Derbyshire v Glamorgan day 3

The third day of Derbyshire's final home game of the season was, pretty much as expected, washed out today. 

Heavy overnight rain, followed by intermittent rain and drizzle today, meant that no play was possible. It renders the final day - assuming that they get on - somewhat academic, with only bonus points to gather. I think it very unlikely that Glamorgan would be interested in setting up a 'match' and I certainly wouldn't be, in their position.

It has made for a disappointing end to the home season, but no one can control the weather.

It's a good job that the club didn't bother signing an overseas player  for these closing matches... it would have been a long way and a lot of money to sit in the pavilion...

Derbyshire v Glamorgan day two

Glamorgan 259 (Carlson 94, Van Der Gugten 37, Harris 31, Reece 4-67, Dal 3-29, Aitchison 2-51)

Derbyshire 17-0

Derbyshire trail by 242 runs

Before I give my thoughts on today's play, I thought I should comment on yesterday's non-start, not just at Derby but around most of the country. 

In this health and safety/litigation crazy world we now live in, you cannot take risks with employees. It is all well and good to suggest supporters, ground staff and players could have got the covers off, but what happens if something goes wrong? Add in an outfield that is very wet and people who are playing cricket for their livelihood, not a laugh, the potential for an issue was considerable. 

A decision was made - not just at Derby, but pretty much everywhere - that the risk was too great. While acknowledging it is an important game for Derbyshire, common sense has to apply and I have no issue with play being abandoned for the day. It was a decision made by the umpires and that has to be respected.

Today, a Derbyshire charge was held up by the diligent Kiran Carlson and Timm Van Der Gugten. They batted with complete focus and common sense in repelling the Derbyshire attack for 28 overs when their side had slipped to 99-6 on a more lively pitch than usual, after being under covers for 24 hours. The home seamers bowled well, the ground fielding was excellent and the catching good. Ben Aitchison held a Daryn Smit-style screamer to eventually dismiss Carlson, but the damage had been done by that point. 

Both those batters are admirable players and have been fine servants to Glamorgan. It was fitting that they should team up to steer their team to calmer waters, having done so many times over the years since they both made their debuts in 2016. They are part of an ageing side, but one in which the key players have stayed fit this summer and six batters average over 40. 

There just isn't enough time left in this game for Derbyshire to force a win. They could go in and hammer 400 in 75 overs tomorrow (unlikely, on a surface offering help to the bowlers) but it looks like being a truncated day and the visitors have no obligation to offer anything, when they are in such a positive position in the league.

If this was day one of a four-day game, Derbyshire would be dreaming, but it isn't, so they must battle to get the best points they can from the fixture.

Luis Reece and Anuj Dal bowled splendidly today on a pitch that suited them, but everyone pitched in. Ben Aitchison again offered both quality and control, his return being one of the major plusses of the summer. It was a solid team effort, epitomising our red ball game this year, but as I said at the outset, to do something special you need your fair share of luck. 

Yesterday, we didn't get it. But in that, we were the same as everyone else. 

Sadly, as the saying goes, them's the breaks.

Late in the day, a shoulder injury sustained by Luis Reece in the field was worrying, but he thankfully reappeared soon afterwards and was able to take the second new ball. The pitch appeared easier by that stage and the visiting tail dug in, as the intensity of both the attack and fielding dropped. Gorvin and Harris took time out of the match and did a fine job for their side in an important half century ninth wicket stand.

It was eventually broken by Reece, courtesy of a fine low catch by Guest, but Glamorgan had an unlikely batting bonus point by that stage. Gorvin's eventual dismissal after facing 66 deliveries gave Derbyshire an awkward five overs to face.

Reece and Donald took 17 runs from them and will hope to add many more - and quickly - tomorrow.

Derbyshire v Glamorgan day one

Doesn't look like I missed much...

Derbyshire v Glamorgan preview

It is the last four home days of cricket 2025 at the Central Co-op County Ground, starting tomorrow. 

Mickey Arthur has named the predictable twelve, which is pretty much anyone left and still able to run. The decision on the final eleven looks likely to be between Nye Donald and Amrit Basra, so you can place your bets on that one. I suppose the former could be asked to open the batting, as he does successfully in white ball cricket, replacing Caleb Jewell. I would be happier with both of them away from the new ball and the wiles of Timm Van Der Gugten, to be honest. I expect Arthur to go with Donald and this to be the team:

Reece, Came, Guest, Madsen, Donald, Andersson, Dal, Chappell, Aitchison, Morley, Haydon (Basra)

Glamorgan arrive with a squad of fourteen and all of their big guns apart from Ben Kellaway, who is injured. 

Northeast, Root, Carlson, Crane, Harris, Gorvin, Leonard, ul Hassan, Ingram, Cooke, Tribe, Van Der Gugten, Fernando, Byron

Much as I would love to predict a home win, the weather looks set to take time out of every day and I fully expect a draw as a consequence. Which will be greeted with euphoria in Cardiff, of course and our visitors deserve every credit for how they have gone about their cricket this year. They have managed five wins to our two, which is the reason they are 27 points ahead at this stage.

For next summer, Arthur needs to be brave enough to go with result pitches at Derby. Not to the point of point deductions, but similar to what we saw at Lord's last week and what they have had in Cardiff and at Leicester.

I am not convinced that our batting is as good nor our bowling as at times ineffectual as it has seemed, but a young attack, hopefully strengthened by a solid attack leader from overseas next year, could do with a little more encouragement on home turf.

But that's for another year. I won't see much of tomorrow's play as I am in Manchester meeting up with some friends, but I will see the rest of the game. As I do when on holiday with the family, I will create a page for you to append comments at the end of the day.

Fingers crossed! 

Weekend thoughts

Two games, or a theoretical eight days of cricket to go in the 2025 season. Derbyshire are still in third place in the table.

Things are so tight that all of the hard work could yet be undone and it is possible for us to finish second bottom, even now, if results didn't go our way. 

I don't think that we will sneak into the promotion places, which isn't me being negative, just realistic. We are 27 points behind Glamorgan and with the forecast for the game being best described as 'sketchy' look like having to win in the equivalent of three days play.

I don't think the usual pitches at Derby facilitate that and the visitors come with a solid batting side and the form player in the country in Asa Tribe. For Derbyshire to win, we need to score runs quickly, two or three players need to have stellar games and we need to hold our catches throughout.

There is no Caleb Jewell, so we go into the last two matches without an overseas player. There has been a lot of discussion among supporters about bringing in an overseas player, but with all of the above taken into account, I wouldn't have done so. 

If we were level pegging with Glamorgan maybe the argument is different, but with so much cricket going on around the globe and the workload of name players being managed by different countries, availability of worthwhile additions would be limited. 

As for loan players, who is available AND match fit but not in their own team's plans? Would such a player really be better than we have? I am not convinced...

I would sooner save the money and use it towards a second and third overseas player next year. Special players, with reputations made, who can be the 'go to' members of the attack in red ball and T20 cricket. Assuming, again, that such players are available and can be persuaded to come to Derbyshire.

For now, let's make sure that players with big futures get opportunity. Let's see Rory Haydon and Ben Aitchison. Hopefully get Amrit Basra into the side and give him a taste of things ahead of next season.

For what it is worth, my side for Glamorgan would be:

Reece, Came, Guest, Madsen, Basra, Dal, Andersson, Chappell, Aitchison, Morley, Haydon.

Nye Donald could be an option, but that would omit Basra. Anuj Dal is a better bowler but isn't scoring the runs he has in the past, while Martin Andersson has been terrific with the bat but is doing little bowling (maybe his back injury still an issue?) Perhaps the selection of Basra, a useful seamer, could be a decent compromise.

We will find out the squads tomorrow and I will be back then.

Came signs new deal

More excellent news to take us into the weekend, as Harry Came is announced as signing a new two-year contract.

He is a fine player, still with an outside chance of making a thousand red ball runs for this summer. He needs 192 runs in his last four innings, not beyond him in his best form. An average of just under forty represents a solid season and I would like to see him open next year, building on the partnership that he had with Caleb Jewell. 

I suspect he will, with Matt Montgomery likely to bat three and this will allow Luis Reece to drop to six, where he offers reassurance to a sometimes sketchy batting order.

He had a mixed One-Day Cup but made a memorable century against Essex, when he looked a very good player indeed. He isn't currently seen as a T20 player, but that is perhaps an area to work on over the winter. Derbyshire are not short of options in that format at present, so he may need to wait for opportunity.

Yet he is only 27 and should be coming into his peak years now. That Mickey Arthur has secured his services is a sensible move.

I think everyone should be happy with this news.

Middlesex v Derbyshire day four

Derbyshire 283 and 153-4 (Guest 65*, Andersson 31*)

Middlesex 298

Match drawn

With the rain never far away, the game at Lord's ended in hard-fought draw today. 

Middlesex will have entertained hopes of a win when Derbyshire slipped to 46-3, with both Reece and Madsen adjudged leg before to decisions that could have been deemed questionable. 

Harry Came and Brooke Guest steadied the ship before the former, not moving his feet, played on to Ollie Stone, who bowled well here. So too did Ryan Higgins, an admirable player who bowled with great skill and in long spells.

Yet Guest and Martin Andersson, against his old county, stood firm. Both played some fine strokes but were watchful in defence on a pitch where the ball moved throughout and there was variable bounce. It is a pity that the rain ruined the last two days, because Derbyshire will have fancied their chances in the final innings on such a pitch. 

It was not to be, however, and both teams took a share of the points, with Derbyshire remaining in third place with two matches to go. 

For me, the big news of the day is that the upper age limit for county academies is to rise from 18 to 19 next season.

One director of cricket, who backed this change, suggested that it supports the view that the greatest transition in young players comes between the ages of 18 and 20. The success of the South Asian Cricket Academy and the importance of the MCC Young Cricketers' programme – revived this year – have supported the argument. It has long been argued that existing practices were costing the county game talented youngsters.

Until now, a county couldn't even keep on an 18-year-old who wasn't deemed ready to be signed on a casual basis, unless they paid the player to come in for sessions.

To quote Nick Friend in The Cricketer:

One academy director said that he expects the benefit of the extra year's academy coaching to lead to better players being signed and those players then to spend more time in the professional game once signed. Previously, counties would gamble on 18-year-olds, sometimes successfully but at other times with no great longevity, whereas the extra year ought to give greater confidence around talent identification.

I applaud this change and it will give young cricketers a chance to focus on their game for a year after they complete their exams. It will also allow them to decide whether a career in first class cricket is what they want.

With the Derbyshire Pathway at its strongest for many years, it is an opportunity for some of the youngsters to state their case, free of educational pressure. 

A player like Matt Stewart, for example, has now finished school and showed yesterday with his five wickets for the second team that he can possibly make the next step. A winter in Australia is likely to improve his game still further and he can come back next year with a chance to show what he can do for the summer.

With others, such as Rohan Vallabhaneni, Rubaiyat Abrar, Jake Green and Hasnain Akhtar showing real potential, not to mention Joe Hawkins, we should be better able to make an informed decision on these young men when the time comes.

The future is bright.

Middlesex v Derbyshire day 3

Derbyshire 283 and 33-1

Middlesex 298

Derbyshire lead by 18 runs

Not much to say today. The rain took the expected chunk out of the day and the only thing of note was Caleb Jewell passing a thousand red ball runs for the season before he was dismissed. 

It will be difficult to conjure a result in the remaining time, much will depend on tomorrow's weather. 

In other news, the second team lost a thrilling match to Northamptonshire by one wicket.

Set 174 to win at Denby, the visitors got there thanks to a last wicket stand of 32 runs. Matt Stewart once again underlined his credentials by taking 5-36 in ten overs.

Scorecard and video clips can be seen here

Middlesex v Derbyshire day two

Derbyshire 283 and 17-0

Middlesex 298 (du Plooy 105, de Caires 46, Cracknell 43, Aitchison 3-35, Chappell 3-69)

Derbyshire lead by two runs with ten wickets in hand

Derbyshire did well at Lord's today, bowling out Middlesex for 298, despite an excellent century by Leus du Plooy.

It was a gritty knock by the former Derbyshire player, surviving a stoppage when he inside edged Aitchison and took a painful blow. I don't think I've seen many players suffer more injuries when batting than Leus and his low forward defensive stroke always makes him susceptible to a blow in the unmentionables. I recall one afternoon at Chester le Street when that happened several times, which must have made for an uncomfortable evening...

de Caires also batted well in the morning session, on a day when press reports confirmed he was staying with Middlesex. He has a somewhat unusual style, his exaggerated 'leaves' outside off stump often ending with him facing the wicket-keeper and slips. Which is all well and good, as long as he doesn't get it wrong...

Ben Aitchison was superb today, his analysis of 20-7-35-3 telling its own story. It probably didn't give him full value either, as he beat the bat consistently. The opening spell of Ben and Rory Haydon was in the best Derbyshire tradition, giving little away and making the batters play. It was good to watch and heartening ahead of next summer, when both will undoubtedly be key members of the seam attack.

Zak Chappell also took three wickets, while Haydon took two on debut in an encouraging display. Luis Reece was also good value for two wickets, but it probably made people question why we selected Anuj Dal AND Martin Andersson, when the former only bowled eight overs and the latter none. I accept Martin has been a batting success this summer, but the omission of Amrit Basra was an odd one, as several of you pointed out yesterday. 

The ball nipped around all day on an excellent cricket pitch and reduced the game to what is effectively a one innings shoot out. I like such pitches, where good batters can make runs but there is reward for bowlers who bend their back. I would be more than happy with similar pitches at Derby.

The home side had a lead of fifteen runs, though missing out on a second batting point by just two runs, but crucially they had nine overs at the Derbyshire batting before the close.

They survived with no major alarms, two runs ahead and Jewell three short of a thousand red ball runs for the summer.

A fascinating final two days is in store.

Who will hold their nerve? 

Postscript... The second team took a first innings lead of 40 runs against Northamptonshire at Denby. There were three wickets for Yusaf bin Naeem and two each for Matt Potts, Jake Green  and Ajay Khunti. 

On a deteriorating pitch, Derbyshire were 111-8 in their second innings, a lead of 151. Trialist Callum Gaffney, from Durham, top scored with 30, while Zak Kelly made 26.

If the weather allows it, that could be a decent finish ..

Middlesex v Derbyshire day one

Derbyshire 283 (Came 64, Jewell 56, Aitchison 36, Dal 36, Roland-Jones 6-77)

Middlesex 12-0

Derbyshire lead by 271 runs

I am not going to spend too much time on today, because I only saw the first session, before I went out with my wife and daughter for the afternoon. 

At that point Derbyshire, were progressing serenely, although the movement obtained by Higgins and Roland-Jones suggested that batting may not continue to be straightforward. 

I will leave you to fill in what happened after the excellent stand between Came and Jewell, which left Caleb four runs short of a thousand first-class runs for the summer with an innings to go.

Meanwhile at Denby, the Seconds were all out for 320, with Savin Perera, who has been around a few county second teams and plays with SACA, making an unbeaten 160 and carrying his bat in a wonderful effort. Yusaf bin Naeem made 47 and McLoughlin took 4-67 for Northamptonshire 

They were 66-2 at the close with George Bartlett unbeaten on 33 after Potts and Stewart took an early wicket each.

More from me tomorrow, when we will see if we can make early inroads at Lord's and Denby

Now, over to you!

Middlesex v Derbyshire preview

Mickey Arthur has named a squad of thirteen for tomorrow's game against Middlesex, at Lord's. 

It is anyone's guess who will be left out, but my first eleven is the most likely side, with the other two also in the squad:

Came, Jewell, Guest, Madsen, Basra, Reece, Andersson, Chappell, Aitchison, Morley, Haydon

Dal and Donald also in the squad. 

Nuj hasn't had the best of summers, averaging only 21 with the bat and with just 15 wickets. He could play in place of Aitchison or Haydon, which would lengthen the batting, but it would also be to the detriment of the attack - and we need to take twenty wickets to entertain any remaining hope of promotion. I expect Haydon to play, because otherwise signing him on for these last three games seems a little odd. Indeed, I hope that both he and Amrit Basra get the tasters of the first-class game that will prove beneficial to each next season.

This is a third (Derbyshire) v fourth battle, with the home side only three points behind, Derbyshire 24 points behind Glamorgan. 

Middlesex are missing Max Holden, as well as Steve Eskinazi, who has moved to Leicestershire on loan ahead of a permanent deal. They have signed Olly Stone on loan from Nottinghamshire for two weeks and he will make up a lively attack with Toby Roland-Jones and Henry Brookes. 

Their squad:

Leus du Plooy

Henry Brookes

Noah Cornwell

Joe Cracknell

Josh De Caires

Nathan Fernandes

Ben Geddes

Zafar Gohar

Ryan Higgins

Luke Hollman

Seb Morgan

Sam Robson

Toby Roland-Jones

Olly Stone

The first two days look likely to enjoy good weather, but a positive result for either side will be dependent on how much progress they can make before the expected interruptions on Wednesday and Thursday.

For both there may be a requirement to take risks in order to force the result they each need, but my money at this stage will be on a draw. Which will, of course, strengthen Glamorgan's foothold in the promotion places. Taking twenty wickets has been a challenge for Derbyshire all summer and that would need to change if a solid red ball summer were to become special.

What do you think? 

Haydon signs on for three summers!

I am delighted that Derbyshire have at last concluded the signing of Rory Haydon, for the rest of 2025 and for the next three seasons. 

I have been in no doubt all summer that this was a young man who had the potential to make it in first class cricket. He always seems to take wickets, especially with the new ball, while a feature of his play is that he seldom wastes it.

Rory, like Ben Aitchison, likes to make the batters play and often reaps the rewards. I will admit to a little concern, as I heard that at least one other county were very keen on his services, having seen him in action both for Staffordshire and ourselves. 

Thankfully, Rory has shown that loyalty does still have a place in the modern game and it is excellent news that we will be able to see his development over the next three summers.

There are not too many young seam bowlers of his potential on the market and I'm sure everyone is equally happy that he will be in Derbyshire colours for the foreseeable future.

It could be that he makes his red ball debut at Lord's, which would be pretty memorable.

Welcome (back) to Derbyshire, Rory! 

Seconds on top at Taunton Vale

Another good effort by the second team at Taunton Vale today has them slightly on top after two of the scheduled four days.

Derbyshire extended their first innings to 286, with Joe Hall making 40 and Jack Morley 38, this after a delayed start because of overnight rain.

Then it was the turn of the Derbyshire seamers to enjoy conditions, with both Nick Potts and Matt Stewart taking two wickets. Stewart took the prize wicket of Archie Vaughan, courtesy of a stunning catch by Joe Hall behind the stumps, while Amrit Basra chipped in with another to leave the hosts 144-5 at the close.

Scorecard and video clips can be found here

Seconds battle at Taunton Vale

Derbyshire Seconds made 239-8 on the first day of a four day game against Somerset at Taunton Vale yesterday.

A young Derbyshire side, captained by Nye Donald and including Jack Morley, all got starts but no one exceeded the 39 by Amrit Basra. Yusaf Bin Naeem made 37, Will Tarrant 34 and Joe Hall was 35 not out at the close.

Archie Vaughan took 3-27 for the home side

More from me on this match as time allows

Scorecard and videos here

Under 18s robbed by the rain

Derbyshire under 18s will feel robbed of a win today, when the Plate final against Essex was abandoned as no result. 

The rain came after Essex had been bowled out for 133. They were cruising at 66-1, which rapidly became 68-5 with the advent of Matt Stewart and Rubaiyat Abrar. Each took two wickets and the ever-impressive pair finished with 4-18 and 2-27 respectively. Captain Joe Hawkins didn't come on to bowl until the thirtieth over, but finished with 1-8 in the six overs he bowled.

I understand that the trophy is shared, but Derbyshire will at least claim a moral victory after an impressive bowling and fielding performance.

Well done lads! 

Video clips and scorecard can be seen here

Weekend thoughts

There is no cricket for Derbyshire next week, which has worked out quite nicely because my wife and I are taking the dogs with us once again to Berwick upon Tweed. The final coastal break of the summer and I am sure it will be as relaxing and enjoyable as always. 

I had another interview with Matt Rhodes of North Derbyshire Radio yesterday, during which we discussed the 50 over competition, the successes and things we need to work on. We also talked about the ECB plans for next summer. 

Honestly, I am astonished at the lack of leadership, clarity and transparency from an organisation supposedly leading the national sport. At this stage, the overhaul of the county game looks like reducing the workload by two T20 matches and possibly one four-day game, which I wouldn't expect to transform many lives. 

I don't get the issues. I appreciate there is a lot of travelling - though most of it these days is done by luxury coach - but they play less than in the old days and are paid better than they used to be for the privilege. 

I accept and frequently refer to the stresses and challenges of maintaining a standard and how it isn't as much fun as some people might expect it to be, when your form is scrutinised and a lack of it criticised. It is one thing playing cricket, but there is a different kind of stress when it is your livelihood.

Yet is it any more challenging than what is faced by other people? I worked in high profile roles for over thirty years, where I was paid for 35 hours a week, yet often ended up working far more than that. I had my travel to do, I had a family to support and bills to pay. It was stressful, but life generally tends to be. 

Fifty-six days of red ball cricket and around twenty of white ball per summer, if you play all the matches. Is that really so difficult in a 365-day year? We constantly hear about down time, about time to work on skills, but surely there is enough in the other 289 days?  At any time in my working life, if I had gone to my boss and said I would like less time doing my job and greater opportunity to do more training about it, the response would have been short and sweet. 

Pressure, as Keith Miller once famously said, 'is a Messerschmitt up your arse. Cricket is not'. Sage words from a man who experienced far more severe challenges in the Second World War. Similarly, such comments would have got short shrift from my Dad, who spent most of his working life down the pit. Pressure was ensuring you didn't do something silly and bring the pit face down on you. Stress was carrying out one of your mates, either dead or seriously injured. It gave me a sense of perspective that carried me through the tougher days of my working life. Whatever the challenges, they simply didn't compare. 

So while I understand the need to look after players, I don't think they are unduly worked these days. Talk to any old professionals, when fixture planning saw them traverse the country, even mid-match, then back to resume the main game in their own cars. There were more overs per day, more days of cricket per season. With three games to go, no Derbyshire player will get close to bowling five hundred overs, yet it was once commonplace for even the quicks to bowl a thousand. Les Jackson certainly did and in his second-last summer, in 1962, he exceeded over a thousand overs at the age of 41. Yet still saw it as better than even a surface job at the pit...

Logically, a reduction in the playing 'offer' should see a reduction in salaries and, if continued, could see a reduction in players. If you aren't playing so many matches, you don't need so many players, do you? People need to keep such things in mind. Be careful what you wish for...

So we now get to a situation where Derbyshire might gain promotion (I don't think so) but it might not matter, because the structure has changed.

It seems as if the lunatics have taken over the asylum. I'm getting old, like it or not, but to me everything seems to get unduly complicated and one is left with the impression that the left and right hands haven't a clue what the other is doing.

Eventually the dust will settle, the game will carry on and we will all silently despair at what is happening to the game that we love. 

Without doubt, it is desperately sad. 

Postscript: last night's interview can be heard here

I am on 34 minutes into the show.

Good day for under 18s

Derbyshire Under 18s produced a consistent batting effort at Queen's Park today.

In reply to Yorkshire Academy's 225, they ended the day with 353 all out on the board, despite an interruption for rain.

Joe Hall, who has had an excellent season with the bat and behind the stumps, made 67, Zak Kelly 66, Rubaiyat Abrar 52, Arjun Annamalai 39 and Freddie Clarke 32.

By the close, Yorkshire had reached 25-2 in their second innings, with Matt Stewart returning the outstanding figures of 7-4-8-2

Looks increasingly like the next one in line, if he keeps working and stays fit.

With a day of the game to go, the thinking money will still probably be on a draw, but it has been good preparation for their Plate Final against Essex on Sunday. 

That game starts at Kibworth at 10.45.

We're all rooting for you, lads! 

Under 18s do well at Chesterfield

The under 18s had a good day at Queen's Park on the first day of three against Yorkshire

They bowled the visitors out for 225, with Greenfield making 87 and Matt Stewart recording the excellent figures of 4-37 in sixteen overs.

In reply, Derbyshire were 72-1, with Sam Cliffe unbeaten on 20 and Zak Kelly on 33

If you are free today and in Chesterfield, it sounds like a good one to watch!

Derbyshire v Essex One Day Cup

Essex 366-6 (Westley 118, Benkenstein 74, Allison 64, Walter 45, Chappell 2-64, Aitchison 2-74)

Derbyshire 322 (Came 139, Montgomery 108, Critchley 3-59)

Essex won by 44 runs

There was yet another noble effort with the bat by Derbyshire today, but in the end they came up short by xx runs against Essex.

I didn't see much of the first innings, because I was having lunch with an old cricket friend. But I was back in time to see the Derbyshire reply and for a long time, during a superb partnership between Harry Came and Matt Montgomery, a surprise win looked possible.

I don't think it's possible to bat much better than those two did today in a stand of 225 for the second wicket. Came's footwork and assessment of length was superb up to the last ball that he faced and he looked a very good player today. Montgomery simply looked the player I knew we were getting.. classy, with time to spare and a full range of shots. He seldom lifts the ball and once again was a joy to watch. All he ever needed was opportunity and he will get that here.

Only when Simon Harmer started pitching wider and getting considerable turn did the game do the same. Both Montgomery and Basra were bowled by extravagant spin (the former dragging on) and the injury to Martin Andersson took on additional significance when Zak Chappell came in at six. With an already long tail, there was simply not enough batting to come. Once Guest was run out by a brilliant stop and throw from Walter, the result was a foregone conclusion. Some lusty late blows from Haydon (26) delayed the result and made the eventual margin less than looked likely.

I won't comment on the bowling today, simply because I didn't see it, but the visiting tally tells its own story. 

On the positive side, a top four next summer of Came, Jewell, Montgomery and Madsen should ensure that Derbyshire usually get runs on the board. 

That's all from me tonight, I will leave you to add your comments in the usual manner.

Derbyshire v Essex One Day Cup preview

The last day of a disappointing white ball summer  arrives tomorrow. Derbyshire finish the campaign with a home game against Essex, which will see the return of Matt Critchley to the county.

Mickey Arthur has named a squad of 15 for the game which is as follows: 

Brooke Guest
Harry Came

Joe Hawkins
Martin Andersson
Ben Aitchison
Jack Morley
Matt Montgomery
Caleb Jewell
Yousaf Bin Naeem
Nick Potts
Zak Chappell
Ross Whiteley
Amrit Basra
Anuj Dal
Rory Haydon

I wouldn't begin to second-guess the team, but I would far sooner see a young eleven take the field, with a view to experience, rather than see more mature  players in their place. There's always the likelihood that we would aim to finish on a high, but we cannot finish bottom in the section so I would sooner leave out Messrs Whiteley, Dal, Chappell and AN Other for this one and see who can produce the goods.

Essex could still qualify in third place if Gloucestershire beat Hampshire and so will be giving it their all, with Paul Walter returned to the squad. Dean Elgar is not available to play in the One Day Cup while Sam Cook, Michael Pepper and Jordan Cox are all participating in the Hundred. 

Essex squad:

Westley, Allison, Benkenstein, Bennett, Critchley, Das, Fernandes, Harmer, Jones, Porter, Snater, Thain, Walter.

Derbyshire have batted very well in this competition, but it would be hard to picture the score we would need to come out on top here. Yet if we got to the end of the game tomorrow and two or three players had produced big performances, I would count that as a positive.

As always, I'm interested in your comments and I will be back tomorrow evening with a report. 

Footnote: Caleb Jewell has now scored 1721 runs in all formats this summer - an outstanding effort in his first year over here. With a potential seven innings left, he could make 2000 all format runs