Middlesex v Derbyshire day 4

Middlesex 282 and 256

Derbyshire 205 and 221(Godleman 70, Critchley 58, Roland - Jones 5-36)

Middlesex won by 112 runs

Despite the hard graft of Billy Godleman and Matt Critchley, Derbyshire slipped to what always appeared an inevitable defeat at Lord's today.

It was obvious Billy was not in prime form, but I will respect a bloke who gets his head down and grafts. It was his highest championship score of an arduous summer, only his second fifty, while Critchley's early season hundred looks destined to be the side's only one by the end of it.

Well as they batted, both rather gave it away, the skipper to a flick off the hip that the man seemed placed for (and held a good catch) while Critch played a lazy shot that somewhat ruined all that had gone before.

Wood went first ball and his defensive frailty suggests his county future may be only in white ball cricket, an average of eleven telling no lies. Du Plooy was in attacking vein and, while I applaud the rationale, it looked bad when he heaved across the line to be bowled. He is still 90 short of 500 runs for the summer and for all of his talent, cannot be happy with an average of just 22.

Guest also went first ball, to one that cut back a long way. He looks good at the crease, but a first-class average of 21 for a prospective number three is not enough. Nor did Hughes and Dal last long, their season averages of ten and twelve respectively being way below par.

The worrying truth is that besides Critchley only Wayne Madsen has exceeded 500 runs. His average of 34 is behind Matt and Harvey Hosein, both on 41, the latter benefitting from several unbeaten knocks but only aggregating 371 runs.

Once again, answers are needed. Why has pretty much the entire team lost batting form at the same time? Luis Reece has gone through a four-day summer averaging 13, with one fifty. It isn't enough for Dave Houghton to say 'I can't put my finger on it' and 'we need to score more runs' when his role is to coach, encourage, cajole and inspire them, as well as identifying the issues. 

This morning my wife asked if the game would be done before our daughter needed a lift home from work today.

'Easily' was my reply.

I take no pleasure in being right, but it is fearfully depressing being a Derbyshire supporter right now.

Outside of supporters and members, no one seems to care.

So get along to the forum on Sunday morning and ask those awkward questions. Why are we accepting this? How can those in senior roles retain positions, when we have broadly  played the worst cricket in around half a century? What are they going to do to ensure we do better, or are at least more competitive next year?

And how bad do things have to be before SOMEONE is accountable?