Derbyshire V Northamptonshire day 1

Northamptonshire 342 (Bavuma 134, Critchley 4-107)

Derbyshire 34-1

A busy domestic day, coupled with the viewing demands of one of the finest games of cricket one could wish to see delayed the blog until today.

Apologies for that, but at the end of the first day honours I just about even at Chesterfield. A fine century buy Temba Bavuma gave Northamptonshire a competitive but not overwhelming first innings score.

He is a fine, technically correct player whose experience in this country will serve him well in years to come. He had support down the order, but no one else passed 40 and Derbyshire did well to bowl them out for 342.

There were four wickets for Matt Critchley, although he went at six an over on this small ground, with two each for Hamidullah Qadri and Luis Reece. There seemed to be a fair amount of turn, so we will be hoping to get at least parity on first innings, and ideally the lead. Batting last will not be easy, but a long batting order can earn its corn today.

Although we lost Luis Reece early, Billy Godleman and Wayne Madsen will resume this morning and hope to make inroads into the visiting total.

More from me later.

Derbyshire V Northamptonshire preview

Nice to see Hamidullah Qadri back in the Derbyshire twelve what has been announced for the 4-day game against Northamptonshire that opens the Chesterfield Cricket Festival tomorrow.

He hasn't had that much cricket this season, when examinations have rightly taken precedence.

Chesterfield being Chesterfield, the likelihood is that he will be in the final  eleven, in the hope that spin plays an increasing role as the game goes on.

With Leus du Plooy showing his potential as a slow left armer, Billy Godleman will then have four spin and seam options available to him.

The Derbyshire 12:

Godleman, Reece, Madsen, du Plooy, Lace, Hosein, Critchley, Hudson-Prentice, Palladino, Qadri, Rampaul, Dal.

As for our visitors, they have gone well in recent weeks, with Ben Sanderson in fine bowling form. Temba Bavuma has played some important knocks in the middle order and we all know how dangerous Richard Levi can be.

It should be a good game and I hope that the weather allows a positive result.

It is a game that Derbyshire can win and need to win, to maintain our aspirations of division one cricket next year.

We will know soon enough.

T20 plans clearer

After watching the second of the T20 games yesterday, Derbyshire's plans for the competition are a little clearer.

Billy Godleman will skipper in this format too, for one thing. He has improved considerably in the short form and you know what you will get with Billy. The charge down the wicket, the 'larrup' over mid on, or mid-wicket, the six over point, which was a highlight yesterday. More discerning opponents may try to tie him down with spin, but he will have his successes in the weeks ahead.

The only viable alternative, Alex Hughes, lost form at the wrong time and, while he will doubtless play a key role in the side, should focus on his game, without other distractions at this stage.

It doesn't look like there will be a second overseas player, unless something remarkable happens this week. Looking at yesterday's side, the batting will be fine, with remarkable depth and some genuine power in there. The addition of Leus du Plooy has given a solidity to the middle order we haven't seen for some time, his confidence and ability to score off nearly every ball heartening to see. So too Tom Lace, who has blossomed this summer and looks a really good, stylish player now. Don't forget that he has only just turned 21, so the potential is quite remarkable.

What encouraged me yesterday  - and I am factoring in the quality of the opposition - was the ruthless way that the side went about things, together with the batting depth. Critchley, Hughes and Hudson-Prentice, hard hitters all, were waiting to come in and there is great potential in that line up. For those who didn't follow the game, it was:

Godleman, Reece, Madsen, du Plooy, Lace, Critchley, Hughes, Hudson-Prentice, Hosein, van Beek, Watt

The question mark is over who gives way for Ravi Rampaul. I could make a case for Anuj Dal to be in there too, especially for his fielding, but Rampaul is our experienced 'death' bowler and someone must give way.

I could make a case for it being Hughes, but his T20 record is excellent, he was top wicket-taker last year and is a key fielder in the side, as well as being capable of lusty blows. I could also make a case for van Beek, but I have a feeling that he may just come into his own in the T20. His aggression, ability to bowl a quick bouncer and brilliance in the field may be a suitable counter to that 'wild ball' that drags down each over. Yesterday he took two wickets in his first over, and we wouldn't complain if that was a permanent feature.

You could even make a case for the exclusion of Hosein, with Lace as wicket-keeper. Harvey is the least likely of the side to score quickly, but were that likely to happen I think we would have seen Lace keeping yesterday. Besides, with a lot of the bowling likely to come from spinners, you need more than a stop gap. Peter Bowler did a decent job in our Refuge Assurance winning season, but he was largely standing back, which is much easier for any keeper.

I don't think, on what I have seen, that you can exclude Mark Watt. The Scot took a little stick on arrival for looking less fit than the rest of the side. I think it fair to address that now and yesterday he looked much more trim. He will never be skinny, nor an athlete in the body shape sense, but he is in the side for a specific strength.

Mark, again a youngster at only 22, has remarkable command of line and length. When he ambles up to the crease it looks quite innocent, but he is canny beyond his years. He rarely gives the batsman width, but watches them closely. Any sign of them using their feet and he drops his length to frustrate. He is a fine fielder from his own bowling and one ball, in the first game yesterday, summed up for me his combative nature.

The Warwickshire number three, Lamb, took a step outside leg stump as he was in delivery stride. Perhaps it threw him, but if so, he had the nous to run through and not deliver the ball. The next delivery, he bowled from around 23/24 yards, with a couple of steps less run up. It was still on the spot and the batsman, presumably taken unawares, played it back down the pitch.

In that moment I thought 'you'll do me'. It was combative, feisty even, a sign that he wouldn't be bossed. He bowled in both the Powerplay and at the death yesterday, yet still conceded only 19 runs. Like any bowler, there will be times when he will get stick, but his flight yesterday got him the big wicket of Agar, a good cricketer and he rarely seems to bowl too short or too wide.

Will we make the knock out stages? My head tells me no, because the absence of an extra top seamer  will hurt us on occasion. I look at other teams in a strong group and think that there will be times we will be chasing too many, even for a deep and talented batting side.

But Derbyshire have made us proud this summer, with some professional, polished displays. Be prepared for a few more of those, before this tournament concludes.

And if they get on a roll...

Second team watching

It is rare when I miss an opportunity to watch Derbyshire play at any level. So today it was nice to be able to watch the second team in a double header T20 against Warwickshire.

Both sides fielded players of considerable experience. Critchley, Hughes, Dal and Watt joined Smit in our side, while overseas professional Ashton Agar joined Ed Pollock and Alex Mellor for the visitors.

They opted to bat in the first game and the home bowling, with its heavy emphasis on spin, was reminiscent of the Indian side of the 1970s. That was as far as it got, however, as the quality was a little varied. Only Watt came out of it with reputation intact, bowling an intelligent spell that might have been better but for shoddy fielding.

It is impossible to tell on the stream by who, but a few of the younger players might benefit from less obviously displaying their displeasure and frustration. Agar took advantage of this and played an excellent innings, as one might expect from a cricketer of international experience at this level. He finished on an unbeaten 84 from 47 balls as Warwickshire finished on 181-3.

It was positively parsimonious compared to the early overs by Warwickshire, which were hideous at times in direction. Wood and Critchley put on 50 in five overs, before the former, after a few bucolic strokes, swung across the line and was bowled.

The introduction of Agar brought greater control, though it was the left arm leg spin of Lintott that removed Critchley. He was a little starved of the strike and holed out at long on after a breezy innings.

Derbyshire needed a partnership and someone to play an 'Agar innings'. Dal came in to join Hughes, who had started sketchily, but soon began to find his range. Three powerful boundaries from Lintott brought down the rate, but Barrett bowled a good one at Dal to take it back up.

Fifty-five were needed from the last five overs, but once Lamb cleverly removed Hughes with a slow yorker it was effectively over. Dal couldn't score at the required rate and canny bowling saw the visitors win by 25 runs, the innings ending at 156-7.

The second game was much different, as Derbyshire took the opportunity to field the first team and give much-needed practice ahead of the T20.

Agar again batted aggressively, before being undone by the impressive Watt. He and van Beek were the powerplay bowlers and did a fine job. Logan finished with 3-28, taking two in his first over, while Mark took 2-19. It made for heartening viewing, albeit qualified by the opposition.

The visitors made 134-9.

Then came carnage, which  highlighted the difference between second and first team cricket. Reece hit a six and was caught going for a second, then Godleman and Madsen took the score to 84 by the end of the powerplay. Both hit freely and Madsen reached a half century in just 21 balls, before he too holed out in the deep, this after batting as if it were a beer match.

Godleman went the same way, the top order clearly rehearsing their long hitting, before du Plooy and Lace took Derbyshire to a win in the 13th over.

The South African finished it with another huge six, and it was a fine run out for the side before the competition proper begins.

Scorecard https://live.nvplay.com/ecb/#m38f08dd1-1259-480a-9442-e85aefa47f00

Smit earns one-year contract extension

Besides the excellent news from Kidderminster today, the news broke that Daryn Smit has earned a one-year extension to his contract, reward for his sterling efforts with the second team this summer.

Regular readers will know that I am 'big' on professionalism. I can handle losing, as long as we don't give it away and compete. I like to see the players of the teams I support display that professionalism, just as I have always tried to do in my various roles over the years.

Daryn Smit is a consummate professional. He may not have scored the runs that we expected at senior level for Derbyshire, but few would doubt his preparation and the example that he sets for others, whatever and wherever the match. Nor that he is an outstanding wicket-keeper.

He has done very well with the second team this summer, especially when one considers it primarily academy players and trialists. The wicket-keeping remains to the very highest standard, while he has time and again scored runs to keep the side in matches.

Above all, he has a shrewd and impressive tactical brain, which has brought dividends. This deal allows him to work towards his level four coaching badge and it will most definitely be of mutual benefit.

I am thrilled that he has earned this extension and look forward to seeing him make a sizeable contribution to the ongoing development of our club.

Worcestershire v Derbyshire day 4

Derbyshire 108 and 377

Worcestershire 113 and 290 (Ferguson 127, Cox 62, Rampaul 4-64, Palladino 3-34, Hudson-Prentice 3-42)

Derbyshire won by 82 runs

On a day where our old boys, also known as New Zealand, made the World Cup Final, Derbyshire entered the top three of division two with a terrific win over a Worcestershire side that were strong pre-season fancies for a promotion slot.

Cast your mind back to March, and most cricket correspondents were predicting the wooden spoon for us. Yours truly wrote:

They will need their share of luck, but in a division with some big, far more affluent clubs I expect team spirit to play a key role. We already know that on their day the side is capable of slugging it out with and beating the best. If we can add that ten per cent of fortune, winter development and calmness at key points in the game, who knows?

Prediction

Last year I stood alone at the start of the summer in predicting a top half finish in the county championship. They were ten points off doing that, and but for poor bowling against Glamorgan and especially Durham would have done so with ease, losing games that were there for the taking.

Greater discipline this year will get them there.

We're not there yet, of course, and there is plenty of cricket to play, but doom-mongers have been shown to be wide of the mark. Dave Houghton has secured his best players on long term deals, as well as, crucially, recruiting impressively. Leus du Plooy has added solidity and class to the middle order, Tom Lace has increasingly looked a young player of major talent, while Fynn Hudson-Prentice has come into the side for the past two matches and made crucial contributions with bat and ball.

Let's not forget that we played this match without an overseas player, nor that we won it after being bowled out in the second session of the game for little more than a hundred. Lesser sides would fold in such situations, but that team spirit that I mentioned saw them fight back to bowl out the opposition in  similar style and then build a winning position with a team effort. Lace was the standout, with an innings of diligence and great skill, but the support of Tony Palladino yesterday was crucial to this win. The pair added 99 and the winning margin was 82 runs.

It was a fine effort by a seam attack that hunted as a pack, giving nowt away in the Derbyshire fashion. Hudson-Prentice a revelation, 3-42 in twenty overs, Rampaul 4-64 in twenty-four, Palladino 3-34 in twenty-one. They were the sort of figures that would have had Les Jackson, Cliff Gladwin and Harold Rhodes nodding in appreciation, with only two no balls conceded in 116 overs.

While Cox was unlucky in playing on to Rampaul for the crucial breakthrough, Hudson-Prentice took the key wicket of the excellent Ferguson with a good ball, leaving the old-stagers to mop up the tail. Rampaul 'did a Tahir' when he took the penultimate wicket, running off to square leg, while it was fitting that Palladino, a club man par excellence took the final wicket.

The passion in the wicket celebrations was a joy to see and we head for the Chesterfield festival this weekend in fine fettle. The season has thus far seen eight championship centuries from six different batsmen, while the three above, plus Luis Reece have all taken their wickets at under 25. On this showing I am not sure how Hughes gets back into the side, before the T20, while van Beek will only get back, one would assume, if someone needs a breather.

We may, or may not go on to win promotion, but in a season where some big money counties have flattered to deceive and under achieved massively (no names, you understand...) Derbyshire have been competitive and earned the respect of opponents and supporters alike

Let's keep that juggernaut a-rolling, boys.

Well done to each and every one of you.

Worcestershire V Derbyshire day 3

Derbyshire 108 and 377 (Lace 132*, Palladino 58)

Worcestershire 113 and 156-5

Worcestershire need 217 runs to win

Despite a gutsy sixth wicket century stand by Callum Ferguson and Ben Cox, Derbyshire should wrap up an impressive victory over Worcestershire at Kidderminster tomorrow.

At 156-5, they still need 217 runs to win, getting which would be the final, ultimate twist in a game that has not wanted for them.

They were in disarray before that partnership, with Ravi Rampaul and Fynn Hudson-Prentice taking two wickets each. The latter took his in the course of bowling eight successive maidens, which if not unprecedented, was certainly very impressive. Not many people make Tony Palladino look expensive, but Fynn increasingly looks the part, with bat and ball.

Earlier in the day, Tom Lace extended his outstanding century to an unbeaten 132 and was ably assisted by Palladino in a ninth wicket stand of 99. That should have put the game beyond the home side, but with these two at the crease they enter the final day not entirely without hope.

The new ball tomorrow morning will be key to this match, with that closing stand being made against an older, softer ball. Using a hard new ball properly is what one would expect from Messrs Rampaul and Palladino, and the main surprise has been an innings thus far lacking wickets for Luis Reece.

We bowled with impressive discipline today and from a supporters perspective that is always heartening to see.

If we can conclude matters tomorrow, in a similarly professional manner, we will remain very much in the promotion shake up.

And deservedly so.

Worcestershire V Derbyshire day 2

Derbyshire 108 and 272-6 (Lace 101*, Madsen 60)

Worcestershire 113

Derbyshire lead by 267 runs

An outstanding century by Tom Lace has put Derbyshire in a position of dominance in this game. It is an innings which, with due diligence from the lower order, could help us to our third championship win of the summer.

It was a solid effort by the batting unit, with everyone contributing. Wayne Madsen made 60 before a loose shot rather gave it away, while Harvey Hosein proved a willing and able partner for Lace as the lead grew past 250.

In the 'Laceometer' of county support, he has gone from 'I hope he doesn't keep a local lad out' to 'I hope we sign him for next year'. With both his batting and fielding he has made a big impression on the county faithful. So too his pleasant demeanour and ready smile, the sign of a man at ease with himself.

I have liked him from the off. There is balance and composure to his batting. Yes, he can play the odd unwise stroke, but name me a batsman who hasn't and I will call you a liar. Dave Houghton knows his cricket and can certainly spot a batsman. His role in the player's development at Middlesex will have been important and it would be a massive coup were he able to persuade Tom that his immediate future would be better spent in the East Midlands.

I certainly think so and I know how much he is enjoying his cricket.

As for the game, if we can take the target  over 300 it will be a big ask for the home side. Yes, the wicket has eased as it has dried, but enough deliveries have gone past the bat for our bowlers to retain interest. And the later third and fourth days on an out ground usually offer more for the spinners, too.

There is enough batting to come to make that a possibility, and while the home side's own batting cannot be discounted, we have done very well to be in this position after two days.

Make it count boys.

With thanks to Mark Allen

I just wanted to acknowledge the kind gesture of Mark Allen, a Derbyshire supporter from London, though originally Clay Cross, in sponsoring the blog.

There is no link to a business, but Mark wanted to recognise his support for the blog with a donation, which was very kind and much appreciated.

If anyone out there would like to advertise with the blog, or do similar, please do get in touch at the usual email address - peakfan36@yahoo.co.uk

Mark also bought two of the last copies of my book 'In Their Own Words: Derbyshire Cricketers in Conversation'.

There are now just THREE left, priced £8, including post and packing. I remain thrilled with the public response and the reviews, though when these have gone, that's it, apart from a few remainder copies here and there.

If you are interested, please mail me on the above address

Worcestershire v Derbyshire day 1

Derbyshire 108 (Reece 31, Hudson-Prentice 31, Morris 4-26, Leach 3-33)
and 19-0

Worcestershire 113 (Reece 4-30, Hudson-Prentice 3-27)

Derbyshire lead by 14 runs

The one sure thing one could say, at the end of a day where wickets tumbled with alarming frequency, is that those planning to see an exciting finish on the fourth day will be disappointed.

The joy of outgrounds, as seen here, is that you get neither the formulaic bounce or movement of some of the headquarters grounds, so players of both sides have to work out what works best on it. Safe to say the bowlers on each side did that pretty well, with twenty wickets having fallen by the close of an eventful day.

The events started before play began, with Dave Houghton dropping overseas professional Logan van Beek. Only once before, when Hamish Rutherford was dropped in 2016, has this happened but it was both a brave and correct thing to do. Overseas or not, Logan is currently the weakest member of the seam attack and subsequent events proved the decision to be correct.

Billy Godleman opted to toss and won it, then chose to bat first, as he has for most of the season. It looked to have backfired horribly, as we were bowled out in the afternoon for just 108. Luis Reece battled hard for two hours for 31, while Fynn Hudson-Prentice opted for a breezier approach and struck the same score at better than a run a ball.

No doubt there were some moans and groans between the innings, but, as I have said times many on this blog, you should never judge a wicket until both sides have batted on it. Just as the home bowlers shared the wickets around 4/3/2/1, so too did Derbyshire, as they bowled them out for 113 in under forty overs. Once again the leading wicket-taker was Luis Reece, who took 4-30, while the increasingly impressive Hudson-Prentice took 3-27, including the key wicket of Wessels, so often a thorn in Derbyshire sides. Good support came from Rampaul and Palladino, as Derbyshire showed great character and fighting spirit in restricting the lead to only five runs.

Quite a day for Reece, which continued as he went in again with Billy Godleman. Two innings on the same day, with four wickets in between constitutes good work by the all rounder and the pair successfully batted through seven overs to take the score to 19-0, a lead of fourteen runs.

So where does that leave the game? I would say we are currently slightly ahead, by virtue of bowling last on a wicket that is not especially easy for batting. If we bat better tomorrow, then bowl with similar discipline to today, a victory to boost the promotion push is not beyond the realms of possibility.

Thoughts on the T20

With the Vitality Blast T20 around the corner, my thoughts, at least those of a cricketing nature, have turned to how we will do in that competition this season.

I have to admit that I have concerns. We played some good cricket, but didn't qualify, last year. There were some poor displays, odd team selections and very poor captaincy at times, which, had they been minimised, might have seen us do better. We weren't far away.

Yet it should not be overlooked, as we get ever closer to a new tournament, that our attack included Lockie Ferguson, Wahab Riaz and Hardus Viljoen. The first two did very well and have been stand out performers in this year's World Cup, while Viljoen, for all of his faults, was a decent T20 bowler. Somehow we need to replace the three main bowlers.

Try as I might, I cannot see how, with current resources, we can bowl so economically. Mark Watt will be hard to get at, Luis Reece and Alex Hughes   will have good days, Ravi Rampaul will be a key bowler. Yet we do not appear to have someone who can nip out a few wickets in the Powerplay.

Dominic Cork will earn his money if he can earn knock out progression with the squad as it stands. My question today is whether he and John Wright might constitute unnecessary expenditure for Derbyshire.

Things are tight financially. We know that and the recently cancelled concert featuring Rita Ora will not have helped in that area. We also know that securing top international names gets harder by the year, because of conflicting competitions around the globe.

It is also fair comment to say that we earn more from one good home T20 fixture than we do from a season of championship cricket. It hurts me to say that, as the latter will always be my preferred format, yet it is the reality of the modern game. And if we are hammered in those games, the 'floating support' that bulks up the crowd may have second thoughts in the future.

I just think that if we are unable to fully resource a coach for whatever reason, it begs the question as to why we incur the cost of employing him/them.

I know that Dominic won the domestic T20 in 2010, but we have someone already on the payroll, in Daryn Smit, who has similar experience, albeit from South Africa. Might it not have made more sense to save the additional coaching expense and put Smit, in a player/coach capacity, in charge of the T20 side?

Just as Dave Houghton runs four day cricket and Mal Loye did the RLODC, he could have done so with Steve Kirby without any detriment to the side. No one doubts his ability, nor his tactical awareness, his glove work is impeccable and he is more likely to reach the boundary in the closing overs than Harvey Hosein.

The money saved might then have made a difference in the quality of overseas player being pursued. Perhaps we might even have managed two specialists, using what we have plus the saving, and allowing Logan van Beek to have a breather.

I have every confidence that Derbyshire, having done so all season, will compete strongly in the T20.

If we qualify, without further addition to the playing strength, I will gladly acknowledge the contribution of Dominic Cork to that performance. He will have to display leadership, motivational skills and tactical nous to get us there.

If we don't, realistically, many supporters will consider it unnecessary expenditure and we will need a rethink for another year. Leicestershire have this morning announced no second overseas player, as they can't afford it. And they don't have a specialist T20 coaching team to pay.

I don't think our position so parlous, and even if it means a change in rationale, not bringing in a quick bowler but an enhancement to the current squad, it would be a statement of intent to do something.

Thoughts?

Worcestershire V Derbyshire preview

We have at last reached the stage of the season where Dave Houghton has a selection dilemma, ahead of the trip to Kidderminster to play Worcestershire, starting on Sunday.

My understanding is that Wayne Madsen is fully recovered from his sprained ankle and so should come straight back into the side.

After registering a pair against Middlesex, Alex Hughes would appear likely to miss out on this occasion, with Tom Lace and Anuj Dal competing for his place in the order. If only so that it allows Luis Reece to drop to the middle order, I expect Lace to get the nod.

It is a shame for Anuj, who has done little wrong this season. I expect him to play a full part in the T20 and I hope he is able to build on some impressive performances.

With a view to the T20, I think this to be the right time to rest Ravi Rampaul. If we are not going to have a second overseas player, his fitness and form for that competition is critical. More on that, in a separate piece, over the weekend, but I expect the following side to take the field:

Godleman
Lace
Madsen
du Plooy
Reece
Hudson-Prentice
Hosein
Critchley
Conners
van Beek
Palladino

That would give Billy Godleman five seamers and three spinners, which would be enough for any captain.

The home side has not yet been announced, but injuries appear to dictate not too many changes from the last match, against Glamorgan, when the following side took the field:

Daryl Mitchell
Joshua Dell
Callum Ferguson
Riki Wessels
Ross Whiteley
Ed Barnard
Brett D'Oliveira
Ben Cox(wk)
Joe Leach(c)
Charlie Morris
Adam Finch

It is a powerful batting line-up, but the bowling looks less impressive. Perhaps they are saying the same about us, but this is a game that both sides, very much in contention for promotion, will want to win.

I think that Derbyshire can do it. Perhaps this is the game, as the leader of the attack, when Logan van Beek shows his true colours. I hope so, because there is no one trying harder than the genial Kiwi.

What are your thoughts?

Derbyshire V Middlesex day 4

Derbyshire 557-6 and 178-6 (du Plooy 69*, Hosein 61)

Middlesex 520 (Malan 199)

Match drawn

The last day of this game went largely as predicted, with Derbyshire batting out time after finally bowling at the visitors.

Yes, there were a few alarms on the way, but I don't think anyone really entertained concerns of a defeat.

The play was perforce somewhat mundane, though there were winners and losers. Alex Hughes will be disappointed that, on a wicket where over 1200 runs were scored for only 22 wickets, he registered a pair.

It puts him under a little pressure the ahead of this week's game. Both Anuj Dal and Fynn Hudson-Prentice acquitted themselves well, and while we don't yet know if Wayne Madsen will be fit, Tom Lace should be available.

The main winner of the final day was Leus du Plooy. He followed his first innings century with an unbeaten 69, which followed 2 wickets in the morning session. Like the other players, he will have appreciated an opportunity to bat on an easier pitch and took full advantage of it.

At the end of the game,  ahead of a crucial trip to play Worcestershire, we still lie fourth in the table and are very much in the promotion shake up.

Continued form and fitness for key personnel will dictate whether we stay there. But things are going better than most predicted and we can be proud of the efforts so far.

Derbyshire V Middlesex day 3

Derbyshire 557-6

MIddlesex 436-6 (Malan 177*)

Derbyshire lead by 121 runs

I think most people, by now, will have worked out that this has not been a wicket where Dave Houghton had 6mm of grass left on it.

The result has been that our batsmen have gained confidence, but the outcome of the match is an inevitable draw.

Malan played a fine innings for the visitors today, and only 3 wickets went down. One of them went to Fynn Hudson-Prentice, who followed an innings of 99 on debut with a wicket from his first ball for the county. He went on to bowl tidily, which is all he could be expected to do on such a track.

I am away on holiday at present, so will not go into greater detail, but this game is a nailed on draw tomorrow. I don't  expect many people will bother going along, when another day like today appears in prospect.

More from me soon.

Derbyshire V Middlesex day 2: PLUS Stanlake withdraws from contract

Derbyshire 557-6 (du Plooy 118, Godleman 102, Hudson-Prentice 99, Reece 96, Dal 92)

Middlesex 135-3 (Reece 2-37)

It was a day when records tumbled at Derby, as Derbyshire amassed  557-6 declared, with two batsmen making centuries and another three registering scores of over 90.

It was an outstanding performance, which highlighted the work done by Dave Houghton over the course of the winter. Leus du Plooy scored his first championship century for the club, and based on the increasingly confident manner in which he played, there will be many more to follow.

Anuj Dal was another to near, but not quite reach, the century mark, but the way in which he and Fynn Hudson-Prentice batted gave plenty of cause for celebration. Dave Houghton looks like he will have some serious decisions to make, when Wayne Madsen is fit and Tom Lace is available for selection.

Middlesex batted competently, but had lost 3 wickets by the close, two of them to the ever- dangerous Luis Reece. Whether there is enough help in the wicket to allow us to push for victory is a moot point, but we are in the ascendancy in this game.

Off the field, the news broke tonight that Billy Stanlake will not now be joining us for the T20, after suffering another stress fracture. A bowler of genuine talent, he has repeatedly suffered from issues around his long back and one wonders whether his fragile body will ever allow him to reach the level that once looked possible.

To be fair, I questioned his fitness record on this blog only a week ago. While the concept of his bowling for us was a laudable one, there was a high element of risk involved. The previous contract offered to him, by Yorkshire, also fell through because of injury and it would be a brave club that offered him another opportunity.

That is, of course, two Australian bowlers who have failed to take up their contract for the summer. Ironically, Kane Richardson has barely played for Australia in the World Cup, but the press release from the club tonight suggests that we may be unable to find another replacement.

I understand fully that the pool of available players is a small one after the World Cup, but would be very surprised if our limited bowling options were sufficient to mount any kind of challenge in the T20 without being bolstered from overseas.

Having said that, it has to be a player of quality and reputation, and there is no point spending money on anyone who will not make a considerable difference.

As always I will be interested to read your thoughts. I am sure that they will be more articulate, considered and interesting than the nonsense that appeared on Twitter this evening. Anyone would think the club knew of the injury before the contract offer from the immature twaddle being posted by so-called supporters.

Plenty to be proud of at Derby today. Let's hope we can reinforce that with a good display tomorrow.

And to Anuj Dal, Fynn Hudson-Prentice and Luis Reece - be proud of what you achieved here.

You have every right to be.

Derbyshire V Middlesex day 1

Derbyshire 372-4 (Godleman 102, Hudson-Prentice 99, Reece 96, du Plooy 50*)

v Middlesex

Had Derbyshire elected to bat today and finished at 372-4 they would have been very happy. That they did so after being put into bat by Middlesex must make dressing room an ecstatic please to be tonight.

When one also considers that Wayne Madsen was missing, following a sprained ankle sustained in warm ups, the closing score marks a position of extraordinary dominance.

Billy Godleman set the standard with his fastest ever first class century, made from 118 balls. He seemed to approach it like an RLODC innings and several times advanced down the wicket to the seam bowlers.

In such a score it is surprising to see only one century, but Luis Reece looked horrified at giving his wicket away with a loose drive on 96. He batted very well, though the innings of the day was by debutant Fynn Hudson-Prentice.

Tasked with replacing Madsen at three, he batted beautifully for almost three and a half hours, before top edging a pull that would have given him a deserved century, to be caught for 99.

From the way that he batted, that three figure score will not be long in coming. The signs are that he will become a key member of this side and it will be nice to see genuine competition for places.

Alex Hughes failed, but du Plooy, with a patient 50 that was diametrically opposed to his one day knocks, saw us safely through to stumps.

This was not a bad visiting attack. It contained two former England bowlers and enough balls went past the bat to encourage hopes of a home win in the next three days.

In the immediate future, we need to bat and bat some more.

Well done fellas. That was a top effort, and it looks like we might just have picked up another talent in Fynn Hudson-Prentice.

He can be very proud tonight.

Derbyshire v Middlesex preview

Fynn Hudson-Prentice makes his first-class county debut against Middlesex at the Pattonair County Ground tomorrow.

He replaces Anuj Dal in the announced twelve, and with Tom Lace in there, but unable to play against his own county as part of the loan agreement, Fynn will take his place in an otherwise unchanged side.

It reads: Godleman, Reece, Madsen, du Plooy, Hughes, Critchley, Hudson-Prentice, Hosein, van Beek, Palladino, Rampaul, Lace

I assume that Luis Reece will therefore continue as opener, unless Harvey Hosein is elevated, as there would appear no other viable option in the squad. du Plooy should now be cemented at four, after his excellent century against Australia A and Hudson-Prentice will provide both depth for the batting and an additional genuine bowling option for Billy Godleman.

The visitors haven't enjoyed the best of summers, but their side is packed with talented batsmen, while the evergreen Tim Murtagh is their leading wicket-taker this summer. The current spell of good weather suggests that both sides might fancy a bat tomorrow, so there may well be the rarity value of a toss at Derby...

I am away with family in delightful Berwick on Tweed this week, so will watch and report as and when I am able.

Do please keep your comments coming in please, and let me know if you agree that we can win this one!

Remembering Jim Horsley's feat

One hundred years ago, on July 15, 1919, Derbyshire's Jim Horsley took a hat trick against the Australian Imperial Forces side, service men who stayed on to play 28 matches on a tour of England during the first English cricket season after the First World War. 

Five of that squad made their Australian debuts the following year and their defeat against Derbyshire was one of only four on the tour, as well as being the only one to a county side. 

In the game, we made 181 and 112, while the Australians responded with 125 and 132, as Derbyshire ran out winners by 36 runs.

Horsley took 6-55 and 6-62 in the two innings and was a solid performer for the county for a number of years, ending his career with 267 wickets at an average of 20. This despite losing some of his best seasons to the war and preferring to play league cricket for three years between 1920 and 1922.

Bowling fast medium, in the best Derbyshire tradition, Horsley was born and lived much of his life at Melbourne in south Derbyshire, where, to mark the centenary of his feat, they are having a celebration at the Chip and Pin on July 15 at 7pm.

The organiser, Andy Heafield, is looking for any descendants to attend the event and it would be lovely to see them involved. 

Please contact Andy on 07722 485213 or a.heafield@btinternet.com

Good effort by second team earns draw

Three players with something to prove produced impressive returns in the game against Worcestershire Second XI that finished yesterday at Halesowen.

After the first day was lost to rain, the second saw 21 wickets fall. We were bowled out for 111, before doing the same to our hosts, who were put out for 153. Mark Watt took an excellent 5-29 in 14 overs, three of them leg before. The jury has been out on the slow left arm bowler, mainly because he is less athletic looking than most, but undeniably he is a canny bowler who keeps a better, more probing and testing line and length than many. Against the Australian A side, he was the only bowler who commanded respect and he looks like being a key component of our Vitality Blast campaign.

He is still a young player, at 22, but to be fair to him he looks fitter than when he first appeared in county colours. There are those who will never be whippets, but surely, as long as it is not to the major detriment of fielding, it is of less importance than putting the ball in the right areas, and hitting it. Colin Milburn was considerably bigger than most, but was also a very good close fielder, as are Mark Cosgrove at Leicestershire and Richard Levi at Northamptonshire.

Mark has an opportunity in the coming months, first with the T20, then with the drier wickets of the end of season. Good performances could see him as more than just a summer contract for this year alone.

Then there is Tom Wood. I have lost count of the number of times I have written up his feats in the past two or three years, but again yesterday, on an awkward pitch, he made 68 in two and a half hours. It was the highest score in the match by some margin and confirmed that he is some way from being a flat track bully. He also held a blinding catch at slip in the home side's first innings and, for me, we need some competition in the top order for next year.

There is no doubt, for me, that Tom is worthy of that opportunity and has proved it over the last three years, at home and also away each winter.

Finally there is Dustin Melton. After Worcestershire were set 208 to win in 39 overs, his lightning opening spell of 5-3-8-4 ensured they were never going to get close, the game ending in a draw.

I don't think Melton could have done more to persuade Dave Houghton of his worth than he has in recent weeks. A genuine fast bowler appears to be an area of improvement for next season and, with a consistent overseas bowler at the other end, Melton would appear to be worthy of greater opportunity in 2020.

Derbyshire V Australia A

Derbyshire 283-9 (du Plooy 115, Tye 6-65)

Australia A 287-3 (Wade 155, Head 68, Taylor 2-66)

Australia A won by 7 wickets

I am old enough to remember the days when a game against a touring side was something special.

For the players it was an opportunity to test themselves against the best, while for supporters it was a chance to see players they had not seen before, or only on television. Counties fielded their full first elevens as a matter of course.

Today's visit of the Australian A side was interesting, although several members of their side already have experience in the colours of various counties. Derbyshire, meanwhile, with a small squad, fielded a, largely youthful and inexperienced attack.

Having won the toss, the visitors decided to have a bowl and were rewarded with two early wickets. Godleman, having looked in fine touch, played around a straight one from Michael Neser, while Tom Lace will not look back on his dismissal with any fondness, playing at one he should have left alone.

A partnership between Wayne Madsen and Leus du Plooy was always going to be one for the aesthetes and produced both sumptuous stroke play and intelligent running. Madsen produced his full one-day repertoire, while his partner continues to look a player of the very highest class. He has so much time, always the sign of a good player, and they took the score past a hundred without incident. Wayne must have been disappointed to flick one off his toes to the waiting fielder when a hundred, let alone fifty, looked there for the taking.

The partnership had added 89 and another of 52 followed as Hughes joined du Plooy. A straight six aside, Alex struggled for timing and he eventually gave a catch to point. Matt Critchley was much the same, suggesting batting was not especially easy against a keen and accurate attack. Neser, Abbott and Tye dragged Derbyshire back and both batsmen perished in a similar, mistimed manner to the cover field.

Du Plooy had been more conservative as he approached a maiden century for the county but reached it, in the grandest of manners, with a straight 6. It was fully deserved and served to highlight further what a quality player we have picked up.

Fynn Hudson-Prentice was rightly elevated in the order and showed promise with some powerful strokes, before holing out in the deep as the overs ran out. Du Plooy finally perished for an excellent 115, caught behind from one that would likely have been called wide if left alone, but he had followed a century against the touring Sri Lankan side in South Africa with this fine display.

Anuj Dal showed his trademark running and some powerful shots to take the score to a respectable 283-9. It looked unlikely to be enough, with a second team attack bowling at a strong batting side, but it ensured a game, at least. Andrew Tye bowled well to take 6-65 for the visitors.

What followed was brutal. After Short edged Taylor to Madsen at slip, who took a sharp catch, Matthew Wade bludgeoned his way to a second successive tour century, following on from one against Northamptonshire.

What an asset someone like that would be to any side in the T20! His power and placement were simply astonishing and while one has to recognise the moderate attack, so one could only admire his talent. By the time it ended, Wade had hit 155 from 71 balls and ended the game as a contest. It was the second fastest List A century scored against Derbyshire, the 45 balls taken second only to Shahid Afridi's 42-ball effort for Hampshire in 2017. Yet for power and placement this was a far better innings.

I'm not sure why he felt the need to bat on, having reached his ton, and maybe colleagues might have enjoyed time in the middle, but it was spectacular batting.

Head, who played a good innings himself, fell in trying to match his partner, playing on as Taylor took pace off the ball, but the run chase was, complete inside 36 overs.

Credit must be given to Mark Watt, the only bowler to command respect in the face of the onslaught, though the figures of the rest may have been more palatable bar for Wade's astonishing onslaught.