A question of balance

Let me clear up two things straight away.

I don't think for a minute that Derbyshire haven't improved from last summer. We have and I think will show that as a long summer progresses. There are still weaknesses in the side, but you are never going to sort the amount that we had in one winter. We were poor last year, but the addition of good cricketers can and will only have a positive effect on results.

At the same time, I don't think thus far that we have the balance right. In trying to fit in everyone who is deserving of a game we are leaving ourselves short in that most key area - balance.

As was pointed out the other night, we went into the game against Kent with at most three specialist bowlers, the other overs made up of all rounders who are either new to the wickets, new to the county or struggling with injury. It is little wonder that the bowling proved our problem, especially when one of the three specialists was off with his radar.

For the RLODC games this coming weekend, I hope to see Derbyshire field something that offers more in that way, with a recall for Ben Slater and Ben Cotton on the cards.

Ben Slater is in form and was for this competition last year. Shiv Thakor is learning the role at number three, but if his ankle isn't up to bowling, he should be rested and either Luis Reece or Alex Hughes could bat there, as could Daryn Smit. Matt Critchley is an excellent one-day bowler, but The Riverside is usually a seamer's track and he may miss out.

We do need six bowlers though, because you usually find that someone takes a bit of stick in the one day game and a spell is split. There's options around though and a decent depth to the batting, if required.

More from me on the game tomorrow, when one assumes the squad will be announced.

To finish on a positive note, the seconds enjoyed a fine win over a strong Nottinghamshire side at Denby yesterday.

Ben Slater made an unbeaten 139 and Harvey Hosein an unbeaten 64, Tom Wood 47 and Charlie Macdonell 36 as we amassed 309-2 in fifty overs.

The visitors, skippered by Brendan Taylor and including Harry Gurney, Tom Moores, Brett Hutton and Billy Root, made 294-6, both Ben Cotton and Matt Critchley bowling tight spells.

That was a very good effort by a young side that featured several academy players.

I will follow their fortunes closely over the summer.