Glamorgan v Derbyshire day four

Derbyshire 450-8 and 234-2 (Reece 119*, Came 57, du Plooy 38*)

Glamorgan 301-5d and 130-6 (Chappell 2-19, Thomson 2-31)

Match drawn

Before going on to the events of the final day, I think it is worthwhile that this post, at least initially, becomes one of appreciation for Luis Reece.

He passed a thousand runs for the summer today, and in the process finished it with the highest average of any player in the club's history who reached a thousand runs in a summer. Oh, and he became the first Derbyshire player to make seven successive scores in excess of 50 - those scores being 54*, 131, 201*, 77, 86, 139, 119*. That's 807 runs in seven innings at an average of 201. Bradman, you say? Nothing but an Australian Luis Reece...

Autumn has come too soon for Luis, who also became the first player EVER to score four centuries in a season against the same opposition. Back in the 1950s, Nottinghamshire bowlers could be heard offering Arnold Hamer money for his wicket when he had got fifty, such was record against them. It might be worthwhile Glamorgan considering something similar next year..

He is a special player and, with the very talented Harry Came, ensures that Derbyshire will go into 2024 with at least an excellent opening pair. They may turn out to be the best business done by Mickey Arthur this winter, even alongside the many other players who will be coming in for next season.

There was a lot of fuss today about the timing of Derbyshire's declaration. I wasn't listening all that closely to the commentary, but the Glamorgan correspondents seem to have felt that we should have bailed out earlier.

I disagree. I accept that we haven't won a championship game all season, but on a pitch where only 15 wickets had fallen in three days, setting 320 in 65/70 overs was only going to see one winner. Yes the ball was turning, but usually slowly and the boundary on one side was very short. 

In declaring 150 runs behind, Glamorgan seemed to want to have something set for them on the last day. Their idea of an appropriate total, however, seems to have differed considerably from that of Derbyshire. As we saw at Hove a few weeks ago, it is easier to control a four-day run chase, with the field set back, no restrictions and no issues with the balls bowled down the legside. So I can see both perspectives, but don't think we wanted to finish on a downer.

I would sooner go into the winter on the back of two encouraging draws, than by giving the final game away in a needless act of charity. What I would say though is that the cautious declaration doesn't really sit with our supposed mantra of playing aggressive cricket, risking defeat in going for a win. I get why they did it today, but perhaps the game plan needs to be revisited ahead of next season. 

For Derbyshire to push for promotion, risks have to be taken. We won't steamroller everybody (but somebody would be nice..) and there are times when the carrot needs well and truly dangled, a loss accepted as a consequence.

Derbyshire bowled well in the second innings, Zak Chappell reaching 50 wickets for the season thanks to a blinding catch by Matt Lamb, which might otherwise have gone through him, while Alex Thomson bowled some controlled off spin and Mitch Wagstaff seemed to baffle the home batters with his leggies. 

But it all ended in a somewhat predictable draw. Which might have happened anyway, even had Derbyshire set a less demanding challenge. 

We will never know, but the last afternoon of the season petered out as the shadows lengthened. Hands were shaken and goodbyes were said for another summer.

I will be back over the weekend at some point with my season review. 

It promises to be a long read...

Glamorgan v Derbyshire day 3

Derbyshire 450-8 and 68-0 (Reece 33*, Came 28*)

Glamorgan 301-5 (Ingram 82, ul Hasan 65, Root 53, Thomson 4-97)

Derby should lead by 217 runs

The weather is set fair in Cardiff tomorrow, for the last day of the County cricket season.

Derbyshire, with 10 wickets in hand, are 217 runs ahead of Glamorgan and tomorrow should see a morning thrash, followed by an afternoon run chase.

The declaration will need to be well timed. Glamorgan's stronger suit is definitely their batting and the pitch has not suggested there are going to be any particular issues, even in the fourth innings.

Alex Thomson bowled well today, as he has for most of the season, as did Zak Chappell for less reward. Again there seems to be all round potential in Mitch Wagstaff, who said in an end of day interview yesterday that he will be at the club next year. Deservedly so too.

When Derbyshire batted again, Reece and Came had few alarms. Glamorgan will be glad to see the back of them, because their record has been excellent against the Welsh county this year. But then they have rarely failed since they came together as an opening pair, so can go down as one of the successes of the summer.

Reece needs another 38 runs tomorrow to reach a thousand in four day cricket for the summer. For  someone who wasn't in the team at the start of the season, that is a special effort. Add in his 20 wickets at 30 and his value to the side is clear

An interesting last day in store. I suspect it may still end up a draw, but I hope that both teams are prepared to risk losing in going for a win.

We will see soon enough.

Glamorgan v Derbyshire day 2

Derbyshire 450-8 (Reece 139, Wagstaff 78)

Glamorgan 22-0

Derbyshire lead by 428 runs

It was a shortened day today at Cardiff, but after the early dismissals of Leus du Plooy and Luis Reece there was an opportunity for Mitch Wagstaff to show what he could do.

He made a sparkling 78 from 84 balls, an innings that showed stroke play around the wicket and suggested that the next home-produced batter might be closer than we think.

He did very well at Scarborough against a keen attack and in front of a large and partisan crowd. It was a more attritional innings, but here he showed that he can play his shots as well as anyone. I would be very surprised if a contract was not forthcoming after his recent exploits and few would dispute his right to one.

Zak Chappell struck some lusty blows and Derbyshire declared when they reached 450. Tomorrow's forecast does not suggest there will be much play, so the final day may see declarations and a run chase. We can only hope so, it would be disappointing to go into the winter on the back of a bore draw.

In other news today, my thanks to Dean, who listened to the Nottinghamshire feed today, on which Samit Patel was offering analysis. Apparently an announcement on his future is coming soon, but he said he will only be playing white ball cricket next season.

It makes sense, but if the Derbyshire signing is confirmed, it would make a big difference to our T20 and 50 over sides. I know he has been a regular in The Hundred, but one assumes that might not continue in the future, taking his age into account.

Anyway, I'll be back tomorrow, hopefully with some cricket to report on, but the weather forecast isn't great.

Glamorgan v Derbyshire day one

Derbyshire 308-2 (Reece 139*, Reece 96, Came 32, du Plooy 22*)

v Glamorgan

After a dominant display in the last game against Sussex, which would almost certainly have resulted in a win had the game gone its full course, Derbyshire produced another excellent, dominant display on the first day at Cardiff.

They had reached 308-2 by the close of play, this after being put into bat on a pitch roughly the same colour as the outfield.

Luis Reece ended the day unbeaten on 139, his sixth successive score in excess of 50 in a sequence of 54*, 131, 201*, 77, 86, 139* - 688 runs (and counting) in his last six innings, equalling the club record. He has now recorded his most successful summer in the county colours, going past the 1579 runs he made in 2019. (Figures courtesy David Griffin).

Good job we tied him to a new deal, eh? 

At the other end, Brooke Guest batted beautifully once again and was unlucky to be dismissed for 96. He really is a player of the highest quality - as is Reece, of course - and the side for next year is taking shape quite nicely.

Luis currently averages just under 85 in four-day cricket, while his captain averages a run more. Tomorrow morning promises to be interesting in the (friendly) battle to top the averages!

Speaking of next year's team, I had several messages this afternoon regarding the commentary, which referred to rumours of Derbyshire chasing the services of Aneurin Donald of Hampshire for next season.

I first heard the stories a few weeks back and it would make sense to have a dynamic, middle order bat replacing Leus du Plooy, as well as offering backup to Brooke Guest behind the stumps. Donald is a very fine player, coming to his peak and there was an opportunity for the two parties to have a look at each other when he came in on loan at the start of the Vitality Blast. 

My understanding is that it is not yet a done deal. He is in division one and is contracted to the end of next season. We will see if Derbyshire are able to get this one over the line and if Hampshire allow them to do so, but what a signing it would be. A real 'statement of intent', as would that of Patel be.

I have heard numerous stories in recent weeks. I would give greater credibility to this one than Josh Cobb coming to the Incora County Ground, although I understand we missed out on another player fairly recently.

Finally, to answer a question I was asked a few times today, I would be surprised were we to move for Jake Ball, who has been released by Nottinghamshire. I think he is a very good bowler, but his last two seasons have been ravaged by injury. At 32 he has a few seasons on his side and if he can stay fit someone will get a very good player.

But if I was chasing another bowler from Nottinghamshire, I would be more interested in Toby Pettman than Ball, not least because he would be more affordable and offer less risk. 

Mickey Arthur has changed a lot around in recent weeks and I fully expect the Derbyshire side of 2024 vintage to be much enhanced on this year's model. It cannot come soon enough!

As always I welcome your thoughts.

Glamorgan v Derbyshire preview

The last match of the season and accordingly the last preview.

Derbyshire will be down in Cardiff for 4 days, starting tomorrow and Mickey Arthur has named a 13-man squad which will aim to break the season four-day duck in the wins column.

Mark Watt is named in the squad, as is Mitch Wagstaff. The former may play if the pitch looks likely to take spin later on, but otherwise the temptation will be strong to go with the eleven - sans Madsen - that did well against Sussex last week, with Wagstaff replacing the veteran.

Likely team:

Came, Reece, Guest, Wagstaff, du Plooy, Lamb, Dal, Thomson, Chappell, Conners, Brown (Watt, Potts)

Zak Chappell needs three wickets in the match to reach fifty for the season, a good effort in his first year with us, especially on home tracks. 

There's no David Lloyd for a Glamorgan, still recovering from the rib injury sustained in Derbyshire colours in the one day trophy. Matthew Maynard has named his final Glamorgan squad and it is as follows:

Carlson, Root, Kellaway, Harris, Gorvin, Bevan, Morris, ul-Hassan, Sisodiya, McIlroy, Ingram, Cooke, van der Gugten, Douthwaite, Byron.

Once again, with four-day cricket pushed to the bookends of the season, the forecast is far from favourable. It would appear considerable time will be taken from this game and it is hard to see where a positive result can come from, especially when the home side have only managed one win themselves.

Derbyshire will want to at least to accumulate good bonus points and avoid the wooden spoon. They should manage that, but it will not mask or change what has been a fairly disappointing season.

More about that in my season review, in due course.

George Scrimshaw

It was good - and even more, important - to see George Scrimshaw make his debut for England yesterday.

It might not have gone as he planned, certainly not in the opening couple of overs. He overstepped frequently and was taken to task by the Ireland opening batters. By the end of his second over in international cricket, he had taken his first wicket but had conceded 35 runs, a harsh reality check by any standards.

He finished better, ending up with figures of 3-66 in just under eight overs, but will now be well aware of the additional demands at international level. Even against a side like Ireland, who are far from international heavy hitters, despite some talented players.

The truth is that George can be - often is - expensive. He bowled beautifully at Taunton last year, when no one else did, but there were also matches when he went around the park. Many people will recall his closing over in the pulsating win over Lancashire last year, when he conceded only five runs. Perhaps fewer will remember that his previous three overs had gone for 48.

Some observers on social media were saying that they weren't bothered, because he is no longer a Derbyshire player. I get that, but he is still on the staff until the expiration of his contract and on the team sheet and score cards it will still say 'G.Scrimshaw - Derbyshire' and it was his performances for us that got him there.

That is important. Because irrespective of it not being a first choice England eleven - you could perhaps argue it was close to a third - George will have at least one England cap in his trophy cabinet at home, to look at when he is long retired. He also has three wickets at international level, something few of us ever get close to achieving.

It is more important for Derbyshire. Because commentators and those who take frequent opportunities to snipe at the county game can no longer point to the last England player we produced being Dominic Cork. Besides which, without the opportunity given to the player by Derbyshire, it is likely he would have been working outside of the game by now. My understanding is that he was not awash with offers when he left Worcestershire, after a few seasons where he was ravaged by injuries.

Without Derbyshire, without eighteen counties, George could have been just another statistic, a player of undoubted talent who flitted across the county game, without making any lasting contribution to it.

That's why the county game in its existing, long standing form is so crucial to player development. All ten wickets yesterday were taken by players from counties who are not seen as 'essential' by those who would cull the county game. Four were taken by Rehan Ahmed of Leicestershire, three by Durham men, Mattie Potts and Brydon Carse, the rest by Scrimshaw.

It is also worthy of note that Mickey Arthur said, soon after his arrival at the Incora County Ground, that there were several players who had the ability to play at international standard. There may have been a few raised eyebrows at this, but with Sam Conners making the England Lions, now George making the full side, his assertion has been proved correct. Even before you look at age group players like Yousaf Bin Naeem and Harry Moore.

So let's rejoice that 'one of our own' (not a phrase I especially like, but..) has earned his national colours and at the end of it all has done all right.

We won't see George in Derbyshire colours again, but that changes nothing.

The incentive, however, is clear.

Who's next?

Derbyshire v Sussex day 4

Sussex 100 and 84-3

Derbyshire 229-6d (Reece 86, Lamb 37, Hunt 3-59)

Mathc drawn

So despite their best efforts, Derbyshire's last home game of the summer ended in a somewhat predictable draw. Having lost the first two days to rain, more time was taken out of today and there was just too much for the home side to do.

That was despite the best efforts of the batters and bowlers. Luis Reece again batted at his sparking best, while Matt Lamb hinted at what might be next year when he can hopefully rely on his back more than is currently the case. He is obviously hindered at the crease, but played some fine shots in a pleasant cameo. There was time for a trademark du Plooy drive over extra cover for six before he fell, but Derbyshire declared at lunch, 129 runs ahead.

They chipped away at the visiting batting, but when rain came they were 84-3 second time around.

Sussex were dreadful in the field, the ground fielding and catching poor, the body language even worse. 

As for Derbyshire, I thought the four seamers bowled very well here and it was good to see them work as a unit. Special mention goes to Pat Brown, who I think will be a very handy all-format bowler. He will best be used, I think, as a strike bowler, mixing it up, dropping in the odd fast bouncer and keeping the batters on their toes. I liked what I saw here and he will only get better.

Conners and Chappell also did well and with Amir and Aitchison to help out next year, seaming wickets will be very much in our favour. I think we would handle them well and, while the end result wasn't as we hoped for, I think the last game showed hope for next year. No overseas player in sight, but we played good, purposeful cricket. With Reece and Dal to help out and another overseas bowler/all rounder likely to arrive, our attack should be more potent next summer 

And so to Wales, where I anticipate the end of the game will see the ceremonial carriage of David Lloyd from the home to away dressing room, marking his new role in an appropriate style. 

Wayne Madsen will miss that one, but his finger injury has been assessed as not requiring surgery, which is good news for the player and his family. Hopefully he will be fit for the return to the gym in due course, after the players have had a well-earned break.

We are four days from the end of another season. Though a long winter lies ahead, we should content ourselves that, with the expected recruitment, we should hopefully have things to cheer when Spring comes again.

Derbyshire v Sussex day 3

Sussex 100 all out (Clark 31, Conners 4-32, Chappell 4-39, Dal 2-3)

Derbyshire 94-1 (Reece 50*)

Derbyshire trail by six runs

It was a terrific day at Derby today, with the home side bowling out Sussex for exactly 100, before replying with 94-1 by the close.

After two days of rain it was a good toss to win and the home bowlers used the pitch very well. There were 4 wickets each for Zak Chappell and Sam Conners, with Anuj Dal taking the other two while conceding just three runs in eight overs. I thought Pat Brown did well too, very much looking the part and enabling the Derbyshire attack to hunt like a pack.

How nice it was to see some help for them in the pitch and to see them use it so well. There is a lot of pressure in bowling well on a pitch where you are expected to do so and the home attack, admittedly helped by some rash strokes by the visitors, did a very good job.

Credit is due to Brooke Guest, who held seven catches in the innings, equalling the county record previously shared by Bob Taylor and Harvey Hosein. He kept wicket very well yet again and largely undemonstratively. When the final catch went up in the air, no one else was going to be taking it!

Later, Luis Reece made his fifth successive score in excess of 50, only the tenth Derbyshire player to do so. He has looked increasingly secure this season and can be proud of his efforts. He and Harry Came have formed an excellent opening partnership and while the latter was dismissed before the close, Guest came in to see things through to the clothes of play, capping a perfect day for him.

The only downside for Derbyshire was what looked like a nasty injury sustained by Wayne Madsen, in attempting to hold a sharp slip chance from Hudson-Prentice. It is not yet been made clear what happened, but it may well be that his season has come to a premature close.

With only one day left, a draw appears the likely result, but how nice would it be if such pictures became the norm next year? Let's trust the bowlers to match the opposition and our batters to do the same.

Derbyshire v Sussex day 2

Nope, not happening today either.

Might get some play tomorrow, but the ground staff will have to work very hard on that outfield to get it playable

Thomson signs two-year deal

A little good news to lighten the mood today, with Alex Thomson signing a new contract that will keep him at the club until the end of 2025.

It is well deserved. I thought he was vulnerable in the early part of the season, but he had the strongest summer of the three spinners on the staff. He contributed in all formats and got through a lot of bowling. He also produced some good and telling innings, showing himself capable of battling it out or playing some powerful shots.

Add in his excellent fielding, especially from his own bowling and there is a useful player there. I think - and crucially Mickey Arthur does - that he can get better still. Spinners are always slower to develop and if one speaks to a few, as I have, they considered themselves far better bowlers in their thirties than in their younger days. That is totally understandable, as in most trades and professions you will find the same thing.

I wish him well. He always gives his best and is a friendly and approachable bloke off the field. He likes his dogs too and that always puts me on anyone's side!

Congratulations on the new deal, Alex. We look forward to seeing you in action again in the summers ahead.

Derbyshire v Sussex day 1

The forecast didn't suggest much play today and it wasn't wrong.

Looking at the photos of the ground today, coupled with tomorrow's forecast, they will be lucky to get any tomorrow, either..

Derbyshire v Sussex preview

In normal circumstances I would be prepared to suggest a first Derbyshire win of the season against Sussex, starting tomorrow.

After all, the visitors have had Cheteshwar Pujara banned, after the side he captains received their fourth sanction of the season, exceeding the threshold set by the ECB. Meanwhile, Tom Haines and Jack Carson have been made unavailable by Paul Farbrace, following their conduct in that last game against Leicestershire, while Ari Karvelas is unavailable until an incident in the game has been investigated.

The additional twelve point fine effectively puts them out of the promotion race and with only professional pride to play for. 

However, the forecast suggests rain on all four days and the anodyne nature of Incora County Ground wickets this season has never suggested  imminent batting collapses.

Derbyshire name the following thirteen, which is rightly made up of players who are here next season, plus skipper Leus du Plooy, playing his last game as a Derbyshire player at the Incora County Ground:

Came, Reece, Guest, Madsen, du Plooy, Lamb, Dal, Wagstaff, Chappell, Thomson, Conners, Potts, Brown 

I could make a case for all of them being in the final eleven, so will leave the call to the Head of Cricket. I would assume one seamer and either Wagstaff or Lamb will miss out, but we will see.

Sussex have the following thirteen-man squad, which includes former Derbyshire favourite Fynn Hudson-Prentice:

Alsop, Carter, Clark, Coles, Crocombe, Currie, Foreman, Hudson-Prentice,  Hunt, Ibrahim, Orr, Unadkat, Ward

Fingers crossed for a win, but equally for as much cricket as possible for the loyal supporters to take into the winter.

What do you think? 

Post-weekend thoughts

First up today, I would like to join everyone else in acknowledging the excellent one day cup win by Leicestershire. 

They fully deserved it and it was great to see a supposed 'lesser county', one 'making up the numbers', coming out on top.

Yes, they were not as affected as some clubs by the other competition, but match after match they pulled things out of the fire. They were together as a team and I applaud their efforts. It was especially nice to see two young local lads turn the match for them. It reminded me in some ways of when Dominic Cork and Karl Krikken turned the Lord's final against Lancashire, with a big stand that gave us a total to work with. 

Their win was testimony to a lot of hard work by Claude Henderson, who is proving himself to be a very astute coach, having been a canny and underrated cricketer. To turn them around from the chaos of mid-season, when Paul Nixon departed, is a really good effort.

What they have done with young players is the ideal template for Derbyshire. I am sure that we will in the long term, with an effective Pathway now in place, achieve something similar but it is unrealistic to say we should play Bin Naeem, Moore and Wagstaff alongside Sam Conners next season. 

For one thing, education gets in the way, as does personal and physical development. I watched Yousaf batting for Sandiacre yesterday and he looks a fabulous talent, yet with the obvious physical limitations (power) of a mid teenager. The same goes for Moore - you can't throw him into first- class cricket and get him to bowl 15 to 20 overs per day at that age.

It takes time, which it has taken Leicestershire, but the desire to do it appears to be there. So for now, I expect Derbyshire's 'vision' to be more short-term, with the recruitment of players who know their games and can offer match-winning ability. Much the same way, in fact, as when we signed the likes of Barry Wood, David Steele, John Hampshire, Steve Oldham and Simon Base back in the day. Canny, seasoned battlers all, who helped to change the club mentality.

Would you say, for all their achievement, there was more talent in the Leicestershire side than our own? I don't think so, but they have played as a team, with everyone performing a role and carrying it out very well. We didn't do that this year, certainly not often enough to be effective.The introduction of the new recruits should make us tougher, more street-wise, willing to battle it out.

Next season I expect Derbyshire to give it a real go. If the names that I have heard are coming in transpire, I expect supporters to be very happy indeed. Serious cricketers, match winners and for me, an enhancement on those before them.

I still feel the second overseas role will be crucial. Mickey Arthur may opt to split it, with one player for the four-day game and another for the T20, but I would be beyond confident it will be a player from Pakistan. Realistically it would have to be someone on the periphery of, or outside, the Pakistan squad, because they would otherwise be involved in the T20 World Cup. 

It would exceed bizarre were Derbyshire to miss out on an overseas star, because their own Head of Cricket had selected the player to play for Pakistan in his other job...

If he could attract Imad Wasim you could bank on the knockouts now, because he is such a fine player, yet likely outside the World Cup squad on grounds of age. Currently starring alongside Mohammad Amir for Jamaica Tallawahs where they have 28 wickets between them, he is also a very good batter, a proven match-winner.

He would be my first pick, but it may be a developing player is more within budget. I'd love Mohammad Wasim Jr, but would be surprised were he not in the World Cup squad, so perhaps someone like Salman Ali Agha or Qasim Akram may be good options, all rounders both. I suspect that announcement may take time, because by taking a county contract, the player concerned would know he was not going to be in the World Cup.

Anyway, we must sit tight and await news from the club. 

I suspect it will be well worth waiting for..

Further thoughts on the 2024 squad

So after the cull of playing staff announced yesterday, I make it that by the end of the summer Derbyshire will have twelve players left.

Gone from the squad that started the summer will be Haider, Godleman, du Plooy, Wood, Scrimshaw, Lakmal, Khan, McKiernan, Harrison and Watt. Ten in all.

It leaves Came, Reece, Madsen, Dal, Guest, Chappell, Conners, Aitchison, Lamb, Thomson, Wagstaff and Potts to go into 2024 alongside Amir, Lloyd and Brown. Fifteen players at this stage, with an additional three to be announced, according to Mickey Arthur.

As he wasn't among yesterday's announcement, we must assume that Alex Thomson is set for a new deal and in my opinion rightly so. When considering the release of players, a major consideration must be how effectively they can be replaced. Realistically there are few offspin bowlers in the country who are available and better. He has averaged 23 with the bat and is currently the highest wicket taker in our four-day cricket. He also bowled some good spells in one day cricket and deserves a new deal on that basis. 

There also needs to be scope for better young talent to be further exposed to county cricket, as Harry Moore did so well this year. Others will emerge, but of course, education will still be a factor for some of these boys for a few years.

Assuming that the names to come are of the quality so far, I am prepared to say that next year's squad will be stronger and will at last be Mickey Arthur's squad. Notwithstanding what I still regard as a ridiculous job share, I would like to think a man of his experience and reputation will have learned from his first two years in England. Not least that you cannot manage and motivate players at a lesser level as you do at elite standard.

IF he has learned from mistakes, if he permits the ground staff to produce result pitches and if the players to come are as rumour suggests, 2024 SHOULD see an improvement in the club's fortunes. The talent is most certainly there in the group that he currently has and it comes down to his ability to get them producing their best form on a regular basis.

That second overseas role is going to be very important too, quite likely season-defining.

Let's see what happens. I expect news to break in the week ahead.

Farewell to six

It has been quite a day today.

Derbyshire chose it to announce the departure of six players, some of who had been with them for a number of years. My wife and I returned this morning from a lovely break in Berwick upon Tweed, while after feeling unwell for a couple of days I did a COVID test on our return and tested positive. 

It wasn't the greatest surprise to see the departures of Billy Godleman, Mattie McKiernan, Tom Wood, Mark Wood and Suranga Lakmal, but it is always disappointing to say farewell to players who have served the club well - indeed, very well in some cases.

The departure of Godleman has been on the cards since the early season defeat at Durham, when a fall out seemingly occurred with Mickey Arthur, from which there was no way back. 

For the first half of his career with the county, Billy was a run machine. T20 wasn't really his game, bar for one summer, but his unorthodox style saw plenty of runs added to the county scorebook in four-day and especially fifty-over cricket. With Wayne Madsen, he was a consistent presence and highly prolific. In recent summers he has been less productive, but the irony is that he started this year in his best form. I hope he finds a new county, which will be his fourth, but while I had a very good relationship with him, and there are plenty will say the same, there are others who found him less easy to get one with. You pays your money and takes your choice, but I wish him the very best, as he has been an excellent servant.

Tom Wood never really became a regular, although plenty of runs in the local leagues and second team suggested there was something there. So too did two of the fastest centuries in the club's history, days when he looked nigh impossible to bowl to.

Yet the challenge was that bowlers worked out he was less destructive when they tucked him up. Let him swing his arms and he could destroy you, but the footwork could be laboured at times. I hope we seem him ply his trade elsewhere and there may be interest from Leicestershire, especially for the Vitality Blast. Yet this looks to be it for one of the nicest guys you could wish to meet from a Derbyshire perspective, though he will doubtless score plenty of runs in the local leagues for years to come.

Mark Watt has enjoyed many good days in Derbyshire colours, but next year he will be heavily committed to Scotland and so has been released from his county deal, at least for now.

He has been a good contributor over several summers and although his build dictated he was never one of the most lithe of fielders he had a reliable pair of hands and often found himself at slip in the four-day game. His 24-yard delivery baffled a few in the early days, but as happens at first-class level you can be quickly found out and it has been less productive this year.

Nonetheless he has been a friendly member of the squad, always happy to chat and present a positive image for Derbyshire and for Scotland. I wish him well and maybe, just maybe, he'll be back at some point.

Mattie McKiernan has been a solid, if unspectacular county player. Another nice guy, whose best moments came in the Vitality Blast, just as his worst did. 

He could bat and hit a long ball, but he dealt in cameos, rather than regular match-winning efforts. He could slow down an innings and take wickets, but the absence of googly - although players denied this - held him back. If he had one, I suspect he might have bowled it last year when Rilee Rossouw took him apart at Taunton, as well as this year when another left-hander, Mitch Santner, did the same at Derby. 

There was an excellent century at Leicester last year, when it looked as if he might be set for a breakthrough, but he struggled for opportunity and the writing was on the wall when he got only occasional matches this year. 

A career in coaching awaits and I wish him well. He will be a success, as another pleasant man with excellent inter-personal skills. That may just be his forte, but he has been a solid county player and that is nothing to be ashamed of.

Finally, Suranga Lakmal arrived last year, having given up international cricket. He was to be the leader of the attack, but it never materialised. Less than 30 wickets in two summers isn't close to the requisite standard and Mohammad Amir replaces him for 2024. 

He didn't figure out the correct length to bowl in England and his greatest moments in Derbyshire colours came with spectacular catches.  Injuries were a regular issue with an aging body and Suranga simply couldn't get out on the pitch frequently enough to play consistently.

He won't go down as one of our great overseas players and how effectively he is replaced will determine how people will ultimately remember the Mickey Arthur years.

I would expect news of incomings next week, the decks having been well and truly cleared.

Let's see what happens.

The one that most saddens me is Archie Harrison. I'm not sure how you can truly assess the potential in a young man who played very little cricket at the club this summer. 

When he was at Repton he looked a serious talent. He may yet show that he is,  but for now he needs to go back to league cricket and, by weight of runs and wickets, show himself worthy of further opportunity.

He wouldn't be the first to do this and will not be the last who is perhaps a late developer. At 19 he has plenty of time on his side and he is very much a player. I will keep a close eye on over the next few summers.

But for now, I wish all of them the very best in their future endeavours and thank them for the special days and nights along the way.

Mickey Arthur has cleared the decks and now needs to be given the backing of supporters in his quest to improve the fortunes of the county.

Hard decisions had to be made and it is in the quality of the replacements by which the Head of Cricket will be judged.

An interesting winter lies ahead.

Gloucestershire v. Derbyshire day 4

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Gloucestershire v. Derbyshire day 3

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Gloucestershire v Derbyshire day 2

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Gloucestershire v Derbyshire day one

Gloucestershire 333-6 (Price 125*, van Buuren 78, Dent 41, Dal 3-42, Reece 2-31

v Derbyshire 

Gloucestershire won the toss and opted to bat at Bristol today, then proceeded to do just that for the rest of a shortened day, reaching 333-6 at the close.

Price made an excellent unbeaten century for the hosts and was well supported by van Buuren in a partnership of 157 for the fifth wicket. 

Two late wickets by Anuj Dal brought Derbyshire back into the game, but the home side will be pleased with the score at the end of the first day.

Dal bowled splendidly throughout and ended with three wickets. Two of them came from near perfect deliveries and he is now an excellent all round cricketer.  Reece also bowled well, but the spinners were largely ineffective and Brown, on debut, looked a little short on rhythm. He hasn't had too much bowling of late and I wouldn't be unduly harsh on him at this stage.

Price will be there when play resumes tomorrow and with support from the tail he will hope to take the Gloucestershire score to 450. They can then apply pressure on the Derbyshire batters.

I will stick with my pre-match prediction of a draw. While a few deliveries zipped around when Dal and Reece bowled, there wasn't too much in the pitch.

We will find out when it is our turn to bat.

Gloucestershire v. Derbyshire preview

Mickey Arthur has named a 13-man squad for Derbyshire's game Bristol tomorrow, against Gloucestershire.

The two teams currently sit second and third bottom, so a win for both sides would be of massive importance. No side wants to be at the bottom of the table, and the loser of this game looks likely to be so, notwithstanding Yorkshire's 48 point penalty.

Luis Reece is fit again and Pat Brown has come in on loan from Worcestershire for the remainder of the season, ahead of his permanent three-year move that starts from April of 2024. I expect him to be a good asset in all forms of the game and certainly to be a part of the side that takes the field tomorrow.

It looks to me as if the final choice is between the two spinners again and logically Brown coming in for the departing George Scrimshaw. If the Bristol wicket looks likely to take spin, one of the seamers may be rested, with Dal and Reece available for seam options.

So my likely side is:

Came, Reece, Guest, Madsen, du Plooy, Lamb, Dal, Thomson, Chappell, Brown, Conners (Watt and Scrimshaw also in squad)

Mitch Wagstaff, after a good performance at Scarborough, will play in the second team fixture that starts on Monday.

Tom Price, Paul van Meekeren and Zaman Akhter are all missing from the home squad. Dale Benkenstein has named the following thirteen:

Van Buuren, Bracey, Charlesworth, Charlesworth, Dent, Gohar, Goodman, Hammond, Middleton, Phillips, Price, Shaw, Taylor

Given four good days I might fancy Derbyshire to get their first four-day win of the summer, but tomorrow looks like being rain-affected, while the forecast for Tuesday suggests a fair amount of rain in the Bristol area.

That being the case I will go for a draw here. I was asked on North Derbyshire Radio last night if I expected Derbyshire to break their four day duck before the end of the summer and my answer was no, if not in this game.

I would love them to prove me wrong, but I don't expect it to happen. Given its importance, I would be surprised if either side risked defeat were a contrived finish to become an option.

You can hear my interview with Matt Rhodes last night here at eighteen minutes onwards.

I will report tomorrow on the first day's play, but thereafter will put up a daily post on which you can comment. My wife and I are away to Berwick upon Tweed with our dogs on Monday and are looking forward to some sea air and plenty of walking!

Samit Patel?

The news today that Samit Patel has left Nottinghamshire has created quite a stir in the cricket community and within my mail bag.

After 22 seasons, thousands of runs, hundreds of wickets and many magical performances, he has not been offered a new deal at a county that he has graced throughout that time.

Interestingly, his departing comments suggested that his cricket career would continue and one or two sources are suggesting that Derbyshire 'lead the chase' for his services.

It has been a story very much bubbling under for the last few weeks. If I had five pounds for everyone who has mentioned it in correspondence, I would be penning this blog from a beach in the Seychelles right now. 

I have heard and read that it is a 'done deal'. Maybe it is, but again, let's say I have heard enough of those that came to nothing and reserve my excitement for when an announcement is made by the club. It is far more legitimate than 'Big Davie' down the pub...

But let's be honest, at 38 Patel is still a serious cricketer. When such players come on the market, there is always going to be a demand for their services.

If Mickey Arthur is wanting to change the playing fortunes of our club, he needs to add players of that calibre. I think that he has signed battlers and winners in the shape of David Lloyd, Pat Brown and Mohammad Amir, all of them players who will roll up their sleeves and battle when the going gets tough.

Patel would be a serious addition.  Detractors will point to his age and the fact that he has never particularly looked like an athlete. Then again, I've had the pleasure of watching a number of cricketers over the years who might defy that description, yet have entertained royally and given wonderful service.

No one knows at this stage if the rumours are true. No one knows if, with a change of environment, he might turn out as influential as Ray Illingworth or Tony Lock when they did so at similar ages, or if he might be more of a Fred Trueman or Clive Inman type of signing.

For what it is worth, I would have every confidence that whoever gets the signature of Samit Patel on a contract will acquire the services of a serious player. He is still one of the leading spin bowlers in the country and is still a very good batter. He also has an excellent cricket brain and there would be much logic in using that, potentially, as a one-day captain.

What is not clear is how much cricket he wants to play in the future. Does he see his closing years as a T20 player only, or would he play four-day cricket? His value would be immeasurable were he available for all formats.

But let's not to get too far ahead, at this stage. He is on the market and is going to continue playing.

The time to get excited will be as and when the club announce that he has joined Derbyshire, if that happens.

For now, all we can do is cross fingers and wait. 

Yorkshire v. Derbyshire day 4

Yorkshire, 297 and 520-9

Derbyshire 247 and 293 (Madsen 93, Came 58, Dal 38, Chappell 33 Bess 4-79)

Yorkshire won by 277 runs

I love the cricket season. I really do, but I have to say that I am at the stage where I would willingly fast forward to the end of this one.

Derbyshire should have been able to bat out today. Against an attack shorn of Matthew Fisher, out with a side strain, on a pitch that their opponents scored 520 on only yesterday, we couldn't even take the game to tea. Yorkshire beat us by their greatest run margin ever in matches between the two sides.

Madsen batted beautifully again, dismissed for 93 for the second time in the match. Came battled hard, as later did Dal, but apart from that and some late order hitting from Chappell, it was meagre fare. Once again, half of the side perform, but half don't. We aren't so good that we can still win at 50% capacity.

We haven't won a four-day game all summer and I wouldn't bet a packet of pork scratchings on our doing so before it ends. It isn't even that we cannot string together successive days of domination and control - we struggle to do this by the session. If you win sessions, you have a chance of winning the match. We haven't won too many of them this season, therefore we haven't won any matches.

These are not bad players. In some cases they are very good ones. But at this stage it is hard to get away from the thoughts that we have part-time coaches and a team that contains two players who won't be here next year. I am not suggesting they're not trying, but you could forgive them if they didn't. Derbyshire could yet finish bottom of division two, which considering Yorkshire have a 48 point penalty would be pretty demoralising.

Whatever the club acceptance of the Head of Cricket's role, he could have had no involvement in preparation for this game, because he was in Pakistan. Whatever has been agreed for the winter months, surely we need Mickey Arthur here to have a more 'hands on' approach with his players in our season? Ian Bell is with New Zealand, so who has a hand on the tiller? Ajmal Shahzad, most recently preoccupied by the Trent Rockets. It is increasingly and uncomfortably bizarre, from my perspective.

The captain is leaving and we have all been buoyed this afternoon with the news the George Scrimshaw has been called up by England. Oh, but he's leaving too..

Gloucestershire are next, at Bristol. Not exactly a battle of the titans, but a very important game for both sides. Whoever loses the game is likely to be the 'real' bottom side in the championship, which would be devastating after all of the pre-season optimism.

Hopefully the week ahead might bring some positive news on the signing front. 

We can only hope so, because we're looking for small wins at this stage.

Yorkshire v Derbyshire day 3

Yorkshire 297 and 520-9

Derbyshire 247 and 65-1

Derbyshire need 506 runs to win

I had an idea that it was going to be one of those days when I woke up this morning to find the following awaiting publication:

'Censorship on Peak blog is far to draconian and typifies the era we live in. While I enjoy it there is
no edge to it'. (sic)

Actually, I try to be fairly liberal in what I publish, but when there are comments that I feel are 'personal' or patently unfair towards someone at the cricket club, I reserve the right, as the bloke with his name and face on the blog, to withhold publication.

If ever the person who makes such comments wishes to publish their name and photo alongside it, I would be happy to consider the options. Yet that is as likely as Derbyshire scoring another 506 runs to beat Yorkshire tomorrow.

I confess to not seeing much of today's play. I had quite a few meetings and opted for the sunshine for a while in the late afternoon. With Yorkshire progressing serenely to 520-9 before declaring, it doesn't appear that I missed all that much. I did rewind the stream to catch the two wickets that Mitch Wagstaff took in his first over, the first Derbyshire player ever to do so, but the rest cannot have been much fun from a Derbyshire perspective. Those who were there, or who had more time than I, can fill in the blanks on this occasion.

Alex Thomson took 5-190, his second five-wicket haul of the summer in a marathon stint of 38.4 overs. If he is feeling tired tonight, my mind went back to 1965, when Derbyshire played Yorkshire on this ground. The three seamers were injured in the first session and Edwin Smith bowled 55 overs and took 4-117. He bowled 37 on the trot and went straight to the beer tent for a pint of shandy at the tea interval! He and Derek Morgan bowled 107 overs between them...

I was surprised that Yorkshire didn't declare earlier. With a lead of 400 they had put the game out of Derbyshire's reach and I couldn't understand why they opted for a lead of 570 before calling it a day. Granted, Revis made a ton, but I would have thought the objective was the win, first and foremost.

As it was, I saw the closing overs, when Came and Guest saw it through to a sunlit close. Yorkshire may win this game tomorrow, but the events of today suggested that Derbyshire should be able to hold out for the draw, if they bat with anything like their individual abilities. The home side will be able to set a close field all day, but I cannot help feeling they missed a trick in batting on for so long. Or maybe, like the Mission Impossible tapes in days of yore, the pitch self-destructs after three days..

It was a shame that Wagstaff was dismissed before the close. He has done well here, with a half century, his first two wickets and a blinding catch. Certainly he has given food for thought when contracts are being considered.

I hope to see a little bit more of the game tomorrow, but after a promising first day, Derbyshire have been firmly under the cosh ever since.

Here's hoping a little pride can be restored for the journey home tomorrow night.

Yorkshire v. Derbyshire day two

Yorkshire 297 and 179-2 (Bean 64, Thomson 1-64)

Derbyshire 247 (Madsen 93, Wagstaff 52)

Yorkshire lead by 229 runs

After a morning session in which they made good progress, Derbyshire showed the side of their game that frustrates supporters in the afternoon, with a very disappointing display.

Going into lunch at 149-3, with Madsen and du Plooy well set, 300 should have been well within our range, but we were bowled out for 247.

One or two deliveries kept low, but Yorkshire simply bowled straight and waited for our batters to play around the delivery. They bowled with commendable accuracy and discipline, the spell of Fisher in the early afternoon changing the game.

Du Plooy looked rattled by a vehement appeal for caught behind, which was celebrated with undue haste by the home side who declined to wait on the umpires decision. Thereafter, Thompson appealed for most things that missed the bat in a petulant and unnecessary display. He's a good cricketer, but his reactions were not worthy of the first class game and smacked of petulance. He doesn't need to do that.

Madsen was excellent - how often have I written that over the past decade or more? - but the rest was very anaemic and highly disappointing. Wagstaff made a good and worthy maiden half century, but it was hugely underwhelming after lunch.

Just as it was after tea. Conners bowled well and commanded respect, but the rest of the bowling was disappointing and, with Yorkshire already over 200 ahead, Derbyshire can pretty much say goodbye to this game.

Quite frankly, they deserve nothing. Until we can narrow the gap between our good game and bad, we will not progress as a side. 

How they go about doing that should certainly occupy the thoughts of the coaching staff over the winter months.

Godleman joins Warwickshire on loan

Billy Godleman has joined Warwickshire on an initial 14-day loan.

The Derbyshire stalwart, who hasn't played since the early season defeat at Durham, is covering for a lengthy injury list and has a chance to impress. 

If he can return to the form of his glory days, I suppose there could be an option for him next season. It is difficult to see how he might force his way into the top order there when everyone is fit, but like every Derbyshire supporter I wish him well.

I cannot see any way back for him at the Incora County Ground, but at his best he can still be a very good player. At 34 there is something to offer, if that unique technique can be unpicked and his best game unleashed.

Go well, Billy.

Yorkshire v. Derbyshire day one

Yorkshire 297 (Wharton 58, Tattersall 45, Bean 41, Dal 5-72 Scrimshaw 3-79)

Derbyshire 47-1 (Wagstaff 32* Guest 13*)

Derbyshire trail by 250 runs

It was an enjoyable day of cricket at Scarborough today. Derbyshire did well in bowling out Yorkshire for 297, before ending the day on 47-1.

It is a lovely ground and was blessed with equally pleasant weather for the first day. Yorkshire's openers played some nice shots but there were several appeals for leg before, some of them looking much closer than the one that eventually took the first wicket.

That fell to Anuj Dal and he went on to become the first Derbyshire seam bowler to take five wickets on this ground. That is quite an achievement and follows on from three spinners who did so (Rhodes, Swarbrook and Moir). He bowled splendidly and kept the batters playing, which is crucial on a wicket that offers some help but is also good to bat on.

I also thought Sam Conners did well, but had little luck, while George Scrimshaw ended up with three, but also went for six an over in a spell of variable quality. 

Brooke Guest held six catches in the innings, the second time he has done so. He kept very well throughout, while the Derbyshire bowling was more disciplined on the whole than many we have seen this season.

Bean and Wharton looked good young players for the home side, who will have been disappointed that eight players got into double figures but no one made more than 58.

The Yorkshire tail wagged, but Derbyshire will have been happy to keep their hosts to under 300.

Harry Came was dismissed early, victim of a wonderfully athletic take by Tattersall, but thereafter Guest and Wagstaff saw Derbyshire to the close without too many alarms.

Wagstaff's confidence must have been high, after holding a brilliant catch at backward point to dismiss Bess. Twenty yesterday, he played some pleasing strokes and his first 24 runs came in boundaries. His footwork was good and he played with great conviction in both attack and defence. Hopefully he can go on tomorrow and make a score that convinces Mickey Arthur that he has what it takes at this level.

So far so good. Now now to hopefully bat all day tomorrow.

* Statistics courtesy David Griffin X Feed

Book Review: Best Of Enemies - the rivalry between Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire, and Derby County and Nottingham Forest by John Shawcroft

When I was offered a review copy of John Shawcroft's latest book, I couldn't have been happier.

He is, after all, the doyen of Derbyshire cricket writing. He first started watching the county in 1946, the same year that my late father started attending county matches. Dad had been to see Derby County in some wartime football and was thereafter a lifelong fan of both sides. 

That love was passed on to me, first seeing the Rams in 1966, after I had enjoyed England's World Cup win, then the cricket club in the summer of 1967. The rest, as they say, is history.

I was born at Ripley, but we moved across the border into Nottinghamshire, to be nearer to Dad's work at Bentinck Colliery, in 1969. I was the only Derby/Derbyshire fan at my school, so know all too well the rivalries that matches between the sides created.

I'm not sure if people still do what John recounts in this book, but plenty would go to see Derby when they were at the Baseball Ground, then the next week go to the City Ground. Maybe not, with travelling easier today, but we did for a while, before Dad realised my loyalties were firmly on the black and white side. As were his, but he gave me the choice, like the good Dad he was.

John Shawcroft's book is engaging, well-written and informative. For example, I had no idea that Derbyshire had attempted to sign Ted Alletson, he of the legendary 189 against Sussex at Hove in 1911. Nottinghamshire refused to release him, but his career ended with the First World War anyway.

I would have loved to have seen matches between Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire in the decade before the Second World War. For the first time, Derbyshire were equal in stature and quality, but matches were hard-fought, well-attended and largely attritional. No quarter asked for nor given, by two sides whose players were largely drawn from the county borders. Many of them played in the Bassetlaw League and worked alongside those watching in the winter months, a dark coal mine a poor substitute for a sunlit cricket ground.

Played at Ilkeston too, a proper ground, handy for both sets of supporters and capable of creating a stadium-like atmosphere from both sets of partisan support. Like the author, I enjoyed trips to this ground and mourn its passing

The historic names from both clubs are part of my childhood learning curve. Tom Wass of Nottinghamshire lived in neighbouring Sutton-in-Ashfield, as did Tim Robinson later and many more in between and the area was a hotbed of cricketing talent and cricket clubs. I found it hard when I first moved to Scotland, travelling for upwards of an hour for fixtures, being used to fifteen minute, often less, journeys in the local leagues.

In more recent years, Nottinghamshire have dominated fixtures between the sides, as the financial gap between them has widened to disproportionate levels. Yet the fixtures are still eagerly anticipated and victory is still celebrated the same, bragging rights enjoyed by both sides.

I suppose the only people who wouldn't enjoy this book are those who don't follow one of the sports. But the tales of heroes in both red and white are equally stirring. My earliest memory of the fixture was 1969, when Forest came to Derby and won 2-0, largely thanks to a masterclass in defending from Terry Hennessey, who later would join the Rams, his career then sadly curtailed by injury.

The Clough and Taylor era naturally gets good coverage, even though Brian's greatest feats were to be achieved at the 'wrong end' of the road...

As always, books published by the Association of Cricket Statisticians and Historians are done to a high standard. I especially enjoyed the generous font size and the 'bite-sized' chapters, which are well arranged in flitting between the two sports.

In short, it is a must read. Whichever side of the A52 you support, there is something for you in this engaging and thoroughly enjoyable book. Get it on your Christmas list, if you can wait that long.

Best of Enemies is written by John Shawcroft and published by ACS Publications.

Yorkshire v. Derbyshire preview

Mickey Arthur has named a 13-man squad for the four-day game that starts in the scenic splendours of Scarborough tomorrow. 

It should make for a wonderful outing and had I not been working on Tuesday and Wednesday I may have gone down for two or three nights.

Leus du Plooy and Wayne Madsen are back, as are Zak Chappell and George Scrimshaw. There is no sign of Suranga Lakmal, while Harry Moore is with England Under 19s. With Haider Ali returned home, we go with no overseas player in the following squad:

Came, Reece, Guest, Madsen, du Plooy, Lamb, Dal, Thomson, Chappell, Conners, Scrimshaw, Watt, Wagstaff.

I would expect a seamer's track at Scarborough at this time of the summer, with a likelihood of sea frets over the town. So the final choice would probably be between the two spinners and either Lamb, if his back is OK, or Wagstaff 

With no sign of Tom Wood or Mattie McKiernan in the second eleven this week, nor the squad for this game, the writing appears to be on the wall for both. Maybe I am wrong, but I would be surprised were it otherwise now.

Yorkshire will be captained by Shan Masood, who won them the corresponding fixture at Chesterfield with a magnificent unbeaten 95. Adam Lyth, from nearby Whitby, usually does well on this ground and they too have announced a squad of 13:

Bean, Lyth, Masood, Tattersall, Bess, Cliff, Chohan, Coad, Fisher, Hill, Revis, Thompson, Wharton.

Fisher and Coad are an excellent pair of opening bowlers, but if Derbyshire can dispose of the home top three early, they don't usually bat too deep.

Despite their points penalty, Yorkshire will be doing everything they can to avoid coming bottom. If they lose this one, the likelihood is that will happen.

With four days of favourable weather in the forecast and a wicket that is normally ripe for a result, this should be a good watch.

Whether taking in the sea air and applying the sun cream, or watching it at home on the stream, enjoy it!

As always, I look forward to your comments.