Vallabhaneni and Akhtar go wild at Denby!

Meanwhile, at Denby, Rohan Vallabhaneni and Hasnain Akhtar shared in a stand of 299 for the second team against Nottinghamshire, those runs coming in just 56 overs.

Now finished Denstone College and heading to Australia to play cricket over the winter, Vallabhaneni made 173 from 156 balls, with 3 sixes and 26 fours. It further reinforced his hugely positive impression this summer and he must surely be signed by the county, before he heads down under. From what I have seen this summer, if we don't, someone else surely will as he is a rare and exciting talent.

Akhtar went on to 191, following on from his unbeaten century against Durham last week and looks to be another outstanding young talent. He hit 2 sixes and 25 fours in his outstanding knock.

At the end of the day, Derbyshire were 486-6, Rubaiyat Abrar making a brisk unbeaten 41, Joe Hall with him on an unbeaten 23.

Not a bad effort, considering the visitors won the toss and opted to bowl!

Gloucestershire v. Derbyshire One Day Cup

Gloucestershire 341-8 (Price 103, Bracey 83, Taylor 67, Charlesworth 60, Potts 3-72, Aitchison 2-88)

Derbyshire  282 (Guest 86, Montgomery 42, Basra 40, Jewell 35, Akhter 4-47)

Gloucestershire won by 59 runs

Derbyshire went down by 59 runs at Cheltenham today.

Their bowling was a bit of a curate's egg. There were plenty of reasons to be cheerful with the debut of Rory Haydon, especially after he removed the prolific Cameron Bancroft. He bowled with great control and looked a player with a future, taking 1-34 in nine overs. Joe Hawkins wasn't overawed by the big stage, nor was Amrit Basra, who probably didn't expect to bowl today.

Ben Aitchison had an off day and his figures reflect that, while the others had their moments but also took stick, from a strong batting side on a small ground. 

Fair play to Nick Potts. I didn't think that we would see him again today when he had bowled three overs for 42 runs. His third over was awful, almost demanding to be hit and it was a bold move by Brooke Guest to bring him back later. 

Yet he took 3-30 in his next five over spell and produced some excellent yorkers. There is a bowler in there, but this is an important competition for him. It is clear that we need bowlers for next season and that money largely has to come from savings on the playing budget this year. It is up to Nick to make a strong case for his retention. I really wish him well, but he cannot afford many spells like his first one today.

It was always going to be tough against a strong batting side and with an inexperienced attack. Only Miles Hammond is missing from their batting lineup and Price, Bracey, Charlesworth and Taylor all played fine knocks.

342 was always going to be a demanding target and it needed someone to go big. Came never got going, while Jewell neither suggested top form nor permanence. Montgomery, who looks a fine player, batted well with Guest, but his dismissal left much to be done.

The main problem was that we were were rarely close to the required rate, which climbed to seven, then eight. 

Then came Amrit Basra. An innings of 40 on debut accelerated the scoring in a partnership of 76 with his captain. His bat speed and timing make him a joy to watch and on this evidence a contract for 2026 should surely follow. There were three big sixes and a delightful reverse sweep in a debut that supporters will have enjoyed.

When he unluckily played on, 114 were needed from thirteen overs. The stage was set for a vintage Ross Whiteley display, but his dismissal was tame and his innings short, coming soon after Guest was caught at long on for an excellent 86. It signalled the end of Derbyshire hopes, though the tail struck some lusty blows. The returning Zaman Akhter, who will join Essex for next season, made a big difference for the home side. Bowling fast and straight, he ripped through the late order and although the Derbyshire chase showed promise, the target was simply too many.

It was a chastening start to the competition. Although there were fresh shoots of encouragement, we have to bowl better than this or there will be few ticks in the win column by the end of it.

Gloucestershire v Derbyshire Metro Bank Cup preview

Mickey Arthur has announced a squad of 13 for tomorrow's game against Gloucestershire at Cheltenham, to start the Metro Bank One Day Cup.

New signings Matt Montgomery, Amrit Basra and Rory Haydon are in the squad and will logically play, but for the first time that I can remember, I could make a case for everyone being in the final eleven. Both Anuj Dal and Martin Andersson are in the squad, as is Joe Hawkins, but so too are Nick Potts and Yousaf Bin Naeem, who will want good performances in this competition with their contracts up at the end of the summer.

The Derbyshire squad:

Guest, Jewell, Came, Montgomery, Basra, Bin Naeem, Andersson, Dal, Whiteley, Hawkins, Aitchison, Haydon, Potts

Ross Whiteley probably needs a good tournament to make his case for a contract next year. The ones with nothing to prove are Andersson, Dal (who it is good to see back) and Aitchison, but their experience will be important. You can make your own minds up!

Our hosts will be without three seamers - Marchant de Lange, Ajeet Singh Dale and David Payne, as well as Miles Hammond, all at the Hundred. Chris Dent has retired but Cameron Bancroft is available, asking with new rookie signing, Kamran Dhariwal

Are I write, there is no news on their squad, but I will add it if announced later.

As always, your thoughts are welcome. The forecast is good and if the right Derbyshire side turns up, they can acquit themselves well.

Here's hoping...

Postscript: Gloucestershire squad -

Bancroft, Shaw, Van Buuren, Charlesworth, Taylor, Akhtar, Phillips, Bracey, Miles, Taylor, Middleton, Price, Boorman, Ahmed

Under 18s make the final!

Nottinghamshire 276-8 (Lambert 109, Stewart 3-62)

Derbyshire 278-6 (Clarke 91*, Vallabhaneni 61, Kelly 40)

Derbyshire won by 4 wickets 

There was some good talent on display from both sides in the under 18 plate semi-final between Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire today. 

Early on the Derbyshire seamers held sway, with all of them putting in a good shift. Ayman Karim hit the deck hard and troubled the batters, while Jake Green was more skiddy but bowled equally well. Later he varied his pace intelligently and both emerged with decent figures.

I thought the two change bowlers, Stewart and Charles, even better. Matt Stewart gets late swing and reaped the rewards for bowling the right length for it. While he got his line wrong a few times - which kept the impressive Joe Hall busy behind the stumps - and had a tendency to bowl on the pads too much today, he looked a bowler of genuine potential, perhaps not only at this level. In his last spell he got his line and length wrong and was punished, as Gangotra and Ali hit powerfully, but he can learn from this.

At the other end Charles was nippy, with a lithe, whippy action that produced plenty of challenges for the visitors. He looked another player of talent on the evidence of today, though his early spell was more consistent in line.

The spinners had more of a struggle, although Arjun Annamalai might not have played had Joe Hawkins been available. Batting appears to be his stronger suit at this stage and although he started well and held a stunning caught and bowled, his line and length later deserted him.

Rubaiyat Abrar offered more control, but missed a run-out opportunity in his second spell and couldn't produce the wickets that he so often has this summer. He is apparently still under-17, however, so can easily come back stronger.

I thought the spinners were, in their defence, left on too long when Toby Lambert got going for the visitors. He looked on a different level to his teammates and played some delightful shots around the wicket. He proceeded to what looked an inevitable century almost from the point he took guard and was most impressive today.

Joe Hall kept wicket well, though he put down a chance off Stewart that he would normally expect to hold, redeeming himself later in the over by taking a more difficult one. Then he appeared to drop a skyer off the same bowler, but effected a smart run out soon afterwards...a mixed bag, but it isn't easy to skipper a side while maintaining a high standard with the gloves - plenty before him have found that so.

The standard was overall very high and it should be remembered that these young men are the crème de la crème of their age, though naturally with much to learn. It was a pleasure to watch them, some likely not for the last time.

A total of 276 was a good effort by the visitors, more than looked likely at the halfway point. It was going to need a good run chase to match it.

Sam Cliffe didn't last long, leg before to the lively Hatton-Lowe, but a straight drive just before had confirmed his talent. 

It brought together Rohan Vallabhaneni and Rubaiyat Abrar, two players for who the grapevine is buzzing and they didn't disappoint. They shared in a twelve-over stand of 82, with the lion's share made by Vallabhaneni. While slightly sketchy outside off stump, it didn't matter, so quickly does he pick up any aberration in line or length. He hit 11 fours in his half century and thirteen in 61 before a somewhat casual shot saw him caught. He is a special talent and I wouldn't be at all surprised to see him on a bigger stage.

Abrar was more circumspect than usual, because he hits the ball hard and far, but he was willing to rotate the strike and let his partner lead until failing to get over a cover drive and being caught. 

It was 100-3 in the eighteenth with those two back in the pavilion, much to the visiting relief. Freddie Clarke and Zak Kelly then shared a well-paced stand that took their side to 143-3 at half way, ahead of the required rate. The advent of spinners Patel and Beer slowed the scoring, runs still coming but boundaries drying up. The rate rose above six for the first time and pressure mounted. Kelly was eventually caught at mid on from a full toss for a well-made 40, with 92 needed from 82 deliveries.

Patel's excellent spell cost only 36 runs and gave the visitors much-needed control. The final ten overs arrived with seventy runs required and finger nails being nibbled.

Chapman, who ran hard and improvised well, perished to the first of them, caught at long on. Annamalai played a couple of good shots but then perished after failing to score from the first three balls of the pacy Gangotra.

This brought in Joe Hall, the captain. Clarke was batting really well at the other end and cool heads were needed.  That's what Derbyshire got as Hall lent crucial support to a superb knock from Clarke. The Alrewas batter finished unbeaten on a delightful 91 from 99 deliveries, as Hall hit a four through mid wicket to win the game with five balls to spare and send his team through to the final.

It was as good a game as you could wish to see, with cricket the real winner today. Both sides showcased some terrific talent and deserve warm congratulations for magnificent entertainment.

Elsewhere at the Bunbury Festival, Derbyshire's Oscar Edwards made 90 to lead the Midlands to a win over the South and East. With Theo Brown making 33 from 18 deliveries and both Lucas Green and Tommy Bush bowling, it was a fine day for the Derbyshire boys.

Warm congratulations to Daryn Smit and his coaching team for all of their hard work. And of course to the under-18s for a genuine team effort today in which every member contributed fully to the success.

Oh - and thanks to Derbyshire CCC for running the stream today!

If you enjoyed today's game, these two sides face off in a three-day game at Denby from Tuesday to Thursday this week. 

After today's entertainment, that sounds well worth attending!

Scorecard and video clips here

Matt Montgomery signs from Nottinghamshire

On July 5, I suggested that my number one target for next summer would be Matt Montgomery of Nottinghamshire.

Today came news that he has signed a deal with Derbyshire for the next 3 seasons, as well as the One-Day Cup and I think it represents excellent business.

I have liked him for a few years and always found it strange that he couldn't get into the Nottinghamshire side. When he did, opportunities were limited and he frequently found himself batting at seven or eight in the order. 

This is a player who averages 32 in red ball cricket and 42 in white ball. He is only 25 and has the potential to realise his undoubted talent with a move to Derbyshire. 

He was captain of South Africa under-19s and played for Kwa Zulu Natal before moving to England to study at Loughborough University. He has been on the staff at Trent Bridge since 2021 and in limited opportunities has made two centuries - 178 against Durham and 177 against Essex. I do like a batter who 'goes big' when he gets in.

Were I in charge of selection for T20 in 2026, my top five would be Jewell, Donald, Madsen, Montgomery and Basra. I think he is a player with the potential to replace Wayne Madsen in time, while turning back the time to when the maestro also used to bowl miserly offspin in the short form of the game. He is hard to get away and it allows the selection of Brooke Guest in the side as there are two bowlers (Basra the other) in that top five. 

You probably realise I am very happy with this signing. I look forward to seeing him score a lot of runs for Derbyshire, while chipping in with his share of wickets.

Top marks from me. I have seen suggestions that he is replacing Samit Patel, which I guess to some extent he is. Yet Samit, with respect, was past his very impressive best in his time at Derbyshire.

Montgomery isn't close to what he can do at this stage. 

That potential is something that I look forward to being realised in Derbyshire colours.

Four Pathway players at Bunbury Festival

Good luck and warm congratulations to four young Derbyshire Pathway lads, as they represent the Midlands at the Bunbury Festival at Loughborough this week.

This is unheard of representation from our county and shows the hard work that they and the Pathway coaches are putting in.

The photo shows Tommy Bush, Oscar Edwards, Lucas Green and Theo Brown (photographer unknown)

Battling draw for under-18s

The under-18s got a solid draw against Durham at Repton, after a battling final day performance. 

231 behind on the first innings, Ayman Karim took his night watchman duties seriously and batted 48 overs for 42, while Sam Cliffe made 39. 

Hasnain Akhtar then batted three and a half hours for a fine century, including eleven fours and a six. Although a flurry of quick wickets gave Durham hope, Danny Chapman followed his first innings 84 with an unbeaten 23, as he and Akhtar took Derbyshire to 243-5 at the end of the game.

Northamptonshire v Derbyshire day four

Derbyshire 377 and 185-5 (Reece 61*, Guest 60*)

Northamptonshire 550-9d

Match drawn

I am always amused at the antics of a fielding side as they attempt to bowl out the last few wickets of a team fighting to avoid defeat.

Here Northamptonshire, who had been quite slow on the first day, especially in the afternoon, hurried through their overs as if their jock straps were coated with Fiery Jack. Every time the ball hit a pad there were strident appeals, remarkably from midwicket and third man on some replays. Not the vantage point one would choose from which to take guard, I suspect, so hardly best-placed to give an informed decision.

Yet after the early dismissal of Hawkins, Luis Reece and Brooke Guest stood firm. Reece was hampered by what seemed to be a recurrence of a hamstring strain, while Guest was adjudged caught at short mid-wicket by Northamptonshire, but not by the two umpires. He rightly stood his ground and batted on, sharing in a crucial, unbroken sixth wicket stand of 131 runs in which both batted admirably.

It was a fine effort by Derbyshire to escape with the draw, admittedly aided by the weather today. They played a lot of good cricket in this match and the discipline of yesterday's long bowling effort - only sixteen extras, seven of them leg byes, in 156 overs compared favourably to the home side, who gave away 61 across two innings. 

The attack needs an injection of fresh blood, without doubt. But I don't see the point in bringing in another overseas at this stage to replace Blair Tickner. Glamorgan are 24 points clear in second place after a terrific run of form and I don't see us making that up. Nor do I see the merit in an overseas player for the one day cup. Save the money, or use it on opportunity for another young player if needed, unless someone who is coming next year can leave early to bolster the ranks.

With Tickner going home, Brown at the Hundred, Reece potentially injured again and Chappell possibly ruled out on personal grounds, we are running out of seam bowling options. There's also Dal out until the end of the Hundred and Andersson limited by back spasms... it looks like Aitchison and Haydon will need to be wrapped in cotton wool for the weekend.

Will it bring further opportunity for someone on the Pathway? 

We will need to wait and see.

Thoughts on Arthur and recruitment

'I think our bowling needs some serious looking at and I have to be brutally honest when I watch us. We are an ageing team, slow in the field in most positions and slow between the wickets. That's not the brand of cricket I like. 

We gave it a good go with the players we had, but we'll turn it over now and for me it's about bringing in younger players, perhaps taking a bit of pain for a year or two, in order to build a really good young team'

So speaks Mickey Arthur in the latest issue of The Cricketer magazine. I am probably not the only one a little confused and not for the first time during his tenure.

This IS his team. He told us when he joined the club 'Judge me when I have my team' and we all assumed he had it by now, in year three, with the drastic overhaul of playing staff. His words suggest he is here (or plans to be) for the long haul, but is this cricket management by the unscientific process of 'throw enough mud at the wall and some of it will stick'?

This 'ageing team' was largely signed, or re-signed by Mickey and he has to own that. My wife wouldn't profess to be a cricketing sage, but when I told her we would have two blokes over 40 in our T20 side, her first words were 'but won't they be a bit slow'? Maybe she and I should take over, the Clough and Taylor of Derbyshire cricket...

Supporters will now be watching the said overhaul of Derbyshire cricket with even keener eyes. If we replace over-thirties with more of the same, there will rightly be questions asked. Of course you need experience in a side, but someone has to do the legwork and you can't hide them all in the field. Signing talented young men with reputations to build is a decent start - Amrit Basra and Rory Haydon being prime examples.

I have seen names tossed around as potential signings - Billy Root, Jonny Tattersall, Nick Browne, Chris Rushworth as examples. But would they transform us? Or have long term potential? Good cricketers all, but for me there is greater mileage in looking at players like Ben Martindale or Sam King at Nottinghamshire or Harry Singh at Lancashire. I don't see where Rocky Flintoff gets game time at Lancashire either, while Tom Aspinwall might be pushed further down the line with the possible signing of Ajeet Singh Dale.

Here's another comment from Arthur:

"Our pathway is consistently producing exciting talents, and we want to bring those players into the first team environment, to give them the best possible chance of succeeding in professional cricket with Derbyshire."

Of course we need to promote the best of the Pathway, but by the same token we cannot simply elevate four or five talented under-18s and expect them to become the cricketing equivalent of the Busby Babes. Their step to sustained second eleven performance is big, that up to the first team much bigger.

As a sage old professional said to me, you might score runs or take wickets in the second team against experienced players. Yet they are finding form and rhythm, not going flat out and not providing the pressure of the senior game. Joe Hawkins is a terrific young player, but figures at Northampton of 2-171 in 39 overs will show him how far he has to go. To be fair to him, he will have rarely bowled more than ten overs in an innings, so he probably poured himself into bed last night, after the physical and mental effort.

What has really surprised me this summer is the nigh complete falling off of a side that before the T20 was going very well. That they have largely battled is beyond doubt, but our unbeaten record was built around commendable rearguard efforts and a fair few of those draws would not be classed as 'winning' ones in the league cricket that I played.

We haven't helped ourselves by muddled preparation. After losing to Leicestershire, Arthur said he felt our best chance of beating them was by preparing a spinning pitch. Which doesn't say a lot for Blair Tickner or the chances of him returning, but says even less about the support he has had from pitch preparation. 

It was the same for the Blast...we had an overseas spinner, Mohammad Ghazanfar, from the white ball team of the year, together with an experienced international spinner as captain, yet never played to that obvious strength. I don't recall much deviating off straight at Derby, which would seem a fairly major oversight. If I had two such bowlers in my team, I would ensure the pitches were just on the acceptable side of Blackpool beach..

Having signed Caleb Jewell for next summer, Arthur has to split the second role AND order pitches to suit them. A seamer for the first batch of red ball, a spinner for the second, an all rounder for the Blast. Sure, it is nice to have someone there all summer, but Northamptonshire got it right by signing Chahal for this part of the summer. Surely that famous contacts book can unearth a decent spinner in Asia? You would hope a good seamer shouldn't be a challenge either, but he has to have early season pitches that offer something to work with. As for the T20, a bowler who can hit a long ball has to be the target. If the rumoured signing of Matt Montgomery comes through, a top five of Donald, Jewell, Madsen, Montgomery and Basra (hopefully) would surely get runs on the board? 

Clarity of thought - and feel free to disagree if you will - is all important. That is in-game too. I fully understand why Zak Chappell opened yesterday, but using Joe Hawkins as a night watchman means that it is likely our first innings century-maker, Martin Andersson, won't bat until number nine. Assuming they get on the pitch today.

There have been countless examples of muddled messages and thinking this year and that is the concern. 'My team' mark one hasn't worked. Supporters have a right to be sceptical if mark two is going to be any better.  Maybe it is worth seeing where it goes for next year, not least because recruitment has to start again if we don't. Players will have agreed to come by this stage and plans for the best of our young talent to come onto the staff will be advanced. 

But he has to get it right. Not least because the questions over coaching style will again raise their heads if he doesn't and, to use the Glasgow vernacular, his jaiket will be on a shoogly hook if he doesn't.

It has to be.