Leicestershire V Derbyshire day 4

Derbyshire 139 and 214

Leicestershire 120 and 168 (Rampaul 3-38, Reece 3-47)

Derbyshire won by 65 runs

Derbyshire duly and professionally finished off the Leicestershire innings today to seal a victory in a fascinating match by 65 runs.

The slim chance that the home side had was dependent on Azad batting the innings through. But when he was the first man to go this morning, a straightforward catch to Madsen at slip, their prospects were bleak. A change of ball resulted in a change of fortunes for Derbyshire, the new one moving far more than the one that preceded it.

Luis Reece bowled very well and took another wicket leg before, then van Beek got in on the act, courtesy of a juggling act by Critchley at third slip, who seemed to hold on at the third attempt.

Rampaul's introduction saw two wickets fall to nigh perfect deliveries, both safely pouched by Hosein. I thought he kept very well in this game and looks increasingly at home at this level.

The end, fittingly, came when Palladino, star turn of the first innings, flattened the stumps of Abbas. Seasons come and seasons go, but the metronomic accuracy of Palladino remains an object lesson for those in his craft.

It was a good team performance. I disagree with criticism I have read of the batting, as stroke play was never easy on a wicket of various challenges. It was one of those games when our depth of batting was very useful, while our seam bowling quartet was better than that of the opposition on this occasion.

It is a win that takes us, albeit temporarily, to second place in the division. There can be few complaints at that, though similar professionalism last week would have seen us top of the pile.

We move on to Durham next week in good heart and fine fettle.

Leicestershire V Derbyshire day 3

Derbyshire 139 and 214

Leicestershire 120 and 110-4

Leicestershire need 124 to win

Thanks to the regular rain interruptions, this fascinating game heads into its final day tomorrow with all results still possible.

Rain could still somehow force a draw, and while Derbyshire are still favourites to win, they need to take 6 wickets tomorrow before the home side score the required 124 runs to win.

Hassan Azad has batted splendidly for them in this game, and looks a fine player, though I thought that we put too much on middle and leg today, enabling him to whip it through mid wicket. Perhaps there was a theory he was vulnerable to a leg before, but his eye was good.

Truth be told, I don't think we bowled as well as in the first innings and need to do better tomorrow. Rampaul was too short in his first spell and neither lines nor lengths were as tight.

If the weather allows it, I still back us to win on this wicket, but the runs added this morning will be crucial. Great common sense was shown, though our hosts were guilty of bowling too short and too wide. Van Beek batted well, with good support from Tony Palladino and Rampaul.

Game on tomorrow then. It would be nice to see us get this one over the line.

Leicestershire V Derbyshire day 2

Derbyshire 139 and 160-8 (Madsen 51)

Leicestershire 120 (Palladino 5-29, van Beek 3-20)

Derbyshire lead by 179 runs

Derbyshire bowled splendidly this morning, taking the remaining Leicestershire wickets before lunch and reducing them to 120 all out.

It gave them a first innings lead of 19, which would have been more but for dropped catches that allowed the addition of an extra 10 to 15 runs. Wayne Madsen held the final, excellent catch to remove Abbas, having earlier missed a much easier chance.

Yet this should not detract from fine bowling, with Tony Palladino taking 5-29 in 18 overs, and Logan van Beek 3-20 in 15. The latter was on a hat-trick at one point, the second from a fine catch by Harvey Hosein, but his lines and lengths throughout were excellent and it is nice to report on an encouraging and hostile spell which should give him confidence.

Also worthy of note was the discipline of the bowling, with only one leg bye conceded in 57 overs. In what is likely to be a low scoring game, that could be crucial.

The Derbyshire second innings followed much the same vein as the first. Madsen was again the standout, he alone coming to terms with a wicket that continued to offer extravagant movement and irregular bounce. The top four all battled, however, before each was undone in turn.

Late in the day, Hosein looked organised until he was adjudged to be caught behind, hooking at Abbas. He wasn't happy, presumably feeling he hadn't hit it, though the wisdom of such a shot in the day's penultimate over is a fair point.

160-8 at the close, 179 ahead. The home side will need to make the highest score of the match, by some distance, to win this one.

The thinking money is on a Derbyshire win, but you only need one batsman to get in and it is game on. We have a stronger seam quartet and need to bowl with similar discipline.

Either way, there should be another positive result here.

We just need to get on the right side of it this time

Leicestershire V Derbyshire day 1

Derbyshire 139 (Madsen 47)

Leicestershire 55-4 (Palladino 3-3)

One of my regular comments is to never be hasty with your thoughts on an innings until both sides have batted on the surface.

On the face of it, Derbyshire's choice to toss, hope to win it and then bat was a strange one. Especially when the wickets tumbled like dominoes and we staggered to an all out total of 139. Only Wayne Madsen seemed to come to terms with conditions and his 47 was by a distance the highest score.

The home side has a very good attack and a talented overseas star who bowled well, as usual. Yet their batting is overly reliant on a couple of players. Thus it was that they, in turn, slipped to 50-4 by the close, Tony Palladino returning astonishing figures of 3-3 in nine overs.

With Cosgrove, Horton and Ackermann gone, we will entertain hopes of a small first innings lead, which would be quite remarkable in the circumstances.

Like many of you, it will have greater focus for me tomorrow, Derby County's play-off final taking precedence today.

That late burst by Tony Palladino may just have salvaged what would otherwise have been a day of disappointment.

More from me tomorrow.

Comment posting problems

A few people have been in touch to say that comments they have posted have not appeared.

I am very sorry about that and, having been in touch with Blogger, it appears that recent changes made are the cause.

I have now made the recommended changes and hope that the issue is now resolved. I should now get an email when a comment is posted and should be able to make them live more quickly.

Which is the way that it was when I started the blog. Do please let me know if a comment you have made does not appear. Unless it transgresses site rules, there should be no further issues.

Thank you for your patience.

Leicestershire V Derbyshire preview

I think it is fair to say that fewer eyes than normal will be on the first day of Derbyshire's game at Leicester tomorrow.

The little matter of the play-off final at Wembley for Derby County will see to that, so the afternoon session may be lacking in a following.

There is no return for Leus du Plooy, presumably given longer to ensure his full return from injury in time for the T20. So we go with the same 12 from the Glamorgan game and will hope for a return to the earlier levels of batting solidarity. Hopefully the second innings of that last game was just a blip.

There is no news as yet of the home squad, but for all their struggles this year, everyone knows that they have some good players. Colin Ackermann heads their batting, while Tom Taylor has had an excellent start to his career there.

It is a game that we are eminently capable of winning and if we wish to get back in contention for one of the promotion places, it is the sort of game that we need to win.

Then again, so was the last one. We must hope for an improved performance and certainly a different result.

More from me tomorrow.

Nottinghamshire V Derbyshire 1934

With some free time this morning, I decided that a little surfing of the British Film Institute website was in order. I am glad that I did, as it unearthed a wonderful twelve minute film from 1934.

It was a game at Trent Bridge between Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire, which opens with then Nottinghamshire captain Arthur Carr leading his team down the steps of the pavilion, closely followed by the Derbyshire openers, Alan Skinner (in cap) and Albert Alderman.

As one might expect, there is a lot of footage of the great Harold Larwood hurling them down, and it is worth paying close attention to the minimal protection that the batsmen had, with wrap-around batting gloves, rubber pimples on all that protected you from a thunderbolt. No arm guards, helmets or chest pads, just your bat, reactions and talent.

For those less au fait with the county players, left-handed Denis Smith faces a lot of the bowling, as do first Alderman, now wearing a cap and then Charlie Elliott, with his hair slicked back. There is also a glimpse of Stan Worthington, walking out in a cap, while we also see tall brothers Alf and George Pope batting together.

Derbyshire made 263 all out in the innings and we next see Arthur Richardson lead our side from the pavilion. The bowling is opened by Alf Pope but then the majority is done by Thomas 'Tosser' Armstrong, bowling slow left arm, and Les  Townsend, bowling off spin, mainly from around the wicket.

They bowled out Nottinghamshire for 203, taking five and four wickets respectively. There is a brief glimpse of Alderman rubbing his chest after being hit in a second innings of 135 all out, in which Bill Voce took 7 wickets.

It left Nottinghamshire needing 196 to win, but they were bowled out for 167, Townsend this time taking seven wickets and Armstrong three, the latter shown ending the game by getting Harold  Butler leg before.

It is a charming period piece, which I hope you enjoy as much as I did. The weather was obviously warm, and there is a certain something about seeing fielders and umpires lying down for a breather between wickets.

For those who like their cricket history, the two umpires shown at the start of the film are the legendary Frank Chester and Alec Skelding (right, in glasses). Chester lost an arm in the First World War and was a Test umpire for 31 years. Skelding was one of the great characters of the game and there are many stories about his quick wit and sense of humour.

One final observation. While in some ways it seems a very different game to today, it was a Golden Age and watching Harold Larwood gives an indication as to how much faster he was than his contemporaries. See how Denis Smith, a fine player, has to rush his shots to keep him out.

https://player.bfi.org.uk/free/film/watch-notts-v-derby-1934-1934-online

A polite reminder...

Every so often, over the years that I have written this blog, I have had to issue a warning.

No one is more aware than me of how good and bad social media can be. It is a powerful tool, but one that can be used in whatever way the user intends.

I set up this blog) in the hope of finding one or two people who held similar views  and support for Derbyshire. Its success has thrilled me, that it will pass two million views this summer astounds me. I have met so many great people and am grateful for that.

Part of its appeal, I think, is that people are free to express opinions, usually in a rant-free, respectful manner. Which is why it saddens me to have declined to publish two comments in the past week, the first ones in several years.

One, about a county player, was a disgrace. The other, about me, and from someone who really should know better, was disrespectful.

I have no issues with anyone who disagrees with my opinion. Were we all to think the same way it would be a very different world. I have printed numerous comments where I have been in a minority, and have no problem in doing so.  

But please bear in mind that IP addresses are logged behind the scenes and avoid personal comment and disrespect to others at all times.

Remember that this blog is read by players, officials, families, Derbyshire supporters and those of other counties.

It is fine to be critical when it is warranted, but not to be disrespectful. If you would not say it face to face, then you probably shouldn't write it either.

It saddens me to require to post this again, and I hope it is some time before I need to do so again.

Do please keep your comments coming, but be very aware of the above guidelines.

Thank you.

T20 thoughts

Several times over the past few days I have been asked my eleven for the forthcoming Vitality Blast T20.

Each time I smiled, knowing full well that it will not meet with universal approval. Then again, such things have never worried me,  so I am happy to offer my thoughts here. My understanding is that there will be no additional players, so unless that changes, we go with existing staff.

While any team selection will always be dependent on the pitch, my first choice side, assuming full fitness for those concerned, would be as follows:

Critchley
Reece
Madsen
du Plooy
Hughes
Dal
McKiernan/Lace
Smit (captain)
van Beek
Rampaul
Stanlake

I have no idea if McKiernan would be fit in time, and if so one would logically pick Watt. But the tail would then be longer, and no team can afford two or three less mobile players in an unforgiving format.

I toyed with the idea of du Plooy at the top, as you want your best players to have the most time at the crease, but he stays where he is to give us left/right options through the top four.

I would have Daryn Smit as wicket keeper, as he is the best skipper in the club. No offence towards Harvey Hosein, who has done well, but I am going with a man for this year who has won a T20 tournament as captain, and since he is a wicket keeper, Harvey gives way. Smit is also the better keeper standing up, which would be for all, bar the last three in the order.

Every man can bowl, and that is important. If McKiernan isn't fit, then I would be inclined to pick Lace to lengthen the batting. You cannot hide too many in the field and Ravi isn't the most agile, nor would one expect Stanlake to be, at that height.

Billy Godleman is omitted, again because I want my most mobile fielders and I have another captain. Like Harvey, no offence meant, as I like him as a cricketer and man, but I am going horses for courses here. Billy showed last year that he can play the format, but in my selection I am trying to maximise the runs from the crucial Powerplay.

In my first choice side I have six seamers and four spinners. You could lengthen the batting with Lace, or play Watt on wickets where spin is more likely to succeed.

I don't think Dominic Cork will shy away from tricky decisions and he has to make some here. We have to pick a side that would give us our best chance of success and that would be mine.

Were the selection of a captain who has been playing second team all summer to be deemed too 'left field', then Alex Hughes is the next obvious choice, with Hosein retaining his place.

Now, let's see your side...

Thoughts on Glamorgan

I have seen a lot of cricket this year, so it is typical that it all 'kicked off' on pretty much the first day that I missed.

From the many comments on social media, Logan van Beek turned into Harold Larwood yesterday afternoon, rather than 'simply' bowling at the stumps to get out Lukas Carey, the opposition number ten.

It was a strange tactic, against two batsmen whose career averages were barely in double figures. Certainly a tactic requested by the captain, presumably after seeing Carey hit the pitched up bowling in the first innings. I am never comfortable with intimidation and to be honest, for it to be done 'well' it needs a bowler of uncommon accuracy. Thus, Michael Holding could do it, but it failed yesterday.

I stand by my assertion that this was an opportunity missed. Yet just as our wins have been team efforts, so too are defeats. Had we batted anything to ability on day three, we would have been out of sight, but no one played the innings that would have allowed that. So to blame van Beek for the loss is missing the point and merely seeking an easy scapegoat.

Dave Houghton now has his first selection dilemma of the summer. With Leus du Plooy presumably returning for the game at Leicester next week, who misses out? It would have been Anuj Dal, but he batted well in both innings and has been in fine touch in recent weeks. He is also the best fielder in the side.

Reece has all round importance, Madsen and Hughes top the averages, Lace has done well. Which leaves you with Critchley, the side's spinner, and Godleman, the captain. The omission of either would be a brave decision, but from a purely batting perspective they are the two most vulnerable players.

It is not so long since the skipper was carrying all before him in the RLODC and his championship form uncannily mirrors 2018. He is good enough to come through it, as is Critchley, currently experiencing one of those spells that the young cricketer has. Houghton could rest Tony Palladino, lengthening the batting still further, but there are greater concerns over the bowling, as there always were.

Which brings me neatly back to van Beek. He was signed as a player 'with a point to prove' and has not yet done so. I thought his first spell in the first innings was the best I have yet seen him bowl, but at times his relative inexperience shows. Let's not forget that he has played only nine more first-class games than Harvey Hosein, who is hardly a veteran.

The role of professional is a tough one, whether in league cricket or at a higher level. The expectation is high and plenty struggle underneath it. One has only to read John Wright's autobiography to understand how he initially had problems in coping, yet went on to become a county great. Midway through his first season in the leagues, Basil D'Oliveira had done little for his club, then it all clicked.

You just don't know. Billy Stanlake could be terrific, or no better than Nathan Rimmington was, or Nantie Hayward. Pace without direction counts for little, but people with better credentials than I rate him highly, so we must hope and trust in their judgement. Just as Bob Carter and John Wright, two very good judges, recommended Logan to Derbyshire.

He is giving 100% and will be a better cricketer by the end of this season. Whether his improvement will justify renewing his contract for 2020 I couldn't say. Maybe he is short of the standard required for that key role, but only time will confirm that. Would our perception of his value and the expectations change were he playing as a Netherlands player on an EU passport?

The lad needs our support, through good times and bad, like they all do. We were not world beaters when we topped the division, nor are we a disgrace for losing a game that we should have won.

We are somewhere in between, which is what I always thought. A promotion place is still very possible, but  only if there is both an individual and collective improvement on this game.

It is a work in progress, but hopefully this is pothole in the road, rather than a widening sink hole.

Derbyshire V Glamorgan day 4

Last night on this blog, I wrote that I expected Derbyshire to win their game against Glamorgan.

That we did not was down to a fine innings by their reserve wicket keeper Tom Cullen. When the game appeared up at tea, he showed enough common sense and skill to steer his side to a two wicket victory, somewhat against the odds.

It will, however, go down as another of those matches where Derbyshire squandered a winning position, indeed twice did so. Yesterday, over 100 runs ahead with nine wickets in hand, they gave away too many easy scalps, while today, when the visitors needed 85 from the last 3 wickets, the advantage should have been pressed home. Yet on the other hand, sometimes you need to credit opponents for besting you when the chips are down. Cullen, twice in this game, played an important innings and he kept wicket quite beautifully.

Fair play to Anuj Dal and Ravi Rampaul, who took the victory target close to 250 this morning, but we should have closed that game out. It is the second time in succession against  these opponents where we have failed to do so and serious ambitions of promotion require such opportunities to be taken.

The season hasn't ended because of the defeat, and I am happy to praise bowling of discipline, where few extras were conceded.

This will, however, go down as the one that got away, and will doubtless be a source of frustration for supporters.

We move on to Leicester next week and must do better. We spent most of that game on the front foot, yet ended up losing it, after the first poor batting display of the summer and a lack of bowling penetration when it mattered.

More from me in the coming days.

Derbyshire v Glamorgan day 3

Derbyshire 378 and 171-9

Glamorgan 346 (Hemphrey 75, Root 68, Rampaul 5-94, Reece 3-53)

Derbyshire lead by 203 runs

There is always a great sense of enjoyment in going down to the Pattonair County Ground in Derby. It is an easy run for me, from my parents' house and the friendly welcome from the stewards is always appreciated. So too those of other staff around the ground, the ready smiles and easy chat things that visitors will notice and appreciate.

These little things are indicative of a well-run and managed club, and despite the concerns around the county circuit with regard to the new competition, county cricket WILL continue. Whether it is in a different format to the current game, or a perceived 'lower' standard after the creation of eight city sides, Derbyshire will carry on giving a very good account of themselves. On the basis of what I have seen over the last three days, the club is well run, on and off the field. It is a pleasure to see and to be able to write.

On the pitch, early breakthroughs came with the dismissals of Lawlor, who had a tough spell at the crease, to Rampaul and then that of Billy Root, who was also leg before, this time to Reece. Thereafter, the less experienced Cullen and Douthwaite produced a stubborn stand, with apparently fewer terrors in the pitch after the first hour, when Rampaul bowled a very good spell.

Both batsmen played well and despite regular bowling changes by Billy Godleman it was hard to see where a wicket was coming from as the partnership passed fifty. Dropped catches didn't help the Derbyshire cause, two going down during the session that would have been taken most days at slip, but Glamorgan got to lunch at 299-6.

After lunch, it suddenly turned into a T20. Rampaul and Reece were tasked with the bowling and did a fine job. The West Indian did especially well, a 'working over' of Cullen culminating in the removal of his off stump, while Reece quickly ended Salter's ambitions with the help of a terrific catch by Hughes, low down to his left at second slip. Thereafter, Carey decided that he would enliven proceedings and reduce the deficit with some old fashioned 'long handle' taking the score to 346, before one hit too many saw a fine diving catch by Lace at deep mid wicket.

It was a fifth wicket for Rampaul, his first such haul since 2016. In three first-class matches this summer he has already matched his tally for 2018, as well as halving the average and looks a different, quicker, fitter bowler. Here he bowled with pace and menace, moving the game on from what appeared a moribund lunchtime state.

Derbyshire commenced their second innings with 57 overs remaining in the day and a lead of 32 runs. The post-lunch session had offered an opportunity for a positive result if we could move the score along. The early departure of Godleman, well caught down the leg side by the impressive Cullen, was not in the script and the skipper's average in the four-day game is currently in stark contrast to his sparkling efforts in the RLODC.

Madsen came in and unveiled some sparkling strokes, as is his wont, quickly easing past Reece in the scoring stakes, the latter largely content to accumulate steadily. I continue to be amazed at his contribution to the side, opening the batting after taking 3-53 in 22 excellent overs. Madsen looked set for a half century, but was well caught at slip for 47 from the bowling of Lloyd. When Reece's resistance was ended in identical fashion, Derbyshire had a lead of 143 and seven wickets in hand, more crucially with work to do to fashion a winning position, or for the pessimists, be safer from not losing the game.

Hughes came and went in disappointing fashion, but the reassurance of the dismissal was confirmation of a bounce that was becoming more variable. Any target around 250 looked likely to be challenging for the visitors, though that seemed some way off at 126-4. Hosein defended for a while, but was well caught down the leg side by Cullen, beaten for pace by Douthwaite as he went to pull. The more vocal demeanour of the visitors at this point suggested their ascendant position in the game and the debutant forced Lace to play on for 29, with the lead 181, then had Critchley leg before as he walked across his stumps. His fourth wicket came when van Beek lobbed a simple catch to the wicket keeper as he tried to turn the ball to leg and Derbyshire were in trouble, at 156-8.

Palladino fell before the close, which ended with the county 203 ahead. Fourteen wickets had fallen after lunch, some of them to shots that were not of the highest quality.

I will, however, stick my neck out and say that I expect us to force a win tomorrow. Every run will be precious in the last wicket stand, but we have a worn pitch to bowl last on.

And these are situations when you get the true credentials of a side with promotion aspirations...

Derbyshire v Glamorgan day 2

Derbyshire 378 (Reece 111, Hughes 82, Dal 64, Carey 4-61)

Glamorgan 214-4

There was another cool but sunny start to the day, which warmed up nicely as the morning session progressed. Derbyshire lost wickets steadily, but took their total to 378 all out by lunch, largely thanks to a fine knock by Anuj Dal, who made a maiden first-class half century and went on to 64, before the innings ended.

Both Hughes and van Beek were bowled by Carey, the former for an excellent 82, but thereafter it was down to Dal to take the score close to the 'target' of 350. He survived a blow on the helmet from the hostile Douthwaite, who looks a good find by the Welsh county, and once again looked a busy and organised batsman, capable of batting higher than number eight in an admittedly long order.

A decent crowd for a Monday enjoyed his strokeplay, one straight drive drawing appreciative purrs as it fizzed past the bowler, but his wristy shots through mid wicket were my personal highlight. As lunch approached, spin was introduced at each end to try and break an excellent last wicket stand with Ravi Rampaul, during which Dal reached an excellent maiden championship fifty.

He was eventually bowled by the returning Michael Hogan for a fine 64, an innings that should give him great confidence, but credit is due to Rampaul, who supported him well in a last wicket stand that could be very important as the game progresses.

In the afternoon session, one could only admire the discipline of the Derbyshire bowlers, as Glamorgan reached 60 for the loss of Selman. It was 28 overs of hard graft, with several edges and three very loud and confident appeals by the home side. Palladino was his usual, metronomic self, ten overs for thirteen indicative of his control over line and length. It was he who took the wicket, Selman well caught low down by Critchley at slip, but an excellent spell by van Beek is worthy of note.

This, for me, was his best spell in Derbyshire colours, working up a head of pace and beating the batsmen with several deliveries that nipped away. There was a greater control of line and length and I hope that it is indicative of better form in the coming weeks.

Wickets were needed after tea and Rampaul removed the dangerous Labuschagne, who shouldered arms to be leg before. The next wicket took some time, however, and came when skipper Lloyd attempted to play Reece off his legs and lobbed an outside edge to Dal at point. Hemphrey remained phlegmatic and despite several close calls reached a hard-grafted fifty.

He was finally dismissed for 75 by van Beek's extra pace, late on the shot playing across the line and palpably leg before. It was a valuable innings for his side, though he will bat better and score fewer runs.

At the close, the visitors had reached 214-4 and something special needs to happen for a positive result to be reached here. While the ball beats the bat regularly, there does not appear enough devil in the wicket, at least at this stage. The in-form Billy Root, unbeaten on 53, lies in the way of a first innings lead.

It is a big first session tomorrow.

Derbyshire v Glamorgan day 1

Derbyshire 253-5  (Reece 111, Hughes 63 not)

v Glamorgan

It was overcast with flashes of sunshine at Derby this morning, chilly enough for the batsmen and fielders to retain their sleeveless sweaters, but with the hope of warmer weather later. The first sighting of the wicket revealed a bowler-friendly green tinge, but a toss took place, confirming that both sides saw the route to success as batting first. It followed the newly-established fashion for Derbyshire and Billy Godleman and Luis Reece walked out to face the new ball and the visiting attack, knowing well the importance of a solid first session.

The Glamorgan side in the scorecard bore little relation to that which took the field, illness and injury changing their plans after already making the decision to rest de Lange and van der Gugten. Indeed, Andrew Salter had to drive up from Wales to replace Bull, who had picked up a back strain.

The openers started solidly, before Godleman was caught on his crease by Hogan, bowling round the wicket, and was adjudged leg before with the score on nineteen. Thereafter, Reece and Madsen, the latter in his 150th first-class game for the county, batted sensibly and with good judgement, both playing well off their legs and producing some fine drives. A ball leaving the middle of Madsen's bat still has one of the finer sounds in the game, while Reece continues to look a player of rare talent. There were a couple of shouts for leg before, but only one which suggested serious consideration, but two or three balls did seem to keep low, which will have been viewed with greater pleasure in the home dressing room than that of the visitors. The ever-reliable Hogan bowled a beautiful last over before lunch, primarily to Reece, which ended with Madsen, from the session's final delivery, being caught behind from a ball he should really have left alone.

107-2 at the interval represented a decent morning's work for Derbyshire, as long as it could be built upon in the afternoon. Tom Lace came and went quickly, but Luis Reece continued to bat well, accelerating through to an excellent century with fourteen fours. At the other end, Alex Hughes showed positive intent and the two added 104 in 22 overs before Luis  hooked at the debutant, Douthwaite, and was caught at long leg. When Hosein was yorked soon afterwards for only a single, another partnership was needed.

Critchley joined Hughes and took the score past 250, before bad light ended play, together with a few drops of rain, twenty-seven overs early. Heavier rain put paid to any resumption, which must wait until the better forecast of tomorrow. Hughes will resume on 63, having looked in good nick from the outset and has now reached three thousand first-class runs for the county. He looks a very good player and will doubtless score many more.

253-5 on the opening day represented decent work by Derbyshire, even allowing for a couple of wickets given away. If they can get north of 350 tomorrow they will feel they have a chance of pressing home an advantage, on a wicket where the ball went past the bat sufficiently to encourage the bowlers.

Derbyshire V Glamorgan preview

It is a case of 'as you were' for Derbyshire as they start their third County Championship game of the summer against Glamorgan at Derby tomorrow.

A squad of 12 has been announced, with injuries pretty much everyone we have available.

That squad:

Godleman, Reece, Madsen, Lace, Hughes, Hosein, Critchley, Dal, Van Beek, Palladino, Rampaul, Taylor.

Tom Lace has returned from Middlesex, where he scored 50 in the first innings. I would expect James Taylor to be the 12th man.

Glamorgan rest Marchant de Lange and Tim van der Gugten, while there is also a doubt over Chris Cooke, who awaits the results from recent scans.

They are a decent side and have scored a lot of runs this summer. Billy Root has been in top form, as has Australian batsman Marnus Labuschagne. Former Derbyshire favourite Graeme Wagg is also in the squad which lines up as follows:

Cooke(*†), Lloyd, Root, Hemphrey, Douthwaite, Wagg, Lawlor, Bull, Carey, Labuschagne, Hogan, Selman, Cullen

The game looks to be blessed by good weather and if there is enough for the bowlers, it is one in which I expect Derbyshire to come out on top.

Always assuming, of course, that we continue to play purposeful, focused and professional cricket that has so far been the feature of our season.

Like the rest of you I look forward to watching developments over the next four days.

Billy Stanlake signs for T20

Ausssie fast bowler Billy Stanlake has signed for Derbyshire for this year's Vitality Blast.

The giant 6'8" quick will be a big asset to the squad and as long as the wickets offer the pace and bounce that he needs, it could be a very interesting signing.

He has had a difficult past twelve months, after bursting meteorically onto the scene. Injuries have been an issue and at times he has lost rhythm, which at his pace can be very much to his detriment.

But at 24 he is another with a reputation to enhance. A good summer with us and he will be well set for T20 contracts around the globe, having already caught the eye in the BBL and the IPL.

When someone like Ricky Ponting says that he has the potential to be one of the all time greats, you have to listen. If Dominic Cork can get the best out of him, we could have picked up a gem.

Well worth keeping an eye on, for sure.

First defeat for second eleven

There was a first defeat of the season for the second team today, losing by four wickets to a Durham  side that had nine players with first team experience at Denstone College.

Dinnie and McGladdery added 124 for the first wicket, the latter going on to an excellent century. After that the wheels came off the wagon and a final total of 218-9 was disappointing. The only other player to get going was Daryn Smit, with an unbeaten 34. Spinners Pringle and Harding did the damage, with 5 wickets between them, while Weighell, Coughlin and Rimmington shared the rest.

An early burst by the increasingly impressive Sam Conners threatened a surprise and his four wickets for 54 runs was an excellent effort. An unbroken century partnership between Carse and Weighell took Durham home, with time to spare.

Nonetheless, it was a decent effort by a side of four staff players, one from the Academy and six trialists

Scorecard :

http://live.nvplay.com/ecb/#m9a2e569d-7b6c-4b24-92ca-3d21ccd85669

Anticipation as four day cricket returns

I am looking forward to the resumption of the County Championship this weekend.

I said at the start of the season that I thought it represented our best chance of success this summer and I stand by that. As long as everyone stays fit, we have the key ingredients for success in the format, namely depth in batting and variety in bowling.

There is always room for improvement, of course and supporters will always say that we are short here and there. The reality is that we cannot compete with the big guns financially, but I feel we are a side that punches above our weight.

One has only to look at the message boards for supporters of Yorkshire, Lancashire, Nottinghamshire and Surrey for examples of a fan base unhappy with performances. Yet all of these clubs have resources of which we can only dream.

There was a time when only one trophy was up for grabs and only three counties realistically had a chance of winning it. We went 66 years from formation to a trophy, and another 45 until the next. Perhaps our expectations are too high these days, but the level of performance this season, as Billy Godleman pointed out yesterday, has been high.

If we can maintain that standard until September, we can consider it a good season. We have been beaten, but not embarrassed and the players can be proud of what they have so far achieved.

Glamorgan are next at the Pattonair County Ground and I hope that a wicket is produced similar to the one against Durham. If we produce tracks where the ball nips around, we have the bowlers to take advantage. If we don't, then there will be high scoring draws and we don't have the bowler to make a difference.

It has now been confirmed that the replacement for Kane Richardson will be a 'like for like' and it will be interesting to see who ships up in due course. There is no point in conjecture, but a player who comes in under the radar and is as talented as Leus du Plooy would do just fine.

More from me soon.

Hard graft in the sun for second team

It was tough in the sun for Derbyshire's bowlers against Durham today.

Two early wickets gave them a chance of a breakthrough, but solid batting by the visitors down the order enabled them to declare 103 runs behind on 301-6.

There were two wickets each for Tony Palladino and Hamidullah Qadri, though the latter took some stick. There were two good catches by Daryn Smit, one especially good down the leg side, but it was a day of hard graft for a relatively young attack. They stuck to it well though, and deserve credit for doing so.

We closed on 41-2, with both openers gone, 144 ahead.

On such a good wicket it is hard to see a positive result here. A declaration will doubtless come in the early afternoon, but a realistic target is likely to require the use of occasional bowlers, or an innings that is quite special.

I will be watching anyway and congratulations are due once again to the club for an excellent stream.

Scorecard :

It was tough in the sun for Derbyshire's bowlers against Durham today.

Two early wickets gave them a chance of a breakthrough, but solid batting by the visitors down the order enabled them to declare 103 runs behind on 301-6.

There were two wickets each for Tony Palladino and Hamidullah Qadri, though the latter took some stick. There were two good catches by Daryn Smit, one especially good down the leg side, but it was a day of hard graft for a relatively young attack.

We closed on 41-2, with both openers gone, 144 ahead.

On such a good wicket it is hard to see a positive result here. A declaration will doubtless come in the early afternoon, but a realistic target is likely to require the use of occasional bowlers, or an innings that is quite special.

I will be watching anyway and congratulations are due once again to the club for an excellent stream.

Scorecard :

https://live.nvplay.com/ecb/#m760782c6-3134-4f62-a5b6-8d9d799adc16

   

   

Ton for Dal as second team rack up 400

Derbyshire won the toss and elected to bat at Derby today, a decision helped by the glorious sunshine, as well as three spinners in their side.

Against them was a very strong Durham eleven, with the bowling opened by Brydon Carse and Josh Coughlin, with Nathan Rimmington as first change.

McGladdery and Dinnie were made to work hard for their runs against such an attack. The latter is pleasing with his off side play, but a tendency to play across his front pad saw two close shouts for leg before. He was eventually strangled down the leg side by Rimmington, which brought Tom Wood to the wicket. An innings against such an attack would have done him no harm in his quest for a full contract, but after a couple of boundaries he shouldered arms and was bowled by Gibson.

At the other end, McGladdery was easy on the eye and played some nice shots. Anuj Dal came in to help rebuild the innings and both batsmen showed fine footwork against the spinners. A century looked there for the taking for McGladdery, until he misjudged the length from Pringle and was adjudged leg before, with the score on 131.

A healthy lunchtime position of 138-3 quickly slipped to 160-6 in the afternoon, as Carse and Coughlin ripped out the middle order. It needed another rebuilding job, this time by Smit, who made 42 before one popped to take the shoulder of the bat and be caught at slip, via the keeper's gloves.

As for Dal, he made a century that was as good as you could wish for, full of fine strokes and trademark running. I remain convinced that he could make it at senior level, but probably needs to bat higher to stake his claim. He is busy at the crease, with excellent footwork and here, against a good attack, he looked a player of high quality.

He was kept company in a fine stand by Connor Marshall, who also batted well, aided by bowlers who bowled short at someone who looked pretty strong on the pull and hook.

298-7 at tea, with the news breaking during the afternoon that Tom Lace has returned to Middlesex for their county championship game that starts tomorrow. It is a non-story really, as he will return to Derbyshire in time for our game against Glamorgan at the weekend.

Marshall didn't last long after tea and Dal finally departed for an excellent 126, but Conners used the long handle, reverse sweep and edge to good effect, the final score amassing 404, the second game running that the lower order had turned things around handsomely. He and Hamidullah Qadri added 54, before the latter was the fourth LBW of the innings.

There was just time before the close for four more overs, in which time Tony Palladino took an early wicket, caught behind by Smit, as the visitors closed on 14-1.

It completed a very good day of cricket by a spirited Derbyshire side.

Full scorecard: https://live.nvplay.com/ecb/#m760782c6-3134-4f62-a5b6-8d9d799adc16

Richardson withdraws from Vitality Blast

Only last night, in an email to a friend, I said that I would be surprised if Kane Richardson fulfilled his Vitality Blast contract with Derbyshire, following his selection in the Australian World Cup squad.

The news this morning that he has opted to withdraw from his contract beat me to the draw, but it is understandable. Like many seam bowlers he has a history of injury and a hectic summer would do him no favours.

He joins a growing list of players signed by the county but destined not to play for them, though perhaps the door is open for a future opportunity.

There are apparently several options for us and it is only right that we take time to assess the suitability of these. If I am honest, then my preference would be for someone who offers batting ability as well as four tight overs. I would take Wahab Riaz again in a heartbeat, a man who did it in every aspect last season.

Conversely, I would also be happy if Imran Tahir was to return. He offers nothing with the bat and little in the field, but is still probably one of the best T20 bowlers in the world. He also seems to have rediscovered his leg break, rather than bowling topspin and googlies all the time.

Will we go 'like for like' in replacing Richardson, or be more inventive? Time will tell, but I have a feeling that our route to success in the format might be in slower bowling. The presence of someone in the side who is rarely expensive makes the opposition take greater chances against the rest.

My guess would be that any decision will hinge on the Caribbean Premier League draft in London on May 22. We will then have a better idea of player availability and can select accordingly.

One to keep an eye on, for sure.

Final thoughts on the seconds - for now!

After all the excitement of yesterday, the second team fixture at Billericay ended up a damp and disappointing draw, with only a few balls bowled on the final day.

Derbyshire did well, as I documented yesterday and it served to highlight the wealth of talent playing within the county.

Take this coming Saturday, for example. Ticknall play Ockbrook and Borrowash and the talent on either side is impressive. Ockbrook's bowling, fitness permitting, will be led by Dustin Melton, the South African quick bowler on an ancestral visa, who has impressed in the second team, and Sam Conners. Meanwhile Tom Lace is a part of their batting strength, as will be Josh Lacey from the county academy.

As for Ticknall, their batting is opened by Paul Borrington and Tom Wood, with Wayne Madsen at three and Joss Morgan, Wayne's brother in law, at four.

I have heard nothing but good about Morgan, with several people whose judgement I trust telling me that he is one of the best young batsmen in the county. He was rated highly back in South Africa as a schoolboy, but has been resident in this country for a few years now.

His record last season was excellent and he has started in fine form this summer. My understanding is that he is very keen to play first class cricket and I hope that he has the opportunity to express his undoubted talent in the second team in the near future.

He and Tom Wood are both exciting talents on our doorstep and for me there is greater credibility in exploring the potential of such players first, before we perhaps trial those who have not made it at other counties. There will always be that 'diamond in the rough' elsewhere, but it would be galling if a talent within the county boundaries were to be picked up by someone else.

The second team's results this season have been excellent, though results are not really crucial at that level. More important is the offering of opportunity to players who may, or may not take it.

I don't think that Tom Wood has anything more to prove at Derbyshire. He has scored heavily for years in a strong Premier League, done the same in the second team over three summers and gone off to Australia each winter and been outstanding.

I hope that discussions will be taking place over a contract for next year, when he will be a logical insertion into the batting order when Tom Lace returns down south. He has met every challenge thrown at him head on and I am sure that he would make runs at first-class level. Again, that is an opinion I share with people whose judgement I trust.

If there is any justice in this world, that opportunity will not be too long in coming.

Fascinating game for seconds

I am thoroughly enjoying following the exploits of the Derbyshire second team this summer.

Whisper it quietly, but Daryn Smit is doing something quite special with a side made up primarily of trialists and Academy players. Given the small staff, he rarely has the luxury of contracted players, which makes their current unbeaten record all the more impressive.

Smit is no stranger to captaincy, of course, having been the highly regarded skipper of the Dolphins franchise in South Africa, where he won several trophies.

Were the current match a first team fixture, it would probably be set to enter county folklore

Yesterday they were bowled out before lunch for just 55 runs, and were batting again before the close, having bowled out Essex for 173. At 41-1 they were looking down a barrel, but an astonishing recovery today, led by their captain, sees them go into the final day with all results possible.

Smit made a superb unbeaten 137 from 154 balls, batting at number eight and was supported throughout the order. Fynn Hudson-Prentice made 76, Connor Marshall, playing his cricket at Sandiacre this summer, made 71 and there were forties for Tom Wood and Jesse Dinnie.

It left Derbyshire all out for 443 and  with a lead of 325, made against an attack with considerable first team experience and also including Netherlands international, Shane Snater.

Mention should also be made for the sterling efforts of number eleven Dustin Melton, who stayed at the crease to allow Smit to reach his century and then forge on to take the Derbyshire lead past the 300 mark in a partnership of 68 runs. Melton made just eight, but those extra runs could be crucial tomorrow.

Essex closed on 66-1,Melton taking the wicket and a terrific final day is in store 

It is heartening to see such a level of commitment from the second team. They look like being worth a watch this summer, so do pop along to see them whenever you are able to do so.

More from me on the exciting finish to this match tomorrow.

Seconds in tough battle

There was a chastening experience for Derbyshire 2nd XI yesterday, in an away game against Essex at what proved to be tricky Billericay.

Batting first, we were blown away before lunch by Kiwi Matt Quinn, together with Sam Cook and Jack Plom, for just 55 runs. Tom Wood made 22 and trialist Australian Jesse Dinnie was unbeaten on 14 against a strong second team attack with senior and overseas experience.

Essex didn't do that much better and their innings only just got past the tea interval before they were out for 173. Nick Browne, so often the scourge our first team, was quickly dismissed by impressive South African quick Dustin Melton, who finished with three wickets. So too did Sam Conners and leg spinner Connor Marshall.

Batting again before the close, we reached 41- 1, McGladdery out for 22 and Dinnie, this time opening the batting, so far unbeaten on 16.

It will be tough for Daryn Smit's side to preserve their unbeaten record, 77 runs behind, with a side of trialists and Academy players. Which is why it both amuses and annoys me when I see people saying, on another site, that we should 'ring the changes' in the first team.

Aside from the twelve for yesterday's game, the only fit and/or available squad members are Daryn Smit, the second team captain and reserve wicket-keeper, and Sam Conners. That's it. Ain't no campanologist going to ring many changes there...

We now have until the Glamorgan game that starts on the 19th to regroup and continue our excellent start to the 4-day season.

Let's not forget that at this stage, we are top of the pile...

Derbyshire V Worcestershire

Derbyshire 351-9 (Reece 128, Madsen 113, Hughes 43)

Worcestershire 353-6 (Wessels 130, Ferguson 103*, Critchley 3-73)

Worcestershire won by 4 wickets

Two fine centuries by Wayne Madsen and Luis Reece were eclipsed by one of stunning power by Riki Wessels today, as Worcestershire made the highest successful list A run chase at Derby.

No one bowled badly, but Wessels kept hitting the ball into the middle distance, not for the first time against our bowling. I don't think I have seen a cleaner display of hitting than his 130 from just 62 deliveries, an innings which included eleven sixes, and it had effectively decided this game by the time that he was dismissed.

It was a good game of cricket, ruined a little for me by the wicket being too much in favour of the batsmen. I know a lot of people like to see the ball disappearing for fours and sixes, but I prefer a more even battle between bat and ball.

Madsen and Reece broke the second wicket record for the county in List A cricket, previously held by John Wright and Peter Kirsten. Both batted superbly and from the platform they set we should have been closer to 400 when the innings closed. Wayne's range of strokes was a joy to watch, while Luis looked a player of class, one left/right pairing usurped in the record books by another.

It was disappointing to hear a very average commentary team say that Reece had been out of form. Considering that twice his innings had been terminated prematurely by the poor running of his partner, that wasn't all his fault.

The commentary team's constant references to 'Derby' and 'Worcester' grated, as did Mark Butcher's regular flaw of 'flirting' with a female commentator, which is highly embarrassing to all outside the commentary 'club'. I eventually switched it off and expect I was not alone.

Only Alex Hughes of the later batsmen gave any impetus and he, with Matt Critchley, were the best two bowlers for Derbyshire. They dragged the score back a little, but never to the extent that the result was in doubt. Ferguson played a controlled and masterful innings, accelerating when there was a need to do so and never looking in trouble. It was an innings in the image of Dean Jones, and I can give no greater praise

Another defeat then, but again one in which we competed strongly. You cannot complain when you are beaten by a special innings and despite the other three fine centuries  today, Wessels was the game-winner.  They are a fine side and young seam bowler Brown is a special talent in limited over cricket.

We finished mid-table in a strong group, beaten only by the sides that finished above us. A little more savvy might have changed two of those, but there can be no complaints about today.

Nor, really, about the performances in the tournament.

Derbyshire V Worcestershire preview

There is no real change to the Derbyshire squad that will finish the season's RLODC campaign in front of the Sky TV cameras tomorrow.

Truth be told, there is really no one else to bring in, other than those who played and lost at Old Trafford.

I expect the same eleven to take the field, with Tony Palladino missing out. His time will come with the resumption of four day cricket, as will that of Sam Conners.

I have seen no reference to a Worcestershire squad but they will be a hard team to beat. I see them as one of the best one day sides in the country and they have a potent combination of hard-hitting batsmen and a very good seem attack. Kolpak signing Wayne Parnell is in fine form at present, and their batting will be headed by Rikki Wessels, who had a very good record against us when he played for Nottinghamshire.

It will be interesting to see how the Derbyshire players react to that defeat against Lancashire. The heartening thing was that we continued to battle to the very end, something I hope is repeated tomorrow.

There may be a case for elevating Anuj Dal in the order, to see what impetus he can give to the innings when given more time. He may be a  useful asset to us in the T20 and it is unlikely that we will see  his true value, with a view to a longer contract, when batting at number eight and only getting to the middle on occasion.

I will be back tomorrow with my thoughts on the game and as always look forward to your comments.

Thoughts on the RLODC

Before the RLODC competition started, both on this blog and in an interview on BBC Radio Derby, I said that our best chance of success this season lay in the County Championship and in the Vitality Blast.

With one game to go, I take no real pleasure in being proven correct, other than the confirmation that my common sense remains intact.

We are well-suited to the twenty-over game, with a range of batsmen and bowlers. The intensity of the competition fits us better and players capable of special cameos fill the side. A quick twenty can win you these games, but rarely will over a fifty-over match.

In the four-day game we are on a fairly level playing field and, given luck with injuries, can hold our own against anyone. We have carried that through in the RLODC, beating two sides in our four-day division, as well as Warwickshire.

As is always the case, critics have been quick to emerge with defeat and some of the comments in social media have been unfair, inaccurate and in some cases downright nonsense.

Let's not forget that we have the second smallest playing budget in the country. We work with a very small squad, not through choice, but through necessity. We beat Warwickshire easily, came close to doing the same to Yorkshire and were 30 runs short against Durham. Small margins again, between the win and the loss. We gave Nottinghamshire a good game, a club that has almost twice the playing budget and that registered a prophet of over a million pounds, while Lancashire made over two million.

I think we have acquitted ourselves fairly well, in the circumstances. By my reckoning we are now four men down from a squad of eighteen and I think both Leus du Plooy and Matt McKiernan would have made a difference on the wicket yesterday.

It is not fair and is inaccurate to say we never beat big teams, because we do, in T20. Even more so to call the side a 'shambles' and to suggest dropping the captain for a mix up in running. The same captain who has over 500 runs for the competition, more than any other two players...

Cricket is much easier watched from the stand or from your armchair. Sometimes, as a supporter, you have to acknowledge when the opposition outplays you. Lancashire did that yesterday, their two international batsmen scoring runs, their slow bowlers choking us after a good start, and our batsmen playing into their hands for the most part.

I have said before that for us to beat big sides, eleven players need to play to their best, while preventing the opposition from doing so. If we don't do that, we won't come close.

It wasn't until Dal and Hosein came together that we saw quick footwork against the slow bowlers and urgency in the running between the wickets. The self-inflicted wounds of the dismissals of Reece and Hughes were major factors, but just remember that no one did it on purpose.

There is not one of us who doesn't have bad days at work, when things don't go to plan. Then again, we don't have people rushing into print to tell everyone how awful we were, when we were trying our best.

While the club site said yesterday that we can still qualify, it would require a combination of factors that I do not deem worthy of consideration. But we have been far from disgraced. There are counties with a far greater sense of expectation than ours who have done poorly.

For me, our best chance of success this summer lies ahead of us. I am not suggesting silverware, but if we continue to compete, learn a few lessons and have a little more luck with injuries, we will have our share of days in the sun.

After that, who knows?

Lancashire V Derbyshire RLODC

Lancashire 239-6 (Jennings 84, Lehmann 77*, Watt 2-50

Derbyshire 209-7 (Dal 52, Godleman 42, Hosein 41*

Lancashire won by 30 runs

For the first time this season, Derbyshire's batsmen let them down at Old Trafford today.

They had bowled fairly steadily, and the closing overs from Mark Watt and Ravi Rampaul were excellent and starved the home side of boundaries. Watt is proving a sound acquisition for white ball cricket and will probably feature strongly in the T20.

Keaton Jennings played a good innings for Lancashire, but he enjoyed the kind of luck that eluded him in England colours. There were two strong appeals for LBW and the Derbyshire side seemed quite confident in the caught and bowled by Critchley, when he had made only 29. Lehmann also batted well on debut and looks a sound signing.

The target was not out of the question at the halfway mark, but after a good start had been made against the seam attack, the batting was strangled by the home side's spinners.

Nor did we help our cause with silly running that saw both Luis Reece and Alex  Hughes run out. The writing was on the wall when Wayne Madsen was caught on the boundary edge and he was quickly followed by Tom Lace, who was deceived by a slower ball as he went to sweep.

When Matt Critchley hit a long hop, one that he could have planted anywhere on the leg side, straight down the throat of mid wicket, the chase was effectively done.

A good stand followed between Dal and Hosein and they ran very well. Anuj played his best innings for the county, full of the wristy strokes I have admired in the second team. Hosein did well at the other end, but we were always behind the run rate. Boundaries did not come often enough, but their sprightly effort was at odds with the more leaden footed batting of the top order.

Dal reached a deserved 50 with two overs to go, but by then was clearly struggling with a leg strain and he edged through to wicket keeper Vilas.

Hosein finished unbeaten on 41 but the overriding feeling was that with a little more savvy at the top of the innings, this was one we perhaps should have won.

Lancashire V Derbyshire preview

Derbyshire's squad is unchanged for tomorrow's massive RLODC match against Lancashire at Old Trafford.

There may be some thought of recalling Sam Conners, though Anuj Dal may retain his place because of his fielding, as well as his other options.

Lancashire have lost the services of Glenn Maxwell, who has joined up with the Australian squad. He is replaced by Jake Lehmann, son of former Yorkshire favourite, Darren

Their squad:

Dane Vilas (c)
James Anderson
Josh Bohannon
Steven Croft
Brooke Guest
Haseeb Hameed
Liam Hurt
Keaton Jennings
Rob Jones
Jake Lehmann
Saqib Mahmood
Graham Onions
Matt Parkinson
Stephen Parry

We will have to contend with one of the best seam attacks in the country, but this Derbyshire side is playing positive, fearless cricket. While the squad is down to its bare bones, those in it are good cricketers, capable of holding their own against anyone.

They have shown that already, this season and I expect us to do the same tomorrow.

Like the rest of you, I wish them all well.

In our current form, we could win this.

A day watching the second team

One of the benefits of my current incapacity is that I have been able to watch a lot of cricket, via the excellent streams available around the country.

Up there with the best is that of Derbyshire and it was nice to see them streaming the 2nd XI game today, against Nottinghamshire at the Pattonair County Ground.

The visitors won the toss and elected to bat and it was sad to see Mark Footitt still on second team duty at the age of 33. I wonder how many times he has regretted leaving Derbyshire over recent seasons, as he seems some way from the first team at Trent Bridge.

By the same token, the Derbyshire attack was led by Tony Palladino, still very much part of the senior set up. He took two early wickets, the first from a beautiful out swinger, the second  a top-edged pull, in a typically parsimonious spell.

At the other end, South African fast bowler Dustin Melton, currently seeking a county deal, did his prospects no harm with a rapid first spell. He beat the bat several times and no one looked especially comfortable against him. Impressively built, he may just  be worth an extended trial. His pace took the third wicket, the batsman late on a hook that lobbed up to mid wicket.

At 30-3 in eleven overs, the visitors were in trouble. Zimbabwean all-rounder Malcolm Lake replaced Palladino, bowling tidy medium pace, but it was former Sussex player Fynn Hudson-Prentice who struck with his first ball, bowling  Bhabra to make it 37-4. Both bowlers kept it tight and captain Daryn Smit would have been a happy man with his side's efforts at that stage.

A forty-run stand steadied the ship, before Hamidullah Qadri took the fifth wicket, the impressive Chris Gibson caught at long on. Anuj Dal plugged away at the other end and batting was far from easy.

Blatherwick came in and looked busy for a while, but after conceding a couple of boundaries, Qadri lured him down the pitch and Smit had the bails off in the blinking of an eye.

Aside from anything else, it was, as always, an aesthete's pleasure to watch such an accomplished wicketkeeper. Standing up is always the test and his glove work throughout was impeccable, his captaincy shrewd.

Hayden Rossouw continued to anchor the innings as another partnership developed, but had a life when Qadri put down a caught and bowled he would have fancied nine times out of ten. As the last ten overs approached, Connor Marshall, a leg spinner who grew up through the Nottinghamshire age groups, bowled with plenty of flight but no real turn.

Late order resistance took Nottinghamshire past the 200 mark, a good recovery from earlier trials. I thought the bowlers stuck well to their task and the innings closed at 204, when Melton's return was too quick for Hall and he edged through to Smit.

I looked forward to seeing Lake, who was a highly rated player back home, but he only lasted four deliveries before Footitt rearranged his stumps, leaving Derbyshire 0-1. That brought in Tom Wood to partner Tyler McGladdery and from that point it was all Derbyshire for a long time.

The latter has played second eleven matches for Lancashire and plays  his cricket in the Lancashire Leagues, where he must have been seen by Daryn Smit. He looks a good player, especially strong on the leg side, though as he gained confidence he unfurled some pleasing drives.

Wood is simply batsman of quality and has shots around the wicket. He has time to spare and, after seeing off the new ball, played a succession of shots around the wicket. He kept the ball on the deck for the most part, which was all he needed to do, in an innings of common sense and maturity.

It came as a surprise when McGladdery played around one from Gibson and was bowled for 68, which brought in Dal. He looked a little edgy, and assayed quick singles that saw Wood have a quiet word. Only 55 runs were needed from 25 overs at this point and the game was effectively won, the chase aided by the Nottinghamshire opening bowlers giving away a number of unnecessary extras that helped the cause.

Dal played  a couple of good shots, then holed out unnecessarily with 20 needed from 20 overs. Wood continued to look imperious and was unbeaten on 86 when Hudson-Prentice won the game with 15 overs to spare in hitting a six over mid-wicket.

It maintained the side's unbeaten start to the season and was very entertaining to watch.

Final thoughts? If not this year, Wood is the natural successor to Lace, when he returns to Middlesex. It is hard to imagine a better, affordable alternative for us.

Melton looked lively and Daryn Smit is still the best keeper I have seen in the country this year.

A good day!