Thoughts on Leicester

Just as one swallow does not make a summer, one defeat does not end your hopes in the T20. But what will end them quite quickly is if we don't learn from that defeat.

The team selection, whoever was responsible, was flawed. I am assuming that Mickey Arthur had the final say, but Samit Patel would have had a sizeable input too.

While acknowledging that Nye Donald didn't cost us anything last night, his glove work was not tidy, his dismissal was poor, having just lost his opening partner to a good ball and asking him to open with no form - indeed, very little cricket - behind him was ill-thought. If and when he fires, he can put a game out of reach, but my concern is that asking him to keep, after a lengthy layoff with an arm injury, risks aggravating the problem. 

To be three wickets down in 13 balls is a lot from which to recover. Perhaps a rethink is required, with Martin Andersson, who was in splendid form last night as he has been all season, promoted to open, as he did last year with success for Middlesex. If we get off to a good start, then Donald could come in at three, tee off (which he is always going to do) and take us on. If we lose an early wicket, David Lloyd could go in at three. 

Samit is too high, at five. He can still hit a ball, but it is either a boundary or a single, as he isn't fit enough to run the twos. So he should drop down the order, maybe again giving late impetus on his day.

The selection of Nick Potts was odd, after no selections this year. Then to only bowl him in one over - the second - against a couple of batters we all know are dashers was odd. I do fear for Nick as he needs a big end of season to earn a new deal, but his tendency to drag one or two down every over is especially costly in this format. 

Ghazanfar? He looks a class act and will take a lot of wickets this year. No one seemed to pick him and if that first over lbw shout had been given his way, the result could have been different. His two wickets came from deliveries that spun in different directions and he got far more turn than either Trevaskis or Patel (although Samit bowled tidily). After his first over went for sixteen, the next three conceded only thirteen and the only blemish was the dropped caught and bowled. He looks a good signing.

We aren't far away from a good side. Based on last night, we could easily accommodate Guest for Potts with Andersson and Lloyd picking up the other overs. With a tweak to the batting order, modifying it as required by the game situation, our side would look better with the following line up:

Jewell

Andersson

Donald/Lloyd

Madsen

Lloyd/Donald

Whiteley 

Guest

Patel

Chappell 

Ghazanfar

Brown

Pat Brown had a nightmare last night, but anyone who has played cricket has experienced this sort of game. He's too good not to come again, but hopefully Harry Moore isn't too far away from fitness, which might change the line up again. But with an attack where 8 to 12 overs might be spin, you have to pick your best wicket keeper.

Thoughts?

Leicestershire v Derbyshire Vitality Blast game one

Derbyshire 170-6 (Andersson 70*, Whiteley 37)

Leicestershire 171-5 (Budinger 51, Masood 45*, Ghazanfar 2-29)

Leicestershire won by 5 wickets

Derbyshire fought back well after an awful start today, but ultimately 170, good as it was from 50-5, never looked enough against a strong Leicestershire top order that could simply take their time - even if that is anathema to Budinger and Patel.

You can't lose that many wickets in the Powerplay and realistically post more than we did. Equally, you can't always expect the lower order to dig you out. With Donald, Madsen and Jewell gone in the first four overs, we were immediately in trouble.

Mohammad Ghazanfar did well on debut and could have had three wickets, bar for inexplicably dropping a return catch and being told another didn't carry. But it was clear that after his first nervous over he is going to be a handful, especially if we get some runs on the board.

I don't know why Guest was omitted and I have no idea why Potts was preferred AND given the new ball. It all seemed a bit of a mess and at 86-1 after six overs, with Budinger making a powerful 15 ball fifty, the game had already gone. Pat Brown had a game to forget but again, is good enough to come back from this. Why Nye Donald, who didn't look in the same league behind the timbers as Guest, was preferred I don't know, and his early dismissal was not one to remember with pride.

The reason for our red ball success this summer has been a fine collective effort. Tonight, only half of the side get a pass mark for theirs, which will not be enough to progress. 

Early days, of course, but the performance needs to be much better than this.

Postscript: I was supposed to be on North Derbyshire Radio today, but have had the most appalling gastric bug so had to cry off.

Apologies to anyone planning to listen in.

Leicestershire v Derbyshire preview

There has been a sense of panic among the ranks of Derbyshire supporters today, since the second team for the T20 game against Yorkshire today was announced and Brooke Guest was captain.

People have been putting two and two together and getting five, sensing Nye Donald was therefore set to be given the gloves for the tournament opener. 

I am not saying it won't happen, but I agree with everyone that it would be the wrong decision. Furthermore, looking at the 15-man squad announced for Leicester, I cannot see anyone outside of the obvious selections whose presence would otherwise strengthen the team. 

Nye Donald hasn't kept in a game this season and has just returned from a shoulder injury. Do you really want a key batter potentially hurting that again in diving around? Or a part time wicket keeper trying to read the variations of a mystery spinner? If I was Samit Patel, I would want my best gloveman and I expect to see Brooke in the side tomorrow. 

If he isn't, I would be very surprised.

It would leave the 'other' four overs between Andersson, Whiteley and Lloyd, possibly Madsen. Variations in pace and angle, that would work.

There is no Luis Reece, so one option is out of the window. My own thoughts, for what they are worth, is that Brooke wanted a hit ahead of the game and he has got that, making 44 while batting at three

The Derbyshire squad - my likeliest team first:

Jewell

Donald

Lloyd

Madsen

Andersson

Whiteley

Patel

Guest

Chappell

Ghazanfar 

Brown

Came, Thomson, Aitchison, Potts

The order can be fluid and depends on the circumstances. Brooke could easily bat three, as he did today and knock it around as sheet anchor, if not chasing a massive total. 

Leicestershire will pin their hopes on a big hitting top four of Sol Budinger, Rishi Patel, skipper Louis Kimber and former Derbyshire player Shan Masood. But they have lost several players - Josh Hull and Rehan Ahmed are with England Lions, Ben Green has gone back to Somerset, Ian Holland is in America for the MLC and Ben Mike has a hamstring strain.

Logan van Beek will be their other overseas player and is having a good season. Liam Trevaskis will likely come into the squad too, as will Sam Wood, both in good form for the second team in the past week.

As I write, there is no news on their squad, but I expect Derbyshire to get off to a winning start. The toss will be important with rain forecast, but as long as we keep that top four quiet, I think we can start the tournament in the very best style. 

What do you think? 

Postscript - Derbyshire ran out easy winners against Yorkshire. The home side was restricted to 134-5 in 20 overs, with Jack Morley taking 3-26.

Derbyshire knocked off the runs with 28 balls to spare. Amrit Basra, so impressive this summer, made an unbeaten 42 from 25 deliveries, to add to Guest's 44 from 33. George Lavelle contributed an unbeaten 16 to seal the win.

Scorecard and video clips here

Update - Leicestershire squad:

Budinger, Cox, A Green, Hill, Kimber, Masood, Patel, Salisbury, Scriven, Swindells, Trevaskis, van Beek, Walker, Wood

Final words on the Blast

We are almost at the start of the Vitality Blast and I cannot think that Derbyshire have ever gone into this competition in such a rude state of health. 

Unbeaten, second place in the division in red ball cricket, with specialist big guns coming into the side for the new competition. As the club publicity has been telling us, we have three legends of the format in Wayne Madsen, Samit Patel and Ross Whiteley. An overseas bat who has been on fire, with a mystery overseas spinner who got into a World Best XI only a few months ago. Powerful and long batting, plenty of bowling options. 

To be honest, I don't think we will ever have a better chance of progressing to the knockout stage as we have this year. If we fail, I think it will be on one of two things. 

Can Allah Ghazanfar show the form here that he has abroad? Very few will have faced him, or even seen him, so his variations could be devastating. Of course, a bad ball is a bad ball and he hasn't played for a few months. We also need to remember, regardless of his talent, he is only eighteen. He could and may well be The Man.. but it might go the other way. We need to remember that there will be nights when people have a go at him and get lucky. He will be up against some very good cricketers and will be aware that they will be keen to assert themselves. 

Yet what I have read and seen of him suggests a young man with the world at his feet and the ability to take things in his stride. If he hits the ground running, the next few weeks will be spectacular. Good judges rate him extremely highly and good judges are rarely wrong. Just as Mickey Arthur was advised that Caleb Jewell was the real deal, so we have people doing the same with Ghazanfar. I think Brooke Guest will have a hectic time, keeping to this fella.

Then there is the fifth bowler. Logically that should be Harry Moore, good enough to be picked for the Hundred at 18. Yet there is a big difference between being fit, which I understand he is, and being match fit. He hasn't bowled in a competitive game since the start of the season and it is a big ask for anyone to come in with nothing in the tank. 

When he is match fit, he will play, but that might not be at the start of the competition. When he does, it would almost certainly make Derbyshire the only team in it with two 18-year-olds and two others over 40. 

So that fifth bowler is key. People know Zak Chappell and Pat Brown are fine bowlers, they know Samit, they have heard all about Ghazanfar. But they will almost certainly target the other four overs. Whether that is Lloyd, Moore, Reece, Aitchison or whoever, the other team will be coming at them. We could play a specialist bowler, or lengthen the batting further with an all rounder. Maybe Mitch Wagstaff could come into the equation as an extra spinner and they see what they can get from Martin Andersson, but he only bowled one over for Middlesex last year. The safe option may be Luis Reece, until Moore is deemed fit.

We go into the competition with three players having points to prove. Nye Donald could be a sensation at the top of the order and if he reins in his tendency to get carried away his partnership with Caleb Jewell could he special. Sometimes a tendency to overhit is his downfall (Leeds, last year?) but his talent is undeniable. If he and Jewell click, you would want to see it.

Meanwhile, both Samit Patel and Ross Whiteley will know that it is unlikely they will get another deal, certainly unless their figures improve from last season. But these things tend to focus minds and both will feel they still have fuel in the tank. If they both prove that, Derbyshire should be a real force to reckon with.

As I've said before, we need the breaks with the weather, we need to hold our catches and we cannot afford injuries. Our first choice side looks very strong, but if you take a couple of big names out of it, less so. 

Having said all that, in full knowledge of a team high in confidence, I am going to predict qualification from the group. With that talent at our disposal, we should be doing that.

What do you think? 

Under 18s doing well in County Cup

Derbyshire's under 18s are currently in action in the County T20 Cup at York and have been doing well.

Yesterday they beat Durham on the DLS method.  Durham made 174-9 in their 20 overs, with Jake Green taking 3-21. 

With their target reduced to 135 in 16.2 overs, Derbyshire made 154-4, with Rohan Vallabhaneni making a brilliant unbeaten 92 from 51 balls, with 13 fours and 3 sixes. He is currently studying at Denstone College and has already played for Staffordshire.

Highlights can be seen here

Today, they have played Nottinghamshire, who were bowled out for 102, with Charles taking 4-15, Green 3-22 and Karim 2-16. 

Derbyshire knocked off the runs for the loss of five wickets, with Joe Hawkins composed unbeaten 29 and Vallabhaneni, with the same score, leading the way.

Highlights can be seen here

It is all very impressive..

Good article on Mickey Arthur

This is an excellent article on Mickey Arthur and confirms what I have suspected, that he has reassessed his style for county cricket, having previously approached it as he has done international roles.

My gut feeling is that there have been lengthy chats with Tom Poynton, the 'cricket man' on the Board and someone whose recent experience of the county game will have been of considerable value to him. Perhaps Ben Smith, experienced as a domestic coach both here and in New Zealand, will have had input too. 

But it is encouraging, with all that is going on at the club, that Mickey has reaffirmed his desire to be at Derbyshire.

'I'm here until the club say to me, 'not any more'. That is how hellbent I am on achieving success' he said.

Good to see, as we approach the Blast!

Arthur getting it right at Derbyshire

Before the season started, I wrote a post that seemed out of step with most people at the time, suggesting that the club board was right to extend the deal of Mickey Arthur. It didn't meet with much support, nor did I expect it to, but I am pleased to see that there are few dissenting voices today. 

We haven't won anything yet, but to be second in the table - and unbeaten - as we enter June makes this a giddy time to be a Derbyshire supporter. The team is playing as a unit, not a group of individuals and it is so refreshing. Some of the credit has to go to Wayne Madsen, who has lead the side with flair and by setting an example, but only the real curmudgeons will dispute that Arthur has done a fine job, along with his coaching team.

He seems a changed man this year. His interviews are less bullish, less full of 'spicy' rhetoric about performance and individuals. He is letting his team do the talking and they are responding to a man. It's not 'sexy cricket', they're not 'entertainment machines', they are a squad of players working with and for one another. 

Let's be honest, his recruitment has been spot on so far. Caleb Jewell, Martin Andersson, Jack Morley, Blair Tickner - they have all come in and produced fine form, enhancing the side with bat and ball. Jewell and Andersson have also taken their places in a much-improved close catching unit, all of them into double figures already. 

Watching him today as the players came off the field, all of them receiving handshakes and hugs, suggested that he has a better handle on how to work with the group. Equally, it is fair to say that they better understand their roles within the team and they are delivering to a man. 

It is not just the first team. The second eleven is playing some excellent cricket, players are emerging through the pathway and everyone who gets into a team at any level is making a strong case to preserve their position. 

It has been a number of years since we could last enjoy a domestic summer as we have the first two months of this one. It is unrealistic to expect it to continue without a defeat or two along the way, but if they continue to show the fighting qualities that have been so evident during the first half of the red ball season, they will continue to surpass expectations. 

So it is only fair to say well done to Mickey for his efforts this year. It was also right to be critical of last year especially and to my last breath I will contend that a mistake was made when he was allowed to take on the Pakistan role, which sent completely the wrong message at the time. Now, fully-focused on Derbyshire, the dividends are starting to be reaped. There is a swagger in the demeanour of the players, a willingness to fight for the win, and even greater one to battle against defeat. That Jewell, Madsen and Reece are averaging over 50 maybe isn't even as surprising as Tickner averaging 34, Chappell 22 and Morley 28 with the bat. Kudos to batting coach Ben Smith in this too, while five players already in double figures of wickets suggests Ajmal Shahzad is earning his corn, too.

The renaissance in the career of Luis Reece is a clear example of improved man management. Given a development plan and a defined role in the side as middle order bat and opening bowler, he has responded with arguably the form of his life. At the start of the summer I feared that this might be his last year, unless something special happened. With a batting average of 71 and 23 wickets at 21 he is again a key man in a side that bats long and often has seven bowling options.

I am sure Arthur is already looking at options to take the squad on again. There is the much-anticipated arrival of Allah Ghazanfar to enjoy and the knowledge that we have a vested interest in the second half of the red ball season since the last time I had hair. The signing of the young Afghan hero made the cricket world sit up. A player from the ICC white ball team of the year coming to Derbyshire? Who else knew he was available? Definitely one from the contact book, that close connection with Mahela Jayawardene bearing fruit. 

Were you a betting man, the odds on Leicestershire, Derbyshire and Glamorgan being one, two, three at half way would have been long. Just as with Kent and Lancashire being two of the bottom three, but those positions are on merit and performance, or lack of it.

If we get to the end of September still in the top two, this will be a season that lives long in the memory.

If it isn't already.

Derbyshire v Kent day four

Derbyshire 587-5

Kent 326 and 247 (Stewart 49, Reece 3-21, Brown 2-53, Chappell 2-58)

Derbyshire won by an innings and 14 runs

Another magnificent effort by Derbyshire saw them wrap up victory over Kent before lunch at Derby today, winning by an innings and 14 runs. 

I wrote at the start of the season that a major factor for Derbyshire this season would be luck with the weather and holding their catches. Today the threatened rain failed to arrive, while some excellent catches were held, two of them by substitute fielder Nick Potts.

It was a strange morning, for all that. Muyeye was given out caught behind to the first ball of the day and it looked to come off his shoulder. Yet two other strong appeals were given not out, even though nothing other than the bat was near the ball. Very odd.

Derbyshire came out this morning with a pack mentality that was a joy to see. The fielding was sharp and after the early Muyeye dismissal, a fine catch by Guest, standing up to Reece, dismissed Benjamin. Leaning drove too soon at the same bowler and was well held by a tumbling Potts at mid off, while Finch was bowled by Dal off his thigh pad. When Parkinson, who can resist with the best of tail enders, was quickly trapped leg before by Morley, the end appeared to be nigh.

Yet Stewart, who displayed greater fight than most of his teammates, struck hard for 49 runs in a last wicket partnership of 64, taking on Brown and three times hitting him over the ropes. 

Would Derbyshire need to bat again? Would the game extend to lunch and perhaps the victory quest be ruined by rain? No, because Brown induced a top edge and Potts, again making good ground and holding on as he dived, held a fine catch at third man and victory was completed, with Ball never likely to bat again with his injury. 

So now we pause a heady red ball campaign for The Blast. Second in the league and still unbeaten as we enter June. Whatever happens from here, the Derbyshire players have given supporters a reason to be proud again. To take 20 wickets on a pitch that wasn't unduly difficult was a fine effort. Yet then again, so too was scoring 587 runs with the bat.

Again, without claiming psychic powers, I suggested that at the start of the season that only a team effort would bring Derbyshire success. Well, six of the seven bowlers used took wickets in this match. Of the others, Jewell scored a double century, Madsen a century, Came 89, Lloyd 50 and Guest set a standard in the field. 

With such things, good seasons and great memories are made. Last year we could have been sponsored by Teflon. This year? Gorilla Glue..

Bring on the Blast. Ghazanfar is here, Samit's Falcons are set to fly...if he can do as well as Wayne's Wonders, we will be alright, eh? 

Book Review: Ten Drunks and a Parson: The Life and Times of Ted Peate by Ian Lockwood

I'm always a sucker for books on Golden Age and Victorian cricket and the people who played it. So when Ian Lockwood's book on Yorkshire spinner Ted Peate came in the post, it had a good chance of meeting with my approval.

It does not disappoint.

Admirably researched, it tells the tale of a man who emerged from the ninteenth century phenomenon of 'clown cricket' to become the country's pre-eminent left arm spinner - indeed, one described by WG Grace as the best in the world. He played in the first Test match, took over a thousand wickets in his ten first-class summers, yet was sacked by Yorkshire at the age of 35, dead ten years later.

Peate's problem, as the author explains in detail, was that he liked a drink. His many admirers wanted to buy him one and he found it hard to say no. Yet in that he was no different to most of his teammates. The book's title comes from how Lord Hawke was supposed to have described the under-performing Yorkshire side when he took charge in 1883. It was he who sacked Peate, yet it seems he was by no means the biggest problem in the side.

Peate's almost meteoric rise to fame and his slow fall to penury and premature death are very well captured by the author, whose research is as impressive as his writing. The book beautifully captures the age and the role of cricket, as well as painting vivid portraits of the incredible characters within it.

Peate was the first of a long line of outstanding left arm spinners in Yorkshire and can count himself unlucky that, although he lived a far from blameless life, he was the example that was made to 'encourage' the others. Bobby Peel, who replaced him in the Yorkshire side, gave far greater problems yet was tolerated for much longer by the man who released his predecessor. 

So why was he sacked, missing out on a benefit that would have made his retirement secure, even for a man not known for fiscal propriety? Perhaps Lord Hawke wanted an example made, his decision made easier by the presence of the younger Peel, a better bat and his supposed equal with the ball. That the latter was given far greater leeway adds fuel to that argument, but it did little for Peate and his wellbeing.

His remaining life was one of declining health and eyesight, still playing with success in club cricket, despite a widening girth, but aware that his plan for after the game, a sports shop in Leeds, was failing, with declining profits after his retirement. He died of pneumonia, a few days after being soaked on a trip to the theatre, in March 1900.

He lies in an unmarked grave in Yeadon cemetery, to the left of the runway at Leeds-Bradford airport. He is not alone in his last resting place being unmarked, as Derbyshire greats George Davidson and Bill Bestwick, among others, lie similarly unrecognised.

There's a worthy job to be done there, for all three. 

Speaking of worthy jobs, Ian Lockwood has done a fine one here, in a book that I heartily recommend. Likewise, Pitch Publishing have delivered another worthy title to their outstanding catalogue.

Ten Drunks and a Parson: The Life and Times of Ted Peate is written by Ian Lockwood and published by Pitch Publishing 

Derbyshire v Kent day three

Derbyshire 587-5 

Kent 326 (Compton 156, Dal 4-50, Chappell 2-72) and 157-3 (Muyeye 55*, Compton 49)

Derbyshire lead by 104 runs

Derbyshire did remarkably well to take nine Kent wickets today, over two innings. It enabled them to enforce the follow-on and give themselves a reasonable shout of victory on the final day. 

The question mark surrounds the weather, which is set to take time out of the final day's play. With Tawanda Muyeye and Jack Leaning entrenched, they will need to work hard and will almost certainly face a final innings run chase against the clock.

But it has been an excellent effort. The pitch has not yet deteriorated to any great degree and neither spinners nor seamers can simply sit back and wait for things to happen. When edges have been found, the catches have been taken and Caleb Jewell again showed himself to have a safe pair of hands today.

Ben Compton has played two fine hands for the visitors, with over 200 runs from his two innings, but when Pat Brown forced him into gloving to Jewell at short leg, the door appeared to be open for Derbyshire. Whatever his record and merits in red ball cricket, Brown's pace here disconcerted the visitors. I think he overdid the short stuff a little, but there was a clear tactic to induce the top edged pull or hook to earn the wicket 

But Muyeye and Leaning stood firm and a huge effort is needed to seal the win tomorrow. But Anuj Dal, who has bowled very well so far, might well be the man with a plan on the final day.

One assumes Derbyshire needs six more wickets, as it was painful to watch Jake Ball's attempt to bat with what looks like a severe abdominal strain. Unless the situation was really critical, surely he wouldn't be asked to try and bat again?

A late opportunity to run out Muyeye was missed, the ball missing the stumps when he was well short of his ground, after a mix up with Leaning

But Derbyshire will hope to take these half chances tomorrow.

Derbyshire v Kent day two

Derbyshire 587-5 (Jewell 232, Madsen 100, Came 89, Reece 50*, Leaning 2-85)

Kent 210-3 (Compton 105*, Dal 2-34)

Derbyshire lead by 377 runs

Derbyshire did brilliantly to compile a mammoth first innings total of 587-5 declared today, largely on the back of a career-best 232 by Caleb Jewell and a century by Wayne Madsen. 

They then chipped away at the Kent innings, taking three wickets by the close of play. 

Yet I cannot see a positive result in this game, on a pitch that remains a very good one for batting. Ben Compton looked in fine fettle for the visitors and reached an excellent century by the close and his wicket will be the crucial one in determining whether Derbyshire can enforce the follow-on. Jack Leaning is another, a player with what my memory suggests is a good record against us, for first Yorkshire and now Kent. It will be an important first session tomorrow, weather permitting.

Earlier today, Jewell and Madsen added 176 for the third wicket, both batting beautifully and enjoying the conditions and a limited Kent attack after Jake Ball limped off with what looked like an abdominal injury. Wayne was at his imperious best and the century never seemed in doubt after he overcame a little early innings sketchiness.

As for Jewell, he went on to his highest-ever score and looked a player of the highest class in doing so. He carried out his role to perfection and could hardly have played better than this. After Madsen holed out to long on, Luis Reece played a breezy innings on his return to the side, while Martin Andersson hit four sixes in his unbeaten 31 from just 17 deliveries. 

Anuj Dal took two quick wickets in an inspired late spell, but digging out another seventeen looks like a tall order, especially with interruptions likely on the final day.

Perhaps they should cling to the words of Kent coach Adam Hollioake, speaking on his club's feed earlier. He felt it was a very good toss to win and that the pitch was likely to deteriorate. If the worst happened and the game ends in a draw, the points would almost certainly keep Derbyshire in second place, going into the mid-season red ball break.

But early wickets tomorrow could change the complexion of things.

We live in hope.

Postscript: in closing, KJB Loyal asked earlier if I thought the record innings of 274 by George Davidson would ever be broken. There was an opportunity today, but it didn't happen. 

I think it will take a lot of doing. It was a different game then and the Derbyshire innings of 577 in 1896 took 271 five-ball overs. There was not enough time for Lancashire to be bowled out twice, even though they faced 187 overs themselves over two innings in a three-day match...

It will take some beating and I would be surprised if it happened in my lifetime. Given modern over rates, it would need someone in prime form to do it, or a match situation where a draw was the best and only outcome.

Derbyshire v Kent day one

Derbyshire 351-2 (Jewell 152*, Came 89, Lloyd 50, Madsen 30*)

v Kent 

Wayne Madsen won the toss at Derby this morning, then sat with his pads on until the evening session, as his top order made hay while the sun shone.

David Lloyd and Caleb Jewell led off with a stand of 99 runs, which was followed by one of 196 by Jewell and Harry Came, as the visiting bowlers were put to the sword. It was a good toss to win, as little happened with the ball until the evening session and the second new one. Came was especially unlucky to be dismissed, run out at the non-striker's end as Jake Ball got a fingertip to a straight drive from Jewell.

Lloyd looked in very good touch and a leg side pickup for six was probably the shot of the day. He is always very easy on the eye and it is just a shame that sometimes the scorebook doesn't reflect the way he plays. What he and Jewell do, in this mode, is put the opposition under pressure and this was maintained throughout the day.

Came batted beautifully and it was nice to see the rhythm back in his batting, no doubt given  confidence after his second innings effort at Old Trafford. His feet moved well and he was looking set for a century when he was so cruelly dismissed. 

Yet today was really all about Caleb Jewell. Regardless of the numbers, this was his best innings, so far, for Derbyshire. It was the sort of knock that Chris Rogers, Michael di Venuto or Simon Katich might once have played, largely playing straight, secure in defence, assaying nothing overly ambitious but severe on any lapses of line and length. 

There were a few of them and 31 extras tells a tale of an untidy effort by the visitors, but Jewell batted beautifully throughout and crucially kept going. He might have gone in the afternoon session, when Matt Parkinson, who I felt bowled well in his early spell, thought he had him caught at short leg. There was a somewhat unedifying scene, as Parkinson made his feelings known to the umpire, which seemed to earn a rebuke to his captain and he wasn't quite so effective afterwards. 

I thought the Zimbabwe-born Nathan Gilchrist was the pick of the visiting bowlers and produced some of the day's best deliveries, but it cannot be a lot of fun, at 295-2, to see Wayne Madsen walking out to bat.

The skipper looked a little sketchy at the start, but was quickly into one-day mode as the score mounted against an understandably tired attack. He kept Jewell company as the Australian took his score to 150 and his season tally past 600 runs, a fine effort in his first county summer.

This was what I wanted to see from Caleb. We all knew he could bat, had wonderful timing and real power. What we learnt today was that he can harness those assets to considerable concentration. Ahead of the T20, where we all know he will excite if he gets going, he has shown county supporters why very good judges back home still feel he could be the answer to Australia's opening problem, especially when Usman Khawaja retires.

A few more innings like today will see people sitting up and taking notice.

An excellent effort by Derbyshire, with power to add more tomorrow. It doesn't, to be fair, look like the sort of pitch where we can blow Kent away after racking up 600, but tiredness and pressure can do funny things.Madsen will be able to set aggressive fields and it would seem, at the end of day one, that it would be difficult to lose this one. 

For a Derbyshire side to reach the halfway point of the red ball season, still unbeaten, would be quite remarkable.

Great stuff, lads!

Derbyshire v Kent preview

There will be a different look to Derbyshire's attack for the game against Kent, that starts at the County Ground tomorrow.

Blair Tickner has failed a fitness test on his injured hamstring, while Ben Aitchison is rested with side stiffness, after his successful return at Old Trafford last weekend.

But Luis Reece is back and will likely take the new ball with Zak Chappell, with either Pat Brown or Nick Potts coming into the side as third seamer. That is unless Neil Godrich has been shaving the pitch to make it something akin to the sub-continent and we go with an attack akin to the great Indian one of the 70s..

A fourteen-man squad has been announced and I expect the line up to be as follows:

Jewell

Lloyd

Came

Madsen

Guest

Reece

Andersson

Dal

Chappell

Morley

Brown/Potts

Thomson

Wagstaff

I can't see a way back for Alex Thomson after Jack Morley bowled so well at Old Trafford, although a dry pitch might see both main spinners play and we omit the third seamer and go with Anuj Dal and Martin Andersson as support.

Kent’s squad: Daniel Bell-Drummond (Captain), Jake Ball, Chris Benjamin, Ben Compton, Harry Finch, George Garrett, Nathan Gilchrist, Kashif Ali (Overseas player), Jack Leaning, Tawanda Muyeye, Alfie Ogborne, Matt Parkinson, Grant Stewart

They have a lot of injuries, with Joe and Jaydn Denly, Joey Evison, Ekansh Singh, Mikey Cohen, Jas Singh and Matt Quinn all out. Zak Crawley is with England and Jake Ball and Alfie Ogborne may feature in the last match of their current loan deals.

I full fully expected Kent to challenge for promotion, after coming down last year, but they have never got going and the loss of overseas seamer Keith Dudgeon through injury seems to have affected them.

If the weather allows sufficient time, I feel that this is a game that Derbyshire can win. If they can end the first half of the red ball season unbeaten, it would be an even greater boost before we head into the Blast.

What do you think?

My forthcoming trip to Derby

I have had several messages and emails from people asking if or when I will be down in God's Own County for a chat/beer/coffee (insert as appropriate!)

I'm always happy to meet people and chat face to face and I will be down on June 4 for the first home T20 against Northamptonshire, followed by the local derby against Nottinghamshire on June 6.

I am catching up with some old friends while down there but, staying at the hotel at the ground, I will have some down time too. 

Please drop me a DM through X or send me an email if you would like a catch up and I will do what I can to oblige.

It does look like my only trip this summer, however. My wife is currently not in the best of health and that, understandably, is taking priority for me. I had hoped to be at Chesterfield, but that won't happen this year, sadly.

I just hope we fare better than last year, on the stunning little outground! 

Injuries hit ahead of Kent game

According to Nick Howson of The Cricketer, Derbyshire are 'sweating' on the fitness of both Blair Tickner and Luis Reece, ahead of the game with Kent on Friday.

Both have hamstring injuries, as does Pat Brown, his sustained in the second team win last week. 

It leaves Mickey Arthur with limited options, but Harry Moore is back training with the first team squad, ahead of his exams. The good news is that all are expected to be available for the start of The Blast, as is Alex Thomson, who suffered a reaction to a cortisone injection in his hand.

I guess it means that Zak Chappell won't be getting a rest for the Kent game and that the seam attack will be led by he and Ben Aitchison. Nick Potts might come into contention, but it might be that we need to enter the loan market - time will tell on that one.

Thoughts on a T20 lineup

With two weeks to go until the start of the Blast 2025, I think I can name ten of the first choice Derbyshire eleven.

Logically,  Nye Donald will open with Caleb Jewell, and my guess would be, after he did so well opening for Middlesex last year, that Martin Andersson will bat three. Madsen, Patel and Whiteley make up the middle order, with Guest at seven.

Chappell, Ghazanfar and Brown will be nine to eleven, which just leaves eight, where I suspect we will choose a horse for the course.

David Lloyd? Scores quickly and offers a bowling option. I guess it depends on whether Andersson and Whiteley are deemed viable bowling options for this format. If he was fit, there is a strong case for Harry Moore, who lengthens the batting and will get steepling bounce from his height. But would they throw him back into the physically demanding T20 immediately? You could also argue a case for Ben Aitchison, although he has played little T20 and the same rationale applies. 

Alex Thomson is another option, as would be Mitch Wagstaff and the extra player will depend on the pitch in question. You could go with three spinners, or get through the other four overs  (after Brown, Chappell, Ghazanfar and Patel) with two or three options. But the opposition will undoubtedly target those four overs and they would be seen as our potential weakness.

Perhaps best of all might be Luis Reece, if fit. Lengthens the batting and has been back to his best with the ball this season. I don't see him as a top order 'biffer' in this format, but the variety he offers with the ball and experience with the bat would be useful.

One thing is for sure. While Jewell and Ghazanfar will be first pick overseas, Blair Tickner will need to play at least one game to qualify for the rest of the competition, should we make it to the knockouts. That will be selected carefully, but it is fair to say few opponents will prepare spinning tracks to play us on their own patch. It would make sense at Derby, however, which of course brings Lloyd and Thomson into contention as a third option, as well as Mitch Wagstaff.

Some may consider Nye Donald as wicket keeper, but he doesn't do it often enough to keep to a 'mystery' spinner and it could prove horribly expensive. I know Peter Bowler took on the role when we won the Sunday League, but it was a seam attack and he was able to stand back, a relatively easier gig. Equally, I wouldn't want Nye diving around and potentially doing damage to his shoulder again, so soon after injury.

After considerable thought, assuming everyone is fit, my side would read  as follows, with number eight depending on the pitch:

1 Jewell

2 Donald

3 Andersson

4 Madsen

5 Patel

6 Whiteley

7 Guest

8 Reece/Lloyd/Moore/Aitchison/Thomson/

Wagstaff

9 Chappell

10 Ghazanfar

11 Brown

What about you?  

All I can say is that if that side plays at peak potential, we *should* chalk up some wins. 

If they don't..well, that's another story.

Lancashire v Derbyshire day four

Lancashire 458 and 184-7d

Derbyshire 314 and 220-8 (Came 63, Andersson 43)

Match drawn

It was a fascinating final day at Old Trafford, with a generous Lancashire declaration giving Derbyshire a sniff of a victory. Even if, as I wrote the previous evening, the pitch wasn't really conducive to an aggressive run chase. Both sides knew that and the home side gave themselves every chance of a win with an early closure to their innings.

For Derbyshire to get those runs, one of the top five had to score a century. When that didn't happen, the only alternative was to shut up shop, which they did admirably once Harry Came's fine knock ended. The battling of Anuj Dal, Ben Aitchison and Jack Morley was a joy to behold, from someone who has witnessed more than enough capitulations over many years. Nuj faced 114 balls for his 13 runs, Aitchison 21 for none, Morley 36 for the same. It would never have won an award for brighter cricket, but it was crucial. Those draw points kept us ten points clear of third place, a position we would never have imagined at the start of the summer. It was also one in the eye for someone on social media who asked 'How do you want to go about the win?' to home supporters..too much chicken counting, methinks...

I think Hartley missed a trick in the final innings, bowling over the wicket and allowing far too many deliveries to be padded away when they pitched outside leg. In my opinion, he was outbowled by Jack Morley in this game and the Derbyshire man impresses me more with every game.

It is nice to write these words from a position of strength, sitting where we are, but it is clear where we need to strengthen. There is a long way to go, but if we were to go up, it would be a huge ask for the current squad to stay there. 

We need a top bat. We have five players who average over 40, which is good, but there have only been three centuries so far, only one of them - Madsen of course - from the top five, the others from Martin Andersson. To chase those runs down yesterday, we needed a Chris Rogers, Simon Katich, Marcus North or Dean Jones. Caleb Jewell may yet go on to score big, but that is the role and responsibility of the overseas bat. Are such players still available? Would they come to Derbyshire? The relative failings of the top order are being masked by the battling qualities of those lower down, but we need to post bigger first innings totals and the top five have the key role there.

We also need something different in the bowling. Watching closely over the last two days, in the absence of Luis Reece there was no variety to the Derbyshire attack. Tickner is by a distance the quickest, but a good bat could pretty much line up the rest, right arm medium fast. Jack Morley bowled very well, but the need for someone with an X factor was clear. Does Mickey's contact book have an Aussie or South African with a UK passport? Or can he successfully utilise the loan market?

Look at Leicestershire. They are running away with the division at the moment and you wouldn't say their team was much stronger than ours. But Ian Holland and Ben Green have come in on loan and given something to the attack, 48 wickets between them. There will be similar players out there, worthy of consideration, craving opportunity.

I am a little concerned at the form of Anuj Dal and Zak Chappell. Nuj is averaging 19 with the bat and over 40 with the ball, Zak's twelve wickets are costing 52. Both are some way from their best and perhaps Zak might benefit from a break before the T20, as he has bowled more overs than anyone this year apart from Jack Morley. Whether we have enough fit men for that is a moot point, of course.

But this is hopefully construed as constructive criticism. The team is doing well and I feel supporters are more behind them, as a consequence, than in many years. The T20 is coming, which will give a breather to a few people, but a good performance against Kent, starting on Friday, would see our team get to the halfway point of the four-day season daring to dream.

I can't thank anyone is disappointed in that.

Delay in the blog

Apologies for those who have been checking in for the blog. At the end of today's play, I decided to drive back home immediately, rather than spend an extra night in Manchester. 

After three and a half hours, I am back, but my blog will need to wait until tomorrow. 

Hopefully it is worth it! Thanks for your patience

Lancashire v Derbyshire day three

Lancashire 458 and 141-6 (Wells 50, Hurst 42*, Morley 3-32)

Derbyshire 314 (Guest 77, Aitchison 45, Morley 41, Anderson 3-53, Hartley 3-68)

Lancashire lead by 285 runs

My 5.30am departure from home should have got me to Old Trafford soon after nine today. Yet thanks to the Great Manchester Run and road closures with no suggestion of how to circumvent them, it was nearer ten before I pulled in to the car park. It was perversely reassuring to find many others had faced similar frustrations, from their accents more conversant with the locale than I...

Old Trafford is much changed from the last time I saw a game here, which was 1980, the Barlow era, Peakfan in his student days with shoulder-length hair and plenty on the top. Changed days indeed and the square is turned around too, just to further boggle my brain after driving around half the local streets with even Google Maps struggling to compute.

The ground is an impressive sight and a walk around it showed the view to be excellent from pretty much anywhere. The press box is also very good, as one might expect for an international ground, pleasantly cool and with a marvellous view behind the bowler's arm. Only the lack of sound from the middle detracted from perfection, but only the churlish would insist that fine work hasn't been done here.

Morley and Guest did well for an hour and a half, two men with points to prove around these parts. Morley's battle with Hartley was enjoyable, the former adhering to the Denis Smith school of thought, as told to Edwin Smith when he faced other off spinners - 'You bowl it, you should be able to play it'. 

Jack did well and played some good strokes amid resolute defence, before being dismissed by the lively Balderson, the best of the home bowlers. The fielders were chirpy and not reluctant to appeal, yet often with little reason. Andersson, after a golden run with the bat, departed quickly for a duck and Derbyshire were in trouble.

Guest remained resolute, sound in technique and with a fine range of strokes when opportunity presented itself. A hooked six, just over the head of long leg, was his closest call but while he remained there was hope of avoiding the follow on. Dal's innings promised much but came to a tame end with a mistimed cut against Hartley and when Guest's vigil finally ended on 77 to Bohannon' occasional and gentle off spin, the follow on writing appeared to be on the wall.

And yet once again the tail wagged for Derbyshire. Chappell and Aitchison added 68 runs for the ninth wicket, despite being liberally peppered with short stuff from Phillip and Anderson. Chappell was struck on the helmet as the follow on target drew ever nearer, before Aitchison, with two sixes and a four from Wells, took them to within touching distance. 

Then Chappell lobbed another short delivery to short leg and Tickner, 'The Man for the Crisis', came in with five needed. He too was struck by Anderson, but an edged four and a spanking cover drive, advancing down the pitch, took his side past the follow on and his season average to 34, before Aitchison holed out on the boundary. It  was a top effort by Ben and he has enjoyed a memorable return. It is worthy of note that the major runs today all came from Lancastrians...

Wells and Jennings set off aggressively, as was expected, as the home side really needs to be bowling again before lunch tomorrow. There were some stylish strokes before Jennings upper cut Tickner straight to the safe hands of Andersson at third man. The Derbyshire field was set deep to slow the run rate and it was stifled with the advent of Bohannon, who lost patience and was very well held by Chappell from the bowling of Morley, who has had a good match here. When the prolific Harris had his average slashed, courtesy of a fine ball by Aitchison and even better catch by Guest, Lancashire had to regroup. 

Wells led this, as he did in the first innings and made an excellent fifty before being bowled by Morley. This heralded a late flurry of wickets, Morley taking a routine caught and bowled before Lloyd held a 'worldie' to dismiss the bemused Hartley off his own bowling.

All results are possible going into tomorrow, but I struggle to see a Derbyshire win here. There would be no shame in going home with a draw and while it is possible to bat here, problems tend to come when forcing the run rate. 

Much will depend on the last four home wickets. I suspect they would ideally want to set 360-plus and may or may not get there.

Intriguing stuff and tomorrow should be worth a watch.

Lancashire v Derbyshire day two

Lancashire 458 (Balderson 73, Bell 57, Hartley 42, Aitchison 3-87)

Derbyshire 112-4 (Came 31, Anderson 2-24)

Derbyshire trail by 346 runs

Derbyshire found themselves in a spot of bother at the end of day two of this game, four wickets down and 346 runs behind on first innings.

Lancashire continue to accumulate throughout the day at a steady scoring rate that remained below three an over for the whole innings. There didn't appear a great deal in the pitch, although the bowlers chipped away. 

458 all out by tea on the second day shouldn't have been too great a concern and it didn't appear that way when Lloyd and Jewell set off at a rate of knots. Jewell played four delightful boundary strokes and looked in good touch before being bowled by Anderson, from around the wicket. I think it straightened a little, but he also played down the wrong line, which didn't help. He earlier took a blinding catch at short extra, but it wasn't his day with the bat.

Lloyd was discomforted by several short balls by Anderson, but was given out caught behind from one that appeared to brush his chest, rather than anything important. The fact that the video didn't subsequently appear on the Lancashire X feed suggests that it was a decision made on the volume of appeal, rather than with eyes and common sense. He got a rough deal, in my opinion.

Nor did Madsen last long, well caught off a thin edge by Hurst when attempting to cut Hartley. Derbyshire were being assertive, certainly more so than their hosts, yet they were losing wickets, which as Bazball has more recently showed us, isn't always the best of tactics.

Came and Guest restored a semblance of normality to proceedings, before the advent of the centurion, Wells saw the former bowled by a googly that he left, clearly not reading it. 

Thankfully Guest remained until the close and Morley, the night watchman, lent stoic support.

Much more will be required and the fighting spirit that has typified the season will be needed tomorrow.

Speaking of which, I will be making an early morning drive down to Manchester to see see the remainder of this game. If any regular readers are down there, please let me know and it would be lovely to meet up.

Lancashire v Derbyshire day one

Lancashire 250-5 (Wells 141, Hurst 51, Harris 45, Aitchison 3-51, Tickner 2-59)

v Derbyshire

Wayne Madsen won the toss this morning and saw his bowlers take two early wickets at Old Trafford. Thereafter it was a day of toil and sweat, as Luke Wells made a grafting century for the hosts.

I suppose it was hard luck for Derbyshire that Lancashire finally realised that a man who had spent a good part of his career opening the batting might be the best bet for the role in their  current challenges. He was lucky early on, put down by David Lloyd at third slip, from the bowling of Blair Tickner. It wasn't an easy chance, but at this level was certainly catchable. Did Derbyshire miss a trick by having Lloyd there and not Ben Aitchison? For me, Jewell, Madsen and Aitchison should be our first choice slip cordon, but there were few opportunities for them as the day went on. 

There was very little in the pitch and perhaps the decision to bowl had one eye on the return of Jimmy Anderson to the Lancashire ranks. Yet it would have asked a lot of the England legend to get anything more from this surface than the Derbyshire bowlers managed.

It was so good to see Ben Aitchison back in the side and he was excellent. It is always a pleasure to see a bowler attacking the top of off stump and giving the batters very little loose stuff to get into a rhythm. The ball to dismiss Hurst was a beauty, while the short one that surprised and dismissed the dogged Wells was possibly his first of the day. He will rightly be a happy man tonight, his first and third spells especially the work of a high-class operator.

Everyone bowled tidily, Tickner probably the pick of the rest of the bowlers, although Lancashire were in dogged mode, eschewing risk in the quest for better results after a poor start to the match and the summer. Even the usually fluent Harris took 90 deliveries over his 45, before being well pouched by Madsen, who earlier took an even better one to dismiss Jennings.

The home side will be reasonably happy with the close of play score after being put in, although they never really got on top of the bowling and asserted a position of dominance. Wells played an excellent innings, more fluent after reaching three figures, but hanging in there as someone had to do. Hurst lent gritty support and home supporters at least saw their side fight today, welcome after the game at Northampton.

As for Derbyshire, if you opt to bowl you would probably want more than five wickets by the close. But they stuck to their task well and the fielding was on point for most of the day, well led by Brooke Guest behind the stumps. Only three extras were conceded all day, a good effort.

The late injury to David Lloyd will be a concern, but hopefully he will be able to bat when Derbyshire's turn comes.

In closing, a word for the TV coverage, which was excellent. Pictures and commentary worked well together and Lancashire deserve credit for an excellent customer offer.

Quick reminder

Just to remind everyone to please add your name - or a name - to posts. It is a courtesy to all the users and enables us to get to see who is who, which is always useful. 

That is especially important for any posts in the future that may be critical - as we cannot win every game! 

I will reserve the right not to publish any post - especially critical - that does not have a name appended, to maintain the reputation of the blog.

I know it is easy to forget, if you don't use a Google account, but please send a second post with your name if you happen to do so. 

It would be very much appreciated. 

Many thanks to everyone! 

Lancashire v Derbyshire preview

Ben Aitchison returns to the Derbyshire first team squad for the first time since June 2023, for the game against Lancashire at Old Trafford, starting tomorrow. 

It is great to see the genial, undemonstrative seam bowler back in the squad. There will have been times in his recovery from injury that he perhaps thought this day would never come, but Derbyshire have missed him, his ability to dismiss good players and to keep control. I have also missed, in this era of 'celebrappeals' (a personal bete noire) his understated fist pump when the umpire signals the dismissal. Long may it continue...and with great frequency!

Luis Reece is understandably missing after the hamstring injury that limited his involvement in the last game, so it might be that Ben replaces him as a bowler, unless the pitch, after all of this dry weather, suggests it will turn before too long in the game. Given that Ben is no mug with a bat, I think he will take his place in the side, with Jack Morley and Alex Thomson vying for the lead spinner role and Mitch Wagstaff wondering if he might get the nod ahead of Harry Came.

Regardless of our individual preferences, much will depend on how both have shaped up in the nets and I expect something close to this side: 

Lloyd

Jewell

Came/Wagstaff

Madsen

Guest

Andersson

Dal

Chappell

Aitchison

Thomson/Morley

Tickner

There is no news on the Lancashire side at the moment, but they will be hurting after the defeat at Northampton. Keaton Jennings resigned the captaincy afterwards and Marcus Harris, closing in on being the first man to a thousand runs this season, has taken over as interim skipper.

Jimmy Anderson was due back for the next match but it appears has been rushed back for this one, with Ollie Sutton and Michael Jones also in a 14-man squad

Likely side: 

Jennings, Bell/Jones, Bohannon, Harris, Hurst, Wells, Balderson, Hartley, Bailey/Phillip, Anderson, Williams, Sutton

I can't believe our opponents can play as badly again, so I expect a tougher match here. Key to Derbyshire success would be the early dismissal of their two best bats, Jennings and Harris and Lancashire are bottom of the table because they haven't played very good or consistent cricket, so far. The return of Anderson will no doubt attract media attention and will give them a boost, but at the end of the day he is 42 and can only bowl at one end..

Beware the wounded beast, but if Derbyshire play as they have done so far, they can come back from Lancashire with draw points at the very least. 

What do you think?

Seconds win at Belper

The Seconds duly wrapped up victory over Leicestershire at Belper this morning, winning by eight wickets with a day and two sessions to spare. 

Will Tarrant took his overnight score to 42 before being dismissed, while Mitch Wagstaff scored 11. Victory was sealed by Amrit Basra, who made an unbeaten 30, with six fours and a winning six from just seventeen deliveries.

While my viewing, like everyone else, has been limited to the clips, Basra looked on a different level to everyone else in this match. One would hope, whether it was with Derbyshire or elsewhere, that there was a place in county cricket for a player of such obvious talent.

But that is another fine display by the twos and Ben Aitchison will be very happy with his continued return and his spell of captaincy.

Seconds on the verge of victory at Belper

Derbyshire's second team ended day two of the game against Leicestershire at Belper on the verge of victory after an impressive team display.

Ben Aitchison took his score to an unbeaten 43 as his team reached 216 all out, a lead of 130 runs. Then Rory Haydon took 3-38 to end with match figures of 8-55, while Academy off-spinning all rounder Joe Hawkins, just 18, took 3-43. 

Leicestershire were in all sorts of trouble at 63-4, but George Maddy (43) and Scotland under-19 international Jamie Dunk (88) at least forced Derbyshire to bat again.

With 98 needed to win, Will Tarrant led off with a flurry of boundaries, unbeaten on 33 as Derbyshire closed on 39-0.

It has so far been an exceptional performance from a very young side.

Seconds take control at Belper

There was another terrific day for the second team at Belper, on the first of what is supposed to be a four-day friendly against Leicestershire.

Again led by Ben Aitchison, who won the toss, they bowled the visitors out for 86 in just 40 overs. Staffordshire seamer Rory Haydon led the way with 5-17, while Nick Potts and Ben took two wickets each. Pat Brown took the other in an excellent bowling effort that conceded only four leg byes as extras.

Derbyshire didn't find conditions any easier and after Will Tarrant was caught on his back foot when called for a quick single and run out, bin Naeem was quickly caught in the slips. Mitch Wagstaff made 24 before edging loosely to the keeper, but Amrit Basra appeared to be on a different pitch to everyone else, making 72 from 82 balls, with thirteen fours and a six in a fine display. Some may recall him playing for SACA in the pre-season friendly, when he scored a breezy 20-odd and dismissed David Lloyd. He certainly looked a talent today.

He was eventually adjudged leg before, but George Lavelle added a gritty 45 and Aitchison was unbeaten on 21 at the close. 

Derbyshire ended on 186-7, a good effort against an attack including Chris Wright, Roman Walker, Matt Salisbury, Ben Mike and Liam Trevaskis.

They will be happy with a current first innings lead of a hundred, at the end of day one! 

Weekend talking points

If runs and wickets are your currency for success in cricket, then Mitch Wagstaff should be in the Derbyshire side at Old Trafford next weekend.

It is an oft-used phrase by Mickey Arthur and I fully understand the rationale. Only if those ahead of you are in prime form should your route to a senior side be held up, when you are in good nick yourself.

I have rated Mitch for a while but there was a time when I felt he was at the time too slight for the senior game. He has filled out now and, at 21, is fully deserving of greater opportunity.

Consider the statistics. In the opening second team game against Lancashire, Mitch made 69 and 73, as well as taking 1-19 and 2-68 with his leg spin. In the one just finished, against Nottinghamshire, he made 74 and 119, as well as taking 2-11 in the second innings.

These are heady figures for anyone and for me Harry Came, averaging 23 this summer, is the one under threat at present. I like Harry a lot, but what appeared to be good touch pre-season has deserted him and were I selecting the side for Old Trafford, Mitch would be pencilled in. 

It is important the Derbyshire are seen to be encouraging their own players and Mitch is in the vanguard with Harry Moore in this respect. Yousaf bin Naeem isn't too far behind and Will Tarrant seems to be making a case to be on the staff next summer. The financial value of playing players we have developed is considerable, although of course they have to make the team when the time is right. Kim Barnett, John Morris and Chris Adams made the Derbyshire side and played alongside seasoned professionals like David Steele and John Hampshire, as well as the likes of John Wright and Peter Kirsten. How can you not learn with such experience? 

We will see what happens, but in a fixture-free weekend here's my latest interview with North Derbyshire Radio's Matt Rhodes. We discuss the Glamorgan game, next weekend's game at Old Trafford, Brooke Guest's contract and Mickey Arthur's lower key approach this summer. 

You can listen to it here and I am on at 13.40 in what is a very enjoyable show.

Enjoy the sunshine and your weekends! 

Postscript - Harry Came scored 128 today for Swarkestone against Mitch Wagstaff's Alvaston & Bolton...

Seconds win in three days at Lady Bay!

Derbyshires Seconds completed a terrific victory over Nottinghamshire at Lady Bay today, winning by six wickets with more than a day to spare. 

Martindale (52) Montgomery (46) and McCann (34) were the only real scorers in the top order, as Derbyshire chipped away at the home innings. The ball was keeping low on occasions and a ninth wicket stand of 54 runs set Derbyshire a victory target of 251, which looked challenging.

Yet Mitch Wagstaff and Will Tarrant led off with a brilliant opening stand of 178 in 36 overs, before Tarrant was bowled for an excellent 73 from 106 deliveries.

Wagstaff went on to a very fine century, with 119 from 128 deliveries, including 15 fours and 3 sixes. When he was dismissed, Yusaf bin Naeem took Derbyshire to the brink of victory before being caught in the deep for 37. George Lavelle ended up unbeaten on 12.

That was a very fine effort by a young team against a similar Nottinghamshire side with decent first team cricket experience across it. 

Wagstaff also took 2-11 in the Nottinghamshire second innings and there were three wickets for Nick Potts. Ben Aitchison continued his return with another wicket and will be delighted with a win as skipper.

Well done, lads. Let the good times keep coming! 

Good game at Lady Bay

At the end of day two of the second team game, Nottinghamshire were 77-1 in their second innings. 

They took a first innings lead of 18 runs, after Derbyshire were dismissed for 308, replying to 326. 

Mitch Wagstaff made 74 and Yusaf bin Naeem 48, before a mid innings collapse saw Derbyshire slip to 248-9.

Then Ben Aitchison made a blistering 54 from 44 deliveries, with eleven boundaries, adding 60 with Matt Stewart, who hung on gallantly at the other end 

Ben Martindale took 3-25 for the hosts and he (32*) and Freddie McCann (34*) are at the crease, after Pat Brown took an early wicket.

Ben didn't bowl in the second innings as his workload continues to be managed during his return.

Aitchison continues his return

Nottinghamshire were all out for 326 at Lady Bay today, against the Derbyshire Second XI led by Ben Aitchison.

Ben built up his workload and finished with figures of 2-57 from 18 overs, which will have done him good.

There were two wickets for Pat Brown and one for Nick Potts, although both went for four runs an over. The standout bat for the home side was the talented Ben Martindale, who made 97 before falling to Academy seam bowler Matt Stewart.

He went on to return the excellent figures of 4-19 in 13 overs.

The Derbyshire side again included former Lancashire keeper George Lavelle and Staffordshire seamer Rory Haydon, previously on the Warwickshire Academy.

They closed on 12-0, with Mitch Wagstaff and Will Tarrant at the crease and Yusaf Bin Naeem and Ajay Khunti - so prolific last season - to follow.

One to keep an eye on tomorrow! 

Observations on the Derbyshire start

There have been times, over the first three years that he has been in post, that I have been critical of Mickey Arthur. There is no need to go over old ground, but I like to think I have at least been fair, realistic and constructive in that criticism. 

Equally, it is appropriate to praise when things have been done correctly. While it is still early in proceedings to give overly effusive comment, this has been the most positive start by Derbyshire in many seasons. 

Arthur brought in Ben Smith as batting coach last year and a winter working with him seems to have been very beneficial for the players, as a look at the statistics shows. 

No other county in the division has four players averaging in excess of fifty (Madsen, Jewell, Reece, Andersson) and a fifth just under it (Guest). Yet with the exception of Pat Brown, who only had one innings, all except Anuj Dal are averaging in excess of twenty. Nuj hasn't yet got going with the bat, but contributes in other ways and if your 'worst' batter averages 17, that is a remarkable collective effort. 

It is also indicative of a squad that understands and buys into the game plan. It may not be an eleven of Galacticos, to cross-pollinate sports, but it is a team that works for and with each other.

The team spirit is clear and the contributions of the overseas players chosen have been important in these early weeks. Caleb Jewell would have liked to turn one of his five fifties into a hundred, but an average of 54 is a good start. He has been involved in strategy discussions on the pitch and proved a very safe pair of hands at slip, where we were fallible last year. 

Plenty, myself included, were wary of the re-signing of Blair Tickner, but I was at least prepared to give him the benefit of the doubt. He is second leading wicket taker behind Luis Reece and in the game just finished showed himself a warrior. He ran in hard, was aggressive and gave us something we have lacked in a number of years. He seems to enjoy a 'chirp' on the pitch and probably got plenty back when he came in at the end to try and save the game yesterday. But he handled it and again, regularly chatting with the bowlers, shows what a good overseas can do. 

Good overseas? I accept that the market has shrunk and comparisons with the greats of yesteryear are not always positive. Like many of you I have seen all of our overseas players and you could put together an eleven to take on Mars from their ranks. But compare performances of our recruits so far with others in the division and you might agree. 

Asit Fernando at Glamorgan seven wickets at 66, Cameron Green at Gloucestershire averaging 23 with the bat and not bowling. Dudgeon at Kent gone home injured, Phillip at Lancashire 2 wickets at 85, even Dane Paterson at Middlesex only eight wickets at 43.

So many counties have overseas players coming in through revolving doors, due to visa criteria limiting their stay. Arthur has done very well - and used that oft-quoted little black book of contacts - to pick up long-term signings who buy into the team and club ethic.

Leicestershire have chosen well and are getting good value from Peter Handscomb and Logan van Beek, while their success is, like ours, down to a long batting order and plenty of options with the ball. It is another team effort and should there be any real surprise in such sides sitting one and two in the division? 

It is also worthy of note that domestic recruitment and retention by Mickey Arthur has been very good. Jack Morley has come in and bowled some canny spells for a young man, while clearly working on his batting over the winter. He can and will get better. Meanwhile Martin Andersson has been a revelation, with big runs, useful wickets and a safe pair of hands. It just shows what the right environment, where they are respected and appreciated, can do for someone 

Wayne Madsen and Brooke Guest, two of those whose deals were due to expire at the end of the summer, have signed new ones and it has been a joy to see the new life in the Wayne-meister. Nearly 500 runs in just eight innings, a spring in his step and so, so nice to see a skipper who doesn't make bowling changes by rote and sets innovative field settings. 

Mickey Arthur has changed the staff considerably in his time at the club and there are plenty with deals to play for over the remainder of the summer.

To the best of my knowledge, the deals for

Harry Came, Luis Reece, Ross Whiteley, Samit Patel, Alex Thomson, Nick Potts, Ben Aitchison and Yousaf Bin Naeem expire this year. 

Luis is making a strong case for retention, averaging 58 with the bat and 22 with the ball, though he will not want to miss too much cricket with the injury aggravated at Cardiff. Bin Naeem needs to work but should be afforded time, but the others will understand that top level cricket is unforgiving and the currency of performance is key. They all have incentives to produce their best games and I especially hope that Harry Came rediscovers his best form, as there is no doubt that he can play. Alex Thomson got the nod at Cardiff and did a good job, but he will likewise know that standard has to be maintained. 

We know Ben Aitchison can do it, but must only hope his repaired back can stand up to the rigours of the first class game. He is a very fine bowler with big potential, but needs to be able to play on a regular basis and not everyone can do that. Fingers and toes firmly crossed for Ben to be back at his best.

As for Nick Potts, he has to work hard to show he can get there, or join the ranks of many others who had obvious talent, but perhaps neither the sustained performance nor physical and mental resilience to play enough throughout a long summer.

It will be fascinating to see how the rest of the summer plays out. Perhaps this will prove to be the latest false dawn in a club that has had more of those than a Tony Orlando tribute  show.

Or maybe, just maybe, Mickey Arthur has got a handle on the requirements of the county game now, more than I think was initially the case. I understand that even now he has targets in mind for next summer, players who will further strengthen the team.

He deserves credit for the start, as does the club board, who could easily have gone the other way when the groundswell of support was clearly turning against him. 

I am really enjoying this summer and I didn't think I would. Thanks to everyone concerned for making it so. 

Let's see if we can keep it going...

Glamorgan v Derbyshire day four

Glamorgan 431 and 256-7 (Kellaway 74, Tickner 3-44)

Derbyshire 350 and 308-9 (Andersson 78, Guest 48, Jewell 44, Lloyd 42, Dal 34, Kellaway 5-101, Leonard 3-66)

Match drawn

One of the best final days of County Championship cricket that you could wish to see ended in a draw at Cardiff, with the last two Derbyshire batters at the crease. 

The morning didn't suggest anything especially exciting and the declaration came at the interval, 338 in 65 overs the target. I didn't really think it was on and said so on social media. It was a higher rate than had been managed throughout the game, the fielding side could put as many back as they wanted, legside wides would not be penalised and the pitch was fairly slow.

Yet at one point Derbyshire looked to be winning it. Lloyd and Jewell batted very well but, like everyone in the match, got out before making the match-defining score - it was one of those pitches. Madsen looked in imperious form before being brilliantly taken at long leg by Gorvin, who was seldom out of the match and at that point it looked like the shutters might go up. 

Yet after tea, Andersson and Guest launched a counter offensive full of brilliant strokeplay. Guest was especially strong on the reverse sweep, while Andersson just looks the business every time he plays. They added 97 runs and looked like they were about to lead a victory charge, when Guest was adjudged leg before. I have to say I was less than convinced and it took the umpire an age, but such is the game. 

Enter Dal and his partnership with Andersson had Derbyshire chasing a run a ball off the last ten. It was stirring stuff and it seemed like the unlikely just might happen. 

Then Kellaway, who batted well earlier, bowled an excellent spell for the home side and extracted increasing turn, got one to 'pop' and Andersson was defeated on the reverse sweep after a magnificent display. With the T20 fast approaching it was a reminder that he opened in that competition for Middlesex last season and to very good effect.. food for thought, perhaps?

Chappell was elevated, presumably to hit, but was bowled first ball by one that turned through a sizeable gate. Thomson then played too early at Leonard, which left the limping Luis Reece to enter proceedings at ten in the order, certainly the best we have had coming in with eight wickets down, I suspect.

Dal used his feet to try to combat Kellaway but was cleverly defeated by his arm ball, which brought in Tickner to try to save the game, with 28 deliveries remaining. He stoically faced ten of those deliveries, as Glamorgan switched pacemen at one end and hoped Kellaway could twirl one more piece of magic at the other. Then again, Blair averages 32 with bat and ball this summer, so perhaps we shouldn't have worried..

Reece and Tickner resisted. Kellaway even bowled the penultimate delivery with his left hand to try to shake things up, but with everyone around the bat, Luis stood tall and earned the draw points.

Of course it is easy to say that we missed out on the win points today. Yet for me, we took it much closer than I expected and once again I was very proud of the way the team battled and saw their way to draw points that could be very important in September. 

We remain undefeated, we remain in second place. These are giddy heights indeed, yet thoroughly deserved for the brand of positive, exciting cricket that the team are playing.

A win would have been quite special, but I am very happy with our efforts and the progress clearly being made this summer.

Phew! Time to unwind now...

Glamorgan v. Derbyshire day three

Glamorgan 431 and 132-5 (Ingram 64, up Hassan 48, Tickner 2-19)

Derbyshire 350 (Reece 73, Thomson 60, Gorvin 5-85)

Glamorgan lead by 213 runs with 5 wickets remaining

I doubt that even the most positive of Derbyshire supporters - and I number myself among them - could have foreseen the side, at 162-7, getting three batting bonus points. 

Even if they did, to then envisage Glamorgan fighting for their lives before tea would have got you some serious odds at the local bookmaker. 

And yet so it transpired. Alex Thomson and Luis Reece took their eighth wicket stand to 105, before Alex edged a good one through to Chris Cooke. At that stage fourteen were still needed to avoid the follow on, but a few lusty, trademark blows by Zak Chappell got them there, before he was bowled. 

Even then the comeback was not finished, as Blair Tickner proved an admirable, unorthodox foil for Luis Reece, as they added a further 62 runs for the last wicket. 

There is something endearing about watching Tickner bat. He combines the highest backlift this side of Brian Lara, with footwork sometimes akin to Groucho Marx. He might move outside leg stump, or down the pitch, or a bit of both. His feet, hands and head are not always where they should be and there seem more limbs down the batting end than usual, yet he gets a surprising number in the middle of the bat.

Certainly, if you drop it short he will have a go and, with batting and bowling averages near identical this summer, could perhaps claim - with that trademark smile on his face - that he is a genuine all-rounder.

He was a perfect foil for Luis Reece today, who went above and beyond the call of duty in making an unbeaten 73 in 184 balls of defiance. It amply illustrated his commitment to the cause and also the huge advantage of having a man who has faced the new ball in the middle order, when things go wrong. His footwork was limited by his injury, but he ground the bowlers down and got Derbyshire back into the game. He even managed the shot of the innings, a beautiful leg side pickup for six, just before lunch.

He didn't take the field after Tickner was finally bowled, trying to hit Fernando to somewhere near Swansea after 350 had been reached. Yet he undoubtedly looked on, impressed, as the Kiwi followed his batting heroics with his best spells for Derbyshire. 

He and Dal wasted nary a delivery and Tickner's pace earned him two wickets, hurtling in and causing problems for all. He could have had more, as both ul Hassan and Ingram had close lbw shouts.His three spells were first rate, real 'lead by example' stuff, and 2-19 in 13 overs was a magnificent effort. I also liked his applause for Gorvin, who again resisted a solid working over at the end of the day.

Thomson followed his fine innings with some very accurate bowling, thoroughly justifying his choice as lead spinner. With respect to Morley, a young player I rate highly, he wouldn't have scored the runs we so badly needed here. Mickey Arthur got that selection spot on.

There was no real urgency in the Glamorgan batting until the closing overs, when both set batters were dismissed. After that it was a case of battening down the hatches. The home side will hope to set Derbyshire north of 300 in the final innings, while our hope will be to keep it under that score. 

A good final day has been set up. 

Let's hope that it lives up to the sense of anticipation.

Glamorgan v. Derbyshire day two

Glamorgan 431 

Derbyshire 215-7 (Andersson 46, Guest 45, Jewell 34, Thomson 30* Gorvin 4-49)

Glamorgan lead by 216 runs

Last night I wrote, as I have many times over the years, that you cannot judge a pitch until both sides have batted on it.

Now we have seen that, there are several observations that can be made, with a degree of confidence. 

One is that the wrong decision was made to bowl yesterday. There was much more lateral movement today and Glamorgan's seam-heavy attack made the best of it. 

Not to put too fine a point on it, they - and in particular Andy Gorvin - bowled much better lengths and allowed the ball to zip around. Perhaps the overhead conditions were more conducive to movement, but surely that was an even greater reason to have a bat, when we won the toss yesterday under clear blue skies? 

Nor do I understand our obsession, when the tail enders come in, to start digging it in short. I am not convinced that too many players, in this day and age when there is so much protective equipment, are that bothered by it. Long gone are the days when a couple of steps towards the square leg umpire became the norm from nine, ten, jack when the quick ran in.

 All that the - and I am choosing the word carefully - naive approach from Blair Tickner seemed to do was fire up Gorvin, who was not at all discomforted by the short stuff and after the initial blow on the helmet just ducked and let it go sailing through to Brooke Guest. 

The 86 runs added with Timm van der Gugten, for the eighth wicket, were priceless in the context of the game. Without them we would now have at least avoided the follow on. After getting Ingram early, the tail wagged with far too great a vigour for Derbyshire liking, but they were undoubtedly helped along the way by the naivety. Or daftness, where I come from.

ul-Hasan, not one of the home side's front line bowlers, was also zipping it around and was helped by some ponderous footwork, while van der Gugten, one of the best day in, day out, bowlers on the circuit, had it on the proverbial piece of elastic. 

Guest and Andersson batted well, but an injudicious cut from the latter opened the gate and Dal was immediately suckered down the leg side in a clearly planned move, brilliant wicket keeping by Chris Cooke as it was. When Guest was bowled by a beautiful leg cutter from ul-Hasan, the writing was on the wall and in very large letters.

Yet even then the fight of '25 was shown by Thomson, who batted very well, and Reece, clearly inconvenienced and batting with a runner, but hanging in there. 67 more, with three wickets left, to avoid the follow on..

This has been a very encouraging start to the season by Derbyshire and we should perhaps not get too carried away by one bad day. 

But bad habits can become the norm just as easily as good ones, perhaps more so. 

The trick now is to return to things we have done well. 

Oh, and have more confidence in ourselves if we win the toss.. 

Glamorgan v Derbyshire day 1

Glamorgan 336-6 (Ingram 80*, Northeast 63, Tribe 58, Reece 2-33, Dal 2-41)

v Derbyshire

I can only assume that when Wayne Madsen won the toss today, he and Mickey Arthur had seen the green tinge in the pitch and thought there would be considerably more help for the bowlers than transpired. 

And there wasn't a great deal, for seam and spin alike.

The home side made good use of the pitch, almost everyone getting going, but a couple of them giving it away with unnecessary hook strokes. Were it not for such acts of profligacy, we could have been really struggling tonight. Tribe, off the back of a double century for the second team, did well for them in the morning session, playing some nice strokes.

As things stand, Glamorgan may yet make 500 in the first innings, with Colin Ingram, dropped twice, still there to add more tomorrow. I must have written 'Ingram makes Derbyshire toil' a few times over the years, since he was a successful professional locally..

The bowling was okay, but we could have done without Luis Reece pulling up for the second consecutive game and probably unable to bowl again in the match. His two wickets before lunch brought Derbyshire back into it, while two from Dal later on gave a semblance of parity to the day.

The good thing is there was no sign of any spin and when their turn comes, Derbyshire should have every opportunity to score heavily themselves. With genuine all-rounders down to number ten, maybe the rationale is that we can go for a last afternoon run chase, if something realistic is set. 

We will see. Long ago I realised you never comment on a game, until both sides have had an opportunity to bat. 

Tomorrow is another day..

Glamorgan v Derbyshire preview

Despite concerns that at least two of them may be missing through injury, Mickey Arthur has named Luis Reece, Anuj Dal and Martin Andersson in a thirteen-man squad for the trip to Cardiff tomorrow. 

The final eleven will as always depend on the pitch in Wales. Alex Thomson bowled with excellent control against Middlesex, but is the one likely to miss out - probably with Pat Brown - as Derbyshire look to extend their unbeaten start to the season.

There is reassuring depth to the county batting so far, with the plethora of all rounders - David Lloyd also in the mix - also giving bowling options a-plenty. If Thomson's spin is likely to come into the equation, in the light of a dry forecast, then it is anyone's guess who misses out. Probably the one most in need of a breather, ahead of long and hectic season.

David Lloyd will hope to build on his return to form in the last game, while others will hope to continue a very good start to the summer, where runs have come throughout the order. 

My likeliest side:

Lloyd, Jewell, Came, Madsen, Guest, Reece, Dal, Andersson, Chappell, Tickner, Morley (Thomson and Brown)

Glamorgan haven't got off to the best of starts and currently lie bottom of the table. They are missing experienced seamer James Harris and all rounder Dan Douthwaite, as well as leg-spinner Mason Crane. Meanwhile, supporters seem annoyed at the absence of Billy Root, who has been excluded from the side so far, as twelfth man, but here finds himself out of the squad altogether. In the final year of his contract, that is a situation that many clubs will be monitoring as the summer progresses.

Timm van der Gugten continues to spearhead the bowling, this year with assistance from Sri Lankan, Asitha Fernando. Sam Northeast and Kiran Carlson continue to be batting lynchpins but Colin Ingram, forty this summer, remains the key wicket. Like Wayne Madsen he has been a stalwart servant for a long time (since 2015 in his case) and a player you hope to remove early.

Glamorgan squad:

Byrom, Northeast, Carlson, Cooke, Fernando, van der Gugten, Gorvin, ul-Hasan, Ingram, Kellaway, Leonard, McIlroy, Tribe

The toss will again play a part, but if Derbyshire wants to maintain their good start and make a genuine push for promotion, this is a game that they have to win.

In good form and high in confidence, I think they will. 

What about you? 

Derby Book Festival - a worthwhile cricket event!

Cricket books and writers don't often make it to book festivals. Which is a shame, because there is an audience there and for the right person, people will turn up, just as they will for any writer on any subject. 

So it is a pleasure to help to publicise the appearance of David Kynaston, a well-known social historian, at the Derby Book Festival later this month.

Richie Benaud's Blue Suede Shoes was The Cricket Writer's Club Derek Hodgson book of the year and was longlisted for the William Hill sports book of the year prize in 2024.

David Kynaston and Harry Ricketts relive the compelling story of a gripping Ashes-deciding Test match that heralded the dawn of a new era for English cricket.

The Ashes are on the line as England and Australia meet at Old Trafford in July 1961 for the fourth Test. For most of the match, England have their noses ahead – until a dramatic final day, of intensely fluctuating fortunes, as the tourists eventually storm to victory. In short, an Ashes classic, told here by David Kynaston and Harry Ricketts in vivid and immersive detail, recreating the sometimes agonising experience of millions of armchair viewers and listeners.

At the heart of Richie Benaud's Blue Suede Shoes are two strikingly contrasting personalities: England's captain, the Cambridge-educated, risk-averse, establishment-minded Peter May; and Australia's captain, the charismatic, risk-taking, open-minded Benaud – a contrast not only between two individuals, but between two cricketing and indeed national cultures. Whereas Benaud and Australia symbolised a new, meritocratic era, May and England seemed, in what was still an amateur-dominated game, to look back to an old imperial legacy out of sync with the dawning Sixties.

The sharply observed final chapters take the story up to the present day. They relate the 'after-lives' of the match's key participants, including Ted Dexter, Bill Lawry and Fred Trueman as well as May and Benaud; trace the continuing chequered relationship between English cricket and broader social change; and, after six more decades of fierce Ashes rivalry, wrestle with the perennial conundrum for all England supporters – why do the baggy green caps usually beat us?

The talk venue, timings and ticket details are below and while it coincides with the date of the first T20 match of the summer, at Leicester, it is in the afternoon, so you could manage both events, should you wish. 

Or, if you prefer your 'cricket fix' to be more local, perhaps this is an opportunity for you.

Do consider going and supporting the festival and this, which should be an excellent event!

David Kynaston: Richie Benaud's Blue Suede Shoes

 Friday 30 May | 2:00pm - 3:00pm

 £10 

The event is sponsored by Geldards and tickets can be booked here

 Venue: QUAD, DE1 3AS