Worcestershire v Derbyshire day 2

I was quite amused by Master Villain's perceptive comment on my positive personality last night. He's right, I am very much a "glass half full" sort of guy, which has helped immensely over the years in supporting Derbyshire. Throughout various innings collapses I have retained the hope that the next wicket would put on a score, sometimes rejoicing when they do, often consoling myself when they don't that the next game is only a couple of days away and things are sure to improve.

The reality (and I'm also a realist) is that for long periods they haven't, but it doesn't stop me from hoping and I've watched us for long enough now to realise that we have a better squad coming together than has been the case for some time.

However....

There's a strong possibility that unless we are careful, the wheels are going to come off the season, an eventuality that I can only put down to second season syndrome. Both Garry Park and Dan Redfern are struggling in their second season (I know Park played a few for Durham but was far from a regular) and we're just not functioning as a batting side.

Park has 180 runs from ten innings, Redfern averages 12 and Sadler 11. Greg Smith is also having a bad trot and the only other option is a young colt named Hughes. Borrington averages 24, but 79 of his 218 came in one innings, leaving 139 from the other nine. I've had several e- mails suggesting - even demanding - changes, but who do you bring in?

The only other batsmen are young lads - Siddique and Slater - one not yet scoring enough in the seconds to get the call and the other still at University. All we can do, I'm afraid, is ride out the storm.

Maybe the imminent T20 will help. Hit yourself back into form lads, with the fielders deeper than they normally are. At the end of the day, they're not getting out on purpose and I know they're trying, but that is now three shocking batting displays on the trot.

I'll excuse the skipper and the admirable Peterson from criticism as they stand up to be counted and graft when the going is tough, but we need others to do so too. While Wayne Madsen has scored two centuries thus far, his average is understandably lower than last year in - guess what - his second season.

One thing I would say - it must be difficult to bat when you've spent 150 overs in the field. I know they're professional sportsmen and it should be no problem, but none of us have done it. I'd guess that gathering your concentration when you've spent five sessions chasing leather takes a little doing and such things separate the wheat from the chaff.

Master Villain's thoughts have turned to who may or may not be around come the end of season.It is natural but premature to do so, as players have a lot of cricket in which to make a positive impact in between times.

I'm not going to name players at this stage because it is not fair to do so in May when there are at least three months of cricket before any decision would be made. The players concerned are well aware of their situation and don't need the additional pressure that conjecture brings.

Decisions about who may or may not be released will depend on various factors, such as who will be our overseas player, if we can get (or afford) another Kolpak and what type of player they will be. Those factors are in turn affected by who might be available in the increasingly congested international calendar.

Then there's the perennial issue. If we let players X and Y go, is there anyone out there any better to come in? If there is, could we afford them? There is a finite amount of money available for strengthening the side and no guarantee that spending more brings an immediate return. Have Hampshire thus far got value from Kabir Ali, for example? When Steve Kirby left Yorkshire, there was a lot of competition for his services and I heard some serious money being mentioned regarding his salary. Yet what has he won them?

Wearing my hat of reason, we need to allow time for the very promising Atif Sheikh to develop, for Ross Whiteley to hopefully come through and for Mark Footitt to ally his impressive wicket taking ability and improved level of fitness to a more sensitive radar. If they all progress, we would have a young attack of considerable talent, all of them left armers! We need to keep identifying young players of potential and bringing them on - we need, in short, to adopt the successful model of teams like Yorkshire and Durham.

There are always players out there. Ian Hunter has given decent service after being rejected by Durham first time around. Graeme Welch never got a chance at Edgbaston yet was a huge hit at Derby. Allan Warner was another we rescued who blossomed in new pastures. Who is to say that there may not be a bowler of talent in the Dutch side we are due to meet, or one in the Unicorns side that surprised Glamorgan the other day? I know that John Morris, Andy Brown and Karl Krikken are tireless in watching cricket around the area and have good contacts. That's how they picked up Chesney Hughes of course, as well as Wayne Madsen.

There is probably greater merit and satisfaction in finding someone with raw ability that can be nurtured, someone who for one reason or another didn't make it on a first opportunity, than there is in signing a bigger name. Look at how well Gemaal Hussain has done at Gloucestershire this season, after being rejected at Essex, Sussex and Worcestershire. Such players cost far less, for one thing and we will never win a bidding war, unless Bill Gates dramatically reveals himself as a closet Falcons fan and funds our signing the cream of out of contract players.

Even I'm not THAT optimistic…