Excellent day for second eleven

Another excellent day for the second team at Belper, as they racked up an impressive 398-3 against Leicestershire.

Harry Came top-scored with 150, before being dismissed in the closing overs, while Anuj Dal made an unbeaten 137. Matt Lamb earlier made a run-a-ball 76, after Mitch Wagstaff went earlier. 

The visiting attack was of a decent standard, with both Josh Hull and Matt Salisbury in it, as well as Roman Walker, but Derbyshire scored at a steady four an over throughout the day. 

I wouldn't read too much into the team, in so far as the Northamptonshire might be. Chappell, Brown and Conners were in the side, as well as the returning Nick Potts and Alex Thomson, but the eleven that finishes this game will likely be very different to that which started it. 

It is good that those who needed it got good time in the middle today. Hopefully those bowlers can get into a nice rhythm over the next day or so. 

Northamptonshire were beaten today, so this weekend's game will see two sides struggling for wins competing. Hopefully the weather allows a good game to take place. Although Derbyshire sit bottom of the table after this round of matches concluded, we could easily move up with a win. 

The main difference between us and the rest is that we have so far only accumulated four batting bonus points in five matches. 

Room for improvement and hopefully we see that this weekend.

The Peakfan County Championship!

Steve Jr, below the previous post, asked what I would do were I the supremo of English cricket. It goes without saying I would get rid of The Hundred at the earliest opportunity, but I would also trying to make long-form cricket more appealing.

The way that the game is now being played largely negates the need for the county championship to be played over four days. My preference would be to see a return to one division, everyone playing everyone and matches played over three days, Friday, Saturday, Sunday. People could then realistically watch a full game of cricket by taking one day off work. That would be 51 days of first class cricket per summer, a reduction of five days on the current situation. Over the course of two years you would host every side in the country, fixtures reversing each season.

There are 27 weekends between the end of March and the end of September. That would leave ten more to play other competitions, a T20 on a Friday evening and Sunday afternoon, a fifty-over competition in the gaps or in midweek in high summer.

In the long-form I would limit the first innings to a hundred overs per side (that being the overs required per day) but if the side batting first was bowled out inside that time, the one batting second could bat to a maximum of 200 first innings overs across the two sides.

Bonus points would be awarded for 200, 250, 300, 350 and 400 runs - a maximum of five

And for 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 wickets - a maximum of five.

There would  be fifteen points for a win and NO points for a draw. 

Sides would have every incentive to go for a win and be creative with declarations to facilitate this. They would also be more willing to chase a target, rather than taking a 'second prize' of decent draw points. If it is a draw, so be it, but you only get the points that your batting and bowling earned you. 

I have lost count over the years of the number of people who are puzzled by cricket and cannot understand how a game can be a draw after playing for three, four or five days. I would like to think this would encourage greater positivity. 

My preference would be three days, but if it was decided to stick with four and two divisions, the same principle would apply. After two days the game has moved on and the last two innings would be played on a worn pitch, with more variable bounce and ideally spin. It would make for a greater level of entertainment than is currently on offer, with too many high scoring draws. 

There you have it, always happy to hear your thoughts! 

Weekend thoughts

There is a certain irony in the fact that the first real weekend of summer weather has seen Derbyshire without a fixture. Five rounds of nigh-winter weather and then glorious weather all weekend, while our players had to content themselves with league cricket yesterday.

The star turn was Tom Wood, playing relegated Ticknall. Skippering the side, he made an unbeaten 152 as they won easily. There will still be those who could have seen a T20 contract for Tom and I am one of them, but I suspect that boat has sailed.

Samit Patel turned out for Cutthorpe against Dunstall and made 36 opening the innings, before taking 3-14 in 12 overs, a level of parsimony we would gladly take in the fast-approaching Blast. Meanwhile Barbadian fast bowler Chemar Holder continues to cut a swathe through batting line ups for Ockbrook and Borrowash, taking 6-32 in an attack that also features Sam Conners and Dustin Melton. Josh Lacey's spin must seem like a pleasant relief after that!  Holder looks quick and very useful...

I have dipped in and out of the county matches, but I have to say I find some of the 4-day cricket on offer increasingly dull. Glamorgan have done well, trouncing Sussex who beat us last time out, of course. It is no surprise to me, they have a very good coach and they will be there or thereabouts at season end. 

But again, there are matches where at the end of day three they have still to complete two innings. For me, there are too many games where one result has been eliminated after the first day and a half. With the number of points for a draw too high, teams are banking on scoring 500 then bowling out their opponents twice. 

When that doesn't happen, the remaining days of the game become little more than a glorified net.

Anyway, we will see what happens when Derbyshire return to action this week.

Second Team cricket

An interesting question from Essex fan last night, asking my opinion of second team cricket at county level, whether it was worthwhile and if the standard was especially good. 

I think that the answer is yes. It gives a natural conduit to senior county cricket and gives players an opportunity to get an idea of the demands of the game at that level. To go straight from league cricket to county first eleven would be a big jump, the biggest of all. 

I won't pretend that it is a very close replication of first team cricket. Quite often you will find senior bowlers looking for rhythm at that level but not necessarily bowling flat out. To risk injury in doing so would be silly, unless of course the county fitness staff want to test an injury under an appropriate workload. 

Much will depend on the size of staff that the county carries. With the current discussions on the workload of professionals, you aren't going to see players in contention for the senior team playing in the seconds too often. If you consider a staff of twenty, with perhaps three people injured, 12 or 13 might be involved in the senior squad and the balance will play in the second team to keep their eye in, or maintain rhythm. 

A look at the Derbyshire side that played and beat Durham yesterday is interesting. There were four who you would consider established senior players, a couple of trialists and the rest academy players. But in the previous game, against Nottinghamshire, the side was primarily made up of trialists. It was a massive mismatch against a fairly strong Nottinghamshire side, most of them players on the staff at the county. 

It depends who is on trial, of course. I am old enough to remember when Derbyshire fielded Peter Kirsten, Allan Lamb and Garth Le Roux in their second eleven. Eventual international players all and they would have represented a challenge for those tasked in bowling to them or batting against them!

So the standard can vary. Yet it offers an early glimpse of real talent and it is possible to see the wheat that will rise from the chaff. Two of the most memorable centuries I have seen were in second team games. I remember seeing Ian Blackwell at Chesterfield score an incredible century against Yorkshire that marked him as a serious talent. Likewise an innings by Aneurin Donald at Belper, when he hit the Derbyshire attack to distant lands. 

The second question was whether it should be regionalised to save on money. In the case of Derbyshire, it is. The furthest they go this summer are away games in Sussex and Gloucestershire, but most of them are fixtures against other northern counties. T20s are often played at two a day to save costs and it is unrealistic if the side is likely to feature a number of trialists to do otherwise. 

In short? I like county second team fixtures and I love the grounds that they are normally played on. I have met some lovely people wandering around the boundary and had an opportunity to chat to others where that might not ordinarily be possible.

They are an important and necessary stepping stone on the way to first class cricket. Some will fall by the wayside at that hurdle, but others will take it in their stride, perhaps after a period of transition. 

Long may it continue!

Second team win thriller!

What a fabulous game of cricket at Repton over the past three days, which ended with Derbyshire completing an excellent chase in pursuit of a target of 293 and winning the game by two wickets.

Seventeen year old Harry Moore showed he is more than just a very talented opening bowler by making an impressive 64* from 68 balls, with nine fours and two sixes.

Earlier Mitch Wagstaff made 63 and Alex Thomson 44, while there were thirties for Ross Whiteley and wicket-keeper Jack Carney.

At 230-7 the game seemed to be slipping away from Derbyshire but Sam Conners (18) helped Moore add 58 for the eighth wicket, before being dismissed just before the target was reached.

Earlier Sam Conners took 3-18 and Alex Thomson 3-50.

It was a terrific effort by a young team and welcome good news.

Scorecard and video highlights can be seen here

Second Eleven update

An enterprising declaration by captain Ross Whiteley set up what looks to be an enthralling final day against Durham Seconds at Repton.

Replying to durham's 300, Derbyshire declared on 226-5, with Harry Came top-scoring with 67 and Wagstaff, Bin Naeem and Whiteley all making 30s, the skipper unbeaten.

They then reduced the visitors to 98-6 in their second innings, with Harry Moore and Manraj Johal taking two wickets each. The giant Moore is limited in the overs he bowls, as he returns to fitness after a back injury, but looks a terrific talent whenever I see him. He just seems to have a rhythm, an ability to find the line and length required and by all accounts a shrewd head on his shoulders. He won't want for sage advice either, his Dad having been a very good club bowler for many years.

I will be keeping an eye on that one tomorrow.

Book Review: From Azeem to Ashes - English Cricket's Struggle With Race and Class

Having read them back to back, there is a certain similarity between this book and Ben Bloom's Batting For Time that I reviewed a few weeks ago. Having said that, the authors approach the subject of the modern game of cricket from different angles and both are very much worth reading. 

Jon Berry has an engaging style of writing and way with words and there were several points in the book where I either smiled or laughed out loud. It is a book where the author's love of his subject shines through, very much for a cricket lover, by one.

The title might give the impression that it is only a look at the recent racism controversies that have enveloped the game, specifically that at Yorkshire, were in-fighting is hardly a new phenomenon. Yet had the book focused solely on that it would have been to its detriment. The forthcoming biography of Azeem Rafiq by George Dobell will cover that story in all of its (very gory) detail.

Berry looks at the modern game of cricket and questions participation at all levels, including the women's game. Access to the game is looked at too, with the best facilities and coaches very much the preserve of those with the wherewithal to access private education. There is also a look at the global game of cricket and the numerous franchises that make it a 365-day a year business, or global circus, if you will.

I especially enjoyed the chapter on the Strauss review. The author makes some very good points and what I found telling was the reference to the modern game as opposed to that after the Second World War, compared again  to the grainy footage of WG Grace. Were one to watch these in chronological sequence, back to back, they would appear very different games. 

But then the game that I grew up with, loved and cherished is in danger of disappearing altogether. For all of its supposed advances, cricket today, for this writer, isn't as enjoyable as what I watched thirty, forty years ago. But it wouldn't have got here without those players and their earlier counterparts.

As I said after reading Ben Bloom's book, it is a shame that such books need to be written, as it highlights a game that is failing to learn from past mistakes and is advancing like a juggernaut towards an out of order stop light. 

But Jon Berry has written a book that is at times uncomfortable, yet entertaining and thoroughly readable.

Highly recommended.

From Azeem to Ashes: English Cricket's Struggle With Race and Class is written by Jon Berry and published by Pitch Publishing

Second XI update

Ross Whiteley took 4-16 as Derbyshire bowled out Durham for 300 at Repton today.

Haydon Mustard (son of Phil, should have been called Dijon, really) made his second score of 99 for the visitors, before being caught at slip by Harry Came.  Manraj Johal, formerly on the Warwickshire staff, took two wickets, as did Pat Brown.

Three of Ross' wickets were caught in the deep, but four are in the scorebook, so no complaints there. 

Derbyshire had reached 13-0 at the close, with Came and Wagstaff at the crease.

Further thoughts on Derbyshire and Arthur

There have been a lot of comments, understandably, after the debacle of the Derbyshire defeat against Sussex yesterday. 

In the years that I have been doing this blog, comments have always been greater in number after a poor performance than after a good one. Perhaps it is human nature, but it is certainly an observation substantiated by checking back in this instance. 

One thing I would like to say is in response to assertions that Mickey Arthur 'doesnt care'. 

I disagree with that, entirely. 

He is an international coach of high pedigree. He has been in charge of the national cricketing fortunes of Australia, South Africa, Sri Lanka and Pakistan, with varying degrees of success. 

Like a number of you. I had my concerns last year, when the club agreed that he could do our job as well as that of the Pakistan national side. I was quite clear in my assertions at that point that it was unsustainable and unfair on both the club and the country. It is impossible to serve two masters and to give equal time and focus to two jobs of such high profile. 

However, at no point have I felt that Arthur didn't care about Derbyshire, nor that he knew nothing about the club. On his arrival, he told of his long- time interest in county cricket and ever since has been one of its strongest advocates, when others have been quick to drag it down. Equally, he spoke with passion about Eddie Barlow and Fred Swarbrook, the tales they had told him and his long-time interest in the county for which they played. 

His arrival was much heralded and rightly so. His first season offered a glimpse of what might be, with players galvanised by his reputation, perhaps by his approach. But we see that all the time in sport, a new coach with fresh ideas brings a previously lacking impetus to a side. 

Last season was different. There was a clear and obvious decline, heightened by the absence of Shan Masood, a talisman of the highest order in that first summer. His Sri Lankan overseas pick, Suranga Lakmal, was an abject failure, seldom fit to take the field and underwhelming when he did so. Haider Ali was easy on the eye, but his loose technique and his being told to open the batting early season was always going to fail. There was a decent run in the T20, partly because of Zaman Khan and his toe-crushing yorkers, but the Head of Cricket was consistent in claiming that next year he would have HIS team.

Perhaps his plans for that team took a hit when the Pakistan role disappeared before the season, his services no longer required in the latest of many power shifts in that country. We don't know if he had people lined up, but it seems a strong possibility that his early knowledge of who would NOT be going to the T20 World Cup might well be to Derbyshire's advantage.

It is too early to know if Blair Tickner and Daryn Dupavillon will have the requisite skill set to inspire a fine one-day summer. But the sad news about Tickner's wife yesterday suggests that his availability may be limited, depending on her treatment and the needs of the family, which obviously come first. 

I will admit to having several concerns. One is that recruitment appears to have been lop-sided. The batting, while individually not short of talent, tends to misfire without a consistent someone to bat around. There are players capable of individual brilliance, but not necessarily used to being the focal point of that side. Perhaps a gritty batsman at the top of the order would have been beneficial,  someone like Marcus Harris, Dean Elgar or others. A di Venuto or Rogers in this side would be gold dust...

The seam bowling now has plenty of options, but if he plays both overseas then domestic talent is squeezed out. If he doesn't, then it rather ignores the point of having two overseas players, when everyone else is fielding them. An overseas player should be better than what you have and should fill a gap. I'm not yet convinced we have done that, but I will maintain optimism. 

Spin? Alex Thomson was given a 2-year contract and grounds for optimism that he realised with a 12-wicket haul in the first game. But then he is omitted, despite being the leading wicket taker and a player who offers balance, in favour of a loan player who, talented as he is, isn't as far on in his cricketing development. 

For me, the greater need was for a spinner who could bat, or a batter who could offer a spin option. It would have given the team balance, as at present it isn't. Yesterday's eleven offered little prospect of runs after number seven, Zak Chappell's cheerful occasional clumping not yet warranting my regarding him as a genuine all-rounder. 

It will be the same for T20. To accommodate two non-batting overseas quick bowlers, as well as Pat Brown who is a T20 specialist, Chappell will need to bat at eight. Unless Thomson plays as a second spinner to Samit Patel, in which case Brown or Chappell would miss out.

Maybe the hand will be forced. Another overseas may need to be engaged to allow Tickner down time with his family, but I am sure the imbalance isn't only obvious to me. He cannot really play Jack Morley either, because you have another bowler with few pretensions to batting. You could argue that if the top seven fail, there should be no expectations of the rest changing the game, but it would be nice to have that option and with the greatest respect to those concerned, I don't see it. We have all seen enough T20 to know that we are as likely to be 60 for five off 10 overs as we are 100 for one...

It hasn't been an easy year for overseas recruitment. With the World Cup on and so many other counter attractions around the globe, the challenge is clear. But I can't see how all of our domestic bowlers will get the game time they require to maintain rhythm, especially when Ben Aitchison is fit and I have no idea how Nick Potts gets near this side. Which is a shame, because a Derbyshire side without any home-reared talent in it yesterday is at odds with the investment in and heightened profile of the Pathway. 

Yet for all that I feel that he has made mistakes, I do not doubt for a minute that Arthur wants success at Derbyshire. His pained, stressed expression in the post-match interview yesterday told its own story. I don't know his plans for the future, but if they included a return to international cricket those plans would only be improved by a strong showing by his domestic side. 

Perhaps his approach needs to be considered. You cannot treat good quality first class cricketers in the same way that the elite, the creme de la creme are treated. Any more than you could use those methods on club cricketers or on a school side. The approach needs to be measured, needs to be appropriate to the needs of the individuals concerned. I speak not as an international cricket coach of standing, but as someone who has managed dozens, hundreds of people over many years. 'One size fits all' doesn't work well in management and an inflexible approach to that is seldom the way to consistent success. Nor indeed a happy and productive environment. 

I wish Mickey the very best for the remainder of the season. I hope that he can turn it around, just as I hope that individuals within the team who seem to be suffering from a crisis of confidence at the moment can return to their best days. 

Only by working together, learning from the bad days and celebrating the good ones will they do so.

We must only hope that they return to action after this fixture-enforced break with appetite renewed, bodies restored to full vigour and a desire to succeed foremost in their minds.

Derbyshire v Sussex day 3

Derbyshire 246 and 109 (Seales 5-29)

Sussex 479 (Pujara 113, Dupavillon 3-89, Morley 3-117)

Sussex won by an innings and 124 runs

I predicted a draw in this game on the radio on Friday night, my caveat being that one team had to make a real mess of things, given the weather forecast at the time.

Step forward Derbyshire 

That was pretty awful to watch. On a pitch where the Sussex tail scored runs largely at will in the morning, the Derbyshire batting offered all the resistance of a balsa wood bat in the afternoon, producing another anaemic display that has to make one question the coaching set up.

I don't think these are bad players. In some cases they are very good, but the bottom line is that the level of performance this summer hasn't been close to acceptable from a supporter's perspective. In any sport, that's where you question the input of the coaching staff and there's currently one fundamental question to answer.

Has the current set up improved any player at the club? I am not convinced that they have and after the bright new dawn of the first season under Mickey Arthur, the good ship Derbyshire is in danger of running aground on the rocks. I hope that Samit Patel and Ross Whiteley have got their Superman outfits ready for T20, because we will otherwise struggle desperately at this rate.

One has to question the apparently authoritarian manner of the Head of Cricket and ask if it is working and the answer appears to be no. Harsh questions need to be asked, because this is as bad as I have seen, with a squad that is not the worst we have had by a long chalk. I was critical of Dave Houghton when performances dipped to unacceptable levels and this was every bit as bad. 

One would also question a Derbyshire side that features no player from the county's own set up. I'm not saying they would do better, I'm not claiming the players in the side aren't trying. But if we are going to capitulate in such a fashion, then we could hardly do worse with Conners, Wagstaff, Whiteley and Potts in the eleven.

Wagstaff scored 82 and took 4-29 for Alvaston and Boulton yesterday. Whiteley scored a hundred last time out for the second team. Conners was left out for this one when he is unlikely to play any T20, so I see no logic in the omission from a 'rest' perspective  Instead he took 4-36 for Ockbrook and Borrowash at Belper. I'm not claiming the standard is the same, but these are performances that should justify consideration, at the very least.

After Dupavillon and Morley bowled pretty well in the morning, Derbyshire were blown away in the afternoon by a Sussex side a country mile ahead of them in performance. Jayden Seales bowled fast and straight and the batting did the rest. We bowled short at tail enders, they used the pitch and their heads in equal measure.

Last week I suggested that a first innings limitation of a hundred overs might move four day cricket along. We batted 89 overs across two innings here.

Woeful is an opposite word. 

There are plenty of others.

Blair Tickner

I came across this sad news on a New Zealand news hub overnight.

https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/sport/2024/05/cricket-blackcaps-bowler-blair-tickner-wife-sarah-dealt-bad-hand-with-leukemia-diagnosis.html

As it is in the public domain I feel others should be aware , if you haven't already picked it up.

I have massive respect for Blair and his efforts in this match and would like to wish he and his wife the very best in the weeks and months ahead.

There are things in life much more important than cricket and all of us need to be sensitive to what is going on just now, which is bound to affect everyone in the dressing room.

Derbyshire v Sussex Day 2

Derbyshire 246

Sussex 357-5 (Pujara 103*, Coles 72, Alsop 64, Haines 58, Reece 2-32)

Sussex lead by 111 runs

Watching Derbyshire this season, I feel that I am stuck in an endless loop. Whether we bat or field first, we are under the cosh and behind the game from the start. The rest of it is then spent playing catch up and trying to save it. 

The weather has helped so far and only the most optimistic could say we have been robbed of victory by the elements. Maybe in that first, washed out game, eh?

It just seems that when we bat we are struggling, with the exception of a couple of players. Then the opposition go in and score pretty much at will. We have three players (Madsen, Donald and Chappell) averaging over 40 with the bat, but only one (Alex Thomson, just) averaging under 50 with the ball, three currently over a hundred. Poor catching hasn't helped, but nor too has an inability to bowl consistent line and length. 

Today was a case in point. Tickner, Morley and Dupavillon battled well to take us near to a batting point, but thereafter Sussex looked in very little trouble as they amassed 357-5 by the close.

Chappell's opening spell was poor and I have no idea why you wouldn't give the new ball to Tickner, who has so far done best with it. He was also on a high after a career-best 47, so it made sense for him to open while still loose. 

Dupavillon took an early wicket, ran in hard but was milked afterwards like the rest on a chastening debut. Yet he wasn't helped by Lamb putting down a routine catch at first slip, the thirteenth we have dropped in the slip cordon this summer. It is quite ridiculous, the sight of Madsen and Lloyd, who would be there but for hand injuries, at mid off and mid on more than a little frustrating.

Pujara looked in little trouble and I wish we had someone like the Indian for the others to bat around. He is a batter of consummate class and grace and Sussex are lucky to have him. 

They look a good team and with the weather forecast largely set fair for the next two days, it will need need a superhuman effort by the batters in the second innings to save the game. 

But sadly, that looks like all we're capable of in four-day cricket, making up the numbers. They are trying hard but at this stage I can see nothing other than the wooden spoon this summer. 

In closing, I am unsure why Luis Reece seems to be overlooked as a bowler, as his angle alone seems to be worthy of greater opportunity. Nor am I sure what the late in the day spat with umpire Tom Lungley was about. It was unnecessary and certainly untypical of a normally genial bloke, but it was disappointing to watch.

A bit like Derbyshire at present, to be fair.

Derbyshire v Sussex day one

Derbyshire 189-8 (Reece 50, Donald 44)

v Sussex

Another home game, another largely disappointing performance by Derbyshire today. 

To be fair, the Sussex attack is a good one. England man Robinson, West Indian Seales, the excellent Danny Lamb (who I wish we had gone for) and Fynn Hudson-Prentice, who we know all about. One of the better attacks in the division, especially when they are all available. 

They bowled steadily today, but Derbyshire didn't bat very well. David Lloyd looked good but made an error of judgement and played no stroke. Brooke Guest got a good one, but Lamb and Dal did themselves no favours by playing across the line at the start of their innings. Lamb played three poor shots in four balls and looked out of nick, to be honest, while Dal is yet to find his 'engine room' mojo this year.

Madsen was caught down the legside and although Reece and Donald batted well,  Donald looking especially good, both fell without going on to an innings-changing score. Nice forties and fifties are fine and dandy in T20, but you won't win many four-day games if that is the best you can offer collectively.

Before bad light and rain took the players off, Tickner struck some lusty blows, but the innings so far looks woefully inadequate, the tail far too long. It wasn't helped by Chappell calling for a single that might have tested a pad-free Usain Bolt, the fielder running him out at the bowler's end when he could have had Tickner even more easily at the other.

Maybe Tickner and Dupavillon (spelt incorrectly on the club scorecard all day) will run through Sussex tomorrow. I really hope so. But I can't help but think that in going for two non-batting quicks as overseas picks we have heaped additional pressure on a batting line up that is far from reliable.

If you look back over county overseas players since the game opened up for them, I can't recall many times when a side went for two out and out bowlers, neither with no real pretensions to batting. There was Greenidge and Roberts, Procter and Zaheer, McEwan and Boyce, Turner and Holder, Mushtaq and Sarfraz. Sussex had two serious quicks in Imran and Le Roux, but Imran batted four and Le Roux was a pretty decent bat too!

Even this year, our opponents have Pujara and Seales, Gloucestershire have Bancroft and Zafar, Leicestershire have Harris and Handscomb but will also have Mulder shortly. OK, Hampshire have Abbott and Abbas, but they are proven performers over many seasons, while they have a pretty solid batting side too. Our two are relative unknowns, which can be an asset but can also be a challenge.

It means that those overseas picks have to take wickets as there's no back up plan. I remember when we had Venkat as our overseas, a lovely bowler who would have been devastating in a good batting side with runs to play with, but we were far from that and seldom gave him much to work with. 

In a side where the batting is erratic, only one bowler averages under 50 with the ball (and he isn't playing here) and we aren't catching very well, it is easy to see why we have struggled to fire this summer. It has to improve, no doubt about it.

Food for thought and just my opinion. But the one-day form has to be much better than this or September won't see an especially happy fan base.

For what it is worth I think it will be, but there are a lot of people need convincing right now.

Self included...

Derbyshire v Sussex preview

After receiving eight stitches in his right hand, following the injury sustained while fielding in the slips against Yorkshire, Wayne Madsen scored a magnificent century and is probably an early contender for the Eddie Barlow Inspirational Performance Award at Derbyshire this season. 

He has also been passed fit to take his place in the 12 against Sussex, starting at the Incora County Ground tomorrow. Quite the warrior, is our Wayne..

Harry Came is omitted after a tough start to the summer and will benefit from a second team game to get the ball in the middle of the bat again. Skipper, David Lloyd will likely move up to open alongside Luis Reece, with Matt Lamb coming into the middle order. Logically that will mean Brooke Guest moves up to number three, where he batted last season.

Daryn Dupavillon is in the twelve for the first time, as is Blair Tickner and it would be good to see Derbyshire unleash both of their overseas bowlers for the first time. Most other counties are fielding two  in every game, so this would be an ideal opportunity for them to work together. 

Alex Thomson is also rested and Jack Morley is the sole spinner in the twelve, suggesting that he will play. The other place I would assume to be between the fit again Sam Conners and Zak Chappell, although the omission of the latter would see the tail worryingly long.  It may be that we go with an all seam attack, but I would think a variation is needed from what would otherwise be seven seamers. 

Ten days off after this game, so no real need to rest anyone, for me

Derbyshire twelve:

Reece, Lloyd, Guest, Madsen, Lamb, Donald, Dal, Chappell, Conners, Tickner, Dupavillon, Morley

Sussex have made a solid start to the season, or a solid as the weather has allowed any side to make. Cheteshwar Pujara returns to his old county, as does Fynn Hudson-Prentice. With John Simpson scoring runs for fun after moving from Middlesex - and with the bowling led by West Indian Jayden Seales and England man Ollie Robinson - this will be a stern test for the home side. Former Lancashire man Danny Lamb returns up north, another very good cricketer for who I have considerable time.

Squad: Simpson, Haines, Pujara, Robinson, Seales, Carter, Hudson-Prentice, Alsop, Carson, Clark, Coles, Karvelas, Lamb

However, yet again the weather looks set to interfere with proceedings. Tomorrow's forecast is not very promising and much will depend on the volume of rain that falls as to how much cricket takes place over the rest of the weekend. It is quite extraordinary how much rain continues to fall around the country and is desperately disappointing. 

That being the case, I am happy to call this as yet another draw. 

For those who would like to hear my thoughts on the last two matches, against Leicestershire and Yorkshire, as well as a look ahead to this one, I will again be on North Derbyshire radio tomorrow evening from 6:30 p.m. 

I hope that you tune in and have a listen - I will put a link up tomorrow night when the show has aired and it is possible to hear it on catch up.

Fingers crossed for the lads tomorrow! 

Yorkshire v. Derbyshire day 4

Yorkshire 450 and 59-1

Derbyshire 447 all out (Madsen 103, Donald 97, Chappell 78, Guest 75 Fisher 4-96)

Match drawn

A little bit of faith was restored in Derbyshire, over the past couple of days. 

Led by the evergreen Wayne Madsen, the county got within three of the Yorkshire first innings score, with Aneurin Donald and Zak Chappell playing fine innings.

I had mentioned yesterday that the first hour could be tricky and Brooke Guest didn't last long, being bowled one that came in and kept a little low. That brought in Nye Donald and he kept Madsen company as the veteran reached his 44th all-format century for the club. This one will rank highly, given the circumstances when he started to bat, combined with the hand injury he sustained in the field. At 40 he remains a tremendous asset to the side and we can only hope he doesn't miss too much cricket as a result of the knock. 

Donald batted splendidly. There is always a chance he could go early, because he goes for his shots, but today he mixed them with sound defence and good judgement. It was disappointing to see him fall just short of his century, edging behind off Joe Root, but by the time he was out, the job was done from a Derbyshire perspective. 

At the other end Chappell indulged himself in 'humpty' of Olympic magnitude. Not too many of his shots would have featured in the old MCC coaching manual, but he hit with remarkable power and considerable skill in making 78 from just 61 deliveries, including four sixes. I am not sure how he managed to keep hitting bouncers over mid-on, but he again illustrated what a fine cricketer he is - and what a very good eye he has. 

Dal, Tickner and Brown also played their part and few would have expected Derbyshire to get within three of the home side's first innings. 

After that it was all largely academic, Yorkshire batting out time with the only novelty value David Lloyd removing Finlay Bean while bowling offspin. 

Looking around the country, there was only one positive result again. For what it is worth, if the 4-day game is to remain confined to the bookends of the season, perhaps we need to do a couple of things to encourage positive results. 

Certainly I feel that eight points for a draw is too many. I'm not referring specifically to this game, but there is no real incentive to risk losing if you can still get eight points for getting a draw. I would like to see them maximise the win and perhaps make it two points for a draw. We might then see counties take a risk in going for a result. 

It might also be worth considering an over limit on first innings, as we did back in the '70s and '80s. Back then it was a hundred overs in the first innings, which was an opportunity to play proper cricket and meant the game could move on in the course of two days. 

If a team bats for a day and a half to make 600, then the weather intervenes as it has this year, there is greater entertainment value in one-on-one basket weaving than the rest of the game. 

My opinion, those of others may differ, but I saw some cracking cricket with such restrictions in place and the way that the game is played today, I cannot see it would be in any way to the detriment of the county or national game. 

Anyway, we move on to the Sussex game on Friday, still unbeaten and in better fettle than we were at the end of the Leicestershire game.

That in itself is progress.

Yorkshire v Derbyshire day 3

No play today at Headingley, which cannot be a surprise to anyone in the north today. Having said that, we had a lovely day up here in Scotland, so them's the breaks, I guess..

Tomorrow will be a challenge, the pitch having been covered for 36 hours. Madsen and Guest both deserve centuries after their sterling efforts yesterday, but they will need to work hard to get there.

Fisher and Coad will make them work tomorrow morning, no doubt about it. I don't see either side risking defeat and certainly not Yorkshire. It is hard to see how Derbyshire can do anything other than save the game, so logically tomorrow should be a draw and I fully expect that.

We'll see.

Book Review: Cricket in Poetry- Run Stealers, Gatlings and Graces by Bob Doran

I have to admit that I really enjoyed this book.

I admire the author for taking the time to research it and link so beautifully the lives of two well-known 19th century poets and the development of the first-class game of cricket in England.

Two poems stand out from the period: Vitai Lampada by Henry Newbolt (There's a breathless hush in the Close tonight..) and At Lord's by Francis Thompson (O my Hornby and my Barlow long ago). Both men were sons of prosperous families but the former was what one might call a 'toff', while the latter was primarily a religious  writer and at one point a suspect in the Jack the Ripper case, which is discussed in detail here.

They led very different lives and the author has beautifully researched them. Yet, the strength of the book is in the way that their writing is interlinked with the development of county cricket in the 19th century and up to the First World War.

Well-known figures flit in and out of the pages including the Graces and Ranjitsinjhi, but equally fascinating or the more peripheral figures in the history of the game who made a greater contribution in the arts and literary world. Thus we read of Siegfried Sassoon, Kipling, Owen, Graves, Hardy, Conrad and Conan Doyle, all in the circles in which Newbolt moved.

While Newbolt established himself in such circles - but blotted his copy book for this writer with his assertion that his shell-shocked son 'wasn't doing more for his country' - Thompson's life spiralled into one of physical and mental deterioration, solitude and laudanum addiction. 

The book could have finished there, but the author brings the book and cricket's links with poetry and verse of a different kind more up to date with Cricket, Lovely Cricket and the development of Caribbean cricket before and after the Second World War, culminating in the calypso of that name  inspired by the West Indies win in England in 1950.

It is a very enjoyable read, the author rightly points out that cricket poetry can be varied in its quality, some of it moving, others funny, a fair amount clunky, at best.

A celebration of the early days of the game as we know it in the countryside of the south, then the move to the midlands and north, this might not appeal to everyone. 

But as a lover of social history, literature and cricket, it absolutely hit the right notes for me and I applaud Pitch Publishing for getting it into print and also producing it in a type face that was not a strain to read.

With some charming photographs, many of which I hadn't seen before, this is one that is well worth your time. I guarantee that by the end of it you will have learned something.

Cricket in Poetry: Run Stealers, Gatlings and Graces is written by Bob Doran and published by Pitch Publishing.

Yorkshire v. Derbyshire Day 2

Yorkshire 450-5d (Brook 126*, Root 119)

Derbyshire 190-3 (Madsen 88*, Guest 74*)

Derbyshire trail by 260 runs

Well, what a magnificent day of sport that was! 

After Derby County secured promotion to the Championship with a 2-0 win over Carlisle, Derbyshire overcame a tricky start to their innings against Yorkshire to reach the close of play at 190-3. 

That they did so was thanks to a magnificent stand between Wayne Madsen (88*) and Brooke Guest (74*) which added 167 runs for the fourth wicket.

There was an heir of inevitability about the proceedings of the morning, with both Root and Brook proceeding to centuries that seemed on the cards almost from the time that they took guard. Both batted very well, but there appeared little in the pitch for the bowlers and the concern was whether knowledge of home conditions might make Fisher and Coad a different proposition when it came our turn to bat. 

To be honest, the thing they did better than us with the new ball was simply to bowl straight and pitch it up. Harry Came, enduring a difficult start to the season, was soon dismissed, as was David Lloyd, second ball. Though the sight of Madsen walking out to bat was reassuring, if a surprise, Luis Reece didn't keep him company for long, edging a drive to Bean at slip, which brought Guest in at 23-3. 

Thereafter it was relatively plain sailing. Both batted with excellent technique and concentration, not forgetting some very fine stroke play, as befits two very good players. They were quickly into their stride, moving their feet well and with a flurry of boundaries easing the pressure. A six by Madsen over long on, the pose held as the ball sailed away, had this viewer purring with delight, but Guest was equally severe on a bad ball and matched him stroke for stroke.

Later they became a little more circumspect, with the field. Innovatively placed by Shan Masood. I did think they overdid the short ball - or were allowed to - at Madsen, presumably in the knowledge of his injury. There were one or two minor alarms, though the presence of a very fine third man suggested they were hoping he might use his ramp/upper cut shot and hole out. 

But he didn't and both got to the close with their wickets intact and Derbyshire pride extended past the early afternoon football result. 

Tomorrow's forecast suggests there will be little play until, at the earliest, late afternoon so any chance of a positive result here would appear to lie between the captains agreeing on an appropriate last day target. 

With the home attack, something akin to our complaints about Derbyshire - too repetitive and similar, with only Root to offer spin - I would be surprised if anything realistic were to be set. 

We will see, but that was a fine effort today, hats off to Wayne and Brooke for that.

Yorkshire v Derbyshire day one

Yorkshire 276-3 (Lyth 97, Root 65*, Brook 44*, Masood 40)

v Derbyshire

I am trying really hard to be impressed by Derbyshire this year, but I have to admit I am struggling at the moment. 

David Lloyd continues to do the first thing that a captain should and win the toss. Nor can you fault the decisions to insert the opposition on pitches tinged with green and offering more than a little assistance to the bowlers. 

Yet time and again we blow it. Chances were again dropped today, three before lunch, one after it and we didn't bowl especially well. I thought there was too much wide stuff, while the length was a wrong one for this ground. 

It always swings at Headingley, yet we were bowling what John Arlott used to call a 'grudging length'. Twenty minutes before he was introduced to the attack, a sage former professional messaged me and called for Luis Reece to be bowling - and he got a wicket, second ball.

Wayne Madsen took a blow on a finger in putting one down and it didn't look good. I was also puzzled why Jack Morley was in the twelve, yet Samit Patel came on as twelfth man in Madsen's gear. Then Ben Aitchison appeared and it all looked like the Sunday XI at the Dog and Duck

David Lloyd had his left hand strapped, so wasn't in the slips, but  Harry Came went in there with Luis Reece at third, not a common position for him. Meanwhile, Pat Brown, ostensibly the third seamer, didn't get a bowl until after lunch, when four others and the spinner had all turned their arms over. Rightly or wrongly, it didn't suggest a great deal of confidence in him and cannot have done a great deal for the player.

Yorkshire batted quite serenely and easily after that first hour, with all bar Bean looking at ease in the conditions. Lyth will be annoyed at missing out on his century, while Masood played beautifully, if never suggesting permanence. 

Later in the day, before bad light and heavy rain brought a premature close, Joe Root and Harry Brook batted with the class that they have and it is astonishing that two of the country's finest players are in division two. With an incredible feeling of deja vu, Yorkshire look set for around five hundred before tea tomorrow, when we will doubtless face a tricky session against Coad and Fisher (who was fit) who will certainly bowl the right lines and length for this ground.

We might be batting without Madsen too, as I am not expecting good news about the county talisman.

It never rains but it pours.

It might need to do, if we are to escape this game with our 'unbeaten' record intact. Unbeaten, but largely outclassed, so far this year. I can handle Root and Brook doing that, but these catches are SO costly. I know they work very hard at this, but until they start holding on in matches, it ain't worth a dime.

I hope that one day soon we can get ahead of the game. 

But if doesn't look like being in this one.

Yorkshire v. Derbyshire preview

Earlier this afternoon I watched a brilliant century by Ross Whiteley in a losing cause for Derbyshire Seconds. He hit seven sixes in reaching three figures in 92 balls, against what was a pretty decent Nottinghamshire attack. Liam Patterson-White took nine wickets in the second innings for the home side, who won by an innings and plenty after three players, including Tom Moores, made centuries. 

The only other Derbyshire to score runs was Savin Perera, who made a good fifty before being undone by one that kept low. Some might remember him playing for the South Asian Cricket Academy at the start of the summer and looking an organised bat. It is nice to see him being given an opportunity, so it is up to him what he makes of it from here. 

But Whiteley showed his talent and his power, which will obviously come into prominence in T20 and 50 over cricket, but could easily do a job in the longer form, based on what I saw today.

I am always wary of putting too much on second team performances, but Ross looked in good fettle and he did what none of the first team have done this season and went on to three figures. Perhaps he will be in contention for the Sussex game, as will Daryn Dupavillon, who will arrive  from South Africa in time for that one.

So as we go into the game against Yorkshire at Headingley tomorrow, the top six know that they are under pressure to perform. We know they

can do it, as they have done so in the past, but it would be nice to see them show their best games against the white rose county over the next four days.

Zak Chappell is back, at the expense of Sam Conners (groin issue) and the final selection would appear to be between going with two spinners or the extra seamer. That being the case, Jack Morley and Pat Brown would appear to be competing for one place in this twelve:

Came, Reece, Lloyd, Madsen, Guest, Donald, Dal, Thomson, Chappell, Tickner, Brown/Morley

There is no news as yet about the Yorkshire squad, but they have injury problems with three bowlers struggling - Fisher, Milnes and Edwards. It puts a lot of weight on Ben Coad, a very good bowler, but he is going to need support. 

The batting is no problem. With Harry Brook and Joe Root available, their top five with Bean, Lyth and Shan Masood is very strong. Yet this is the sort of game where Derbyshire can come into their own. The talent is there, we just need to see it produced to the best of their ability.

There has been talk this week in the comments about Aneurin Donald, who I think looks a terrific player. Yet to some extent he is like a latter-day hero of mine, Chris Wilkins, because it is wonderful while it lasts, but you aren't sure how long that will be. 

At 27, he needs to be looking to push an average just north of thirty towards the 35/40 mark. He has the game, he certainly has the strokes, but it is choosing the right ball to play them that is his problem. On his day, like Wilkins, you wouldn't want to miss a delivery. 

The challenge he has is in making those special days are more common occurrence. If he can do that, in conjunction with the coaching team, he can be a very special player. 

Sadly, the weather forecast does not suggest. We will get a win on the board in this one either. Tomorrow and Sunday look like fairly wet days and any possible results will need to arise because one side has had a nightmare or the two of them manufacture a finish.

We will see. Fingers and toes crossed...

Derbyshire v. Leicestershire day 3

Leicestershire 574

Derbyshire 167 {Lloyd 54, Donald 45) and 224-6 (Madsen 59*, Thomson 46*)

Derbyshire trail by 183 runs

Given the weather forecast for tomorrow, Derbyshire may escape from this game with a draw. Yet even the most partisan supporter would struggle to say that they deserved it. 

After chasing leather for five sessions, they lost four wickets last night and a further twelve today. Let us not forget that this is against Leicestershire, more specifically a largely second choice attack in the absence, through injury, of their first choice bowlers. On the same pitch, lest we forget.

The visitors bowled better lines and waited for Derbyshire's batters to make mistakes, which many of them did, some bizarrely. The second innings dismissal of David Lloyd was a standout, ducking under what he must have thought a beamer. Yet after an innings of fine stroke play, the dismissal of Nye Donald in the first innings was a shocker, a shot from the village coaching manual. So too, after batting well in the first innings, Nuj Dal being strangled down the leg side. 

These are not bad players and we must remember that to be playing at this level you have to be very talented. Yet whether the performance of the last two days is down to coaching or a lack of application, it is very disappointing for supporters. 

I am not ready to give up on the season and for me the crux of the matter is how Mickey Arthur handles this, publicly and privately and how the players respond. There have been decent individual performances, but a lack of game awareness - it doesn't look like there will be much play tomorrow - is worrying. 

It looked like the game could indeed conclude today, when Derbyshire slipped to 144-6 in their second innings, but a battling partnership between Wayne Madsen and Alex Thomson took us through to the close without further loss. Both batted well and showed, again, there are no demons in this pitch.

A draw from this game doesn't really reflect the way in which we have been completely outplayed by a side that one would struggle to call outstanding.

This has to become the nadir of the season and we use the 'display' as a catalyst for improvement. Even as someone frequently seen as a beacon of positivity, I struggle to see anything more than bottom of the table on the basis of the past three days.

I maintain that one-day cricket will be our strength this year, but we have to put on a better display than this in the longer form of the game. 

I hope they can show me the other side of their collective games in the weeks ahead.

Postscript - Daryn Dupavillon took 5-20 in the South African T20 today. Hopefully he brings that form with him...

Please append a name!!

There were a lot of comments after yesterday and some of them I declined to publish, because there was no name appended and they were too much of a rant - and personal, in one instance.

 I am sorry, but I am prepared to have my name and face on the blog and will be critical if I feel it is deserved, happy to do so face to face if it came to it. But I will not be personal and everyone should remember that sports people don't set out to have a bad day. Neither do you, but it happens

I always welcome comments, but I must insist on either you creating a Google account, which doesn't take long, or appending a name to your thoughts.

Please remember that these are people with families and friends and I assume people don't say such things to theirs. If you wouldn't say it to someone at the ground, please don't put it in a comment here.

If there is a need to be critical, that is fine, but please consider your words and take five, before submitting them for approval.

I will not publish a comment without a name attached. If you send without appending in error, put in a second, following it, with your name.

Thank you.

Derbyshire v. Leicestershire day 2

Leicestershire 574-7 declared (Harris 214, Cox 69, Handscomb 68 Tickner 2-83)

Derbyshire 54-4 (Lloyd 40*)

Well, that was all pretty horrible, wasn't it? Somewhat ironic that the first pleasant weather of the season produced a thoroughly unpleasant performance by Derbyshire.

After being hit around the ground, pretty much at will, by Leicestershire as they amassed 574-7 declared, Derbyshire slipped to 54-4  by the close, trailing by 520.

We can't blame Kookaburra balls this time, but I am not convinced, despite the late in the day collapse, that there is much in the pitch. Leicestershire bowled good lines, Came didn't move his feet, Reece got a leading edge to lob one to mid wicket and Madsen was horribly undone by a first ball yorker that left him on his knees.

It was miserable fare and I must confess to going to work in the garden for a good bit of the Leicestershire innings. I said to a friend earlier on that they would rack up 500 and not break sweat and so it transpired. Everyone made double figures, Harris a superb double century that never looked in doubt after the first half hour and the Derbyshire bowling, Tickner apart, looked pretty ordinary.

There's not a lot of fun in being tanked around for almost two days, but the body language dropped towards the end, as the inevitability of it all hit home. 

Maybe tiredness played a part in the dismissals, but they need to do much better tomorrow and for the rest of this game to avoid a chastening defeat. They need only look to their captain for an example of what is possible, David Lloyd playing with good sense in the overs before the close, by which time Guest had also departed, leg before going neither forward nor back.

I maintain there is nothing in this pitch, at present, to prevent Derbyshire from saving this game.

But they need to play much better tomorrow than they did today.

And hope the promised rain on Monday comes down in Biblical proportions...

Derbyshire v Leicestershire day one

Leicestershire 168-2 (Harris 77*, Hill 34*)

v Derbyshire

I don't know about anyone else, but I found it all a little underwhelming today. 

David Lloyd did the first thing a good captain should do and won the toss under cloudy skies -  and with the expectation of some early movement. 

It was there but three dropped catches before lunch saw Leicestershire eat in better fettle than Derbyshire. Then came the rain and although they returned for eighteen overs late in the day, everything suggested that the pitch had already flattened out and the next three days will offer little different to the usual 4-day game. 

You shouldn't have to rely on a generous declaration on the last day to win a game, but unless something radical happens tomorrow morning, or the opposition bowlers are more effective than ours, that looks like what will be required for a positive result here. 

Blair Tickner again, bowled well, with considerable heart and skill, but three chances were put down, one by Madsen, two (one very difficult) by Donald and the window of opportunity had been closed and firmly nailed shut.

Sam Conners also bowled well from the City End, but there were few alarms after the first hour or so and Marcus Harris batted steadily for the visitors.

Hopefully tomorrow brings more to get excited about. All around the country wickets are tumbling, but game after game sees high scores at Derby. It will all be fine for one day cricket, but despite a little more pace and greater carry, I saw nothing today to suggest we will force results on home turf in this format.

Derbyshire v Leicestershire preview

Derbyshire return to the Incora County Ground tomorrow, with a local derby against Leicestershire.

It is again, on paper, a winnable fixture for us and the game would appear to be blessed by four days of dry weather. All we need now is for good Derbyshire to turn up and the pitch not to be one where a squillion plays a trillion in the first innings. If we can get something similar to Cardiff last week, that would do me fine, with the eleven  tweaked to enhance our chances.

Leicestershire are missing several bowlers, including Josh Hull, Roman Walker, Chris Wright, Rehan Ahmed and Wiaan Mulder and today have dipped into the loan market to recruit Somerset all-rounder Ben Green for three games. He takes his place In the following squad:

Budinger, Cox, Currie, Green, Handscomb, Harris, Hill, Kimber, Mike, Patel, Salisbury, Scriven, Trevaskis, Wood.

They have a good batting lineup with the Australians Ryan Harris and Peter Handscomb, while Rishi Patel has had a fine start to the summer after his breakout season last time around. Derbyshire will need to bowl with discipline to work their way through a long batting order, while the attack cannot be underestimated. 

Mickey Arthur has named a squad of fourteen and with no knowledge of anything different to the usual Derby wicket, I would be surprised if there was any change to the side that played at Cardiff last week. As I wrote the other day, there may be consideration to playing two spinners, but we will need to see. 

Likely side:

Came, Reece, Lloyd, Madsen, Guest, Donald, Dal, Thomson, Chappell, Conners, Tickner (Brown, Morley and Lamb also in the squad).

It should be a good game and I hope that plenty of people manage down to watch it live. I wish I was there myself, but must content myself, for now, with the excellent live stream.

I think there's enough in the Derbyshire side to win this one, but to do so will need a big effort and certainly a reversal of home fortune in recent seasons. 

What do you think?

Closing tonight, if you were interested in hearing my thoughts on the game and on the match at Cardiff, I will be on the North Derbyshire radio sports programme tomorrow evening at 6:30 p.m. 

Download the app to listen, or you can get it on catch up for 7 days afterwards. Here is the link 

https://northderbyshireradio.com/radioplayer/index.html

Book Review: Lost Cricket Stickers - In Search of 1983's World of Cricket Sticker Album Heroes by Matthew Appleby

I was always likely to enjoy Matthew Appleby's second cricket book. I enjoyed his first, about his father, his love for cricket and the literature of the game. He has a style of writing that is enjoyable and the theme of this one was very much up my street. 

There are similarities with my own second book, In Their Own Words, In that the author has sought out heroes of yesteryear who in some cases have disappeared from the public conscious. 

Others are better known, such as Mike Selvey and John Barclay, while the pieces on Chris Cowdrey and Geoffrey Boycott are enjoyable.

Yet for me, the strength of this book is in those those who now go below the radar. 

I was always going to enjoy the piece on Ole Mortensen, having been approached, and kindly name-checked by the author for a contact. Like all of the others in the book, 1983 was a fine year for 'Stan' and the interview is a good one. 

So too are those on John Holder, Kevin Emery and Nigel  Popplewell, but there are anecdotes galore in a book that clearly required a lot of travel and work and is hugely enjoyable. 

It was a more simple age, when everyone played for their county and tolerated the challenges of travel that the game brought. Yet everyone seems to have enjoyed it and a recurring theme is that to they wouldn't have swapped their experiences for anything else. 

It is nice to find out more about some of the journeymen of the game, not just during their careers, but since they disappeared from the public eye. Some of my favourites are in here, with every county represented and each of them giving a unique take on the game then and now. 

Based on the only cricket sticker album of the era, this book is a safe purchase. Another worthy publication from Pitch Publishing.

Lost Cricket Stickers: The Search for 1983's World of Cricket Sticker Heroes is written by Matthew Appleby and published by Pitch Publishing

Glamorgan v. Derbyshire day 4

Glamorgan 237 and 361-7

Derbyshire 198 and 225-3 (Reece 91*, Guest 72* Harris 2-24)

Match drawn

There may be those who are thinking tonight that Derbyshire should have had a go at the run chase at Cardiff.

It was never on. The loss of overs in the morning and a further stoppage after lunch meant that the run rate had climbed and, having lost the wickets of David Lloyd and Wayne Madsen before lunch, it would have been very easy for the side to have capitulated. 

That they didn't was due to fine innings from Brooke Guest and Luis Reece. Both are players of high quality and I never felt a defeat was an option once their stand got going. Brooke is a real all round talent who I love to watch in full flow, while Luis continued his love affair with Glamorgan bowling, after the brief falling out in the first innings.

Lloyd rather gave his wicket away in a mix up with Reece over a quick single, his cause not helped by having to run wide of the bowler, Harris, who was trying to get to the stumps for the throw. Crane hit them from side on and the skipper had to go. 

Madsen played a few pleasing strokes, but a good ball from Harris did for him. After that it was the Reece and Guest show, which allowed Derbyshire to save the game with relative ease. 

My opinion of the Kookaburra ball is not a positive one after the first two rounds of the County Championship season. As Darren Stevens said today, it does something for about five overs and then you know you are chasing it. The scores have confirmed this and I honestly feel that had the game played out today at Cardiff, there was only going to be one winner. 

With the pitch carrying fewer terrors and the ball turning only occasionally and much more slowly, it was easier to bat. 

That should not take away from the excellent discipline of the Derbyshire batters. 

Thank goodness we return to the regular Dukes ball for the next few games. 

I do think consideration needs to be made for the next game to playing two spinners. Having three genuine seam bowling all-rounders in the side for me allows the selection of either a second spinner or another bat. I cannot see why we would need six seam bowlers, five of them right arm, in a match situation, unless one or two have niggles and cannot carry heavy workloads.

What do you think?

Book Review: Batting For Time- The Fight To Keep English Cricket Alive

This book is a terrific read, but it is a shame that it has to be written at all. 

It is effectively a 'state of the nation' address about English cricket in 2024. It is an elegy to days gone by, as well as being a warning to what may happen in the future and indeed is happening right now.

But as well as recognising the challenges faced by those who play the game, and the concerns of those who have watched it for decades, the author also recognises that the game has had to change and diversify. 

Indeed, as Derbyshire's CEO Ryan Duckett says within its pages, in the 2022/23 financial year Derbyshire raised half a million through membership and ticket sales but a further million through conferences and events.

Whether the average supporter likes the idea of concerts on their county ground or not, they are here to stay. The improvements in playing staff that Derbyshire has seen this winter is largely attributable to the excellent work done off the field, filing function suites, hosting fireworks extravaganzas and more.

This book looks at the development of One Day cricket in this country, up to and including The Hundred, while also bemoaning how the showpiece climax of the summer, the one-day final, is now a much less grand affair, having more recently been contested by what in some cases are second teams from the county circuit. 

It is a fascinating read and the author has done an excellent job in speaking to relevant people within the game, players, administrators and supporters. 

It is another outstanding book from Pitch Publishing and they are to be commended forgetting this 'out there'.

As for the author, Ben Bloom, I hope the book does well. It is well worth the money and will occupy you through the usual down time of the English summer. 

Batting for time - The fight to keep English cricket alive is written by Ben Bloom and published by Pitch Publishing

Glamorgan v. Derbyshire day 3

I think it is fair to say that the wicket changed a little on day three of this match. 

There was still turn, but not as sharp as it had been on the first two days. The ball still nipped off the seam, but really only when it was new and the old Kookaburra ball didn't do that much. 

There are some good bowlers in this Derbyshire side and that leads me to be hopeful that we can, at the very least, hold out for a draw tomorrow. 

We could have done without losing the wicket of Harry Came before the close, but Lloyd and Reece took it to that point without any further loss.

Earlier Alex Thomson completed a magnificent match with another five wickets, making twelve in the season opener. Had Jack Morley played too, I suspect we would be in the driving seat at this point. 

For me, there needs to be a rethink. We could easily go in with two seamers, with Dal, Reece and Lloyd to back them up. I'm not sure whether a variety in attack may be more beneficial, but even on a green top I think it unlikely we would ever need six seam bowlers in the eleven. So you could either lengthen the batting or play two spinners. 

Cooke and Harris batted splendidly for the home side and with few alarms. It would be unrealistic to suggest Derbyshire can go for a winning total in excess of 400, especially when one considers the forecast tomorrow, which suggests rain at times In as yet unknown quantities. 

But I think it is for to assume we should be able to put up a decent fist on an improved pitch. The bowling of Mason Crane will be key, but if the ball is damp from a wet outfield, it won't be so easy for him to land it with consistency. 

I would like to think that Derbyshire's battling approach should see them head home with a draw, but you never can tell. 

Where is your money lying tonight?

Glamorgan v Derbyshire day 2

Glamorgan 237 and 74-4 (Thomson 3-35)

Derbyshire 198 (Madsen 63, Lloyd 60, Crane 4-60)

Glamorgan lead by 113 runs

An intriguing match is well balanced at the end of day two, with day three looking likely to be the final one at this stage. 

I cannot help feeling that Derbyshire let themselves down a little today, with a lack of assertion with the bat. With the benefit of hindsight, perhaps more aggressive intent towards Mason Crane may have brought dividends. Then again, an extra spinner in the side for this one would probably have seen us on the way home by lunch time tomorrow. 

With the exception of David Lloyd, who batted very well and carried the attack to Glamorgan, and the evergreen Wayne Madsen, our batters were content to merely occupy the crease. That's fine and dandy, but on a pitch where the ball is going to do something on a regular basis, perhaps a more assertive approach might have been more effective? Easy to say when you aren't in the middle, of course, but someone needs to play a match-winning knock second time around. 

Harry Came lasted until just before lunch, but only added 14 runs to his overnight score in that time. It took over out of the legs of bowlers, but perhaps also allowed them to settle into a rhythm. Then again, Harry was third top scorer, so he did a job. Had the middle order after Madsen replicated that, we would have had a lead..

Neither Brooke Guest nor Nye Donald looked comfortable and until a late cameo from Zak Chappell it was all rather pedestrian and tentative. Crane is a decent bowler, but I think we gave him too much respect today.

It's interesting though. I spoke to a former county professional who said that the best way to play on such pitches is YOUR way. Not to change it for conditions, just do what comes naturally. Maybe that's a Baldrick-style 'cunning plan' for the second innings..

A first innings deficit of 39 runs was conceded, although Derbyshire fought back well In the final session. Alex Thomson took three more wickets for his first ten wicket haul in a match, while Sam Conners produced a beauty to remove Billy Root. Sam Northeast got a first baller, coming back down to earth, as I had predicted, after his triple century against Middlesex. 

At the close, with 74-4 the score, the home side are 113 runs ahead. IF Derbyshire can limit the chase to under 200 - and bigger IF they collectively bat better than they did today - a win is still possible.

For supporters, the wait to see if we can be consistent in both disciplines of four day cricket goes on.

Maybe tomorrow?

Glamorgan v Derbyshire day 1

Glamorgan 237 (Carlson 74, Thomson 7-65, Tickner 2-57, Conners 1-51)

Derbyshire 46-1 (Lloyd 35*, Came 11*)

Derbyshire trail by 191 runs

Career best bowling figures of 7-56 by Alex Thomson put Derbyshire into a strong position at the end of the first innings of this game. An off spinner. In April...

Thomson bowled superbly, flighting the ball beautifully and getting significant turn from the start of his spell. Perhaps the only concern was that Derbyshire, having won the toss, had opted to bat last on this pitch and omitted Jack Morley the second spinner. Whether Mason Crane and Kiran Carlson cause similar issues remains to be seen, but they will struggle to better the bowling of the tall Derbyshire man today. 

It was perhaps the best spell of bowlng I have seen by a Derbyshire spinner in years. He kept an excellent line and length throughout, keeping the short leg cordon both safe and prepared for things to happen. 

Edwin Smith once told me that the hardest part of being a bowler was bowling when conditions were in your favour and the expectation was that you would bowl them out. Alex did that admirably today. 

The first sighting of Blair Tickner was very positive. An all-action bowler, functional rather than aesthetically pleasing, he got considerable movement and also bounce. He plays with a smile on his face, yet an obviously combative attitude. I like him, a lot. I think he will prove a very astute signing.

Zak Chappell bowled with good control but no luck, and after reaching a good position in early afternoon, thanks to Carlson, Glamorgan collapsed thereafter as Thomson worked his way through the batting. David Lloyd held a fine catch at leg slip and captained the side astutely, while Brooke Guest was excellent behind the stumps. Indeed, Derbyshire conceded only six extras in 78 overs, a very good, disciplined effort. 

When it came our time to bat, things were far from easy. Luis Reece played too soon at Harris and pulled onto his stumps, while I couldn't see how Harry Came survived a strong appeal for lbw. David Lloyd also survived as Hamza and pretty much everyone else went up for a catch behind.

But both men were still there at the close, the skipper, on his return to Cardiff, having played some very pleasing strokes.

Hopefully the team can bat a long time tomorrow.

But that was a good day's work and excellent to watch.

Glamorgan v. Derbyshire preview

Whisper it quietly, but it looks like we will get some cricket over the next four days at Cardiff...

The forecast doesn't look too bad at all, so a prompt start will depend on how well the ground recovers from the recent rain that has covered the country. 

Derbyshire will travel with a squad of thirteen and unless the pitch suggests turn, which would be unfeasible at most places this early, I don't see many changes to the likely side at Derby. One spinner, and/or a choice between Matt Lamb and Nye Donald - unless we decide to pack the batting, of course. 

Squad:

Lloyd, Reece, Came, Madsen, Guest, Lamb, Donald, Dal, Thomson, Morley, Chappell, Conners, Tickner

Glamorgan scored 620-3 last time out at Lord's, with Sam Northeast registering 335*, the highest score made at the ground. That being the case - and cricket being the leveller that it is - he is due a duck here...

Squad:

Northeast, Carlson, Cook, Crane, ul Hasan, Root, Ingram, Douthwaite, Harris, Gorvin, Hamza, McIlroy, Tribe

They are missing Podmore, Byrom and van der Gugten, while Craig Miles has been recalled from his loan by Warwickshire. Hamza will be a danger with the new ball, but Blair Tickner will hope to be equally influential for us.

It is a hard game to call, because after registering such a high score, Glamorgan conceded first innings lead to Middlesex on a batting paradise. So it is hard to judge the respective merits of the two sides, especially when Derbyshire have yet to get onto the hallowed turf this summer.

Yet again, this is the sort of game we need to be winning and I am hopeful that we can put out a side that can win this one - especially if everyone hits their stride early. 

One to look forward to - and like you I will be glued to my TV tomorrow! 

Derbyshire sign Dupavillon

So we now know the identity of Derbyshire's second overseas player, South African quick bowler Daryn Dupavillon. It will certainly be a fine signing for lovers of alliteration...

I have seen him bowl and he has looked impressive, an arms pumping, all-action, somewhat open-chested quick. To be honest I had discounted him, as he often seems involved in the Caribbean Premier League where he has done well, but  his first-class record is excellent, well over 200 wickets at mid-twenties average, while he goes for less than eight an over in T20, which is impressive for one who bowls at the 'bookends' of the innings. Capable of bowling around the 90mph mark, he will keep opposition batters on their toes.

He isn't really a batter, nor would you say he was a lithe, natural fielder, but hopefully he will do his main job to a standard where his lesser talents are not an issue. Neither Devon Malcolm nor Ole Mortensen were brilliant in the field, but we'd take the prime of either of them again! 

There have been a few injury issues too, but he has done well in the second half of the South African summer and should come to us in good form.

He has played alongside Samit Patel in the CPL, so the T20 skipper will know what he can do, while he has two T20 appearances for his country, against Australia and Pakistan.

We have him until the penultimate game in September too, so that works very well for me. 

Excellent work by Mickey Arthur, in a summer where overseas recruitment has been a challenge. This gives the bowling an extra dimension, a bowler who hits the deck hard, but also a player who, like Blair Tickner, is somewhat under the radar as far as opponents go.

Good to see! 

Welcome to Derbyshire, Daryn

Postscript - so we now have a Kiwi and a Saffer. 

Good things happened for Derbyshire before, when we had that in the line up...

Sunday thoughts

I enjoyed a lovely chat with a friend last night, who suggested another name that might be of interest to Derbyshire for that second overseas role. 

Duane Jansen, anyone? Younger brother of South African international bowler Marco, bowls left arm around 90mph and from a height of 6 feet 8 inches. Also a very handy batter and I could see him very much an option for a discerning county before too long. 

I suspect it won't be too long before he achieves international recognition and very much in his favour from a Derbyshire perspective is that he would give a different angle, as well as the steep bounce and pace.

So yes, I would add him to Pretorius and Bosch as good options for Mickey Arthur.

I don't think there will be any play to report on later and I suspect we must wait for the Glamorgan game for Derbyshire's first cricket of the summer. Conditions are simply too wet and with more rain forecast I cannot see that changing in the next 24 hours.

Enjoy your Sunday anyway!

Please note - I removed a comment last night that I hadn't read carefully before publishing. It was not appropriate and I will not publish any critical - especially unfounded - comments where the person concerned has failed to use a name. 

Please remember to use a consistent name when commenting, your own preferably or a nom de plume if you must. But I will decline to post comments I feel are inappropriate

Derbyshire v Gloucestershire - washout looming..

There is not a great deal that anyone could do about the lack of cricket at Derby in the last two days.

Storm Kathleen has caused considerable damage across the whole of the UK, but especially in the Midlands and North. On top of what had already been a March and April of ridiculous volumes of water, it was very much the straw that broke the camel's back.

Derby has very good protection of the square, but the reality is that the outfield resembles a paddy field and it has not been of sufficient standard for first class cricket. You and I may have risked it for our weekend game, but we are not professional sports people, risking injury and potential loss of earnings and career. 

Equally, it is not fair to point out that Nottinghamshire are playing, because the standards at the two grounds are considerably different. Trent Bridge is an international ground with commensurate levels of drainage and equipment, just as Derby is better than Chesterfield and so on.

Nor do I think it is fair to criticise updates or the 'lack of them' from the club. I had no expectation of any play yesterday and when I saw the forecast for last night I didn't even bother checking for any updates, because I knew there was no chance of play. 

With the forecast for the next two days some way removed from good, I suspect that this is going to be a washout. Hardly the ideal start to the season, but such is life. Meanwhile, Glamorgan are racking up 620-3 at Lord's, on what appears to be an early season road.

I will be back soon, but I don't expect to be reporting on any play at that point.

Derbyshire v Gloucestershire preview

For those who are statistically minded, the 2024 summer will be the 58th season in which I have followed Derbyshire. Which makes me sound like a weird kind of stalker, truth be told.

It is also the sixteenth season in which I have written this blog. Having done a deep dive into the statistics, during that time I have written 4441 posts and there have been nearly sixteen thousand comments. I was astonished today to see that there were 60,000 views last month and already 14,000 views this month, after three days. Sometime during the first game, with a nice degree of symmetry, the blog will go past four million views.

So it is fair to say that interest in county cricket is high and I am grateful to everyone who logs in on a regular basis to see what I have to say. That followers of other counties do so is incredibly flattering, so too that cricket fans from different parts of the world get in touch.

Every one of those people, like me, will feel the excitement of a new summer. This is going to be the one, regardless of who you support. The night before the season starts, you are convinced that this is your year. Perhaps, by the time tomorrow evening comes, reality has hit and acceptance begins that maybe, just maybe, it isn't...

But let us all enjoy tonight, quite likely listening to the sound of the rain from Storm Kathleen. It looks like there will be a fair amount of rain around Derby tonight, so the likelihood of a prompt start tomorrow appears slim. Having said that, the forecast for the rest of the game isn't too bad, so we will see cricket, though whether enough to get a result is another question.

Mickey Arthur has named a squad of fourteen for the game which is as follows:

Lloyd (captain)

Came

Reece

Madsen

Guest

Lamb

Donald

Dal

Chappell

Conners

Brown

Tickner

Thomson

Morley

I think one spinner will play now,  unless the players turn up tomorrow to the sound of Mickey Arthur singing 'The Green, Green Grass of Home', while pointing to the pitch with a wink. My guess would be that Brown, Morley and either Lamb or Donald miss out, but I don't know any more than you.

As for our first opponents, Gloucestershire will be skippered by Graeme van Buuren and will have Aussie Cameron Bancroft to lead their batting for the summer. Their squad:

Van Buuren, Bancroft, Shaw, Dent, Hammond, Akhter, Phillips, Bracey, Singh Dale, Middleton, Charlesworth, Price, Goodman, de Lange

Last night on Radio Derby, Mickey Arthur revealed that our second overseas player is signed and will be with us from the end of April until September. He also said that he would like our overseas players to become 'our' players, ideally returning summer after summer like in the good old days.

That being the case, I am still very much of the opinion that it will be Migael Pretorius, who has the skill set and experience to play all formats with success. I might be wrong, but he would give us depth to the batting and an extra, very good seam bowler in all formats. 

For now, all eyes will be on the class of '24 and especially seeing how Blair Tickner fares. For what it is worth, I think we will do okay in four  day cricket, but I expect us to make a very good fist of both one day competitions.

Maybe that is my perennial optimism speaking. But I applaud the efforts to recruit some very good cricketers over the winter. If Mickey Arthur can get them all to produce their best form on a regular basis, I expect this to be a memorable six months.

By the end of the season, that will either come back to bite me, or I will be getting offered gigs at the end of Blackpool Pier, reading fortunes...

Derbyshire v Leeds/Bradford UCCE day 3

Derbyshire 256-9

Leeds/Bradford UCCE 226-2 (Moulton 104*, Lloyd 80*)

Match drawn

It would be very easy, after the day of cricket that many of us have watched, to prophesy doom and gloom in the season ahead. After all, 256-9 doesn't look overly good, against the 226-2 of a university side.

Yet there are mitigating circumstances.

Derbyshire batted first on a pitch that had been covered for several days, which was always likely to be a challenge. It wasn't an especially impressive display by the top order, but such is the way of things at this time of year.

Today's play, after the washout of yesterday, was not an advert for brighter cricket and there was a  point at which the run rate was less than two runs an over. But Staffordshire's Tom Moulton batted very well to get through the day and register an excellent hundred, while Tim Lloyd, who has played for Surrey's second eleven, kept him company for a good part of it. Maybe we will have a look at Moulton in the second team during the summer, as he looked a disciplined, organised player to me.

I don't think for a minute that Derbyshire's bowlers were anywhere close to flat out, however. Indeed, as one one sage former county professional once said to me, 'only fools bust a gut in pre-season and second team games.'

They are all about finding rhythm, getting the run up and action grooved and being ready for the serious stuff. Most of the frontline Derbyshire bowlers had a spell or two, but truth be told there wasn't a great deal of movement for any of them, regardless of bowling style, or the effort put into them. 

My criticism would be that the attack is very repetitive - right arm seamer after right arm seamer. Perhaps Blair Tickner, who arrived today, will be the missing piece of the jigsaw, but I was minded of Mike Hendrick, who once labelled a pitch as being 'as flat as a fart'. Probably not live on Sky...

I really do hope that we are prepared to be more adventurous in our pitch preparation this year. This isn't a criticism of Neil Godrich, who is excellent, but he prepares what he is asked to do and to be fair, opportunity to do much hasn't exactly knocked, with the awful early Spring weather.

In my season preview I suggested that Derbyshire **might** challenge for promotion if the pitches offered more to bowling. On the basis of what I saw today - and I profess to having been working and not seen every ball - we won't.

There is a fine line between a helpful pitch for bowlers and one that goes too far. I would like to think we have the skills in pitch preparation to get that side of things correct. I also hope that we trust the respective skills of the batters and bowlers to win games in a range of conditions.

My opinion, of course, but as another equally sage former pro said to me, 'everyone has opinions, but usually only one is right.' That may or may not be me, but time will tell.

We will see how we are shaping up when the business proper starts, this weekend.

Thoughts on the side v Gloucestershire

I can't think of the last time when competition for places in a Derbyshire side has been so intense. As the photos of the Incora County Ground suggest there will be little play today, this is a good time to see what everyone's thoughts might be.

April is usually a time when wickets tumble and depth of batting is important. We saw that yesterday, Derbyshire collapsing against a keen but still modest attack. Batters across the country will have spent the last few months playing in nets or on hard pitches overseas and April comes as a rude awakening.

So there are talking points. Mickey, Arthur is likely to go with Harry Came and Luis Reece up top and it appears that David Lloyd is going to bat at three. Wayne Madsen will be at four and Brooke Guest - another candidate for three, will likely come in at five. Lloyd could open, as he has done many times for Glamorgan, but I would be surprised if the partnership that flourished so well last year was broken up.

Both Matt Lamb and Nye Donald have batted well so far, both playing good innings. But can a first choice eleven accommodate both? Maybe, at this stage of the summer it can, especially with the all rounders in the side, all bona fide options with the ball. Lamb also offers useful leg spin, Donald a back up keeping option, .

I would assume Anuj Dal is a certainty for the balance he offers, as well as being the bowler for the 'hard' overs when things aren't going to plan. Blair Tickner should be here so will play, as almost certainly will Zak Chappell and Sam Conners, both seeming to be bowling with good rhythm.

So the decision appears to be whether you play Alex Thomson as a spin option OR both Lamb and Donald, with Dal at eight. Omission would be tough on Thomson, who has worked hard down the order with good runs in the two games so far. I am also a fan of a balanced attack, but we saw yesterday the value of having a quality bat lower down, who can capitalise when the ball gets older and the bowlers tire. The turnaround from 117-7 to our final score was enabled by putting more overs in legs and more 'damage' to the ball, allowing Zak Chappell to come in and hit powerfully, which is his best game.

Is it likely to turn much in April? I would be surprised, but sometimes the change of pace can be effective. Then again, if we lost the toss against Glamorgan and had to bat on a green wicket, isn't the extra batter greater value? 

If you think that is a tough decision, wait until our second overseas arrives and also needs to be fitted into the side...

For what it is worth, at this stage, with no knowledge of the pitch, my side for the Glamorgan game would be:

Came

Reece

Lloyd

Madsen

Guest

Lamb

Donald

Dal

Chappell

Tickner

Conners

There will be plenty of times this summer when Thomson will be a certainty to play and I have no doubt he will offer good value. Yet after due consideration I just feel that the extra batter at this stage offers greater security. It might be, of course, that Wayne Madsen is a bowling option this year, after not doing so in 2023, but I don't know about that.

So that is my preference, although I accept others would go a different way. 

What are your thoughts?