Derbyshire's President, Derek Morgan, once suggested that the Derby Telegraph used to have a block of type that was permanently available and read, reflecting on him replacing Gladwin and Jackson as first change "with the advent of Morgan the scoring rate increased appreciably."
That's what I'm finding right now, as most blogs (and I never thought this would be the case) seem to start "another good day for Derbyshire..."
Without doubt that's what today was. On a wicket that still seems to offer help to bowlers, our tail battled brilliantly to take the lead past 100 and a strong position. Note I didn't say "match winning" as there's a lot of work to do in bowling this lot out a second time. They bat long and with three England past or present in there have to put up a better fight in the second innings. Yet we've won two days of this game and the positive signs are oozing from the club right now.
The way that Redfern, Sutton, Rafiq and Groenewald stuck in there today was most impressive. I like the look of young Rafiq and if there was a chance of extending his loan I'd snatch Yorkshire's hand off to do it.
Bear in mind too that with him and Chesney (20) Redfern (21) and Whiteley (22) we're not doing our ECB money any harm either.
I don't know if the weather will allow a positive climax to this game or if we're yet strong enough to force a win from this position, but the Derbyshire team right now is playing excellent, positive cricket. The mails that I am getting regularly reinforce what I saw at Derby recently - this is a happy side who are 100% together and will take on anyone on equal footing.
We're not yet in mid-May and there's a lot of cricket still to play, but this is as good as most people have felt about Derbyshire in a long time. Congratulations to all involved for a fantastic effort.
Oh - and keep it up!
All that said, IMWT suggests Morris and Brown are gone.
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