Seconds lose at Scarborough

Yorkshire Seconds beat Derbyshire by nine wickets at Scarborough today. 

Continuing their second innings, Derbyshire were all out for 245, with Naeem following his first innings 64 with 73. Nick Potts made an unbeaten 52, but Moriarty took 5-77 with his left arm spin and Yorkshire required only 43 to win.

They got the runs for the loss of only one wicket, to Rory Haydon.

Scorecard and clips here

Thoughts on charging for streaming

There has been a lot of discussion in recent days over the future and charging for cricket streams. 

Lancashire - it had to be them, given the fact that they seem to have an innate ability to antagonise support at every turn - will take their County Championship cricket behind a paywall for the remainder of the season

It will cost £20 for the season, which isn't a lot, but it poses more questions than answers. 

Accessing this content appears unnecessarily complex, especially given the demographic of a lot of those who watch county cricket on a regular basis. There will also continue to be a free YouTube stream, which I would have thought most would prefer anyway. 

I have felt for some time the inevitability of a charge being introduced, or at least considered. But it has to be realistic and it has to be negotiated and agreed around all counties. A streaming membership, that enables you to watch content from all clubs, would be okay, as long as realistically priced. If you had eighteen counties, all charging £20 to access their stream, that is not only a lot of money, it's a lot of passwords.

There has to be an understanding that the quality needs to be worth charging for, too. You surely  cannot charge, simply for a fixed camera at either end, especially when it blows around in high winds and leaves you needing Kwells before considering the afternoon session. Camera work and editing has to be to a high standard and that is not something in place everywhere at present. 

The Derbyshire stream is remarkably good, considering it is done on a relative shoestring budget. But on busy days, perhaps when the WiFi bandwidth is squeezed by a large crowd, ghosting of images occurs on the stream (or it did until last season, we haven't seen such crowds this year, as yet). That isn't an issue for a free stream, but it isn't hard to see unhappy customers if they were paying for it. I've seen another stream when a dismissal was missed, with the camera on two blokes chatting in the crowd..

The ECB needs to be involved and potentially negotiate a season membership across all counties. I hesitated in typing that sentence, because as an organisation they seem to have an inverse Midas touch and appear to stumble from crisis to disaster and back with remarkable alacrity.

 Streaming has broadened the appeal of the game. I know I have dipped into a few elsewhere when Derbyshire have not been playing. I'm not sure if I would bother to do that if a casual half hour needed payment, membership and more. 

There was a time in my life, as with most people, when money for the 'extras' was tight. Mortgage, cars, bills, children - they all eat in to the available cash and everyone, like me, needs to prioritise. Life is easier financially, these days, but I will always reserve the right to decide who and what gets my money. If the price and product is right, I will spend it, if it isn't, anything becomes expendable, outwith those I love. I suspect there are many others in similar situations.

If you have to 'cut the cloth to suit', what goes first? Sky? Netflix? Gym? Spotify? National Trust? It would be silly to make assumptions that the game is indispensable to all.

The streams have been invaluable to me, because my location and life circumstances have not enabled me to attend in person as often as I would have liked. I don't consider myself unique in that and I know from the many messages and comments that I receive that there are plenty who live a long way from Derby, yet are as passionate about the club as anyone who is able to attend, pretty much every day of the season. I have never understood the (largely football) mentality that 'I'm a bigger fan than you, because I go to see my team, home and away'. Good for you, we have different priorities in life.  

Having said that, I do feel a waning of my interest in the broader game of cricket. There is a lot in the modern game that I don't enjoy (the national team set up and the ECB high among them) and it would only take a wrong decision, from my perspective, to be a catalyst for change. After sixty years.

Would I be prepared to pay a subscription to watch Derbyshire online? Yes, but there would need to be an understanding that it would need to be potentially tiered, certainly considerably less than a full membership. The Lancashire stream is high quality, one of the best that I have seen, but the number of people attending the game against Derbyshire suggested that charging for access is not going to galvanise their finances. It may indeed be counterproductive. 

Derbyshire membership at £259 is very good value. You can attend the games, savour the atmosphere and the facilities, meet the players and enjoy various benefits. With respect, three hundred miles away, you can't and no matter the quality of the stream, it will never come close to replacing the feeling of being on the ground. Which is why I am so excited about my imminent trips to Derby and Chesterfield. But since the passing of my parents, any trip needs to include fuel costs, four nights in a hotel, food and an ability to predict that the weather will be kind. Or maybe just eternal optimism. There's only one thing more depressing than a wet cricket ground. That's looking out at it from a lonely hotel room..

Any charged stream would also need to offer me access to ALL Derbyshire matches, home and away and be set up in a way that didn't need a qualification in IT to access it all the time. I regard myself as reasonably technical, but there are plenty for who this would be too great a barrier and I wouldn't expect all of them to persevere.

Derbyshire charging would seem unlikely, as the costs would increase to produce the highest level of broadcast, while, as others have pointed out, the sponsors would struggle to find it worthwhile behind a paywall, so too perimeter advertisers. Other clubs may consider it, however, with away fixtures potentially needing paid for by supporters IF they chose to do so.

I know a lot of people whose introduction to cricket has been through the streams, after chatting to them socially. I don't think many of them would continue to watch if they had to pay to. Perhaps the powers that be are less bothered by transient or occasional fans, but they should be. Perhaps their children are the next generation of players and supporters, even if they themselves were exposed to the game accidentally. 

While I accept that an eventual charge is inevitable, my only hope is that those involved think through the ramifications. Such a move will not generate game-changing amounts of money, it will merely further marginalise those who support a level of the game that already appears to be seen as an afterthought. Never on television, harder to find online, the poor relation of franchise cricket. The relative whose name is mentioned only in hushed tones, in some quarters.

For what it's worth, I haven't watched more than 45 minutes of The Hundred, haven't watched the IPL since the match fixing scandals, gave up on the Big Bash when they messed about with the rules and I have only a passing interest in the PSL and SA20. And I consider myself a big fan of cricket...

The concern is that if someone like me can become disenchanted, it isn't going to take an awful lot to lose the interest and support of those whose interest is more casual.

I would like to think that a county like Derbyshire, with one of the lowest memberships in the country, will be sufficiently savvy to realise that the relatively small additional revenue from those prepared to pay for an online stream will not compensate for the loss of goodwill and interest in some quarters. For a part of the game that is already struggling to justify its relevance to the powers that be, I think it moves into potentially dangerous territory. 

You may disagree and that is, of course, your right to do so. 

The next steps will be very interesting. But potentially calamitous for the county game if they get it wrong and lose many of those who have recently got into the game by charging too much, making it too complicated and not thinking through all of the angles.

Just don't make the mistake of saying they are 'not proper cricket fans'.

They are, but their their priorities, finances and circumstances might lead them to make a choice that they would prefer not to have to make.

Postscript - in a statement, Lancashire said

In line with the club's ongoing commitment to growing the women's game, all women's domestic fixtures will continue to be broadcast free on YouTube and remain available on LancsTV.

For men's matches, the opening ten minutes will be streamed free on YouTube, followed by a live feed featuring radio commentary, a live scorecard and replays. The full production will be exclusively shown via LancsTV+.

Seconds facing defeat

Derbyshire bowled out Yorkshire for 409 at Scarborough today, Haydon, Stewart, Potts and Hawkins taking 2 wickets each.

In reply, they were bowled out for 206, with Naeem making 64 and Donald 50.

Asked to follow on, Derbyshire were 48-2 in their second innings, Naeem unbeaten on 25, with Donald and Wagstaff the men out, the former a somewhat farcical run out.

Still 155 runs behind, it will need something special tomorrow, to take the game into the scheduled final day 

Scorecard and clips here

Seconds toil at Scarborough

Yorkshire compiled 394-7 against Derbyshire in the Second XI friendly today, at Scarborough.

Will Luxton made 177, and Yash Vagadia 86 for the home side, while the wickets were shared around among the Derbyshire bowlers. 

Joe Hawkins took 2-49.

Second XI in action at Scarborough

The Derbyshire second team start their season today, with the first day of four at Scarborough. Not the worst place to play cricket and you can follow the scores throughout the day at this link

Derbyshire side (assuming not batting order!)

Y Bin Naeem

R Vallabhaneni

NJ Potts

MP Stewart

AHT Donald*†

MD Wagstaff

AS Basra

JWA Hawkins

N McHale

JP Morley

ROL Haydon

Yorkshire won the toss and elected to bat

Final thoughts on Old Trafford

Amid the fallout from Derbyshire's defeat at Old Trafford, there were many observations, but one stood out for me because it was used by two or three people, in comments and messages. 

On that last day, when Derbyshire batted, they failed to play Lancashire as they had throughout the match. Rather than playing each ball on its merits, they played the 'Anderson' name and the occasion. 

They were found wanting in doing so. 

Jimmy Anderson is one of the greats of the game and has been rightly knighted for his services to it. It must give you quite a boost to run into bowl from the end that bears your name and the Lancashire legend bowled extremely well on the last afternoon. Good as he has been, I'm not sure that a team approaching the very moderate 'run chase' sensibly should have been bowled out by someone who will be 44 years old in July. 

As someone else pointed out, perhaps a better tactic might have been for someone to go in and play a 'Nye Donald' innings. Maybe getting a quick 20 or 30, hitting over the top, top edging, putting the pressure back onto the home side. Plenty of balls were allowed to go through to the wicket keeper, that in other circumstances would have been punished. There wasn't a great deal of clarity in the thinking out there, however, much discussion took place in the dressing room. 

Thinking back, another area where I feel we lost control of the game was in the short-pitched bowling on the third evening. We had Lancashire 23-5 then 78-6, but started to bowl short at Hartley and Coughlin, rather than do what had previously been successful. We leaked too many runs in that final session and sixteen extras were unnecessarily generous, as things got a little ragged.

I don't understand this tactic. There was a time, before the advent of protective gear, that tail enders might have been intimidated, but I can't remember the last time I saw someone back away. I saw that a time or two when Alan Ward was in his pomp and there were plenty didn't fancy Les Jackson when he got the ball lifting. Hardly surprising, when you had cloth gloves with rubber pimples protecting your hands, a box protecting the nether regions and a rolled up newspaper down your trousers for a thigh pad. 

It is a strategy that smacks of desperation to me and for many tail enders the pull shot is one of their most effective run-scoring strokes.

Moving on and to answer questions, of course Wayne Madsen will come straight back once his confidence in the strength of his injured shoulder is restored. He remains the best bat in the side and we missed him in Manchester. It is very handy to have so many all-rounders, but for me the vulnerable one is Anuj Dal. His batting is useful, so too his bowling and he remains one of my favourite players with his whole-hearted approach. Yet I don't see him WINNING matches with either discipline. Zak Chappell is a better bowler, Martin Andersson a better bat, Luis Reece a better all-rounder. 

I did suggest that he and Ben Aitchison were competing for a place, pre-season, but Ben is bowling superbly. He looks to have raised his game this year, now confident in his body and he has been unlucky in both matches. He keeps it tight, takes wickets and is an excellent slip fielder. His partnership with Mohammad Abbas promises to be something very special.

I'm pleased that the players now miss the next round of fixtures, as they have time to digest what went wrong at Old Trafford. There is a lot of cricket to be played between now and the end of September, but key to success will be getting the balance of the side correct. 

It will be interesting to see the team that plays in the 4-day second team game, that starts at Scarborough today. Will Amrit Basra play? If Luis Reece isn't fully fit, might Amrit be an option at six? Or Nye Donald, for that matter?

We must also hope to get pitches like Old Trafford at Derby. We will not get promotion if half of our matches are pre-destined draws. If you knew it was going to zip around, you could afford to play an extra batter, because I would back our main seamers against most sides. 

I hope that Caleb Jewell rediscovers his form for the next match. That final innings cried out for the overseas bat to lead by example, but Lancashire seem to have figured Caleb out.

16, 12, 9, 4, 0, 5 are his six innings against them in red ball cricket. He had a poor winter in Australia (but on their pitches most batters did) and Derbyshire really need him to set the tone and example in the middle. 

As I said to a friend yesterday, players like Shan Masood, Chris Rogers, Dean Jones and John Wright would have seen you to victory yesterday, seeing off Anderson and knocking the others around. I don't wish to be unduly harsh, because that is elite company to be in. Yet as I have written before, the overseas role in any club carries responsibility and pressure. 

Lancashire has a jewel in Marcus Harris

We must hope our own Jewell matches him, as the season progresses.

Lancashire v Derbyshire day 4

Lancashire 351 and 160 (Harris 66, Abbas 3-32, Aitchison 3-38, Chappell 3-43)

Derbyshire 374 and 108 (Came 30, Anderson 4-18)

Lancashire won by 29 runs

Seasons do not hinge on the winning or losing of an early season match, but the manner of Derbyshire's defeat at Old Trafford today was very disappointing.

They should have won this match. 138 to win in two and a half sessions should have been within their compass, even allowing for batting conditions that had deteriorated from the early part of the game. 

What was needed was for someone to take the game by the scruff of the neck, or to show the requisite technique, as Marcus Harris did twice for Lancashire.

It didn't happen and in the face of some good Lancashire bowling - and some overly enthusiastic appealing at times - the batting folded. 

Harry Came resisted for a while, but his three colleagues in the top order perished to strokes that they will want to forget. It wasn't easy and there was, throughout the day, plenty of lateral movement, but you surely have to fancy your chances chasing such a small total. 

Of course, this is Derbyshire and we have all seen similar capitulations on a regular basis in the past. There was a time when any total approaching 200 in the final innings would have been considerably beyond our compass. Perhaps that is the frustration today, that I thought - or hoped - that this side was made of sterner stuff.

It all undid a very good effort in the morning session, when Ben Aitchison appeared to have the ball on a piece of elastic, zipping it around to fine effect. Lancashire added only thirteen to their overnight total and as the ball moved both ways it was clear that the run chase would be far from easy.

A cover drive from Jewell suggested that he might at last come to terms with the Lancashire attack, but a tame clip to mid-wicket was the start of the rot. Montgomery didn't need to play the expansive drive that got him out, especially in such conditions, while Guest will be disappointed with a similar, careless stroke. 

Came and Andersson saw it through to lunch and a flurry of boundaries and extras afterwards suggested that the worst had passed. Yet after 90 minutes of resistance, Harry pushed at one that again could have been left and was caught at slip. When Andersson followed soon afterwards, despite having looked more comfortable than anyone, the writing was on the wall. 

I started to write this blog at that point and my wife asked why, as they were still playing. 'Because I have seen this film before', was my reply, though I take no pleasure at all in saying so. 

Dal didn't last long and there wasn't enough batting left. Reece played a nice straight drive for four, but perished, playing across the line, to the next, leaving that wall writing both emboldened and capitalised.

While Aitchison hit three quick boundaries, taking the score over the hundred mark, he too didn't last long and there was no expectation that a combination of Bashir and Abbas would stay with Chappell long enough for Derbyshire to cross the finish line. The end, a run out after Chappell ran and Abbas didn't, summed up the afternoon.There will be a chastened return to Derby later today. All the hard work had been done over three days, but then they blew it, in 35 overs.

Lancashire's star players won them this game. Without Harris (125 and 66) it wouldn't have been close, while Jimmy Anderson always seemed likely to be the difference between the sides and his peerless 4-18 ensured that there was to be no fairy tale ending. The absent Madsen might have made a difference, but Lancashire were just too good for Derbyshire today, after we slugged it out manfully for 95% of the game.

The season didn't end today and there will be opportunities against lesser sides for Derbyshire to bounce back. 

But this was an opportunity missed. 

It will hurt everyone involved, just as much as it hurts supporters right now.

Lancashire v Derbyshire day 3

Lancashire 351 and 147-6 (Harris 58*, Coughlin 35*, Chappell 3-43, Abbas 2-26)

Derbyshire 374 (Guest 83, Andersson 54, Reece 36, Coughlin 4-79, Stanley 3-79)

Lancashire lead by 124 runs

It was a fascinating day's cricket at Old Trafford, with Derbyshire ending it with a chance of winning a remarkable game. 

The day featured some high-quality seam bowling on both sides. The work of Anderson and Stanley after lunch today was as good as one would wish to see, with both probing and causing great difficulty for the batters. Stanley has something about him and has worked up a good pace in this match, while Anderson still looks like he has a trick or two up his sleeve.

Later, Mohammad Abbas produced his best spell so far for the county, while Zak Chappell offered a searing spell of his own, in taking three quick wickets to rip apart the Lancashire second innings. 

It was breathtaking stuff and I was racking my brains to think of the last time I saw a Derbyshire attack working so cohesively as a unit. They all applied pressure, wasted very few deliveries and were backed up by some splendid fielding and catching. Is this the effect of our new bowling coach, Chris Wright, or is it the influence of Mohammad Abbas and Shoaib Bashir? Perhaps a combination of both, but Lancashire were put under severe pressure. 

While Marcus Harris remains, the result of the game will be in the balance. He offers excellent value as an overseas player and has twice here been a thorn in Derbyshire sides. He simply plays each ball on its merits and seems unflappable at this level.

Earlier, in a frustrating morning session, players were on and off regularly and it enabled the main Lancashire bowlers to stay fresh. Both Guest and Andersson completed fine innings and Reece offered some late impetus to give Derbyshire a slender, yet important lead. By the time the home side reached parity, they were remarkably four wickets down. The dangerous Wells got an unplayable ball from Abbas, while Bohannon was well pouched by Jewell at slip, who just got his fingers under the ball as it dropped. 

Chappell removed Singh with a juggling act worthy of the stage, before Bashir held a sharp chance to remove Jones. When Hurst played on, there was an outside chance of an unexpected finish tonight, but Harris stood firm and with good support from Hartley and Coughlin ensured that the game would go into the fourth day. The latter has had a good debut for Lancashire, scoring important runs and taking four wickets today.

My only criticism is that things got a little ragged towards the end. There were poor runs and extras conceded, that could become important tomorrow. Hopefully not.

The result could yet go either way. Derbyshire will not want to chase much more than 200, although there are still not too many demons in the pitch for those wanting to bat properly. Individual error cost a few their wickets today and if Derbyshire can tackle the fourth day as they have done most of the previous three, a memorable win could be theirs tomorrow. 

It would lay down a marker to the rest of the division and boost their confidence at the same time, before a chance to regroup in the week off during the next round of fixtures.

Whatever happens, regardless of the rain and cold, this has been an excellent game of cricket. 

May the best team win...

Lancashire v Derbyshire day 2

Lancashire 351 

Derbyshire 235-3 (Came 83, Guest 60*, Montgomery 46, Andersson 37*  Stanley 2-48)

Derbyshire trail by 116 runs

It was a funny old day at Old Trafford today. 

We had Anderson bowling to Andersson, a two that became a six with overthrows and a bowler who removed his jumper to realise he'd forgotten to put his shirt on. The sort of thing you associate with club cricket, not necessarily the first class game, but it made for interesting viewing. 

As for the action, Derbyshire did extremely well before lunch, with Harry Came and Matthew Montgomery batting with great common sense, excellent technique and good judgement of the balls to leave alone. 

The Lancashire bowling was disciplined and tested them. Jimmy Anderson remains an operator of the very highest class, Bailey bowled miserly spells while Mitch Stanley was hitting the top 80s mph. There were not too many boundaries, but the foundation was laid for an acceleration after lunch. 

Montgomery looks an excellent signing. He showed discipline and yet an ability to quickly spot anything overpitched or short. Indeed, it came as a surprise when he drove away from his body and edged to slip, one ball after hitting Stanley over mid-wicket for six.

Came was excellent for the second game running. He looks a very organised player these days and played very straight for the most part. There are times when his technique and footwork are similar to that of Joe Root and we can only hope for similar returns by the end of his career! 

Anderson eventually earned his reward for some demanding bowling, Came playing on. The former England man is an example to everyone in the game, having looked after himself and still bowling with rare hostility and considerable skill.

Andersson came in to join Guest, half an hour before tea and was once again quickly into his stride. His cover drive is rapidly developing into a trademark stroke but in this form he seems to have a shot for every delivery bowled at him. Again though, he will be grateful for the efforts of the top order in taking the shine from the ball and putting overs into the legs of the home side's seam attack. At the other end Guest was controlled and playing increasingly expansively. In his best form he is a lovely player to watch.

Rain came at the tea interval and the resumption was delayed for some time, yet thanks to excellent work by the groundstaff, a final session of fourteen overs was possible. Guest and Andersson came through this with few alarms and took their team to the close at a healthy 235-3.

Derbyshire will be very happy with their day's work, losing only two wickets in adding 235 runs to their overnight total, with batting to come. They stood toe to toe with a very good side and were not found wanting. There was more play than the forecast had suggested might be possible and they will hope for the same tomorrow, when they will resume 116 runs behind. 

I'm sure that Mickey Arthur, undoubtedly following the game closely from Australia, will have been pleased with his team.

I know I am.

Please add names to comments!

Just a quick word to ask contributors to PLEASE add a name to comments.

I have declined to publish three comments so far this season that have been critical and/or sarcastic in response to other contributors or to the club. 

As regular readers will know, I have had my name and my face on this blog for the last 19 years. If I can do that, I don't think it's expecting too much of people to add a name - doesn't have to be your own - to your posts. It helps others to get a handle on who you are and sometimes is good to get a connection that could potentially lead to friendship. I've certainly found that many times! 

So please use a name. It's all about opinions and each is worthy in its own way. And while I appreciate the people can forget to add a name, add it in a second post if you forget. 

But please be assured I will not allow the blog to become a home for anonymous criticism. It's not fair on others, nor the club or to me. 

Thank you for your understanding!

Lancashire v.Derbyshire day 1

Lancashire 351 (Harris 125, Bohannon 73, Jones 44, Bashir 4-76, Aitchison 3-57)

 Derbyshire 0-1 

Derbyshire trail by 351 runs

Fortunes ebbed and flowed at Old Trafford today. 

After winning the toss and putting Lancashire into bat, Derbyshire were immediately rewarded with the wickets of both openers, the 'A team' of Abbas and Aitchison taking one each. 

Thereafter it was a struggle, largely due to an excellent century by Marcus Harris, well supported by Josh Bohannon. They shared in a stand of 146 for the third wicket, before the latter was bowled by Shoaib Bashir. The latter should have gone on 29, when he was put down by Martin Andersson, a very sharp chance at third slip.

Michael Jones then played a fine supporting role to the the Australian, before, on the stroke of tea, Aitchison induced an edge and Montgomery at slip took a very good low catch, down to his right. 

It started a procession, as Lancashire fell from the heights of 252-3 to 314-8. There were a few injudicious strokes, but also some clever bowling by Bashir, who ended up with four wickets. They were well-deserved and he showed his mettle, on a day when there was little support for his style of bowling in the pitch. 

Aitchison also bowled well, although Abbas was a little out of sorts today. The pitch seemed to be a good one on which to bat and the way in which Coughlin batted without too many concerns towards the end of the day suggested that Derbyshire had, in fact, done well to end the day with maximum bowling bonus points.

There was just time for Derbyshire to face two overs before the close. Came survived against Anderson easily enough, but Jewell played on with an unnecessary shot against Stanley to end the day. Good as Caleb has been for Derbyshire, his record against Lancashire is wretched -  16, 12, 9, 4 and now 0. At least it wasn't to Anderson, who got him every time last year. 

Having said all of that, it is still hard to see anything in this game other than a draw. The forecast for the next two days suggests that there will not be too much cricket for the early season devotees to enjoy.

I was a little surprised that Lancashire were not more proactive in the evening session. With the forecast as it is, the best chance of a positive result would appear to have been their declaring and making greater inroads into the Derbyshire batting tonight. 

Perhaps they know the local weather and its foibles better than we do, but I would be surprised if there was more than a draw at the end of this four days.

Giving Derbyshire have started the season against two of the better-rated sides in the division, I doubt they will have too many complaints at that.

Lancashire v. Derbyshire preview

There's nothing broken so, to paraphrase the old adage, there's no need to fix anything. 

Derbyshire go into tomorrow's four-day game against Lancashire at Old Trafford with the same fourteen that were selected for the game against Worcestershire last week. 

The squad will be led by Alex Hughes, as Mickey is away in Australia for his daughter's wedding. I hope everything goes well for them and wish the family the very best for the festivities and the future. 

Alex will be assisted by Ben Smith and Chris Wright and our Head of Cricket will be back before next week's second team game against Yorkshire at Scarborough. 

I can't see any change to the eleven, in all honesty. Luis Reece may be limited on what he can bowl, but there are plenty of options in the side and his batting, as we saw last week, would be more than enough if he didn't turn his arm over at all. A fit Luis Reece adds a certain something to the attack, of course, not least a different angle for batters to contend with. 

So the likely Derbyshire side: 

Came, Jewell, Montgomery, Guest, Andersson, Reece, Dal, Chappell, Aitchison, Abbas, Bashir

The home side have named fifteen in their squad, which will again be led by Jimmy Anderson. There's no Keaton Jennings, but Marcus Harris has arrived from Australia and will likely take his place at the top of the order. 

Their squad: 

James Anderson (c), Tom Bailey, George Balderson, George Bell, Josh Bohannon, Paul Coughlin, Rocky Flintoff, Marcus Harris, Tom Hartley, Matty Hurst, Michael Jones, Harry Singh, Ajeet Singh Dale, Mitch Stanley, Luke Wells

Lancashire had an encouraging start against Northamptonshire, but failed to bowl them out on the last day in conditions that many felt they should have done. Although their squad for tomorrow's game is strong, I think there's a big difference between Lancashire in red and white ball cricket. 

Many will see this game as a shootout between Jimmy Anderson and Mohammad Abbas. I don't think it's quite so clear-cut, but if you were to name a fantasy new ball attack from division two to take on Mars (or even division one), the  likelihood is that they would feature in most people's selection.

It promises to be an exciting game, but Saturday and Sunday look likely to lose a fair portion of the available time to rain. 

Accordingly, I am going to predict a draw, but this is a game where Derbyshire can again show where they are at. The first two fixtures this summer have been against a side that was in division one last year - who they dominated - and now they're up against another who will surely be in the mix at season end. 

I can't wait to see how we fare and as usual, wish the boys the very best of luck. 

What do you think? 

Derbyshire v Worcestershire day 4

Derbyshire 625-8d 

Worcestershire 312 and 314-7 (Waite 66*, Hose 52, Lategan 49, Abbas 2-31, Andersson 2-42, Aitchison 2-65)

Match drawn

Somewhat like the Big Bad Wolf, Derbyshire huffed and puffed throughout the final day, bowling with great persistence and no little skill, yet couldn't blow down the resilient Worcestershire house and eventually had to settle for a draw.

The visiting batters showed commendable concentration and a willingness to fight for their cause. At the end of it all, there were insufficient demons in the pitch to offer anything other than gentle help to a willing home attack. It got no better for Derbyshire than a wicket with the first ball of the day, quickly followed by another for Ben Aitchison. I thought he bowled splendidly in this match and lost little in comparison to Mohammad Abbas, who himself bowled quite beautifully in the second innings. Credit also to Martin Andersson, who followed his double century with some intelligent bowling today.

There was also a very impressive, controlled spell by Shoaib Bashir, who will have benefited from a lengthy bowl in the afternoon and evening. He is a very watchable cricketer and I suspect a few young Derbyshire supporters will be copying his run-up and action before the summer is out.

There was a glimmer of hope for Derbyshire when Adam Hose was dismissed with still fifty overs of the game remaining, but Waite - an admirable cricketer - and Brookes dug in to prevent any further alarms. The latter did especially well to subjugate his natural, aggressive game and used up 123 balls for his 34, while Waite followed intelligent bowling with a priceless unbeaten 66 from 141 deliveries of resistance 

There were a few moral victories, some edges and a number of false strokes, but the players shook hands as shadows lengthened in the sunshine and there were fielders around the bat. Not a bad start to a cricket season and an excellent advert for red ball county cricket 

It is frustrating that a very good pitch, one that was probably perfect for international cricket, didn't break up a little more on the fourth day. Yet the new ECB guidelines on what constitutes a pitch of appropriate standard will need to be carefully observed.

Any pitch rated "below average" in this year's County Championship will result in the home side being awarded zero points from the fixture, regardless of the match result.

A "below average" pitch is the fourth of six ratings that can be attributed to a surface in the County Championship, above "poor" and "unfit".

Yet the county can be proud of the start that they have made to the cricket season. They controlled this game from start to finish and if they apply themselves similarly throughout the summer, they will enjoy their share of success.

Both Abbas and Bashir look to be a considerable enhancement on the options available last year, while the batting unit carried on in similar vein to 2025. When one considers that the talents of Wayne Madsen will soon be added to the squad, we should be a match for most sides in red ball cricket this summer.

In closing today, a few words about Harry Came. He took on the captaincy for the first time and I felt he did a very good job. He set the tone with the bat on the first morning, then switched his bowlers and set intelligent fields for the remainder of the game, as well as setting the standard in the field. He could not have done more to force victory and can feel proud of his efforts tonight.

Derbyshire v Worcestershire day 3

Derbyshire 625-8d.

Worcestershire 312 (Lategan 89, D'Oliveira 50, Hose 42, Brookes 35, Dal 3-22)

and 68-1 (Abbas 1-1)

Worcestershire trail by 245 runs

Derbyshire have the opportunity to record what would be a remarkable win tomorrow, as they chase nine wickets to beat Worcestershire. 

They worked themselves into this position with an excellent collective bowling effort in the afternoon and evening, in which the wickets were shared around. 

It didn't look that way in the morning session.

There was a time when it was not uncommon for an opening bowler of quality to toil away throughout a morning. Bill Bestwick often did it for Derbyshire, Les Jackson certainly did it a time or two, then came on again after the lunch interval. Indeed Bestwick and Arthur Morton often bowled the bulk of the county's overs, in the absence of viable alternatives after the First World War.

Today, Mohammad Abbas and Ben Aitchison bowled throughout the morning for Derbyshire, which seems a laudable feat, until one realises that it was only 10.4 overs. 

Neither Lategan nor Hose looked in danger, until brain freeze saw the youngster run out after a mix-up with his partner. Chappell threw in quickly from the boundary and the acrobatic Guest managed to get back to the stumps in time for Tom Lungley to adjudge Lategan short of his ground. 

Earlier, Aitchison found the edge of his bat but Jewell didn't feel the ball had carried at slip. Other than that, the only thing of note was the five penalty runs awarded, when Bashir was deemed to have feigned a throw in as he ran in towards the ball. I don't recall seeing that before, but it summed up a frustrating morning all round. 

Guest redeemed himself for yesterday's drop with his agility on the run out, but he put down another, more difficult chance when Aitchison found the inside edge of D'Oliveira's bat. He will want to do better, but then Bob Taylor once put down a hat-trick of chances at Ilkeston, so it can happen to anyone.

Yet in the afternoon, with Harry Came intelligently switching around his bowlers, things started to happen. Once Hose was removed by Luis Reece, only Brookes resisted unduly long. D'Oliveira batted well, but he became a first Derbyshire wicket for Bashir, whose reaction spoke volumes for how much it meant to him. Indeed, in I was impressed by him today, very busy in the field, working hard to keep spirits up and chasing every ball with a coltish enthusiasm. He may be important tomorrow and hopefully the hand injury that was receiving treatment towards the end of the day is nothing serious. 

Dal mopped up the tail in a fine spell and six different bowlers took wickets. Surprisingly, none fell to Mohammad Abbas, despite a number of moral victories. Sometimes a new ground and the gradient of the approach takes a little adjustment, even for an experienced bowler. 

When Worcestershire followed on 313 runs behind, that first wicket came as Libby edged behind to Guest. A spell of 6-5-1-1 confirmed his class and the county will need more of that tomorrow. As a unit I thought the bowling was very good, with Aitchison very unlucky and Dal getting late reward for his persistence with a nagging line and length.

It won't be easy tomorrow and there are not too many demons in the pitch. The visitors bat a long way down and they will battle hard. They will also know that once they get ahead it is making life even more difficult for Derbyshire, so simply dropping anchor might not be the best way to go. 

Whatever the result, this has been an absorbing game. At lunch time I could see no way that a positive result could come about. 

Tomorrow, with a good weather forecast and nine wickets required, Mickey Arthur just might get the result that he dreamed of to start the summer. There seems to be a good spirit in the side and that could go a long way towards helping them realise the dream.

Fingers crossed! 

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. 

Postscript: I posted this piece before hearing the news that Luis Reece's son is ill, with a heart defect. 

I have even greater respect for him in the circumstances, not least that he was out there after such a week. One of my favourite cricketers and a top man, is Luis.

I wish all of the family the very best in the days and weeks ahead. 

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