very well. Shoaib Bashir will attract the headline writers of course, not all of them hoping he succeeds, such is the way of the media these days. With two international bowlers in their attack, Derbyshire surely has to be a more potent force with the ball than in recent seasons?

Much will depend on pitches at home. There will be an element of risk in making them more sporting, but the attack put together is the match of any in the second division. 

Ben Aitchison returned in 2025 and gave additional 'oomph' to the seam bowling, while Zak Chappell will surely benefit from not having to carry the attack. He can now be rested, as appropriate, to maintain fitness. Those two will likely be first choice change bowlers for Abbas and the admirable Luis Reece, who both batted and bowled brilliantly in 2025. Behind them, Rory Haydon will be keen to impress in his first year on the staff, while Harry Moore will be wanting to put his injury-ravaged 2025 behind him. 

The seam bowling strength doesn't end there, with Pat Brown and Nick Potts undoubtedly wanting to put the challenges of last season behind them. Both are better than they showed last year, when injury played a major part in underwhelming seasons. Both need better form and luck this summer, with challenge coming from an increasingly impressive Pathway and their current deals running only to the end of the summer.

Seam bowling should not be an issue, especially with Anuj Dal and Martin Andersson to lend further support. The latter had a spectacular year with the bat last summer, though again injury limited his bowling. As for Dal, he will want to show that the decline of the last two summers is not terminal, again in the last year of his current contract. He may not be a first choice and must make the most of opportunity when it presents itself.  Everyone will hope this genial, popular all-rounder rediscovers the form of his best days.

The arrival of Bashir, replacing Alex Thomson, is an intriguing signing and puts pressure on Jack Morley for the first choice spinner role.  Jack took 27 wickets last year and bowled some good spells, but an average of 47 needs to come down. Bashir also needs to show that he has what it takes for a long county career, having been elevated to first choice for his country ahead of schedule. It is easy to forget he is only 22, very much learning the game.  Plenty of bowling will aid his development. Like any other job, you only learn with experience. To

The wicket keeping will be again in the safe hands of Brooke Guest. Both that and his batting will likely benefit from the arrival of Matt Montgomery from Nottinghamshire, enabling him to drop down the order, likely to number five. Nye Donald will offer back up, but is unlikely to be first choice in the red ball format, ahead of a man who has made the position his own in recent years and offered admirable consistency.

The success of the season will depend on how the batting functions as a unit. Given appropriate pitches, the bowlers will take wickets and winning matches will be dependent on scoring enough runs to win matches. 

The very best Derbyshire sides were not especially strong in batting. The ones in the 1930s and 1950s generally cobbled together enough runs to bowl at, while rarely posting mammoth scores. They allowed time for the bowlers to do their thing, something the class of '26 must emulate.

This year's model has talent, but must show it on a regular basis. Caleb Jewell will want to put an ordinary winter for Tasmania, where he averaged just 24, behind him and again lead from the top as he did so well last year. He will likely open with Harry Came, a player of considerable talent who must now show that he has progressed from promising youngster to established and consistent county professional. The starts they give will largely dictate the county fortunes. 

Montgomery will add a touch of steel and class at number three and I expect him to be close to or past four figures by the end of the summer. I've always rated him highly and consider his acquisition an excellent piece of work by Mickey Arthur. He will take weight from the shoulders of Wayne Madsen, captain once more in his eighteenth season with the club and his 42nd year. There were no signs of a diminution of his powers last year and he remains the most prized wicket in the side. 

Luis Reece will offer depth to the batting, especially with his long experience of facing the new ball. How nice would it be for him to often come in at 300-4 rather than 52-4? Nye Donald will hope for opportunity, as will Amrit Basra. Both may see more cricket in the white ball game, but are equally capable of offering an injection of pace and power into the batting lineup, when given the opportunity. Both are entertainers and their arrival at the crease is always likely to be enjoyed.

Mitch Wagstaff and Yusuf bin Naeem will hope for opportunity, again after more injuries than they would have wished last year. While Naeem is largely unproven, there's a good cricketer in Wagstaff. The injury that ended his season before the 50-over competition last year ruined a great showcase opportunity. He could yet succeed but needs to grasp opportunity when it presents itself. There is much to like in a left handed bat who bowls very handy leg spin.

There is enough talent in this squad to push for promotion. I will look at the other teams in a separate piece, but while Durham and Lancashire will likely start favourites, there is usually one side that upsets the form book.

Few would have predicted Leicestershire and Glamorgan to go up last season. 

If they get off to a good start, have their share of luck, hold their catches  and keep their nerve in tight situations, why can't it be Derbyshire this year? 

The question mark, I expect, will be the final month of the season. Abbas *might* be selected for the Pakistan tour of this country, while Jewell is likely to have to return to Australia, as their cricket board expects of all players, ahead of the domestic season there.

Is there money to bring in a replacement, if needed? I don't know the answer at this stage, but first we need to get into a position where the question becomes relevant. 

It will make for fascinating viewing. 

I am sure we all wish them the very best of luck.

Madsen 'spotting'

Tidying up the blog this week - as well as writing the previous post about Wayne Madsen's longevity with the club almost matching mine - I came across the post I had written when I suggested the club should make a move for his services.

I didn't expect it to happen so quickly and soon afterwards I was reporting on his signing after John Morris moved quickly to secure his services. John could spot a player and while they didn't always play to potential, his time as county coach brought in some good cricketers. 

At that time I had no expectation that Wayne would go on to be the heartbeat of the Derbyshire side for the best part of two decades, any more than that I would still be writing this blog and covering his entire career with the club.

He has been a model professional, both on and off the field and while I claim no responsibility for the signing, I am pleased that my suggestion came to fruition. Over the years it has been mutually beneficial, with Wayne and his wife making their homes in the area and very much becoming part of the 'furniture'.

I remain humbled and flattered that he kindly wrote the foreword for my second book, as well as attending the launches of both. He is quite a man, something that would likely be echoed by anyone with who he has been in contact in the intervening period.

Having led Derbyshire to the second division title in his first stint as skipper, in 2012, how nice would it be if he could do the same in 2026?

No one would deserve it more.

Postscript: my season preview will be published tomorrow, together with a look at the county's rivals in red ball cricket.

A lifetime hobby

Sixty years ago in July, a young boy accompanied his father to a cricket match for the first time. Little knowing that visit had created a hobby and interest that would last him a lifetime. 

Nineteen years ago I created this blog, the first post going out on April 4, 2008. Again, little did I know that it would grow from something I hoped would help me to get to know a few other fans of the county, to something that has now exceeded 6.25 million visits. In the intervening period I have got to know so many people, made very good friends and have always been grateful that those on the field and off it have treated me with courtesy.

I like to think that I have always been fair. When there has been a need for criticism, I have always avoided personal comment and try to remember that all those lucky enough to wear the county colours have families and feelings. In that nineteen years I have come to know mothers, brothers, fathers, sisters, relatives and friends of players and I remain both proud and flattered that no one has ever taken exception to what I have written. Or approved as a comment on here, for that matter.

Let's face it, everyone has off days, in whatever job they do. Sportsmen and women are no different. This summer, like all of those that have gone before it, I will endeavour to be honest in my reporting on the county, but also appreciative that everyone is doing their best. Sometimes that will not be enough and regardless of the sport, supporters need to realise that there are occasions - there will always be occasions - where the other team is simply better, or someone plays a 'blinder'.

It doesn't change anything. Derbyshire could have a spectacular summer, gain promotion in red ball cricket, make Finals Day in the Blast. Then again they could flatter to deceive and fall short.

Yet I will still continue to support and will until the day when I shuffle off this mortal coil. There is a wind of change blowing through the game, not one that I am especially enjoying. Yet the reality is that restructuring might one day see county cricket drop below the 'joys' of the franchise game, in the opinion of the suits at Lord's. 

Broadly speaking, it will not matter to me. This summer I will be in front of my TV for as many streams as family holidays allow. I will also be at Derby and Chesterfield for four nights each, in May and June. A sixtieth anniversary deserves some recognition, I think, so I look forward to strolling around two grounds that have created so many wonderful memories, meeting up with friends old and new, hopefully making some more.

If things go to plan, I might also do a later season trip, either to Derby or an away game, depending on our fortunes in between. But I will guarantee to continue the blog, enjoy your comments and thank you for your involvement.

Nineteen years ago, I never thought this would still be going strong.

Then again, sixty years ago I had no idea what lay ahead of me when I went to see Derbyshire play Yorkshire at Queen's Park. Apart from an ice cream and a go on the train that circles the lake, during the lunch interval.

As hobbies go, mine has given me good value.

I will be back in the next few days with my red ball season preview. 

I hope you look out for it. 

The opening eleven?

I have been asked several times in the past few weeks what my side would be for Derbyshire's opening first class game, against Worcestershire at the Central Co-op County Ground on April 3.

It's difficult of course. The only person whose opinion really matters is Mickey Arthur. He knows the mental and physical state of all the players, as well as the form they have shown in the nets. None of us do.

Players are no different to you and I. They will have things going on in their lives, a personal problem, a health issue, a challenge with a loved one. All of these will mitigate against their involvement, or being at their best. Football fans have only to look at the current absence of Jacob Zetterstrom from the Derby County side, an unspecified - and it would seem as yet undiagnosed - illness is preventing him from playing. 

Yet assuming full fitness and good form of the entire squad, this would be the eleven that I would put onto the field:

Caleb Jewell

Harry Came

Matt Montgomery 

Wayne Madsen

Brooke Guest

Luis Reece

Martin Andersson

Zak Chappell 

Ben Aitchison 

Mohammad Abbas

Shoaib Bashir

The strength of the squad for 2026 is highlighted by the fact that there are several strong exclusions in that side. There would be those who argue for Nye Donald to open and give us a fast start, but I am keeping his powder dry for now. Martin Andersson gets the nod ahead of Anuj Dal, because of his three centuries last year. With four good seamers in the side the stronger batter (on most recent form) gets the place. Martin should also be fit to do more bowling this year, if needed. With four strong seamers, do you really need a fifth? A counter argument could be playing Donald at seven, or even Mitch Wagstaff, who would give you a third spinner. Amrit Basra and Rory Haydon will be rotated in and the performances of both are eagerly awaited.

Yet Arthur recently said that Andersson has the talent to play for England and it would be silly to omit him after that assertion. 

Shoaib Bashir will get the nod over Jack Morley. The latter did nothing wrong and produced some telling spells last year, but he needs to bide his time and produce the figures in second team cricket to justify his elevation. 

Shoaib will be first choice and will get plenty of cricket, which is what he needs. There are a lot of players in sport who need to feel that they belong at a club. For what it is worth, I think Derbyshire is the perfect fit for the England spinner. 

I also hope that his involvement in the eleven, alongside Mohammad Abbas, sees an increase in support from the local ethnic community, which would be welcome. 

We don't have long to wait now and I'm sure everyone is excited to see how Mohammad Abbas will do in Derbyshire colours. He was 36 this week, the same age that Eddie Barlow was when he came to the county. Given his style of bowling, I don't think the number matters. He took 57 wickets in ten first-class matches in Pakistan this winter and while acknowledging that the standard may not always be the same, that still takes some doing. He will be raring to go on his apparently incentivised contract and that can only be to everyone's benefit. 

Once he settles, works out his preferred end and gets into his rhythm, I have every confidence that he will lead the attack with considerable style and panache. 

Watch this space. 

Of course, I'm now equally interested to see if you agree, or where you might tweak the side for that opening match. 

Over to you!

Weekend warmer

It probably came as no surprise to anyone that Derbyshire's preseason tour to Zimbabwe has been cancelled.

Other counties have had to do the same, but the county players will instead head out to Desert Springs in Spain from 14 to 20 March, before returning to play friendlies against Leicestershire and Leeds/Bradford UCCE.

With the Qatar Airways flight due to pass through Doha, the cancellation was a common sense and easy decision, but pre-season plans will otherwise continue as before.

I can't wait, to be honest. Long time readers will know that I usually err on the side of optimism - sometimes for no good reason, other than my mentality - but this year seems to have captured the imagination of cricket followers elsewhere. 

As a friend said to me the other day, when have you ever seen the bookies odds as favourable as they are this year? Then again, when did we last have two current international bowlers in our red ball attack? While I am unsure as to how many overs Shoaib Bashir will bowl in the early season, Mohammad Abbas will be quickly into his groove and the thought of his opening pairing with (one assumes) Luis Reece is mouth-watering.

I'm no betting man. Indeed, in my 67th year I have yet to see the inside of a betting shop, not that I consider myself to have missed anything. Yet the odds suggest a decent shout in the red ball game.

Of course Durham will be favourites, while Lancashire surely can't be as bad as in recent seasons? Worcestershire will also aim for a quick return to Division One. All of them have something to prove after disappointing years in 2025, but need to improve either fractious dressing rooms or worrying injury records.

Derbyshire will fly under the radar, perhaps as Glamorgan did last year. But with Durham likely to lose a bowler or two to England, I wouldn't swap our attack for any other in the division, assuming best form.

Zak Chappell and Ben Aitchison will be admirable first change bowlers (assuming Abbas ever comes out of the attack!) A sign of strength is that there is no guaranteed place for Anuj Dal, a key component of the side in recent years. After three centuries last summer, Martin Andersson is in poll position for number seven, hopefully continuing in similar vein and chipping in with wickets, now he is recovered from the injury that held him back with the ball last year. 

We will come back to first choice sides as the season approaches, but for me Derbyshire are in rude health. 

So am I, as the sun shines, the garden bursts into life with Spring bulbs and the county cricket season is less than a month away. 

We have a holiday before then, too. Be still, my beating heart...

Enjoy your weekend!

Spring is here!

Meteorological Spring has arrived. We have made it through the winter and I take great pleasure in saying that we will see some cricket, later this month.

What a wonderful thought! Derbyshire's recruitment has been excellent, the ground appears to be coming on well and the players head off to Zimbabwe shortly for some outside training and hopefully cricket.

I haven't seen much of the T20 World Cup, but I was able to watch a little of Sufyan Moqim, in action against England Lions. 

He looks a good player. He got his length wrong in one match, but consistently challenged batters to pick the right spin, something they didn't always manage successfully. I can see him being very useful, later in the summer as there were several false shots that would have reaped more rewards on another day (and with better field placing..)

I'm looking forward to news from Zimbabwe and seeing how our plans for 2026 are coming together. I'm really excited about my trips to Derby and Chesterfield this summer and I hope to catch up with a few of you while I'm around. 

That's it from me for now. Stay well in these next few weeks and hopefully we will all be ready for some excellent entertainment very soon...

David Wilde

It is always sad when a player you associate with your formative years of cricket watching passes away. Perhaps it is a reminder of one's own mortality, but news of the death of David Wilde was one of these moments.

David played 23 matches for Derbyshire between 1970 and 1972 and my Dad and I saw a fair few of them. Tall and powerfully built, the left armer could bowl with surprising pace and, with Chris Armishaw, suggested the traditional rich county seam bowling strength was well-stocked. With Mike Hendrick and Alan Ward ahead of them, the next generation looked to be in place under the tutelage of Edwin Smith, the county coach at the time.

Yet it didn't materialise. By 1972 Ward's best days were already behind him, while Armishaw, after displays suggesting genuine promise, preferred a solid career in banking over the 'gamble' of a less lucrative first-class cricket career. He was to go on to become the scourge of league batters for many seasons thereafter.

David Wilde looked set to offer a useful variation, as left-armers always do, but the javelin throwing of his youth left him with an inconsistency in his action which was noted on the circuit. He took wickets and bowled well in some of those matches, with a first-class best of 3-27 to go with a Sunday best of 3-31, but attempts to resolve the occasional 'kink' in his arm were unsuccessful. 

For a county that had endured unjust scrutiny of both Harold Rhodes and Peter Eyre in the previous decade, it was important to be seen to be keeping their house in order and Wilde was released at the end of the 1972 season. 

His county career was brief, but there are plenty of us who have sat around the  boundary edge over the years have never done that.

Rest in peace, David. My condolences go to family and friends at this sad time.

Donald takes on T20 captaincy

So Nye Donald is the new T20 captain for Derbyshire.

I had suggested it likely a few times over the winter. He had signed a new contract with the club, despite interest from other counties and I suspect that part of the conversation was over his taking on the captaincy in the short form of the game. 

I couldn't honestly see any real alternative. Wayne Madsen would want a break from the red ball role and Brooke Guest may not be a first choice for the format, unless captaincy, opening the batting and keeping wicket is one commitment too many. The only other option would have been Matt Montgomery, who has been mentioned as having  future leadership potential by Mickey Arthur, but it is too early in his time at the club to take on such an important role. 

I think he's a great choice and I just hope that it enables him to see a bigger picture than getting the team off to brisk starts. By reining in his natural game a little outside of the Powerplay, he can turn more of these match-shaping innings into match-winning ones.

There are few more dangerous batters in the short format game than Nye and I am surprised that more teams overseas haven't yet picked up on that.

A good summer in 2026 could change all that and make him a global star.

That would be mutually beneficial.

Well done, Nye. And congratulations, skipper!

Mike Page

Mike Page passed away over the weekend, another link gone from the team that I saw in my first viewing of Derbyshire County Cricket Club, in 1967. Only five of them left now, sadly.

He made a typically stylish 88 in the first innings of that match against Yorkshire, sharing a partnership of 96 for the second wicket with Peter Gibbs which my Dad called 'one for the connoisseur', though pronounced 'connor sewer', in the way that they did, where he came from.

Both were front of the wicket players and were half of a top four, with David Smith and Chris Wilkins, that in 1970 looked very good indeed. Some very good judges around the circuit felt Mike should have been considered for England around that time, but competition was fierce and he never got the recognition - nor perhaps scored quite the runs - that were required to make the very highest level. 

But when he was good, he was very, very good, a bit like that little girl with the curl in the poem by Henry Longfellow. He had a secure defence, a graceful array of shots and an ability against spin that was better than most, not just in Derbyshire, but on the county circuit. This was never better illustrated than against Leicestershire at Grace Road in 1973, when he made 96 out of a team total of 198 in the first innings, followed by 67 in the second. This against Illingworth, Birkenshaw, Steele and Balderstone, spinners all. 

It was a surprise when he was released at the end of 1975, because he still seemed to have something to offer. It wasn't a strong side, but he was second top scorer and it surprised then, as it still does. Over eleven thousand runs he scored in the first-class game, between 1964 and 1975, which hints at his consistency on uncovered pitches, and as part of a batting line up that often wasn't.

He was also an outstanding fielder. Anywhere his captains chose to put him really, but especially at slip or short leg. He held 249 for the county and often made the difficult look a matter of routine, a sure indication of high quality hand/eye coordination. 

He was a character, with a fund of stories and a regular smile.

He will be missed.

Rest in peace, Mike .