Hughes moves into coaching

It is very much the end of an era, with today's announcement that Alex Hughes has retired from the playing side at Derbyshire County Cricket club, to move seamlessly into coaching.

He will take charge of the second team as part of his new role as Analyst and Support Coach, doubtless taking some of the pressure from Daryn Smit in the process.

He is a perfect candidate for the role. It's funny, during the summer just past I stood talking to him for 20 minutes during a rain break in one match. In the course of that conversation I said to him that I thought he would be a good shout for second eleven coach, pretty much an ideal mentor for young players making their way into first class cricket. He didn't say anything, maybe it hadn't been discussed at that point, but I am pleased that we will retain someone of his talents in some capacity. Also that mystic Peakfan retains his powers...

He has been a good, solid county cricketer. Maybe the runs and wickets that I expected, early in his career, didn't quite follow on, but then opportunity seldom knocked for him in recent seasons. He became somewhat pigeonholed as a one-day player, which is understandable, given the all-action nature of his game.

I couldn't see how he could fit into a first choice side in the coming season but the new role seems like a perfect compromise to me. He is very much a thinker and I will always maintain he was a good captain who got away. Those lads coming through the academy have got a supportive, intelligent bloke to look after them, that's for sure.

I will miss, as will many others, his gritty determination and not inconsiderable skill, particularly when backs were against the wall. Yet will also miss his improvisation and powerful stroke play when time was running out and runs were still needed.

As a bowler he was canny. There were plenty of variations of pace and although none of them ventured anywhere close to 'lively' he was a bowler who made opponents work for their runs.

In the field he was excellent. A safe pair of hands at slip, on those increasingly rare occasions when he played four-day cricket, but equally reliable in the deep when the big shots were being unfurled, especially in T20 matches. He was quick across the ground and put down very little that came his way.

I wish him the very best in his new role and I am pleased that we will still see him around the County Ground, hopefully for some time to come.

Thanks for everything Alex.