Further thoughts, ahead of a busy week

I think we will see changes in the Derbyshire side for the next set of matches, this week.

The danger of leaving a five-man attack exposed was laid clear against Nottinghamshire. Both opening bowlers got punished, but they still had to come back because there was no one else. Wayne Madsen's part time spin is fine, but if is unrealistic to expect him to keep it tight if others are going around the park.

I think the top five last night is good. I am a big fan of your best players having the maximum time to bat and Masood, Reece, Madsen, Du Plooy and Guest are our best five batsmen.

Then it comes down to whether Harry Came is better in the middle order, as a batsman and good fielder, than either Anuj Dal, the best fielder in the club who offers lightning running between the wickets and a few overs, or Alex Hughes, a long time all round staple of this format.

I like Harry and he played two fine shots in a brief Came-o last night. But it is hard to argue he is better than the other two in that berth and he hasn't made the most of opportunities. 

I think the other vulnerable player is Sam Conners. I rate him very highly, but would prefer his talents kept fresh for four-day cricket at this stage.

We are short of bowlers, we know that. I suspect one or two will be the focus of winter recruitment, but we must go with what we have for now. I think back to Anuj Dal bowling wide yorkers against Glamorgan in the four - day game final run chase and he offers that option. As for Alex Hughes, his nagging line and varied pace would make him useful as well as lengthening the batting.

We ended the innings poorly last night. To lose eight wickets in twenty balls was pretty poor, regardless of how they bowled. Again, players of the experience of Dal and Hughes might have found the gaps and worked twos, rather than trying to hit it out of sight. 

I would like to see Hayden Kerr at six, as his Australian form suggests him a good hitter, given the time to do so. The confidence of a few runs under his belt might help his bowling too.

But I still think you have to give credit to Alex Hales. On his day he can do that to any attack, though we kept bowling a length to him and he could hit through the line without too many concerns, with only two fielders out in the Powerplay.

There's no need to panic. We have played the three strongest squads in less than a week and done well for the most part. Winning seven games will likely put us in the running for the knockouts, but with few real options  - only Cohen, Thomson and Godleman outside this group - we have to go with what we have. Which for me should be this eleven:

Masood, Reece, Madsen, du Plooy, Guest, Kerr, Hughes, Dal, McKiernan, Watt, Scrimshaw.

We weren't the best team in the world before last night. We aren't the worst now. Mickey Arthur will know better than any of us the limitations of the squad he inherited and, as I have said before, this year is a free hit, while he assesses his squad and how he can improve it.

Keep the faith. There will be ups and downs, but world-class players will do what Hales did last night.