Something that I've not seen mentioned or acknowledged in the media this season is the way in which Derbyshire's groundstaff have managed to turn the moribund tracks of last season at the County Ground into good cricket wickets this year.
They are to be commended for their work in doing so. Last season's wickets at the County Ground started out in favour of the batsman and just got better and better. By the end of some matches, nothing short of dynamite would have dislodged a batsman who had "got in," an unsatisfactory state of affairs. Some of our batsmen are struggling compared to last year, but the fact that wickets are less heavily weighted in their favour has got to be a factor.
The wicket for the Sussex game is perfect for cricket, Decent bounce for seamers and for batsmen who want to play their strokes, enough movement to keep the bowlers interested and then taking spin increasingly as the game goes on. Four hundred plays three hundred is a good balance in the first innings of a four day game, but several counties have failed to get that right this year.
Lancashire's pitches at Old Trafford have been a problem, as have those at Edgbaston, while Bristol's early season wickets made batting a hazardous occupation. Matches at these grounds have barely made the third day, making suggestions of five day county cricket somewhat laughable. At least the new groundsman at Taunton has made games there a more even battle between bat and ball.
Our only problem this year has been the injuries to major players in the seam attack and some inconsistency in the bowling and batting. If we can get that right, the pitches at least give them every chance of positive results.
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