Signing conjecture

I'm taking advantage of a day off today (sadly, it's because I have to work on Saturday) to catch up with a few mails and I have had several asking what I think about player X from a Derbyshire perspective for next summer. It struck me that I might as well share my thoughts with everyone on here!

First and foremost it should be made clear that Derbyshire will have far greater appeal as a first division side than if they remain in the second division. It is obvious - players want to test themselves against the best and, as James Harris has illustrated, if they are remotely ambitious and entertain international hopes they want to play at top level. I know that Bopara and Cook are from Essex and Bairstow from Yorkshire in the current England setup, but the side is largely from the top tier.

Second, it needs to be kept in mind that there is no football-style windfall with getting promoted. Millions of pounds and parachute payments for the relegated may be accepted in football, but Derbyshire will largely have the same to spend for next summer.

As I wrote the other night, I think we are well covered in the spin department, but could probably do with one extra seamer, ideally one who can bat, to cover the bases. Realistically, whoever comes in has to be better than one from Groenewald, Palladino, Clare and Turner, or there's no point. Mark Footitt has much to offer if he could stay fit, but unless a big name was available and wanted to join us - a James Harris style player, for example - we may as well give a full time deal to Ali Evans, who has done little wrong on a summer contract. Seven wickets yesterday for the Seconds highlights that the Scot is a decent bowler who wouldn't let anyone down and crucially will only get better.

It would probably be good to have competition for Tom Poynton behind the stumps, but if money is tight I don't see it as a necessity. There are plenty of guys out there who could come in on short-term deals if required, but Poynton has staked a very strong claim to be Derbyshire's wicket-keeper for a long time to come.

Which leaves the batting. For me, we need an English opening batsman and an overseas player. Lancashire and Worcestershire look like coming down - do they have an opener who is out of contract and worth signing? Do one of our second tier rivals - assuming, which we can't, that Derbyshire will get promoted? To some extent it doesn't matter, as wherever we play our cricket next year it is patently clear that we need another opening batsman as we currently only have Paul Borrington as a specialist opener.

That leaves the overseas role and next season will be a nightmare for counties. There's not just the Indian Premier League and then the ICC Trophy in June, but now an American Twenty Over competition, where money is likely to be no object and there is an opportunity to get in at the start of something that could be big. It coincides with our T20 as it is currently planned, so guess where the bigger names will go?

I wrote three months ago and haven't changed my stance since that the best overseas batsman from a talent and availability perspective next year is likely to be Brendan Taylor of Zimbabwe. Taylor is an exciting, aggressive player in a similar mould to Martin Guptill. He is national captain and wicket-keeper, as well as being a useful spinner. He can either open or go in first wicket down and scores his runs quickly. Yes, he is largely untried in our conditions, but is available for almost the whole summer and could be a big success. There are plenty of others who could come in and out through a revolving door, but Zimbabwe are the only major cricket country with a largely free English summer in 2013. Any county that gets Taylor's signature for 2013 will be securing the services of a gem and I suspect he will be engaged by one of them before the end of October.

I would also like to see a second overseas batsman for the T20. Rana Naved was a failure and the statistics back up my suggestion that there is little wrong with our bowling. Few teams collared us in 2012 and you could add Messrs Knight and Burgoyne to the attack next summer with a degree of confidence. We need two batsmen who can reach or clear the boundaries and pull in the crowds. It won't be easy, for reasons I have already explained, but it has to be the aim.

Finally Murray Goodwin. Could he do us a job? I think Goodwin and Darren Lehmann have been the standout overseas batsmen in the county game over the last ten years, but he will be 40 well before the season starts and averaged only 13 this summer. In a younger player you could write it off as one of those things, but I can't see Goodwin getting better at that age so it's a "no" from me.

But as always, I'm keen to hear your thoughts!

Kent v Derbyshire day 1

Had Karl Krikken sat down last night and scripted this important match in realistic mode, he could have wished for little better than to bowl out a strong batting side on day one for 261. He might then have hoped to have got through to stumps unscathed, but after the early dismissal of Usman Khawaja, fans will have been heartened by the way in which Wayne Madsen and Wes Durston saw us through to stumps on 32-1.

Khawaja was opening because Paul Borrington sustained a suspected fractured nose in the field, though I would be surprised if that stopped the gritty young opener from batting at some point in the Derbyshire innings. We now need to bat for a day and a half, then hope that the spinners come into their own in the final innings. From the accounts I have read Khawaja was unlucky to be given out when well forward and we can live without too many of those decisions.

The bowling was again accurate and hostile, with the wickets shared out, largely between the seamers. Tim Groenewald and Tony Palladino took their combined championship haul to 92 wickets and one need look no further for reason we have sustained a promotion challenge. Meanwhile Ross Whiteley did what he had done all season and broke partnerships and he has a happy knack of doing so from balls that are not necessarily the most obviously penetrative. The dangerous Coles, who flayed us at Derby, was again undone by Wes Durston, so maybe there's been a lesson learned there.

In matches of such importance the contribution of the fielders is vital and Tom Poynton's leg side catch off Robert Key sounds pretty spectacular by any standards. After a long first season it would be understandable if Poynton's standards had dropped a little, but in both batting and glovework he seems to have improved as the summer has progressed. The early dismissal of Kent's talismanic opener after they elected to bat was a crucial wicket  and gave us an advantage that we held for the best part of the day, despite a late recovery orchestrated by Geraint Jones.

The earlier September start will be a key session tomorrow and if Madsen and Borrington can put together a stand and see off the openers, the stage will be set for the free-scoring Redfern and Whiteley to come in and do what they do best. The most encouraging thing about our batting this summer has been the collective approach to building a score, although fans will appreciate a greater contribution from the top order than has been the case of late.

Elsewhere, Hampshire are well on top against a Masters-less Essex (a much less dangerous beast) while Yorkshire clawed Glamorgan back well after the Welsh county had a highly encouraging morning. I would like to think that if Derbyshire got to 198-3 tomorrow they would end up with more than 272.

Tomorrow, I hope that they prove it.

Kent v Derbyshire - team news

I wasn't too far wrong with my suggested squad of last night, with Peter Burgoyne (and Alex Hughes) part of the Derbyshire squad that has travelled down to Kent for the start of the game tomorrow.

Logically the two talented youngsters will share twelfth man duties, but they should both have plenty of opportunities to play in such matches in the years ahead. The Derbyshire side will therefore line up as follows:

Paul Borrington
Wayne Madsen
Usman Khawaja
Wes Durston
Dan Redfern
Ross Whiteley
David Wainwright
Tom Poynton
Tony Palladino
Tim Groenewald
Mark Turner

There's no definitive news on the Kent side as yet, but with keeper Geraint Jones set to make his 100th consecutive championship appearance, a notable record, they are likely to be close to the following:

Key
Northeast
Blake
Nash
Powell
Stevens
Jones
Coles
Davies
Riley
Shreck

The absence of Tredwell on international duty could be crucial, especially as the game wears on, but Adam Riley is a promising young off-spinner who could well fill in, unless they prepare a seaming track and go with just four bowlers plus Nash's occasional seam. They are a side of considerable experience, which counts in their favour and Derbyshire will need to be at their best to get the desired result.

I still fancy us to get it though. At the back of the minds of the Derbyshire side will be their aspirations back in March and the fact that their gritty, aggressive cricket has taken them very close now. Below yesterday's post Marc makes the valid point that we cannot worry about the other matches and he is absolutely right. If we focus on our game and do all the right things, the other matches will not matter all that much.

It will be a close game, but I'm going to go for a Derbyshire win. Not out of misguided loyalty, nor because I'm being unduly optimistic. It is partly because I expect a result wicket and I feel that Derbyshire have the better all-round attack.

But more because I think that we're a good championship side, playing as a team and with a growing feeling that this is our year.

We'll see from tomorrow.

Postscript - there's an excellent article on Derbyshire on cricinfo today - well worth a read! Plus this one in the Telegraph. Nice to see the media noticing us at last...

Kent v Derbyshire early preview

In the annals of massive games, this is King Kong versus Godzilla. Not so much from the perspective of the merits of the two sides, but in relation to the significance of the result.

It is possible that by next Friday we could be hailing promoted Derbyshire, one game away from achieving their first silverware in way too long. Conversely, we could have had a nightmare and be looking up at Yorkshire and back at the ever-closer Hampshire and Kent. It is THAT close and any number of scenarios are possible. Which is why, of course, County Championship cricket is still the best, purest form of the game. Two points for a win in a one-day league is easy. Chuck in a bonus points and draw points scenario and the permutations are many, varied and fascinating.

We will all, of course, be following events at Southampton and Leeds more than ever before. Why, I might even get myself some leeks at the supermarket if I thought it would help the Welsh cause at Headingley. Let's hope former Derbyshire alumni North and Wagg do their bit for the cause.

As I wrote the other day, Derbyshire control their own destiny, which is a nice position to be in. If they play to potential, bowl with discipline, hold their catches and bat with application and self-belief, they will get a result. If they don't, we risk blowing it. It's as simple as that.

Much will depend on the toss. Kent supporter Martin Moseling suggested in a comment on this blog the other day that the wicket would be "slow and sticky or slow and flat" depending on which end of the square was used. Given the circumstances, I suspect that our hosts will want a result track, thus maximising their chances of success. A draw is of minimal use to them, again depending on results elsewhere and the gamble of a result track may be worthwhile - always assuming they don't fall foul of pitch inspectors, of course. They may leave grass on to help the seamers, or shave it extra close in the hope of the sort of turn seen at Lords today.

While the first morning pitch inspection will dictate what we do, it would be nice to see Derbyshire command the game, bat and get serious runs on the board. While the absence of James Tredwell with England might legislate against the preparation of a turner, Karl Krikken could take an extra spinner with him, just in case. Whether he opts for a second slow left-armer in Tom Knight or the variation of Peter Burgoyne's off-spin is the question.

It would be good to see Jonathan Clare fit and firing, especially as he adds depth to the batting, and how Derbyshire would welcome an innings from Usman Khawaja such as he played in Kent last summer. The Australian hasn't scored the runs we might have hoped for, but a big innings here would certainly not go amiss.

Kent are worthy opponents and have additional incentives to do well, with a number of players whose contracts are up at season-end. Geraint Jones, Darren Stevens, Sam Northeast and Ben Harmison are all playing for new deals, the latter perhaps the one with most to fear. They are a side of far greater experience than Derbyshire and in Charlie Shreck have a bowler who has always been a bit of a bete noir for us, whoever he has played for. Brendan Nash has done well in the overseas role and Stevens has been a very good county cricketer for well over a decade.

It will be a tough game, without doubt. That's what you get when you're at the top of the table. At this stage in far too many seasons  that I'd care to count we have been playing for pride alone - and sometimes not very well at that. I hope that our young side doesn't freeze in sight of the finishing line and goes out to play the adventurous, aggressive cricket that has served them so well in 2012. We are not top (and clear) by accident, but because we have won more games than anyone else. If we can win this one, depending on results elsewhere, the Hampshire game could be a party, as we could already be champions. If we draw, we will still be in a very good place at the start of next week.

I don't want to think about a loss at this stage. When we were following the fortunes in the pre-season tour to Barbados, back in March, few people would have expected this position with two games to go.

We're here now and full credit to all concerned. There has been a new-found self-belief in Derbyshire's cricket this summer and that's why I am going to stick my neck out and suggest we will come away with at least a draw in this one.

Depending on that all-important toss, maybe, just maybe, something more.

Team news tomorrow, enjoy your week!

Postscript - Marcus North has headed back to Perth, James Harris isn't selected and nor is Robert Croft for Glamorgan. I hope they have decent reserves...

No exact science

It is encouraging, in some perverse way, to see James Harris thinking over his next move after leaving Glamorgan and not just accepting what he has described as a "very good offer" from our neighbours at the other end of the A52.

There will be few counties in the top flight who won't be interested in a bowler who always seems to get wickets and is a handy and improving late order batsman. I'm sure that Derbyshire would be, assuming that we got a top flight slot, but whether we could afford a player of genuine international potential is a different matter. There is little doubt, however, that promotion for Derbyshire this summer would see a different issue in the signing of  new recruits.

Realistically, whoever comes into the county this winter has to be better than we already have and has to give a reasonable guarantee of runs or wickets in the top division. Who offers that is going to be something that will occupy the minds of Karl Krikken and his coaching staff, along with Chris Grant, who will handle the contract discussions. Finding players who can coast along in the second tier as "old Derbyshire" used to do is relatively easy - getting people in who are good enough to mix it with the big boys is another matter.

I understand that some fans are already suggesting a move for the recently released Billy Godleman of Essex. When he was making his way in the county game at Middlesex, Godleman was talked about as an England player of the future. Yet it has never worked out for him as people expected and he has a career average of 30 per innings after around 120 first-class knocks. As a comparator, the oft-unfairly castigated Paul Borrington averages 28.5 from half the number of innings. I'm wary of players brought up on southern wickets moving up north, as there's not that many have made a decent fist of it in my recollection, but Godleman is the right age to perhaps get better,

It's a long way from an exact science. Last week I wrote that I had always rated Joe Sayers of Yorkshire, who has a first-class average in the mid-thirties. This summer he averaged only 17 for Yorkshire Seconds. Similarly I think that young players like Scott Elstone and Karl Turner at Nottinghamshire and Laurie Evans at Warwickshire have talent. All have scored stacks of runs for their respective county second strings this year, averaging in the mid-60s, yet none has so far translated that form to the first-class game. To be fair, Evans had a good T20 for Warwickshire, but at 25 has still to make the grade despite thousands of Second XI runs there and at Surrey.

As fans we have to trust the judgement of Karl Krikken and Dave Houghton on players who have the ability to score runs at top level. Neither presumably thought that Matt Lineker, another prolific batsman at lower level, had quite what it takes. None of us who watch the club has a real "handle" on what is required to be a good first-class cricketer because we have never done it. Besides the technical aspect there's a mental and physical side to the game that can cause some to fall short of the requisite standard. You can have the best technique in the game, but if you struggle to concentrate for longer than a couple of hours you're unlikely to make the grade; likewise if you're out on your feet at tea time.

The bottom line? Using the players named above as examples, I think all of them are capable of scoring good runs at first-class level, but we may never know, as Turner and Evans are approaching 26 and may struggle to convince a county to give them an opportunity. Elstone is younger, but at 22 is still to play a championship innings for Nottinghamshire. They are among the most prolific second string batsmen this summer, having scored more heavily than many bigger names.

If Derbyshire had signed any of them over the last couple of winters, you may well have applauded and hailed it a good piece of work. Should they do so this winter, some would think it a shrewd move, but the reality is that all are as yet unproven at county level, let alone first division. As a club we have progressed and if you compare those players to what we already have, they are of a similar standard, but not, at this stage, obviously better. The latter costs serious money, which is where we may struggle. With it, and assuming players were out of contract, you could have a James Harris, Gary Ballance, Moeen Ali and top overseas batsman and hike up your prospects considerably.

This will be a tricky business though and I wish Messrs Krikken and Grant the best of luck in their search.

But we need to get promotion first...

And another thank you from me

A consequence of Derbyshire's success this summer has been in the interest in this blog, which continues to go from strength to strength.

Last month saw a new record tally of well over 20,000 hits and the 300,000 barrier is set to be broken this weekend. Last week saw 139 new, viewing IP addresses registered, highlighting that interest in the club is perhaps at an all-time high.

Thank you to all of you for continuing to look in and for your mails and comments. While we don't always agree, it is good that we share a desire for a successful Derbyshire County Cricket Club, one that looks ever-likely to come to fruition in the near-future.

Keep them coming - and thanks again!

PS I hope to try the first radio show proper a week on Monday, before the Hampshire game. If you would like to participate, a headset would be useful, though not essential if the inbuilt microphone on your laptop or PC is decent quality. Alternatively, you can just listen in, or mail your questions or comments to me through the software.

You can also mail me between times at Peakfan36atyahoodotcom. Here's hoping that replacing the symbols with words in that address foxes the  robots and saves another raft of e mails from the blokes looking after my late relative's estate in Burkhina-Faso, or the one who has rolex watches at discount prices, or the one who wants to sell me something to "perk me up".

I'm a Derbyshire fan. How much more perked could I be?

PPS Yesterday at work we all had to dress as a sportsman in recognition of the Paralympics. Naturally, yours truly dressed as a cricketer (no pads and gloves, I'm not that weird...) and wore his Derbyshire shirt with pride.

There was a prize for the best "outfit" and I won, prompting the woman who presented me with the prize to say that I "really looked the part" and "was I interested in the sport"...

Hmmm...just a bit. I'm taking it as an omen. Man in Derbyshire cricket shirt wins trophy. It's got to be...

Saturday something: The end is nigh...

One senses that there are a few nerves starting to creep into Derbyshire's players as the finishing line of a long and arduous county season comes into sight. On the one hand it is understandable, as all teams hope to win trophies and all players hope to win recognition for their talents in their careers.

For Derbyshire's young side, such recognition is on the verge of arriving remarkably early. This is one of the youngest sides that the county has fielded in its history and marks the closing of a circle in my cricket-watching of the county, which began when we were a rest home for the elderly and near-retiring. In the period from 1970 to 1975, far too many players who were past their prime and released elsewhere washed up on Derbyshire's shores for comfort. Some were a qualified success (Fred Rumsey a prime, one-day cricket only example) while others were an abject failure (Clive Inman anyone?)

This current side is a collective of young lads, many of them home-grown, who have exceeded all expectations already. I thought we would challenge this summer and be in the top five around this stage, but then be reliant on results elsewhere to have any prospect of progress. A few people suggested I was overly-optimistic in my assertion, but I just had a feeling that we would do well in this format, just as I was less convinced by our one-day prospects.

Let's be clear about this. With two games to go, Derbyshire control their own destiny. If we keep on doing the things that have got us through the summer with only one defeat - that's ONE  defeat - then in two weeks time we will be acclaiming this group of players as Wayne Madsen holds high the championship trophy at the County Ground.

Yes, we have frailties, but maybe here in Derbyshire we're all too willing to concentrate on them at the expense of the things we are good at. We all know that the batting of late has misfired like an old car started up after years under a tarpaulin, but three players, Wayne Madsen, Wes Durston and Daniel Redfern are within touching distance of the thousand run landmark.

We have several young players - Redfern and Tom Poynton in particular - who have made giant strides this summer. We also have the likes of Tom Knight, Alex Hughes and Peter Burgoyne knocking on the door for future seasons.

We have the best seam attack in the division, bar none. As a collective unit, I'd back Palladino, Groenewald, Clare and Turner against any other side.

We have a top-class spinner for the first time in years and the role of David Wainwright in our rise this summer cannot be overstated, nor the occasional support from Wes Durston. When was the last time that we took 50 wickets from spin in a championship season?

We have a captain who has overcome personal tragedy during the summer to lead the side with flair, the courage of his convictions and dignity. I couldn't see Wayne Madsen acting as Gareth Batty did the other day after the actions of Murali Kartik. Whether within the laws or not, it flouted the spirit of the game.

We have excellent facilities at the County Ground and we are no longer the poor relations of the county circuit.

We have an excellent team behind the scenes who repeatedly come up with innovative campaigns and initiatives to spread the word about the club to all ages.

We have an outstanding chairman whose unflagging attitude to work and positive persona has seen remarkable advances being made in a very short tenure.

Above all we have the best team spirit that I have seen in a Derbyshire side in 45 summers. That has been worth an extra few runs, an unexpected wicket and a remarkable catch in every game we have played this summer. From such a team spirit you win games that appear likely draws and hold on to save games that look like slipping away.

That team spirit has got this young side through five hard months of a pulsating season, one that has produced more excitement and talking points than perhaps the previous five put together. They now have eight days, twenty-four sessions and two matches to end it in the best possible fashion and become the fifth Derbyshire side in 140-plus years to lift silverware.

As incentives go, that's got to be up there...

Derbyshire v Essex day 4

Once again it was a nervy finish to the game from Derbyshire, but their resolute team spirit saw them across the line and within eight days cricket of promotion, or the title.

It would be hard to say that we played well today, although when Wes Durston and Dan Redfern were together there was a brief period when a late charge for victory looked on. Yet our old fallibility in chasing a total came to the fore as three wickets fell quickly, leaving the final overs a tense battle for survival. Again we were indebted to the resolute concentration of Ross Whiteley, while Tony Palladino will have been pleased to have been in at the end against his old county, after earlier taking his fiftieth championship wicket of the summer, a notable feat.

Meanwhile at Grace Road, Leicestershire were lying down to die against Kent, thus enabling next week's opponents to rekindle their own promotion ambitions, moving up to third above Hampshire. Further north, in Scarborough, Gloucestershire were committing cricket hara-kiri with a most generous declaration that set Yorkshire, the best batting side in the division, 316 in 83 overs, a target they managed for the loss of eight wickets.

I will make several points about this. First, I am not buying into a conspiracy theory, or paranoia that they're all against us, but it gave Yorkshire, a side that had to win to stay in contention, every opportunity to do so. I wrote this morning that  they would chase anything and that 340 in 65 overs might have been realistic, giving the visitors every chance of a rare win with an attack that is on the average side of poor.

I wasn't too far wide of the mark, but then the ground there is small and quick scoring is the norm for a decent batting side. I wouldn't have backed Derbyshire to score those runs, as we're not an especially good batting side right now, but Yorkshire always looked on target and in doing so have resurrected their promotion dreams.

At the end of it all there are two games to go and we are still 19 points clear of second-placed Yorkshire, 23 clear of Kent. Both of those sides have still to play Glamorgan as one of their remaining games, with Yorkshire also due to go to Essex, where I have a feeling they will struggle to pick up 24 points against a good side who should have been higher in the promotion mix themselves.

In short? A long way from perfect, but we're still in there, ahead of the pack. Two games to go and perhaps next week we can talk about "promoted Derbyshire".

Let's hope so...

Just as an aside...

I see Yorkshire have, as expected, declared on their overnight score to force a result.

I just hope Gloucestershire set them a challenge at Scarborough, a fast-scoring ground where 5.5 an over is gettable with a batting side like our northern neighbours have.

If it is less than 340 in 65 overs, my money would be on Yorkshire. Let's face it, they have to go for it, whatever they are left...

Derbyshire v Essex day 3

Paul Borrington, Dan Redfern, Ross Whiteley, Tom Poynton. What's the link?

The answer is, of course, is that they are all Academy graduates and their efforts steered Derbyshire from a tricky lunchtime position to one of comparative tranquility today. Messrs Krikken and Dytham will have enjoyed a satisfied moment or two after their display, which took Derbyshire to a position where a draw should be within their compass. A win would be dependent on the generosity of the Essex declaration, as I don't see any need for Derbyshire to do something daft tomorrow.

Once again the lower order bailed Derbyshire out and at 30-4 and 120-7 we were looking down a barrel. Yet the response was at it has been all season, skilful, brave and dogged. It would be nice for them not to have to do this so often, for the blood pressure of the fans as much as anything, but the way that this side battles to the last man makes you proud to be a Derbyshire fan. It's been some time since we could say that.

Tom Poynton's century at Northampton has obviously done wonders for his confidence and the way that he steered us to bonus points belied his inexperience. Ross Whiteley has endured a difficult second summer but has returned to form in the past few weeks, while Dan Redfern got his head down and added a crucial 60 runs with Paul Borrington when the pressure was really on and the follow-on a distinct possibility.

As for Borrington, he will play few more valuable innings than that 42 against David Masters. The latter is one of the best seamers in the county game and a handful with a new ball and helpful track. Bozza will make bigger scores, but few will have the significance of today's effort.

A win tomorrow would be amazing and would seal promotion. It would leave the title a maximum of ten points from two games away, always assuming that Hampshire took maximum points from their last two matches, one of which is against us. Yet three points for a draw is a decent consolation prize given the current placings, with a wary eye being kept on Scarborough and Leicester tomorrow on what appears a decent day weather-wise.

We will know much more tomorrow night.
 

Derbyshire v Essex day 2

Er....it rained. That's all I can say, really. Like all the other games, this one fell foul of the weather so all of the teams at the top will now probably need to take risks in order to force positive results.

With a buffer between them and us, Derbyshire do not need to do that and in the first instance can concentrate on the acquisition of bonus points, then see where things go from there. A win would be nice and with improved batting tomorrow is a possibility, but first and foremost we need to ensure we don't lose.

As an aside, having given a reasonable amount of thought to it today, I think the "Jonathan Clare to Nottinghamshire" story I referred to earlier is most likely to be someone up to a little mischief.

For one thing, they are not exactly short of decent bowlers. For another they have thrown their hat in the ring for James Harris, who will not come cheap should they be successful. Unless they are intent on signing all good under-26 bowlers in the country, I fail to see how they could fit Harris and Clare into the same side with the other guys they have.

Then there's the fact that Clare seems very settled at Derby and can presumably satisfy his ambitions to play at a higher level with his mates at Derbyshire next summer, all being well.

I may be wrong, but for me this has come about by someone talking about Paul Franks leaving Nottinghamshire and getting a reply along the lines that "they'll be after Clare next". From such misinterpretation do daft stories come and from the above you're only a syntax-swap away from "they are after Clare".

You pays your money and takes your choice guv'nor. As for me, I'll happily abide with the fact that JC will be a valued and valuable member of Derbyshire's squad, until the club tell us otherwise.

See you tomorrow.

Turner stays, Lineker goes...

News this morning from the club that Mark Turner has signed a two-year deal that will keep him at the County Ground until the end of the 2014 season.

It represents excellent news  for Derbyshire CCC and its supporters as the player has improved immeasurably since his arrival from Somerset. John Morris to some extent took a gamble on a player who had shown himself a bowler of pace at Taunton, yet one who sometimes struggled to maintain a line and length. Such issues can be a problem for all those who exceed regulation pace, of course, but Turner is now a far better bowler. He still has genuine pace, but can now lock on an excellent yorker, as well as a very fast bouncer that will keep batsmen on their toes.

As much as anything, fans appreciate that Turner always gives 100%. He is not a bowler who on occasion seems to go through the motions, but runs up for every ball as if it will be his last. He has, in short, become a favourite and can expect to play a growing role in our side over the next two summers.

It is also nice to see the player showing his gratitude for a club that resurrected a career that was going nowhere fast at Somerset. I understand the player had interest from elsewhere, yet has shown a loyalty to the club that is good to see, the buoyant team spirit almost certainly being a major factor.

At the other end of the scale, the departure of Matt Lineker is tinged with sadness and he is a victim of an improved club and the ECB regulations. There are no financial contributions from the ECB for players of Lineker's age, although there have been a number of earlier eras in the club's history where he may have secured another deal. Yet Derbyshire are now a club with aspirations and, unless things go horribly pear-shaped in the last three matches, should find themselves in division one next summer.

For all that Lineker made some encouraging starts in the senior side and scored heavily at Second XI level, he was unable to translate his obvious talent to the first-class stage. The gulf between being an outstanding club cricketer and even a decent county cricketer is large and Lineker is not the first, nor will be the last to find it a little too large.

Perhaps he might have bridged that gap given time, but time is something the club didn't have and his late start was a factor. One of the key areas that we need to strengthen in the winter is the opening batting, where we only have one player, Paul Borrington, who is a specialist in the role. The latter is under contract until he is 26, but will be equally aware that he will need to evidence having made the grade by that stage or face a career outside the game, such is the harsh reality of modern county cricket.

I am sure that all Derbyshire fans will wish Matt Lineker, a lovely man, the very best of luck for the future. He will undoubtedly continue to score thousands of runs in local cricket, where he has been the best batsman for the last five years and is likely to continue to be for many more to come.

As for Derbyshire, the hunt for opening batsmen for next summer will gather pace. One of these slots may well be filled by an overseas batsman, but the out of contract lists will be getting scoured and I am confident that we will bring in someone of the requisite ability by the time next summer comes around.

One more point before closing for now. I had several e mails last night saying that Jonathan Clare was being chased by Nottinghamshire, something that I cannot verify at this stage. It is inevitable that the players of a successful county will be pursued and especially when one's neighbours have a scouting network that seems to extend the full distance between Derby and Leicester. You also have to factor in that the agents of some players are less concerned about the best deal from a long-term professional perspective than lining the pockets of the player and themselves in the short term. I don't know if there is any truth in the story, or if the latter statement is more relevant here, but there are plenty of players who saw greener grass outside Derby who found that it became parched very quickly when they got there. Ask Matt Cassar, Adrian Rollins, Robin Weston and Greg Smith for starters...

With Paul Franks free to talk to other counties, logically Nottinghamshire will be seeking a replacement, though time will tell if it is our enigmatic all-rounder. I hope not, but players will always come and go and one can only enjoy them while you can. It is another reason to bring through your own, of course, in that they may well show greater loyalty than others of a more nomadic bent. No one can blame a sportsman who looks for greater reward, but there is often a bigger picture - will there be the regular opportunities elsewhere?

No doubt we will hear more in the coming days and weeks.

Derbyshire v Essex day one

Until 15 overs from the close, today had gone swimmingly for Derbyshire.

We'd gained maximum bowling points fairly soon after tea on the first day, with the wickets shared out and a rich haul for David Wainwright, then suddenly the carpet is pulled from under our feet with David Masters showing why he is day in, day out perhaps the most underrated bowler in the country.

Three down at the close, although one was the night watchman, Tony Palladino. I seem to have written this a lot of late, but the first session tomorrow is massive. The first task, all joking apart, is to avoid the follow-on at 96. Then we need to mount a total and get some bonus points bagged. Theoretically Masters shouldn't have long spells in him after a period out with injury, so we need to see him off and then pick up runs from the lesser members of the attack with the softer ball. There's no Harbhajan Singh and Derbyshire will be happier facing Tom Craddock, talented as he is, than the Indian maestro in the fourth innings.

First we need to get close to the Essex total though and there's enough depth in the batting to get up to 200-250. Seeing off the shine is vital and the morning session, traditionally one for bowlers at Derby, is going to be a biggie. Full marks to Paul Borrington for seeing it through to stumps, but he and the rest of the batsmen have a lot of work to do tomorrow.

There had been suggestions from some fans that David Wainwright could or should be omitted from the team in favour of another batsman or seamer, but I am a firm subscriber to having a balanced attack. There may be arguments to omit a spinner in early season, when you would generally expect less turn than in the later months, but that argument carries less weight when the spinner is also a useful batsman, as Wainwright is. You might have omitted a Phil Tufnell at some stage this summer, but Wainwright gives balance to the Derbyshire side and his dogged batting could be especially valuable tomorrow.

Indeed, in future seasons I can see more spin options coming into play for Derbyshire. Given their current rate of progress, it might be perfectly realistic for a one-day side to feature Tom Knight and Peter Burgoyne, as well as David Wainwright, as all three have the priceless ability to bowl with control. That is unlikely to happen in championship cricket, but if Burgoyne continues to develop as an all-rounder (great century for the Seconds last week) he will force his way into the side, as will Alex Hughes, who has come on in leaps and bounds this summer.

Our match is similarly poised to Yorkshire's at Scarborough, where I suggested a result pitch would either make or break their promotion ambitions. Kent, meanwhile, are well placed against Leicestershire, but as I've said before, you can never judge a game after one innings.

We needs Bozza and Wes to start the recovery tomorrow, then Dan Redfern and Ross Whiteley to show us why they are so highly rated as cricketers. Plenty of batting still to come and no reason for us to be downhearted at this stage.

There is, however, a very special prize up for grabs if they do their stuff...

Thanks...

To all of you who tuned in to the radio broadcast this evening.

I've already had some feedback (thanks guys!) and would welcome more to the e mail address that you will find on the left hand side of the page further down.

I'm especially interested in if the sound was clear or not, if it was loud enough etc. Also keen to know if any of you had microphones or not as they will probably make a difference to the sound quality if I decide to take it further.

There were the expected teething issues with technology, but that was hardly surprising and I might try it again another week, though that will depend on whether you think it would work as a format. I can listen to myself any time, but only through your involvement can I see it develop to what I would want it to be.

Bit of thinking to be done on that one, but your comments will be valued and appreciated.

Derbyshire v Essex preview

Over 45 summers as a Derbyshire fan I have got used to matches from the beginning of August being largely meaningless. Sure, we have had honour, minor placings and pride to play for, but little else. The Lords finals made a welcome exception, though effectively meant only five days worthwhile cricket en route, while the Sunday League win was also memorable but gave you but one day a week to look forward to.

This summer's championship campaign has so far seen 52 days of action, with a further twelve to go and Derbyshire have won more than they have lost, which is why we are top of the table. Arguments that we are not the best side in the division from fans of other counties are superfluous and pointless. We're top because when the weather has allowed it we have won more matches then the other teams. FACT.

Irrespective of the occasional batting faux pas, we have played some excellent cricket and done exactly what was promised at the start of it. We have been aggressive, combative and fearless. Such cricket has seen us win against the odds and save matches similarly. If we can do so one more time in the remaining three games  it will carry us across the line as champions.

It would be nice to do so against Essex and take the pressure off, but it won't be easy against a side with plenty of talented cricketers who should have been in the mix themselves. Alistair Cook and Ravi Bopara are on England duty, but Owais Shah will hope to add to a fine record against us, as will Ryan ten Doeschate and to win this match we will need to be on top of our game. David Masters may return from injury and will be a threat if there's the usual first session movement, while their side is packed with high quality players who will make this a tough match. Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh will also be a threat and Derbyshire might not fancy facing the "Turbanator" in the last innings.

Yet a further sign of progress is that I don't think "uh-oh" as we approach the match. We have a good side, one that has pleased and surprised us in equal measure this summer. Even positive Peakfan, who predicted a promotion challenge, didn't expect us to lead the table for the vast majority of the campaign.

The Derbyshire side? I would suggest largely unchanged from the Northamptonshire match with only two decisions for Karl Krikken. Is Jon Clare fit enough for third seamer, or do we bring in Turner or Footitt? My guess would be that Mark Turner may come in, based largely on the premise that he has generally bowled well when given the opportunity, but also on the fact that Footitt may create a rough for Harbhajan that would mean he troubled the right as well as left-handers more than might otherwise be the case.

The other question is  - surprise, surprise - the opening berths. I get the feeling that Khawaja prefers three, Durston four. I still think Madsen is better in the middle order, but that means omitting either Redfern or Whiteley, which I suspect is unlikely. For me, the skipper has to move back up top and partner....who?

I still can't consider Chesney, as he's nothing to back up his claims other than runs in previous seasons when he was in better nick. Matt Lineker has had an extended run but with an average of 18 hasn't claimed the role. Paul Borrington's 22 average isn't spectacular either, but in the absence of more prolific alternatives shades it for me.

Why? Because it is higher, despite largely being made on early season tracks that were worse. Because he is in better form: granted at Second XI level but runs are runs and build confidence. And because whatever else Bozza may or may not do he grits it out, plays each delivery on merit and crucially takes the shine from the new ball, To some extent it doesn't matter if he is 18 not out at lunch, as long as he has taken the shine and bounce from the ball that enables later batsmen to capitalise from positions where they feel more comfortable.

Yes, we could move Durston up but you lose his middle order nous. You could ask Khawaja to do so, though he prefers batting first down, or you could get Redfern to do it and waste a very good and emerging number five.

If you could offer me an in form, experienced and guaranteed heavy scorer for the role on loan I would snatch your hand off. You can't, so for me you go for the gut feeling and who has shaped up best in the nets.

So we're back with Bozza. Back the lad please, he's playing for OUR side. Maybe I'm wrong, but his presence in the team today, ahead of Matt Lineker, suggests to me that he is in the frame for a recall. I also think that winning the toss tomorrow may well see us bat and give Wainwright and Durston a last afternoon opportunity. But I don't think this Derbyshire side will fear anyone, Harbhajan included.

We'll see, soon enough

Good luck lads. Do us proud.

Derbyshire v Northamptonshire CB40

I didn't preview today's game as it was pretty much a dead tie and the weather forecast suggested that there wouldn't be too much play anyway.

As it was the visitors innings was completed and a second string Derbyshire attack will be pleased to have limited a strong batting line up to 232-8, with only Matt Higginbottom taking a bit of stick in his spell.

Ali Evans did well with the new ball and can be proud of figures of 2-34, while Hughes' Chesney and Alex did little wrong on the evidence of their final analysis.

However, star turn was again Peter Burgoyne (left), who appears to be a young player with a very big future. He bowled well at Kent and today had the remarkable analysis of 3-31 in 7 overs, taking the wicket of David Sales, which he would be very proud of.

At 18 he appears a very special talent and as long as he keeps his feet on the ground should be set for a long and glittering career.

I look forward to watching it unfold in the years ahead.

Essex preview later...

Book Review: Daffy - the Autobiography of Phil DeFreitas

Phil DeFreitas was a very good cricketer. Perhaps not quite at the very highest level, but 44 Test appearances and 103 one-day internationals suggest that he had something going for him, as do 1200 first-class dismissals, together with ten centuries and 54 half-centuries.

Off the field a quietly spoken man, on it he was aggressive and combative, often with something to say to batsmen who dared to confront him. This book is one of the better cricket autobiographies I have read of late and the player is honest throughout, especially in reference to the difficult relationship that he endured with his father.

He broke into an England side that contained more than its fair share of strong-willed characters - Edmonds, Gower, Lamb and Botham feature in plenty of anecdotes, a number of them suggesting that the off-field times were every bit as interesting as those on it. What comes through is that the young player was fairly insecure, especially in his younger days and had his eyes opened wide by the time he spent in their company on his first tour to Australia.

His international career naturally gets the lions share of the coverage, but for me the non-international sections of the book are the most interesting. His experience of racism, especially in South Africa, is shocking, though not altogether surprising, while he is remarkably honest about his personal life and his fathering of a child outside of his relationship with his wife.

That he left Leicestershire for Lancashire to effectively double his salary comes as no real surprise, but it is the section about his time at Derbyshire that will interest most fans of the county. That he moved for family reasons is well documented, but his enjoyment of the summer under Dean Jones is clear, while the background to the fragmentation and eventual break up of a very talented side is very interesting. It would have been nice to get a greater insight as to the reasons why a dressing room that pulled together in 1996 fell apart a few short months later, but this is a picky and parochial note.

What is clear is that the chairman of the time, Mike Horton, failed to handle a group of disparate, strong personalities and that things were allowed to happen that really shouldn't have. None of the main protagonists come out of it especially well and it is still disappointing that arguably the strongest group of players that the club have had since the Second World War was allowed to fester and fragment through a lack of strong management. The signing of Jones should have heralded a golden era for Derbyshire cricket, but rather signalled the start of a period of in-fighting that took years from which to recover.

I would recommend this book for its honesty in many areas, especially when recounting the player's battle with depression. There are errors - a South African barbecue is a braii, not a brie (a cheesy mistake to make?) but there is enough within the pages to make it a worthwhile purchase without question.

Like many other who followed him, Phil DeFreitas suffered from unfair comparison to Ian Botham, but he was a very, very good cricketer and at the end of this book you come to appreciate him as a decent, honest man.

Daffy - the Autobiography of Phil DeFreitas is published by Apex Publishing and is available through all good book shops (online through Amazon at £11.19)

Two for openers...

Last night I mentioned that there would be players available at the end of the season when the promotion and relegation places have been sorted and the niceties of individual contracts have been sorted out. Some players will, of course, wish to ply their trade at the top and whatever you might think of the idea it is their prerogative to do so.

Such players will include very good opening batsmen of the calibre of Steven Moore of Lancashire and Moeen Ali of Worcestershire. Both are fine players and their names have at some point in their careers been mentioned in England terms. Moore had a very good time at Worcestershire, where he scored 1400 runs with six centuries in 2008, before moving to Lancashire, where he has also done well, scoring runs in decent quantities and, in one day games, with considerable speed.

Then there's the uber-talented Moeen Ali at Worcestershire, a batsman with a full range of shots and a great technique, one who comes with the added string to his bow of very useful off spin, something at which he is good enough to recently take ten wickets in a match.

Admit it, you'd love to see Derbyshire's batting opened by these two, wouldn't you? Sign them up, put them in at the top of the order, acknowledged as our problem positions, and watch the runs flow.

The problem is that I haven't a clue about the contractual situation of these players and their statistics for 2012 make sobering reading.

In 22 first-class innings this summer, Moore has 363 runs at 17, with a highest score of 47
.
Ali, a player coveted by a number of counties, has 531 runs at 25, with just three fifties in 24 innings.

It again ties into what has been a very difficult summer for batsmen, especially those at the top of the order. Wet weather, slower outfields, humid conditions, the building of stands to change wind flow, the type of balls - excuses are many and varied, but it has been tough at the top this summer.

Gareth Rees is another, a very good batsman for Glamorgan yet with only one fifty and an average of 19. Greg Smith, a young player of considerable talent, averages just 15 from 21 starts at Leicestershire. Daryl Mitchell, another good batsman at Worcestershire, averages 23 from 24 innings. Neil Edwards is out of contract at Nottinghamshire and is a decent player, yet his 2012 summer has seen 230 runs at 20.

On the face of it, most of these players would strengthen Derbyshire's batting, yet their most recent statistics don't necessarily lend credence to the suggestion. All of them will undoubtedly hope for better conditions next summer.

One player who might be worthy of consideration is "oop north". I always rated Joe Sayers of Yorkshire and he earned an England Lions call up as a compact opening batsman. Sadly he contracted a virus which then saw him miss the 2010 season through Post-Viral Fatigue Syndrome and he has struggled to regain his place in a powerful batting lineup. With an average in the mid-thirties and a career going nowhere fast at Yorkshire, I could see merit in an enquiry with regard to his availability, always assuming that he is now fully recovered from the condition.

Just shows you though, eh? Difficult game, this cricket.

Thoughts on T20 finals day

As the shadows lengthened in the T20 final tonight, Yorkshire came from nowhere to the brink of victory, then had it dashed from their hands by a good last couple of overs from Hampshire.

Their much vaunted batting lineup had served them well and David Miller showed his value by almost muscling them to the trophy. Miller is one of a number of South Africans who would in all likelihood be an asset to county cricket, not quite good enough yet to make their national side (how do you break into that batting side?) and perhaps resigned, like such fine players as Colin Ingram, Dean Elgar, Rilee Rossouw and Faf du Plessis to being bit-part members of the squad.

He did a good job for Yorkshire tonight, but they paid the penalty for struggles between overs five and ten which left them needing ten an over over the second half of the innings, a target that proved just beyond them.

Earlier they had disposed of Sussex with relative ease, while Hampshire defied the odds and disposed of perennial bridesmaids Somerset. The latter have a clutch of talented players, but somehow there's not enough of them turn up on the big occasions, when they so often fall short. When one considers the players they have signed or been linked with over the past nine months the summer seems set to become another of under achievement. The risks of importing players specifically for the competition were also highlighted when Richard Levi fell cheaply. For me this is an argument against a season-long T20, as I cannot see many successful overseas imports when they fly in to play once a week then fly out again. Similarly, I can't see many big names keen to spend months in England for a weekly twenty overs match.

The final meant, of course, that two second division championship sides had disposed of their supposedly better rivals, though what the final will do for the morale of Hampshire and Yorkshire, our biggest rivals, is debatable. The former have no game this week, having played one more than others in the promotion shake-up, while Yorkshire face Gloucestershire at scenic Scarborough, where there will probably be a result if it stays dry.

Derbyshire's game against Essex is crucial and how we could do with winning this one to ease the pressure in the last two fixtures. It would be nice to get to the Hampshire game perhaps needing two bonus points to seal the title; nicer still to do so earlier.

I'll preview that one over the next couple of days.

In closing tonight, there's a lot of interest in players being released around the country, each seemingly arousing the interest of some Derbyshire fans. There's none of them have yet made me sit up and think "maybe" and what is most likely is that Chris Grant and Karl Krikken will play a waiting game at this stage.

There will be a number of players whose contracts allow them a get out clause if their team is not in the top flight. That will apply in both divisions, with a few signing deals for this summer on the basis of a promotion push. There will also be a few whose end of season appraisals may see them seeking pastures new and Nottinghamshire and Warwickshire can only sign a few of them. They are currently being linked with everyone and his kid brother and have the resources to be at the front of the queue for the bigger names.

Derbyshire will compete though and I am confident that if we seal promotion we will be better equipped for the top flight than some perhaps give credit for.

Let's get there before we start worrying about such things though.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend.

Time to start the radio chat

After this week's memorable game and ahead of next week's match against Essex, it would appear to be a good time to pilot the internet radio chat among Derbyshire fans.

Before I explain how to listen in and/or contribute, a few words about what I'm aiming for, which is effectively like-minded Derbyshire fans sat around a few tables in a village pub, chatting about the county fortunes, what we have done and what we are likely to do. I hope it will be fun and that people accept it as that and tune in to enjoy themselves.

The software gives me control over the microphones of those contributing (assuming there is anyone!) and it will be a swearing-free, club-slagging free zone. While it is fair to say that player X and player Y aren't in their best form, or not playing as well as they might,  it isn't acceptable to say that they are "rubbish", as by definition you have to be a heck of a good player to reach county standard. Likewise personal comments on anyone associated with the club are not allowed under any circumstances. Fair, constructive criticism is fine, but be prepared for a counter-argument if I disagree...

Anyone contravening the "house" rules will simply have their microphone muted for the remainder of the show. It won't be a free for all  - aside from mine, only one microphone at a time will be live and I aim to give an opportunity to as many as want it within the running time, as far as is realistic.

Anyone who thinks it an opportunity to have a go at old Peakfan should probably not bother. I'm happy for anyone to disagree with me, but if you do, tell me why and we can debate it. I'm trying to do this as a service for fans of the club. It's not the BBC, but the standards have to be the same or it will remain a pilot. I'd like to think that this blog has standards and the show must replicate them, or it won't work and I won't take it forward.

So, how do you get involved in the first show, which will be this coming Monday evening at 9pm for around 30 minutes or so?

First click on the "Peakfan Radio" link on the left of this page (scroll down)

It will take you to the BeeVocal home page, where, in the top right hand corner, you will on your first visit need to sign up and subsequently need to log in.

From there, navigation is a breeze. Search for the show under "Peakfan" or "cricket" and you will soon find it. To contribute, you will probably need headphones with a microphone, depending on the effectiveness of the one built into your PC or laptop. You can, of course, simply listen into the chat without if you prefer. Click on the link to the show and you will be connected.

Past shows will be visible on the site, so if you can't make a particular episode, listen at your leisure.

What to talk about? Well, it should hopefully flow and I have a few ideas, which is useful. If the conversation switches to a topic when you want to have a say, simply click the hand symbol, I will see it and will come to you as soon as I am able to do so.

Expect teething issues in the first show, but I hope a few of you will tune in and get involved. If there is no interest, I can just as easily drop it as create it.

We will see what develops. Just don't expect me to call you my dear old thing...