Saturday thoughts

Disappointed as I am at missing last night's game, I am enjoying Derbyshire's 2010 season immensely and, like everyone else I'm sure, can see an obvious improvement in the side.

The batting looks a well drilled unit, with two changes having made a sizeable difference. The precocious talents of Chesney Hughes at 19 augur very well for the future and his style at the top of the order is a nice contrast to the skipper. Wayne Madsen has shown he can drop down the order with success and we look like a side that could regularly post good totals in all forms of the game. How long is it since you could say that about a Derbyshire side? Another step in the right direction is the moving of Robin Peterson to number three in the one day side. If he gets runs he will do so quickly, whereas if he fails there are plenty of other good players to follow. It may well depend on the opening pair; if they post a decent start then Peterson comes in, if a wicket goes down early then we may see Madsen at three.

There's only two question marks for me. The first is perhaps churlish, but again last night there was no one who saw it through to the end. Maybe it was the pitch, as the same happened for both sides, but it would be good to see someone post an unbeaten 70, 80 or more.

The other (nice) problem is this. Where will Loots Bosman fit into the line up? John Morris perhaps hoped that Hughes would play a decent knock or two, but his start in the CB40 has been excellent. One assumes, as it is the only form of the game he can play without penalty, that he will be a certainty for the T20 side.

So what then? Bosman and Rogers? Bosman and Hughes? Perhaps if Morris had known that Hughes would look so good at this level so early he may have been tempted to go for a "go to" bowler - maybe Charl Langeveldt. Most people, looking at the current side, might suggest on current form our greater need was for a reliable seamer who could bowl his stint at less than six an over. Tom Lungley is doing well this season, as is Tim Groenewald, while Peterson and Smith normally bowl steadily. It is that third bowler that is key to our fortunes in one day cricket and while I'm enthused by last night's win and you can only beat the team in your way, I don't think Northamptonshire are a great side and a yardstick against who we can judge our development.

Anyway, Morris has a nice kind of dilemma for the T20 and Bosman will presumably arrive with a point to prove having dropped out of the South African side for the time being. Assuming the first five overs still carry fielding restrictions, Hughes and Bosman might afford the best opportunity to maximise the return from them, with the skipper dropping to three. One would assume that John Sadler would then drop out, as Smith, Park and Madsen all offer bowling options as well as brilliance in the field. Yet Sadler is a good one day finisher... decisions, decisions!

Tomorrow we head to Headingley (not Scarborough, drat!) and a CB40 against a side on fire this season, Yorkshire. Now this will be a good yardstick, as the white rose county are playing some great stuff this season in all formats of the game.

There is no news on the sides at this stage, but I wouldn't expect too many changes from last night for Derbyshire, though Steffan Jones or Jake Needham may come in for Mark Footitt.

Yorkshire 2nds beat Derbyshire yesterday at Derby, with erstwhile county player Gary Ballance making 134 to steer them to their total of 304 and a win by five wickets. There were encouraging performances by some of the Derbyshire side, which included several trialists including ex-Kent player Charles Hemphrey. More on some of the side in a forthcoming article.

Enjoy your weekend. See you later, or tomorrow.