Why did Derbyshire, on winning the toss, decide to bat?
It was a green pitch, on the ground that historically offers early help to seam bowlers. Talking to people around the ground, some of them family members of Yorkshire players, they were astonished that they were not asked to bat today. As it was, It only took them 27 overs to bowl out Derbyshire in a batting display so anaemic it would need both a transfusion and continued medication to improve.
The rationale was presumably to put on a high score then bowl out the visitors twice if and when it started spinning. To say that the Baldrick-style cunning plan was flawed is an understatement. I would love to hear Mickey Arthur's explanation at the end of this game...
I didn't see the early play, as I was visiting Edwin Smith and his wife, Jean on the way through. It was to turn out a highlight of the day, together with the many people I met for a chat as I walked around the ground. Thank you to everyone for your company, kind words and thoughts about the club and the blog. They were much appreciated.
As for Derbyshire, I cannot believe the players were happy with having to bat and I felt especially sorry for Mitch Wagstaff. He waits all season for a first-class opportunity then gets given it as opener on a lively pitch. Don't get me wrong, I would love to see such pitches at Derby, but we made a mess of the decision at the toss, a total hash of our innings and then produced some pretty uninspiring bowling when it was Yorkshire's turn to bat. Only when Guest and Reece were together was there any suggestion of permanence, but the conditions were such that the next ball was always likely to be a challenge. Especially against the succession of batters who played across the line or wafted at the moving ball.
Fair play to the visitors, who were purposeful and impressive. Sri Lankan Fernando made full use of the gifted conditions with the ball, while James Wharton made a splendid century full of crisp strokes. His late unbroken partnership of 118 with Tattersall put the visitors in a nigh-unassailable position at the end of day one and it is not inconceivable that they could wrap up an innings win tomorrow.
The Derbyshire side looked beaten well before the end came with bad light, the body language speaking volumes. Had it been a boxing match, the referee would have stepped in at the tea interval.
It really was that bad. Embarrassingly so.
It was, however, lovely to catch up with a couple of cricketing heroes during former players day. Ole Mortensen was resplendent in his blazer and club tie, while the great Dickie Bird was happy to chat and pose for a selfie. Not something I do very often, but then it isn't everyday you meet a bona fide legend.
91 and going strong. Take 'em in singles, Dickie...
Postscript: a recent contributor to the blog suggested that Sam Conners had signed for Lancashire.
I can confirm that is NOT the case, at this stage.
