Book Review: From A to Zed- a Life in Cricket by Zaheer Abbas

I played in the era that was given to me and I remain thankful for every day of it 

These are words taken from the autobiography of Zaheer Abbas and his gratitude for what life - and cricket - has given him shines through in every page of this hugely enjoyable book.

Those of a certain age will be equally grateful for having seen him at his best, a best that put him up there with the finest cricketers ever to represent Pakistan and one of the most revered overseas players in county cricket history.

It is so refreshing to read of how he loved the county game. It has so many detractors in the modern world, yet he saw it as the ultimate test. The opportunity to play against the greatest players in the world and often to come out on top.

He was a quite magnificent player at his best. Those who saw a lot of county cricket in that period would probably put Barry and Viv Richards at the very top, with Zaheer one of those bubbling in just behind them. Yet it is fair to say he enjoyed the experience more than they appeared to and his enthusiasm for the way of life and his love of England and the county game shines through every page of the book.

Zaheer was a player who loved batting and who would not give it away when he had a hundred to his name. Four times he made a double century and century in the same match and in 1976, his annus mirabilis, he scored over 2500 runs at an average of over 70. He comes over as a fine team man, easy to get on with, less volatile than some of his erstwhile national team mates. Also a man universally admired and enjoyed, which will almost certainly be the case with this book.

It is not the biggest autobiography, coming in at 142 pages plus an excellent statistical section, but I especially appreciated the font size, which together with its writing style made it an easy read. 

The Pakistan side of the 1970s positively oozed batting talent. Sadiq and Mushtaq Mohammad, Majid Khan, Asif Iqbal, Imran Khan, Javed Miandad. They would give a great deal for similar players today, but best of them all, for me, was Zaheer Abbas.

For years he graced the county and international game and it was a pleasure to watch him. 

I thoroughly enjoyed his autobiography and I'm off to find some footage of the maestro on YouTube.

To paraphrase his own words: I watched the era that was given to me and I remain ever thankful that I saw, among many others, this majestic, magical player.

From A to Zed - A Life in Cricket is written by Zaheer Abbas and published by Fairfield Books

Derbyshire v Middlesex day 3 and 4

Derbyshire 131 (Jewell 33, Sharma 4-36) and 111-3 {Montgomery 38, Madsen 32* Roland-Jones 2-24)

Middlesex forfeited 1st innings

Match drawn

There was only one way that the fourth day at Derby could produce a result. Derbyshire had to thrash a total against 'cafeteria' bowling and then Middlesex chase, after a couple of forfeits.

There simply wasn't the time to do anything else, especially with rain and bad light likely to intervene from 4pm. Such a game needs the agreement of both sides, of course and it appears that wasn't there today.

Middlesex opted to bowl Derbyshire out twice and even the home side's known fragility made that unlikely. Having said that, neither Caleb Jewell nor Brooke Guest can have been happy with early decisions that suggested either glasses or contact lenses had been left in the pavilion by the umpire. Meanwhile, Martin Andersson played probably his worst shot of the season in giving slip catching practice to slip, with Naavya Sharma ending the first fifteen minutes of play with three wickets that somewhat overstated the quality of play.

Jewell trudged off with the air of a man whose second season failed to match anyone's expectations and an average of just 22 was that of an average county bat, not the high pressure role of gun overseas. Derbyshire will hope for - will need - much more from someone next season. His second dismissal, early in the afternoon, had an air of inevitability that was almost painful.

An in-swinging yorker from Sharma was enough for Aitchison and Dal edged Helm to the safe hands of Cracknell, his fourth catch of the innings. Then Bashir padded up to an inswinger and was leg before, first ball and an overnight 79-3 had become 101-9 in just eight overs of batting. It appears nothing collapses quite like Derbyshire and supporter concerns about the direction of the club will continue with such displays and their alarming frequency.

There was greater resilience a second time but it was hard to understand the visiting game plan. With the game drifting, it was an opportunity to rest Roland-Jones and Higgins, who had recently returned from a lengthy absence, yet they both bowled lengthy spells as batting appeared to get easier. Derbyshire didn't attempt to force the pace either, so the innings forfeit proved to be only a red herring, as the game meandered slowly and inexorably to the draw.

With the cricket lacking intensity and bad light eventually bringing the game to an early close, my mind moved on to related matters.

I don't expect Anuj Dal to be at the club next year and his demeanour at the crease is a long way from that of the player who looked set to be a good county all-rounder a few years back. If he is now a bowler who bats a bit, he also needs to take more wickets than the eleven he has in an albeit truncated season. Perhaps he needs a new environment, or plans to move to the next phase of his life outside the game, but I would be surprised if he was at the club in 2027

To be fair, Brooke Guest has also declined as a batter and one has to ask why. He is a player I have always liked and he is better than a mid-twenties average, or should be, as he approaches his cricketing prime. Losing the effectiveness of two previously key players in the middle order is costing Derbyshire dearly. Let's not forget that only Bill Storer, among Derbyshire wicket-keepers, has more centuries than Brooke, so the talent and technique is there.

I feel he needs a niche in the side and, like a good few others before him, is probably less productive the longer he has to wait to bat. He opened the batting for Australia under-19s and was at his most prolific for Derbyshire when batting three. I'd move him up the order in the remaining games, shake things up a little.

If Wayne Madsen plays red ball next summer - and that is yet to be confirmed - it will almost certainly be his last year and the challenge will be to find a way to revitalise and galvanise the batting lineup. With finance an issue, the solution is not immediately obvious. 

But of course, one option has been ignored in this match. With the season effectively dead, what is the point in playing the old maestro? With Jewell now returning to Australia, surely his berth in the side, if not position in the order,  should go to Yusuf Bin Naeem? If he got a couple of innings under his belt, it would be something to hold on to, something to illustrate that the work in the Pathway and second team is valued, something to suggest that the ultimate successor might, indeed, be in the building. 

Mickey Arthur will say he wants a strong finish, of course, but to most Derbyshire fans, does it really matter if we finish fourth or eighth? Isn't this also now the opportunity to let Nye Donald follow up on his contract signing assertion?

“I want to expand my game to all formats and be a player Mickey and Wayne can rely on in red ball cricket too, because we were so close to promotion and getting to Division One would mean so much to the whole Club and especially our Members.”

Why not try it? Why not go to Bristol on Wednesday with this team, allowing for fitness? 

Came, Guest, Naeem, Montgomery, Donald, Andersson, Dal, Aitchison, Potts, Randell, Bashir/Morley

By the way, I still maintain that Matt Stewart should have got that short term deal, not Will Rogers. I will die on that particular hill. 

No disrespect to the young left-armer, but there was far greater merit in playing a 19-year old and raw 'one of our own', than a near-24 year old who isn't. If novelty value alone was the rationale, I don't get it, as the weight of wickets hasn't been there in second team cricket and I'm not convinced they would follow at a level higher.

In closing tonight, over at Lord's Mohammad Abbas finished with nine wickets in the match for Pakistan against England, just two less than he managed for Derbyshire in five appearances. 

Why is this? 

Maybe I need to reflect on it...

Postscript: Donald is in the European T20 League now, of course...

Enter Amrit Basra, under the same idea...

Derbyshire v Middlesex days 1 and 2

Derbyshire 79-3 (Jewell 32*, Montgomery 30, Higgins 2-18)

v Middlesex

There isn't much to write about on the first two days at Derby 

The hardy supporters have only had 32 overs of play in those 2 days, in which Derbyshire progressed to 79-3.

A draw looked a nailed on certainty with the weather forecast and after two days it appears even more likely. 

Neither Harry Came nor Wayne Madsen will be especially pleased with the manner of their dismissals, neither stroke being especially judicious in the prevailing conditions. But fair play to Caleb Jewell, who has endured a difficult summer and may well be playing his final innings for the county, in making a gritty, unbeaten 32.

It was going to be tough for whichever side ended up batting, but Toby Roland-Jones and Ryan Higgins are fine, experienced bowlers and they exploited the conditions well. 

It looks unlikely we will enjoy much cricket tomorrow, so the remainder of the game looks like being a battle for first innings bonus points. 

So much for summer, eh?

Book Review: The King of Lord's - The Life of Gubby Allen by Mark Peel

On many occasions over the years, my Dad would wax lyrical about the game of cricket. 

'It's the greatest game in the world' he would say, 'ruined by the buggers that run it'.

I would question him from time to time and his main grouse was George 'Gubby' Allen and before him Sir Pelham Warner. Both of them establishment, amateur, public school figures, diametrically opposed to those of us from 'oop north' and the coalfields. Indeed,  there has long been a story that Allen might have been the illegitimate son of Warner, so similar were they, so admiring was Warner of Allen's mother. This excellent and well-researched book dispels that story, but doesn't shy from portraying its subject, warts and all.

I tried to go into it with an open mind but it was quickly evident that from an early age Allen was an inveterate snob, who had little time for professional cricketers. The comments about Larwood and Voce on the 'Bodyline' tour being  'swollen-headed, gutless, uneducated miners' do him no favours and there are numerous examples within these covers and in his surviving private correspondence that show him as having little time for those whose company he would not normally choose to keep.

It is easy to see why Les Jackson only got two Test caps, because as David Foot pointed out, Allen 'was happiest in the company of clipped accents and a background that incorporated all the social graces'. Nor did Allen approve of the low, slinging action of the Derbyshire man, despite him being one of the most prolific wicket takers in the 1950s. 

It is not difficult to see why he and Fred Trueman clashed frequently. Allen was a self-confessed believer in the outdated class system, treating professionals 'with condescension tempered with paternalism'.

Yet it is important to remember his lengthy contribution to the game. He pushed through a number of reforms, helped to introduce better coaching facilities for deprived youngsters, accepted the case for one day cricket and helped to instigate the World Cup. This as well as being the driving force for the MCC Cricket Coaching Book, hugely important then, though  considerably different to modern coaching resources.

Perhaps it is unfair to judge a man of his time by today's standards. As the book rightly says, he lived and worked in a period when Britain was governed by a privileged elite and presided over a worldwide empire. His handling of the D'Oliveira affair was poor and yet he managed to survive it as ranks, unsurprisingly, were closed.

It is a fascinating read. I got to the end of it still convinced that my Dad's assertion from long ago was correct and it is good to see the subject having a proper biography written, rather than the blatant hagiography produced by his good friend EW Swanton in 1985. 

I don't think Gubby Allen would have had much time for me, even though I respect his long service to the game, on and off the field.

I'm fairly certain that would have been reciprocated... but you should read this book and make up your own mind 

It is well worth the time and once again Mark Peel has delivered an excellent cricket book 

The King of Lord's - The Life of Gubby Allen is written by Mark Peel and published by Pitch Publishing

Derbyshire v Middlesex preview and news roundup

There is no squad announcement by Derbyshire, ahead of tomorrow's game against Middlesex at Derby. 

Social media today said the squad will be announced on Thursday 'following confirmation of player availability'. Interesting...

Someone who should be available is Yusuf Bin Naeem, whose century yesterday put the Second Eleven in a strong position against Middlesex at Belper. This was duly hammered home today, as Derbyshire achieved a first innings lead of 123 runs, before reducing the visitors to 56-6 in their second innings. Matt Stewart led the way with 4-35, including the wickets of de Caires, Falconer, Nelson and Morgan, while Jake Green took 2-21.

Play was ended early for the day, otherwise Derbyshire would have wrapped up victory in three days. Sadly, the forecast suggests there will be little play tomorrow, either.

Scorecard and video clips here

That forecast extends to Derby, of course and perhaps we should have signed Jacques Cousteau as our replacement overseas, as there appears little likelihood of play tomorrow, with the expected rain.

When they do eventually get under way is anyone's guess, but the overall forecast for the next four days suggests that they will be lucky to complete two innings in this one.

The game will mark the last appearance of Caleb Jewell, who has been called back to Tasmania for pre-season training. I hope that Naeem is the beneficiary of this, because the closing fixtures give him a chance to show what he can do. While the Head of Cricket will doubtless want to play his strongest team and finish as high as possible (I actually wrote that in his voice...) there is much to commend forward planning and Naeem should get to the end of the summer to show his mettle.

Middlesex will be skippered by Leus du Plooy and include Ryan Higgins, who missed a fair chunk of the summer. They have a good side and Toby Roland-Jones continues to take wickets as the focal point of the attack. 

Their squad:

Du Plooy, Cornwell, Cracknell, Fernandes, Geddes, Gohar, Helm, Higgins, Holden, Hollman, Robson, Roland-Jones, Sharma

In other news tonight, the under-14's lost on Duckworth Lewis to Surrey in the ECB age group final. 

Colby Edwards made 59 of the Derbyshire total of 194, but Surrey were 109-2 when the rains came and ended the day prematurely.

Nonetheless, the young side have done tremendously this summer and deserve every credit for getting so far. I will watch their progress with great interest.

And finally, the under-18s had worked their way into a strong position at Lady Bay before the scheduled last day. 

Slow left armer Oliver Woodward followed his three first innings wickets with another three, while leg spinner Umayr Hewitt took two as Nottinghamshire were reduced to 203-7 in their second innings, only 139 runs ahead. 

Earlier, Hassnain Akhtar's 115 had anchored Derbyshire's 331-8 declared, with Dalugoda making 55, Edwards 59 and McHale 44.

Scorecard and video clips here

The age groups are flourishing.

Well done lads! 

Seconds press on at Belper

Derbyshire Seconds enjoyed an excellent day at Belper today, racking up a score of 459-9 against Middlesex, taking a first innings lead, so far, of 112 runs. 

Yusuf Bin Naeem did his chances of a first team call no harm in scoring 127, while trialist Finn Gordon followed his three wickets yesterday with 93. Joe Hawkins added 65 and Feroze Khushi 52 in an exhilarating batting display, while Mitch Wagstaff scored 38. 

With two days of the game left, Derbyshire will hope to force home their advantage tomorrow, with Theo Brown and Jake Green at the crease.

Scorecard and video clips here

Entertaining day at Belper

It was a jolly old day at Belper today, as Derbyshire's second team hosted Middlesex for the first day of a four-day game.

Yusuf bin Naeem won the toss and elected to bowl, with his attack doing the necessary in bowling out the visitors for 347. They looked set for more, at one stage being 212-3 and 317-5, but the attack stuck to their task, with Jack Morley taking 4-94 and Finn Gordon 3-45. Meanwhile left-arm seamer Will Rogers, recently engaged on a short-term deal, took 3-47, including the wickets of Josh de Caires and the highly-rated Caleb Falconer, who showed why with 111. Seb Morgan made an unbeaten 67 but they never got away. Theo Brown kept wicket for the Derbyshire side and held a very good one-handed catch.

Derbyshire made it to the close on 52-0, with Mitch Wagstaff and Finn Gordon unbeaten and an exciting middle order of Khushi, Naeem and Basra to follow. 

It is good to see some young talent in the side alongside Brown, with Zak Kelly, Joe Hawkins and Matt Stewart also in the eleven.

Scorecard and video clips here

Where do I begin?

I'm not, based on that title, going to be doing my best Andy Williams impression. Like most of you, I don't really feel like singing this morning. 

Unless it is on an old fashioned 'sticky dog' pitch - and you won't get those, these days - a first class cricket team should not be bowled out in 154 balls. Of course the Durham bowling was excellent and when the four protagonists all have international experience it was always likely to be tough. But once again, in a situation where Derbyshire backs were against the wall, they crumbled. 

I should say straight away that I haven't published all of the comments I received yesterday and overnight. Some crossed a line and were omitted accordingly, some made no sense to put in a public domain with MY name on the blog that published them. Derbyshire cannot 'sack' the Chief Executive, board members AND Head of Cricket, because they would then be put under emergency measures, a club in crisis. I have no doubt the ECB would love to reduce the first-class counties and we can't give them easy targets.

On the cricket field, they are in crisis of course. It doesn't seem too long since everyone enjoyed red ball success and were looking forward to the remainder of the season. That win over Lancashire at Chesterfield, the ones over Middlesex at Lord's and Northamptonshire at Derby - they played really good cricket and reaped the rewards.

Then came white ball and disappointment. Narrow defeats, bad defeats, unexpected defeats, unbelievable defeats. Defeats. Too many of them.

I didn't expect Derbyshire to beat Durham, but I did expect them to put up a semblance of resistance. It wasn't an easy pitch for batting, but then how often have we seen batting averages artificially massaged by moribund tracks at Derby in recent years? They should have tried uncovered pitches, or facing the relentless quicks of the 70s and 80s. Facing Garth le Roux and Imran Khan at Hove was no picnic, nor was facing Malcolm Marshall or Andy Roberts anywhere.

Mickey Arthur looked drained in his post-match interview. I have no doubt that he wants success at Derbyshire and has worked very hard to put something in place that he felt would work. He is a proud man and it is that pride that I feel would stop him from going to the board and saying 'I cannot do this any more'. He referred to 'giving the players all the information' and one has to question if they are being overloaded with it, if we are building opponents into something they are not.

Certainly, when up against teams with big name players, the tendency to play the name rather than the delivery coming down is a recurring theme. Maybe there needs to be greater focus on OUR strengths rather than theirs? On what they will be worried about, on sending our guys onto the pitch feeling like the master race, rather than lesser mortals? 

I recall the story of Dave Mackay, sitting next to a visibly nervous John O'Hare on the Derby County team bus for a big game. 

'See that fella there? He just asked his mate who that was, sitting next to John O'Hare', said the Derby skipper to the youngster. Boosting his confidence in one sentence.

I don't know, I'm not privy to dressing room secrets. But one has to ask how Darren Lehmann has made Northamptonshire so good this year? How has Richard Dawson got far more than the sum of its individual parts from Glamorgan? How has Paul Farbrace got his Sussex side to ignore the off-field shenanigans and be both very competitive and entertaining? They don't have all-international attacks or all-star batting lineups, but they have eleven players who rock up, roll up their sleeves and battle. The mentality is right.

I accept that Mickey Arthur has been unlucky with injuries, but has the 'loading' off season been right, to lose so many bowling options? He hasn't had a great deal of support from his overseas choices, although I do understand why Caleb Jewell got another deal on the back of 2025 and why we signed the 'guaranteed wickets until he donned a Derbyshire shirt' Mohammad Abbas. 

But WHY have they failed? What is there in the environment that isn't working? You look at the bowlers and Aitchison, Haydon, Potts, Bashir and Morley have all improved year on year, maybe on the back of a fresh voice in their ear. Although still one questions having two non-batting spinners on the staff, when they will likely play together once every couple of years, if that. A luxury that a club like Derbyshire cannot afford, especially if Bashir loses his central contract. With the budget, can the club afford players who are clearly only single-format options? We have a few of them.

The batters? I am not having a go at Ben Smith, acknowledged as a good coach, but aside from Martin Andersson and Nye Donald, who among our batters has got better? Is another new voice needed, or is the pressure exuded from the top unhelpful? 

Mickey can't help himself in interviews. Whether they are 'entertainment machines' playing 'sexy cricket', or yesterday claiming we are still in contention for promotion. Technically yes, but we had lost four matches, now five. Promotion candidates don't usually do that and both Kent and Northamptonshire should be well clear of Derbyshire by the end of today.

'We've learned what the standards are..the gulf between us and them is massive...we are still in the hunt...' 

Are we? Don't such conflicting assertions pile on pressure? Why not take it a game at a time, see how it lands? Talk promotion in September but accept the reality that we are, at best, a mid-table side right now, especially with the injuries and the overseas challenges. If I can see that, surely the players can? 

I have had a few people ask me if a club like Derbyshire needs a batting coach AND a bowling coach AND an analyst AND someone 'being strategic' and doing team talks? It does seem top heavy, an elite structure when not necessarily required. Phil Russell had no one and did pretty well. Surely there is a middle ground?

They are in a pickle, one of their own making. To reward five years of mediocrity with a two-year extension was staggering, but from this distance, unless Mickey Arthur does the honourable thing and admits he has gone as far as he can and will leave, there appears no way out. 

They can't afford to pay off those two years AND have the resources to change things. Maybe that's a bullet worth biting, because as things stand I don't see improvement in that period anyway. Maybe, just maybe, a different voice, ethos, mentality might help? Appoint from within, take out a coaching tier/role for two years and then review?

There are potentially winnable games in the remainder of the red ball season but they will play Middlesex without Brett Randell, who will miss at least the next seven days under concussion protocols. Hopefully he recovers quickly from that nasty blow yesterday, but supporters have taken a few themselves. I don't do social media, other than this and X, but I understand that even the usually more restrained are struggling.

My concern, from my ever-growing mailbag, is that in two years time the already small membership has dwindled still further. That supporters already disenchanted by the fixture scheduling will vote with their feet and find other interests. That 'doing nothing' was seen as the clearest possible acceptance of mediocrity. 

There is no easy answer here. But doing nothing is the least palatable option. I know what 'Derbyshire's Mickey Arthur' brings to the club, that he has a seat at the top table, that he has lots of contacts, that players want to play for Mickey Arthur, et cetera, et cetera.

But after FIVE seasons of mediocrity, two more of the same is not something to whet many appetites. 

A change of luck will help. Better overseas input would go a long way. He needs a gun overseas bat for 2027 and beyond, an all rounder for T20. Match winners, guys with the right mentality and the appetite for the battle.

But even positive old me, sixty years a supporter, nineteen years a blogger, struggles to see things slowly start to improve, unless there is an acceptance of the need to shake things up and start things off.

Derbyshire v Durham day 3

Durham 283 and 295-6d (McKinney 140, Stokes 66* Rhodes 52, Bashir 3-77

Derbyshire 156 and 84 (Stokes 5-17, Potts 3-22)

Durham won by 338 runs

I think it is fair to say that if Derbyshire and Mickey Arthur hold aspirations of being a division one county, we are a country mile away from being one, based on this showing. 

As I wrote last night, this Durham side has an international attack, but their batting is a less thoroughbred affair, talented as it is. Today the whole side made something of a mockery of any Derbyshire delusions of grandeur, as they first knocked the bowling around with nary a second thought, then clinically dismantled the batting order with incisive bowling. They are a fine side, though I will say I am less of a fan of the concerted appealing, which is increasingly endemic in the modern game. 

However, to call the Derbyshire batting 'anaemic' is probably an understatement. For the team to be bowled out in just 25 overs is a disgrace

Where was the willingness to graft? Where was the Alan Hill, Tony Borrington, David Smith, Steve Stubbings, Ian Hall or David Steele who would sell their wicket dearly? Aside from Martin Andersson and Brett Randell, who may now have an enforced concussion absence after the nasty blow from a Ben Stokes bouncer, there was none. 

I said on the radio last night that this Derbyshire side would not get promotion and isn't good enough for it. Even if they did, the chances of staying up would be slightly less than mine of being confused with Ben Stokes on a cricket field. 

It is a hard watch and I confess to going out with my wife for a long dog walk this afternoon. I could see the direction of travel and only needed to rewind the feed on our return to see the stops along the way. The mood of our dogs was more upbeat than that of a Derbyshire side that looked resigned to its fate from the point at which it stepped onto the field today.

For all that Mickey Arthur has had five years, for all that he has 'prioritised' red ball cricket, I remain unconvinced that we are any further forward than five years ago. I certainly don't see a team that is indidually or collectively better than the one he inherited and in some respects  - again, acknowledging the opposition in this game - it is worse. Less than half of this side seems equipped for a higher level and there's no point kidding ourselves otherwise.

I don't see any willingness or desire to change things, I don't think there are available players who could do so and we haven't the budget anyway.

It doesn't make for an easy watch and sadly, I don't see that changing any time soon.

The bottom line is that we aren't very good. Throw in all the excuses about injuries that you may wish, but this is a poor side. 

And today was frankly embarrassing. 

Derbyshire v Durham day 2

Durham 283 (Clark 64, Lees 63, Stokes 53, Aitchison 5-70)

Derbyshire 127-6 (Jewell 28, Madsen 28, Stokes 2-14, Rhodes 2-18)

Derbyshire trail by 156 runs

It was hard work for Derbyshire in the afternoon and evening sessions at Derby today. 

It was always going to be, of course. Durham has a four-man international attack and they bowled as you would expect such a lineup to do. Potts and Carse were superb with the new ball, then came Stokes and Olivier, although it was probably Rhodes who was as awkward to face as any.

Derbyshire fought hard, but this isn't an especially good batting line up and anyone hopeful of a first innings lead against such an attack and on this pitch was optimistic beyond even my capability. 

It ended up being a battle to save the follow-on, which hasn't yet been achieved but hopefully shouldn't be too far away tomorrow. Having said that, with a good weather forecast for the rest of the game, the portents are not good for Derbyshire getting anything from this game. 

Earlier Ben Aitchison took another five wickets in a season that has surpassed all expectations, probably including his own. He is a really special bowler and a huge asset to this side. I thought Randell did well at the other end and Dal chipped in as he so often does, but the sight of the ball zipping around as the day progressed didn't fill me with optimism that Derbyshire would end the day in a positive position.

There is a lot of work for them to do to get anything from this game. 

We will find out soon enough if they are capable of doing so.

Derbyshire v Durham day one

Durham 102-2 (Lees 53*)

v Derbyshire

For a long time today, it looked like Derbyshire would have been better spending their overseas money on the ghost of Gene Kelly, so there could at least have been some entertainment as the rain came down. 

The hardy souls who braved the elements and the forecast eventually got some cricket and a first sighting of Brett Randell, this after too much of Neil Godrich for the comfort of most.

Randell, like all of the seam attack, bowled well. The first rule of bowling, especially with the new ball, has to be to make the batters play and our new Kiwi wasted nary a delivery. It irks me when I see ball after ball being allowed to pass outside off stump in the early exchanges and here both Randell and Aitchison kept the Durham openers on their toes. 

Competitions, like seasons, come and go but Ben Aitchison continues to take wickets. Bionic Ben has kept going through thick and thin this summer and here, after being dismissively swatted through the legside for six by McKinney, he had him pouched behind by Guest next ball. 

It was a good toss to win for Derbyshire and Dal, with Potts, kept up the pressure as first changes. The score advanced slowly, the fifty only coming up in the 20th over, but Lees and Rhodes did a good job for their side. Hard as Derbyshire huffed and puffed, no further Durham 'houses' were blown down, until Randell, having returned and  changed ends, found the edge of Rhodes' bat and the chance was pouched by Aitchison at second slip. 

The day ended with Durham 102-2.

Seconds fight back

Derbyshire second eleven fought back well on day three of the four-day fixture at Repton against Northamptonshire.

After being 252-2 overnight, the visitors were all out for 332, with three wickets each for Matt Stewart, Jake Green and Joe Hawkins. Stewart did especially well to turn his overnight figures of 0-43 in six overs to 3-49 in nine, but it was good to see the fight in a young side.

It left Derbyshire needing 368 to win and plenty of time in which to do so. Sadly, rain intervened after only thirteen overs of their reply and play ended for the day in early afternoon, with the score on 42-1, with Wagstaff and Khushi at the crease.

326 to win tomorrow, which may become academic with the weather forecast.

But this has been a good test for a young Derbyshire eleven. 

Derbyshire v Durham preview

Derbyshire return to red ball action at The Our Co-op County Ground tomorrow, after what seems like an interminable break.

They will face Durham, easily the best side in the division and likely to be reinforced by the appearance of Ben Stokes, the former England captain. They will also have Brydon Carse playing, after he was released from England duty to play, as has Shoaib Bashir.

It will be a stiff task for Derbyshire, although the forecast for tomorrow suggests the game is likely to be one of closer to three days than four.

Mickey Arthur has named a squad of twelve, which is basically everyone left when the extensive injury list is taken out of the equation. The final place would appear to be between Jack Morley and Nick Potts, with the latter more likely to get the nod, while the opening partner for Harry Came is likely to be between Caleb Jewell and Martin Andersson, who did so well in the white ball format.

Brett Randell is set to make his county debut and will open the bowling with Ben Aitchison in what looks likely to be this side:

Came, Andersson, Montgomery, Madsen, Jewell, Guest, Dal, Potts, Aitchison, Randell, Bashir (Morley 12th man)

Carse is set to make his first county Championship appearance of the summer for Durham, but Ben Raine is unavailable for selection due to the expected arrival of he and his wife’s second child.

Their squad:

Colin Ackermann, Kasey Aldridge, David Bedingham, Brydon Carse, Graham Clark, Alex Lees, Ben McKinney, Duanne Olivier, Callum Parkinson, Matthew Potts, Will Rhodes, Luke Robinson, Ollie Robinson, Ben Stokes.

It is hard to see a Derbyshire win in this game, but the forecast suggests that a draw might be possible and I don't think there will be great disappointment if they achieve that at the end of this fixture. Durham will go up this year as champions and deservedly so. 

I think Derbyshire are a better side in this format than with the white ball, so I'm happy to predict a draw here 

What do you think? 

Reality check for seconds at Repton

If nothing else, the second team game at Repton is emphasising the gulf between age group, second team and first team cricket at county level.

There are some good players in the Derbyshire side, ones who have scored heavily and taken wickets in good standard league cricket and across the age groups. 

But today brought a reality check, as they slipped from their overnight 112-2 to 156 all out. Harry Conway ripped out the middle order of Khushi, Khunti and Naeem this morning, as he has to several county sides this summer, with good support from Weatherall, Louw and Kimber - good, experienced cricketers all. 

Then Ricardo Vasconcelos got stuck into Matt Stewart and Will Rogers, as Northamptonshire reached 252-2 by the close.

It is unrealistic to expect young players to continue to dominate as they move through the age groups into county cricket, of course. Some, the REAL elite can do so, but for most it is a slow and gradual process. There are those who will fall by the wayside, but the cream will always, in time, rise to the top.

One who continues to shine is Theo Brown, who as Daryn Smit highlighted in his excellent interview yesterday, has had a fine season. In contrast to his peers, who are themselves talented players, Brown is scoring runs and winning matches in the tough Derbyshire Premier League, as well as taking under-18 cricket in his stride, at just 15 years of age.

Today he top scored with 75 as the Midlands were beaten by the North in the ECB Super Fours. To put the innings in context, the next highest score in his side was ten, in a total of 135 (although there were 23 extras)

I suspect he will be the first of the 'next generation' to break through, if he continues on his current trajectory. Obviously schooling takes precedence right now, as it does for most of his age, but I am sure his progress will be well-watched and carefully monitored.

For the rest - as well as Theo - the hard work to establish themselves as contenders, then as first team cricketers, goes on.

Seconds in control at Repton

The county second eleven had an excellent day against Northamptonshire at Repton 

The visitors won the toss and elected to bat, Vasconcelos quickly into his stride and severe on any aberration in line or length from Stewart and Rogers. 

He reached fifty at a run a ball but was dismissed soon afterwards by Jake Green, who went on to the splendid figures of 5-50. Stewart and skipper Yusuf bin Naeem pitched in with a couple of wickets each, with the other going to Rogers as Northamptonshire subsided from 112-2 to 191 all out. 

When Derbyshire replied, Wagstaff didn't last long but trialist Finn Gordon, previously playing with Worcestershire and Hampshire this season, went on to a fine 34 before being dismissed by Weatherall. 

Harry Conway was leading the visiting attack, which also featured Richard Keogh, but Derbyshire reached the close at 103-2, 88 runs behind. Naeem was unbeaten on 23, while at the other end Feroze Khushi, previously on the Essex staff and more recently playing for SACA, was unbeaten on 28, which included some pleasant strokes.

Scorecard and video clips can be seen here

Under 14s reach County Cup Final!

A superb win by Derbyshire under 14s over Nottinghamshire saw them through to the final of the ECB National County Cup competition at Quarndon.

Ethan Wilde's 64 took them to 223 all out in their 45 overs, with Charlie Hall's 33 lending good support in a crucial stand of 89 for the sixth wicket, after a usually strong batting line up had slipped to 80-5

It proved the highest score of the game, as Nottinghamshire were all out for 191, Abdullah Zahoor taking 3-40.

Well done lads! 

Scorecard here

Finally tonight, Theo Brown top-scored with 70 for the Midlands in the ECB Super Fours as they lost to South and West Under 18s. 

Considering he is still under-15, that is quite something. 

Postscript: the under 14 final will be against Surrey on August 26, at Attenborough Cricket Club, Beeston

Book Review: Patsy Hendren: A Different Kind of English Hero by Jeremy Lonsdale

Jeremy Lonsdale is one of the finest modern cricket writers and his output, certainly in quality, stands alongside many others. His book on Bill Bowes was a classic and here he turns his attention to another of the great inter-war cricket characters, 'Patsy' Hendren.

I have to admit that this was a book that I eagerly anticipated, the subject being one of my favourite characters in the game from when I first read its literature, somewhat voraciously, from childhood. 

Hendren seemed to be a man of the people, the kind of person that people wanted to know and in whose successes they shared.

There were many such successes for Hendren, both as a footballer and cricketer. I'd never realised quite what a footballer he was, perhaps focusing too much on the somewhat rotund cricketer whose photograph appeared in many magazines and newspapers. He was good enough to make 435 appearances, mainly for Brentford and played once for England. The book gives good detail of his football exploits, although cricket is the main thrust, as it was in his life. 

Nor had I realised how great was the debate on his merits in England colours, yet he finished with a Test average of just under 48 and seven centuries. He was rarely sure of his place and there were those who considered him short of a big match temperament, but the figures suggest a player, who although unorthodox in style, was highly effective.

 There were 170 centuries in the first-class game, second only to Jack Hobbs, over a career that spanned three decades. He finished with an average of 50, extraordinary by any standards. Perhaps not as universally appreciated for his style as Frank Woolley, but maybe the one you would prefer in a tight situation. 

Everyone loved Patsy and he appeared on stage, in film, in print, on radio and was in demand for advertising a range of products. He was a noted wit - although some of his attempts at humour seem less funny at distance - as well as a talented mimic and fine singer. He was also unfailingly generous and was willing to give to good causes and to provide prizes and memorabilia for auctions and raffles. 

This quite superb read is a worthy record of a life well-lived and largely enjoyed. He kept remarkably busy and was a popular speaker in his playing days and in retirement, when he became a much-loved coach and subsequently scorer for Middlesex. 

The author has been short-listed and long-listed for awards before and I have no doubt that this title will achieve similar recognition.

I have enjoyed a lot of books this year, but for the depth of research, as well as its readability, this one currently sits astride them all.

Sincere congratulations to the author and to Pitch Publishing for another outstanding work.

Patsy Hendren: A Different Kind of English Hero is written by Jeremy Lonsdale and published by Pitch Publishing

Thoughts on contracts

I thought it would be worth looking at the current Derbyshire staff and where they are in contractual terms as we get to the business end of the season. 

I last looked at contracts around the country in July last year and to be honest there aren't many who are available this year and would be a huge enhancement on our squad. I will try and find, or put together a list for 2027, which may be a year when squad overhauls look more feasible.

The current Derbyshire situation is as follows:

Expiring 2026            2027                      

Wayne Madsen.          Harry Came.       

Yusuf Bin Naeem       Luis Reece

Caleb Jewell.               Amrit Basra

Mitch Wagstaff.          Shoaib Bashir

Ross Whiteley.            Ben Aitchison

Joe Hawkins.              Harry Moore

Anuj Dal.                      Mo Abbas

Pat Brown                    Brooke Guest

2028

Matthew Montgomery 

Martin Andersson

Zak Chappell

Jack Morley

Nick Potts 

Nye Donald 

Rory Haydon 

Everyone will have different opinions on the retentions for next year. I expect Caleb Jewell to go, while the Cricketer recently reported that Pat Brown has signed a new one--year deal, though yet to be announced by the club. Madsen, Whiteley and Dal will likely have been offered an extra year each, but their being around in 2027 will depend on how realistic their agents are with salary demands and I would be surprised if any were at the club in 2028.

Being honest, I wouldn't retain Ross and only a lack of alternatives may save him. I would also question Nuj, unless he has a good end of season, while 2027 will probably see the end of Wayne Madsen, unless the lure of joining his family in South Africa sees him go sooner.

As for the young players, I would be surprised if Naeem wasn't offered new terms, after a good summer in the second team, but I could see both Hawkins and Wagstaff go either way, based on a more challenging year and lack of opportunity respectively. 

What do you think? 

One thing is for sure - 2027 is a BIG season for a lot of players...

Holiday thoughts

I didn't see too much of the Hampshire game, as we are on holiday. 

Derbyshire won, but it was effectively a game within a game. Hampshire had to win in a limited timescale and we should not ignore the likelihood that the result would have been very different had they not needed to do so. 

Once again the Derbyshire batting was good, Andersson outstanding, Came and Guest impressive. I would like to see Harry convert more of his half centuries into tons, because 28 times he has gone past fifty and failed to do so. 'Drink at the well' as George Gunn liked to say. When the sun is high and the outfield fast, make hay and make the bowlers toil...

I remain staggered that we didn't do more in the One Day Cup to promote the cause of the work going on in our pathway. It was the ideal opportunity to do so and going with our strongest side didn't turn out too well, did it?  We won two matches that we really should have done, given the opposition, then another when the opponents were shackled by the need to score the required runs far more quickly than we had - Duckworth Lewis gone wild, if you will. 

I am also puzzled. I have heard reports from several people that the chairman stood up at the members meeting and said that the club's stance was that the One Day Cup was a development competition and was to be approached accordingly. Yet Mickey Arthur, in his end of tournament interview, said that 'as long as I'm here we will pick our best team' and try to win the silverware. 

If the chairman said what he did - and I have only anecdotal evidence of this that others there might verify - then it suggests a major difference of opinion, which cannot bode well.

As I wrote recently, my concern is that the youngsters coming through the Pathway need to see a route of progression. Their parents certainly do. Is cricket, specifically Derbyshire cricket, a bona fide career path? Or are they just going to be chucked on the 'scrap heap' at 19/20. 

To hear Mickey Arthur talk about 'our young players' is akin to me of someone scraping their nails down a chalkboard. Nick Potts isn't 'young' at 24, Martin Andersson certainly isn't at 29. Matt Stewart is, at 19 but he never got a game. Joe Hawkins is too, but got a call only when the wolves started circling about a lack of opportunity among the club support. That Mitch Wagstaff, at 22, only got a late call up suggests to me that a decision is already made on his future. Meanwhile, yes, Yusuf Bin Naeem had a few games, but why not take pressure off the lad, tell him he was in for the tournament and batting three? Where he normally does, lessening the pressure and giving him a chance to shine? 

There was nothing, absolutely nothing, to learn about Ross Whiteley and Wayne Madsen. It appeared that we could go without an overseas player, but then we needed one, so he 'made himself available'. Seriously, what is going on? 

My honest (and irreversible) opinion, like it or not, is that after coaching at elite level for years, Mickey Arthur doesn't 'get' young players, their pressures and the challenges in coming through. In his interviews he always talks about 'reflecting' but surely he cannot do that and consider many of his calls the correct ones? And shouldn't an 'elite' coach be getting these calls right, first time? 

He talks of not being clear enough with 'death' plans. Lads, chuck it in the block hole, wide or otherwise, still the hardest ball to hit. Mix up your pace and if you are going to bowl short, do so to the long boundary. There you go....

What does Mickey say to Matt Stewart, who has taken wickets in the Derbyshire Premier League and in the second team, when we offer a short term deal to a lad whose only real difference is in taking less wickets bowling with the other arm? Don't get me wrong, I hope Will Rogers does well, but at 23 he is the product of another club's system. At what point do we think about the impact of such a decision on those coming through our own? Any arguments about not having the money to offer a short-term deal to a young player have been blown out of the water. 

Again, is 23 young? For what it is worth, if shooting yourself in the foot were an Olympic sport, Mickey Arthur might just have become undisputed gold medalist...

I played cricket, coached youngsters and selected teams for well over forty years. Not once did I think 'he isn't taking wickets in the twos...I know, I will put him in the first team, instead of the lad who is. 

I know for sure that there would have been disparaging comments had I done so and deservedly so. 

I hope there are big conversations about these things going on at board level. More than almost anything else at the club, this concerns me right now. With as rich a crop of young talent as we have had in years currently coming through our Pathway, we have to make sure that the person at the top - regardless of name or reputation - actually realises the enormity of some of these actions.

If he doesn't, the long term cost and damage to the club, reputationally and otherwise, is far greater than paying him off. 

Derbyshire secure Kiwi as Abbas replacement

Bill Copson took four wickets in four balls against Warwickshire in 1937, while Alan Ward did the same against Sussex in the John Player League in 1970 (as Max Boyce used to say, I was there).

To them we can now add the name of Brett Randell, the 31-year old Kiwi replacement for Mohammad Abbas until the end of the season. Randell took five wickets in five balls for Central Districts against Northern Districts in March of this year, the only time it has happened in first-class cricket.

Other than that I have no idea how good he is. He has only played 40 first-class matches and has picked up 113 wickets at 25 each. He had a couple of games for Somerset in 2024 and picked up three wickets, but we will see how he gets on in division two.

It is a difficult time of year to get players. Australians are generally set to return home soon if they are over here, while others around the globe are resting either before domestic seasons or between franchise competitions, with the Asia Cup removing a lot of options.

Randell will be well known to Ben Smith, who has coached Central Districts in recent winters, so we must wait and see how he goes. 

It doesn't change my assertion that we need to up the overseas standard for next year and of course identify the budget in order to do so. That's for the finance people at the club to sort, but somehow we have to get leaders, players who will set the example and take you to the win when the match situation is tight. I don't think we have many such players at present and identifying them AND securing their services will be key for 2027.

Anyway, welcome to Derbyshire, Brett.

Be assured that we are all rooting for you

You can see his five wickets in five balls here

Hampshire v Derbyshire Metro Bank One Day Cup

Please add your comments on today's game here.

Thank you!

Will Rogers signs on short-term red ball deal

Mickey Arthur has signed 23-year old left arm seamer Will Rogers on a contract to the end of the summer, for the remaining red ball games.

Ostensibly to cover for the long-term absent seamers, one must assume that Luis Reece will do little more bowling this year, as the accompanying press piece cites his 'different angle' as the draw. Surely, if a seamer was needed, Matt Stewart might otherwise have been in the first cab off the ranks?

Fair play to Rogers, who has clearly impressed enough to warrant a deal, but figures of 1-148 in his three most recent spells for the second team don't initially suggest his signature on a contract.

He was previously on the staff at Sussex and has played in other county second teams, so here's hoping the lad proves to be a shrewd pick up and can leave his mark on the remaining fixtures. 

Is he the 'replacement' for Mohammad Abbas, so clearly needed for the remainder of the season? I understand he isn't, more of an addition to the ranks 

It goes without saying that I wish him well, as I am sure others do.

Time for a deep breath..

It has got a little tetchy on the blog today. And I don't like tetchy.

Feelings are running high because Derbyshire are in a very poor trot. Opinions are being expressed and, as is always the case with opinions, there are those who disagree with them. 

That in itself is fine, because it would be a strange world if we all thought the same thing. However, the way that some of these disagreements have been expressed has crossed a line on occasion today. 

Please be nice to each other. Our team has been beaten, but no one has died. You can disagree with someone else, but please don't be abrupt, patronising or unpleasant in doing so. I haven't run this blog for 19 years to allow it to degenerate into the old BBC 606 site. I would pull the plug on it tomorrow, rather than allow that to happen.

Most of you will know that 'Jason' was for many years on the club committee and board, so has greater knowledge of the internal machinations of the club than most. I appreciate his input, like that of everyone else, but the opinions of EVERYONE on here are and will remain valid. I am a big advocate for free speech, as long as it is not hurtful, rude or personal.

If you disagree with someone, that's fine, but take five and couch your reply in a way that you would be OK to read if YOU were on the end of it. It is the approach I have always taken when writing about players, loss of form and their ability - if it was my son I was reading about, could I accept it and not take exception to the wording?

Life is too short for people with a great, common interest to fall out over petty things.

Thank you.

Derbyshire v Middlesex Metro Bank One Day Cup

Middlesex 327-6 (Geddes 1109, Holden 65, Cracknell 44, Morley 2-58, Potts 2-98)

Derbyshire 240 (Jewell 54, Whiteley 37, Dal 36,  Gohar 3-35)

Middlesex won by 87 runs

We had a family get together the other night and the conversation flowed, as usual, eventually turning to films.

My future son in law asked me if I had seen a lot of horror.

'For most of the last sixty years, son' was my reply. My daughter smiled, she knew where her old Dad was coming from.

There isn't a lot of fun in watching Derbyshire right now. I take no pleasure in being able to predict a defeat before the game is played, because nothing in the body language or performances suggests otherwise. I will be quite honest in having switched over to watch the T20 finals day from Belper, where Daryn Smit turned in a virtuoso performance on one leg to help Clifton through to the final. 

Truth be told, it looked like first class county against minor county today and the result was a foregone conclusion before the Middlesex innings had even ended. 

It's hard to say that. It hurts to say it. This is MY team, just the same as it is your team. I'm not about to switch allegiance at this stage, but we look so far off the pace at present it is frightening.

I take nothing away from Middlesex, who put in a professional performance and played some very good cricket. There was a world of difference between the attack that they were able to field and the one that faced them, just as there was nothing in the Derbyshire side to match their top four. With such disparity, it was always going to be a one-sided encounter, but I cannot see any light at the end of the tunnel just now.

Although he took two wickets, Nick Potts had the sort of day that was always likely after he had signed a 2-year contract. The line, length and rhythm wasn't there today and it confirmed that although much improved, he has plenty more to do to become a fixture in the side when everyone is fit. 

Caleb Jewell made a pleasant half century, but rather gave it away in driving without getting over the ball. There was a little innings restoration from Luis Reece, Anuj Dal and Ross Whiteley, but as the required rate climbed, there wasn't a point in the innings when I thought Derbyshire might produce a shock result. Middlesex won by 87 runs and were very good value for it.

Derbyshire travel to Southampton on Tuesday for a game against a Hampshire side that racked up 383 today. I am not optimistic, but we travel to Berwick upon Tweed tomorrow, so I won't see it either. In current form, that's a relief. 

I will create a page for that game and your comments on it in due course. 

Do please add names to your comments. I can sense the anger and frustration out there right now, but as usual will reserve the right not to publish anything personal and unsigned.

Derbyshire v Middlesex Metro Bank One Day Cup preview

No detailed blog tonight on the Middlesex game, as the day has passed me by and there has been no announcement on squads from either side. 

All I can say is that if Yusuf bIn Naeem doesn't get a game tomorrow, especially after scoring a brilliant 132 for Sandiacre today, I don't see any logic in selection at all. He should be told that he is playing and batting three. End of story. 

I don't think we have enough to beat Middlesex, who are deservedly top of the group and have played some very good cricket. Their likely side:

De Caires, Fernandes, Geddes, Cracknell, Hellman, Nelson, Gohar, Roland-Jones, Brookes, Cornwell, Sharma

It looks like another hot day in Derby, but I suspect that will be the highlight for most of the home support. Drink plenty of water and take your sun cream! 

I will be back tomorrow night with an assessment of the game.

Radio interview

My interview with James Sadler of North Derbyshire Radio is now online.

It covers a number of subjects on the current Derbyshire season, as well as some words on Edwin Smith.

I am on at just before 34 minutes and you can listen here

Under 18s showing a way forward?

I want to pull a couple of strands from the past week together in today's piece. 

I was a little concerned to see the post-match interview with Harry Came yesterday, which suggested that Derbyshire will carry on as they have been in the remaining fixtures of the Metro Bank One Day Cup. 

Let's be quite honest here. As Hamez pointed out in the comments to yesterday's piece, the average age of the Derbyshire top seven yesterday, in what is supposed to be a development competition, was just under 33. We lost, of course, both the match and an opportunity that this competition might otherwise provide. 

Why are we batting a specialist bat, Ross Whiteley, at seven? He is nearly 38 and nothing about the summer's cricket has suggested he has much to offer in the future. He is a lovely lad and a terrific fielder, but is that really enough at this level? The same goes with Wayne Madsen. Is there really a point in playing him over Yusuf bin Naeem at 42? Especially in a dead game, in a development competition, I will say again...

At the same time, Somerset fielded a sixteen-year old in their match yesterday. He didn't do much, but as a wily old professional said to me, one of the challenges for an emerging cricketer is playing on a big ground in front of a crowd. It is nothing like club cricket and exposing them to this as early as possible is going to aid their development. 

Somerset is actually a good example. They blood young players early - the Rew brothers as fine examples - and they reap the dividends down the line. 

Derbyshire's best 'young' player is Nick Potts, who is 24. While not suggesting he has yet reached 'old fogey' status, he isn't that young either. Then there's Yusuf bin Naeem, at 19, the same as Matt Stewart. When will they get a proper opportunity? 

I know Naeem played a bit of white ball, but not where he likes to bat. And there's a big difference in batting three and going in at seven, different expectations, different mindset. You wouldn't look at a young lad starring in the academy of your football club as a left back, then tell him he's playing centre forward for the first team on Saturday...

Naeem has done well in the second team this summer, got some scores, taken a few wickets, fielded well. When can he expect the reward, the elevation to the senior ranks? For Naeem, read Stewart, who looks a terrific talent. He can have a wild spell, but that goes with the territory at that age. He can also take wickets, but surely he hasn't to wait five years for an opportunity? It is easy to look at what people CAN'T do - but what about looking at what they CAN do and what they bring to a side? 

This week the Derbyshire under 18s played Leicestershire in a terrific three-day game at Repton School. Batting first they made 337, with George Blount following his double century against Yorkshire with 102. Oscar Edwards made 91, Theo Brown 38 and Umayr Hewitt 36. 

Leicestershire replied with 277-5 declared, before Derbyshire made 248-3 declared. This time Edwards made 71 and Hasnain Akhtar 90, Zak Kelly added a breezy unbeaten 51 in a confident display and Leicestershire needed 309 to win.

They had a good go but were all out for 258, with Hewitt taking 8-92 with his spin and sealing another excellent win for the senior age group side.

The point being that Blount, Edwards, Brown and Hewitt are playing above their age. They are 15/16 and handling it well, as befits young men regularly doing well against burly blokes in the local leagues. 

I am not suggesting we elevate them en masse to the first team, but I would really like to know what plans are in place for that transition. Honestly, I suspect most of the fan base would be understanding of a defeat if, in the process, we had given opportunity to Derbyshire-reared talent. Players who could become special, would justify the work in the Pathway and would nicely quieten the likes of Mike Atherton who has asked, in the past, what is the point of Derbyshire? 

I am actually getting as much pleasure in following the under 18s as I am the senior side in the past couple of seasons. Not just because they are more successful, but I can see how the net is being cast wider for talent, the players are developing and that a strategy is in place.

I don't really see that at a top level, right now. What has happened to Joe Hawkins? Maybe he has levelled out, doesn't spin it enough, hasn't the batting technique or mental toughness to go further? By the same token, I don't know how you really judge that at 19, when we see what Nick Potts has achieved this year. With Shoaib Bashir and Jack Morley both young and performing well, I am not sure how Joe gets into the senior side, despite being a considerably better bat than both.

If they are all fit, the county seam resources are strong. But yesterday Cricinfo reported that Pat Brown has signed a new deal after a cricket-less summer and one has to ask what consequences that might have for the likes of Matt Stewart and Jake Green, when Harry Moore is also theoretically ahead of them.

At some point, a Derbyshire Head of Cricket has to say 'it's time for change' and the Board has to back that person through a transitional period, while young players come in and establish themselves. They won't all make it, life doesn't work like that, but I genuinely feel that the next Head of Cricket at our club has to be given carte blanche to bring through young players and be given five years to make it work. Bring in young talent from elsewhere too, if they are lacking opportunity. Aid their development with a couple of seasoned overseas professionals who will keep them right, on and off the pitch. Let's give it a go with youth, because it isn't really working the other way. The post-Madsen era is coming, whether we like it or not and it offers an opportunity for a roots and branches review.

I just feel that at the moment Derbyshire are drifting and while that could go in either direction, the signs are that it is not the preferred one of travel from the supporters perspective. 

Yes, they still have a chance in red ball cricket, but first up when that returns is a Durham side that is way too strong for Division Two and I think I know how that story ends. 

When I look through the current squad, I see too many players whose best days are behind them and who are not going to take us any further. Lovely blokes, good servants, with occasional performances of note. But no more than that. 

While accepting that a pesky thing called education will get in the way right now for some of our bright young things, the planning for when they have finished their school days simply HAS to start now.

Viva la revolucion!

Scorecard and clips of that under-18 win here

Yorkshire v. Derbyshire Metro Bank one day cup

Derbyshire 278-8 (Andersson 67, Came 58,  Cliff 3-57)

Yorkshire 281-5 (Whiteman 94, Wharton 75, Hill 63* Potts 3-78, Aitchison 2-41)

Yorkshire won by 5 wickets

Derbyshire lost at Scarborough today by five wickets, once again failing to capitalise on an excellent position. 

At 140 for no wicket in the 26th over, they should have been looking at a minimum of 300. Instead, the last 24 overs brought only 138 runs for the loss of eight wickets, which was a mediocre effort. This was why I didn't get excited at the last two wins, because the elevens we were playing bore no relation to the senior sides of the clubs concerned, while ours did. Here, the sides were more evenly matched and after an excellent opening burst by Ben Aitchison, James Wharton and Sam Whiteman were able to work it around on a small ground and ease the home side to within range of a comfortable win.

Hill came in on Wharton's departure and in a situation when they only needed to be sensible, that is what they did. Both he and Whiteman showed eminent good sense and in the end it was a stroll for them, although the latter missed out on a century when brilliantly held down the leg side by Guest, from the bowling of Nick Potts. He took three wickets today, but there was a little too much loose stuff amid the wickets and it wasn't a 3-78 pitch.

Came and Andersson were excellent in that opening stand, but to lose both in the same over was a setback from which Derbyshire never recovered. Only Madsen and Potts, each too briefly, hinted at fluency thereafter on a pitch that seemed to get slower. It was good to see Luis Reece back, but his usual rhythm wasn't there with bat or ball, while Whiteley again struggled to deliver the hoped for late impetus. I don't know why Ross didn't come in before Luis, as the team's nominal finisher and there was a case for Potts to come in before Dal as the innings subsided. Indeed, there were spells when it appeared Derbyshire were fighting for a fourth day draw, rather than building a defendable one-day total.

Derbyshire's interest in this competition ended with the defeat - if it hadn't already - and the sensible thing now would be to give opportunity to younger players, which might bear fruit down the line. Surely Naeem and Stewart should play in the remaining games, if only to give a breather to Madsen and Aitchison before the return of the red ball fixtures.

For now, Derbyshire are a very ordinary white ball side. It hurts to say it, but you can't look at performances this year and say otherwise.

There is much to do to change my mind on that assertion, because there have been too many capitulations with bat and ball this year. 

Yorkshire v Derbyshire Metro Bank One Day Cup preview

I had taken a few days off from blogging after Edwin Smith's funeral on Monday. 

It was a lovely service and recognition not just what a terrific player he was, but what a brilliant Dad, Grandad, husband and man he was too. It was lovely to meet members of his extended family and also those from Grassmoor and beyond who wanted to pay their last respects to a man who was the last of a breed. There will never be another Derbyshire player takes a thousand wickets in the county colours and it should never be forgotten that in order to do so you need to stay on top of your game for close to two decades. 

I was very proud and flattered to be asked to deliver a eulogy and I hope that those attending felt my words were appropriate. The drives in each direction were challenging, but I wouldn't have missed it for the world. 

I had another opportunity to discuss Edwin and his contribution to Derbyshire yesterday, in a far-reaching interview with James Sadler of North Derbyshire Radio. This will be on tomorrow night and I will post a link to it as soon as it is available online. We also discussed Derbyshire's season, high points and low points, Nye Donald, Shoaib Bashir and my thoughts on the rest of the season and how the county can replace Wayne Madsen in T20 next year.

Tomorrow, Derbyshire visit Scarborough, my second favourite ground after Chesterfield. It is needing a little investment, but there is something special about watching cricket at the seaside. Had we not been going on holiday on Monday I would have made the trip to Scarborough for this one. 

I find it quite difficult to make any predictions about this Derbyshire side, because you never know which one is going to turn up. There is talent in this side to beat most other teams on their day, but too often we seem to play reputations and match situations, rather than simply focusing on each ball in turn. 

I think that's why we fall short on occasions. At Old Trafford earlier in the year we played Sir Jimmy Anderson, not a run chase of 138. Against Yorkshire the focus switched from 'we are in control, just keep doing the same things' to 'oh, they *might* do this'. I'm convinced that a lack of positive mentality sees us fall short, as there is no other explanation. If you were good enough to take eight wickets, you can take the last two. 

It's great to see Luis Reece back in the squad and hopefully that is an indicator that his youngster is on the mend. No. Matthew Montgomery, but Yusuf bin Naeem is also in the squad, along with Shoaib Bashir.

Likely side

Came, Reece, Jewell, Madsen, Andersson, Guest, Whiteley, Dal, Potts, Aitchison, Morley

Yorkshire have been going well in this competition, but were beaten by Middlesex last time out. Derbyshire will be wary of Adam Lyth's record at Scarborough, a ground where he played from the age of 13 and the game presents a stronger challenge than the two recent victories.

Indian left arm spinner Kuldeep Yadav offers additional experience to an attack that also features captain Dom Bess, and this Yorkshire side  played against Middlesex

Lyth, Luxton, Bennison, Wharton, Whiteman, Hill, Bean, Bess, Yadav, Cliff, White

Bepey, Chohan, Coad, Duke also in the squad tomorrow but Yadav is unavailable.

Finally today, it's good to see Shoaib Bashir in the England squad for the first two Tests against Pakistan. 

I think he's doing well at Derbyshire and the environment suits him. Both on and off the pitch he has impressed and while he has his detractors, too many people forget that he is a young lad learning a difficult skill set. I would love to see him retain his central contract, not least because it would enable Derbyshire to utilise money in the budget that they're undoubtedly keeping aside in case he isn't centrally contracted next year. 

That the squad needs strengthening is beyond argument, but better luck with injury wouldn't do any harm either...

Let's hope that the boys can deliver by the seaside and three successive wins is a pleasant consequence.

Potts signs on for two years

Excellent news for Derbyshire supporters this morning, as Nick Potts has committed his future to the club until the end of the 2028 season. 

He has improved immeasurably over the course of the summer. I don't think too many people expected him to be on the staff in 2027, when this summer started, but his progress under the watchful eye of Chris Wright has been remarkable. 

I also think, as with Ben Aitchison, that his increased confidence in his body has been a contributory factor. His performances in the Vitality Blast were excellent and he showed growing confidence with varied pace and length. 

He's also a terrific fielder and has shown through the summer that he is more than capable with the bat. It could well be that by the end of this two years he is seen as a genuine all-rounder, like Chappell, Aitchison and Moore. 

To be fair to Derbyshire, without Chappell, Moore, Brown and Reece this year they have done well to remain competitive, especially in the red ball format. If they can get all of them fit for next season, the attack will take on a different dimension. 

Congratulations Nick. Like everyone else, I can only say that this contract is a deserved reward for what has clearly been a lot of hard work.

Onwards and upwards!

Derbyshire v Sussex Metro Bank One Day Cup

Derbyshire 325-7 (Madsen 104*, Came 43, Andersson 39, Montgomery 36, Whiteley 33, Crocombe 3-44)

Sussex 137 (Leaning 25, Morley 5-28, Potts 2-21, Andersson 2-24)

Derbyshire won by 188 runs

Fair play to Derbyshire today, in another fine example in the occasional series of 'beating what is in front of you in fine style'.

As expected, they disposed of Sussex by 188 runs at the Our Co-op County Ground, doing wonders for their Net Run Rate in the process. It wasn't that much of a contest, despite the presence in the Sussex ranks of Messrs Leaning, Robinson and Crocombe, because the inexperience of their team mates was too great a counterbalance.

I didn't see much of the Derbyshire innings, but there was a more balanced look to the lineup with the return of Matthew Montgomery and they duly racked up 325-7. I reached my hotel room in time to see Wayne Madsen make his latest century in county colours and each time he does so I wonder how many more the old maestro has in his locker. I will leave you to fill in any individual blanks, including Ross Whiteley's 30 from an over of the unfortunate Troy Henry.

The visitors reply was something of a procession and they never threatened to get close to the required total. Harry Came kept changing position in the field and they kept finding him and after Nick Potts again reinforced his growing value to the side, Jack Morley took five wickets for 28 runs, the best figures in One-Day cricket by a Derbyshire spinner against another county (courtesy David Griffin).

It was all over with 19 overs to spare, early enough to give the visitors an early start on their way home and, for the younger players, a good chance of being home before their curfew..

Afterwards I watched a little of a match in the other competition, between a team in red and another in blue. I could have looked up who they were, but it didn't mean enough to warrant doing so. There was plenty of swishing, smearing, gratuitous crowd shots and as little finesse as both teams could muster. Before long I had switched over to Celebrity Escape to the Country.

I didn't know who they were, either.

Ah well, Scarborough on Friday and what should be a better test for Derbyshire. Yorkshire were soundly beaten by Middlesex today and those two sides, with Durham, still look the strongest in the group.

Derbyshire will take the win and hope to build momentum and confidence as a consequence.

We will see.

Postscript: meanwhile in Port of Spain, Mohammad Abbas was left out of the Pakistan side against the West Indies 'because of the conditions'. This despite taking eight wickets in the first Test match.

I don't think I will ever understand the rationale of Pakistan selection. I'm not even sure there is one...

Derbyshire v Sussex Metro Bank One Day Cup preview

Derbyshire entertain Sussex at Derby tomorrow and will hope to get on a roll in the Metro Bank One Day Cup.

It was good to report on a win yesterday and there was some good cricket played. It is important to record, however, that the Glamorgan side had four 19-year olds, as well as a 21 and 23 year old. To hear Mickey Arthur talk about our 'young guys' doing so well and realising that Nick Potts and Rory Haydon, our youngest, are 24 and 23 requires that qualification.

I would have been happier had Yusuf bin Naeem played, to be honest, rather than either 42-year old Wayne Madsen or 38-year old Ross Whiteley. We know what they can do and surely there has to be a development aspect to this competition? Either that or you go full on, in which case you contract an overseas player? 

The same applies tomorrow against a 'very good' Sussex side that is bottom of the table and missing seven players to the fast snack competition. They beat Essex in their last match, with seven players of 22 or younger in the ranks, two of them teenagers. It isn't a level playing field so I do find it difficult to be overly euphoric over victories in such circumstances, not to mention our 'young guys' being singled out.

Anyway, I don't expect much, if any change to the side tomorrow. If Rory Haydon isn't fit then Shoaib Bashir may return, because there aren't too many options. As I write there is no news on either side but last time out Sussex fielded the following side against Essex:

Tear, Thomas, Johnson, Ibrahim, Leaning, Carson, Hudson-Prentice, Robinson, Price, Henry, Munt

Given their greater experience  (notwithstanding some well-known names in the visiting ranks) this is a game that Derbyshire should win. It would keep alive their marginal interest in the competition, although with Yorkshire, Middlesex and Hampshire to come, they will regret losing to earlier lesser lights.

I will add a page for your comments afterwards and add my own observations from the limited cricket I see when I get down to Chesterfield.

As always, your comments are welcome.

Postscript: Matthew Montgomery is back so will likely come straight into the side and strengthen both the batting and bowling

Sussex squad: Carson (c), Crocombe, Henry, Ibrahim, Johnson, Kirtley, Leaning, Munt, Oosthuizen, F Price, Robinson, Tear, Thomas

With six players at the other competition, they are also missing Tom Haines,  Oli Carter, Tom Clark,, Danny Lamb, John Simpson, Dom Goodman,  Tom Price and Fynn Hudson-Prentice - 14 players absent in all