Under 18s fight back at Southport

The under-18s fought back well against Lancashire at Southport.

From an overnight 29-3, Derbyshire eventually made 232. This was largely thanks to an outstanding unbeaten 87 from Sam Cliffe, who carried his bat after an innings of nearly five hours. He shared in a stand of 88 for the ninth wicket with Awais Khan, which helped them avoid the follow on and took Derbyshire to within 47 of the home total. Khan made 42.

Batting again,  Lancashire reached 82-2, Rubaiyat Abrar taking both wickets to fall. 

They lead by 129 runs with a day to go.

Scorecard and clips here

Signing rumours

It was interesting to read today, thanks to Dean and Simon, that Derbyshire 'have led the pursuit of Josh de Caires' of Middlesex in recent weeks.

This comes from the cricket correspondent of The Mail, Richard Gibson, who also said that the club 'recently moved' for Somerset batter, Sean Dickson.

I understand and fully support the first. De Caires, the son of former Lancashire and England player Mike Atherton, has struggled for opportunity at Middlesex, although recently has been restored to opening the batting to good effect. He may be loathe to leave London, but could perhaps be persuaded by the success of his former team mate, Martin Andersson. He has been a great success since moving to what he has called a 'real family club'.

A more than useful off spinner as well, there is a lot of logic to the pursuit - and would be to the signing if it happened. At 23 he is a player with room to improve, wherever his future lies. The same article says that his father, who has never appeared to be a fan of ours, plays no part in his son's career, so we will see what happens on that one.

As for Dickson, I am a little puzzled. He has been a decent player and scored good runs for both Kent and Somerset, but at 34 next month he doesn't fit with the idea of a more youthful Derbyshire side. I had pretty much pencilled in a top six of Donald, Jewell, Montgomery, Madsen, Basra and Andersson for the Blast next year, quite possibly with Whiteley to follow. 

Having averaged 35 and scored at 150 for Somerset this year in The Blast, the main merit in Dickson would be if we were bringing in two overseas bowlers for T20 and keeping Caleb Jewell for the red ball and One-Day Cup. Which may be the grand plan, of course... 

The same article also said that Rocky Flintoff, whose manager is his mother, may need to leave Lancashire for first team opportunities. At 17 he is a real talent, but I would have thought his chances of early and regular senior cricket would come elsewhere. Lancashire like to bring in established players and there are a lot in front of him at the club. 

With Mickey Arthur and Freddie Flintoff working together at the Northern Superchargers, perhaps that sort of discussion might have taken place, who knows? The club's image has changed for the better with the arrival of a name international coach and Lancashire has been a fine source for us in recent years. 

Of course there is a balancing act. 

What we don't want is a second team full of surplus senior players who then block opportunity for the talent coming through the Pathway. I am sure that the coaching staff feel the same. It is why I am broadly against single-format contracts, because players need time in the middle, even if it is not in the red ball first eleven. 

Which has put the thought in my head that maybe the winter will see the departure of a player (or players) who perhaps have opportunities outside of the game. 

Such chances to move into other roles present themselves at different times and for some, a career that offers long-term stability might be a better option than a remaining year on a contract. With county cricket a stressful and challenging career, it would be understandable, at least to me.

No one expected Harold Rhodes to take up a career outside of the county game when he left for a career in the brewing industry at the age of just 33. Harold probably had a few hundred wickets left in him, but long-term planning made sense. Just as it did for Chris Armishaw, who looked a terrific bowling prospect but realised the lure of a long term better income in banking was strong. 

Gloucestershire recently lost Chris Dent to a career outside of the game, because of his struggles with anxiety. Life is short and no job is worth the stress of anything that makes it more challenging. While the opportunity to play cricket and be paid for it sounds wonderful, the pressure of having to perform and having your failures scrutinised cannot be easy. Especially when you are struggling to process the challenges yourself.

Nor can you ignore the possibility of someone else wanting to buy out the final year of a player's contract, as Essex did with Matt Critchley. Like it or not, such machinations are part of the game now. Personal circumstances also come into it, as we saw when Fynn Hudson-Prentice left to move back down south and be nearer his family.

It would explain our interest in various players, because the available playing budget would then be bigger. That we need additional support for the attack is clear. A hill that I will stand (but hopefully not die) on is my previous assertion that we need a seamer for early and spinner for late season from overseas, together with two overseas bowlers in the T20.

Such team improvements, including offering opportunity to the best of the Pathway, can only come about if the available budget is stretched in one of the above ways. 

The coming weeks will no doubt shed light on things.

Under 18s in trouble at Southport

Lancashire 279 (Kennedy 82, Maisuria 64, Stewart 3-46, Abrar 3-66, Karim 2-40, Khan 2-110)

Derbyshire 29-3

Derbyshire's under-18s fought back well on the first day of a 3-day game against Lancashire at Southport, but had a difficult time when they batted.

After winning the toss and electing to bat, the home side reached 165-2 before spinners Rubaiyat Abrar and Awais Khan started a slide. Then, after tea Matt Stewart and Ayman Karim came back to remove the tail and Lancashire were all out for 279. 

Derbyshire closed in trouble at 29-3, with recent century makers Vallabhaneni and Akhtar both out.

Looks like it was a good toss to win...

Scorecard and video clips here

In closing, it is worthy of noting the excellent efforts of Theo Brown, Lucas Green, Oscar Edwards and Tommy Bush at the Bunbury Festival, as their Midlands team won the tournament.

A nice set of videos, highlighting the talents of these youngsters can be seen here

They all acquitted themselves very well and for the county to have, respectively, a wicket-keeper/bat, seam bowler, opening bat and leg spinner is highly encouraging.

Derbyshire v Nottinghamshire Metro Bank One Day Cup game 3

Derbyshire 341-8 (Whiteley 80, Basra 72, Jewell 60, Chappell 47, Lord 2-76)

Nottinghamshire 214 (Slater 68, Aitchison 4-34, Chappell 3-57, Morley 2-61)

Derbyshire won by 127 runs

When Derbyshire supporters think back on white ball cricket 2025, two performances against Nottinghamshire will be thought of most fondly.

The win in the Vitality Blast at Trent Bridge was professional and convincing. Today we dismantled them, with a team effort which showed what this team is capable of - and what an infusion of new blood has brought to it. 

When 96-1 became 116-4 in the space of five overs, supporters can have been forgiven for setting their expectation at a score around 230. Came and Jewell batted well, the latter especially so, before Came played an unnecessary shot and was caught. Bin Naeem played some pleasing strokes but went in a similar manner, while Guest, who had looked in good touch, was brilliantly caught down the leg side by Moores. When Jewell played on, frustratingly not turning an excellent start into a definitive innings, the portents were not good. We have we seen such declines become terminal, far too often in the past.

The advent of Amrit Basra changed the momentum of the game. First with Martin Andersson, then Ross Whiteley, he took on the Nottinghamshire attack with stroke play of dazzling brilliance. His hand/eye coordination is exceptional, as is his timing. He was the senior partner in both stands, with players more experienced than he and it was magnificent to watch. He judges line and length so quickly and from being in the ascendancy, the visitors were forced onto the back foot and never again regained a foothold. 

If he hadn't done so already, Basra should today have confirmed a full-time contract for next year. He is a game-changer; he was today,  he will be in the future and players of such ability are rare commodities. The only mistake he made was putting his foot to the floor too early, in the 42nd over, when he could have just carried on as he was for another two or three before really cutting loose.

Yet today it didn't matter. Whiteley took over and partnered by the returning Zak Chappell (how good to see him back!) shared an exhilarating stand of exactly one hundred in 46 balls. Basra's 72 from 55 balls, Whiteley's 80 from 52 and Chappell's 47 from 26 turned the run chase from a sedate walk in the park to something frenetic and it was very much game on, as Derbyshire reached 341-8.

Fours and sixes flowed as the visiting bowlers and fielders buckled under pressure. It was understandable, as the strokeplay and power from all three was magnificent to watch, at least for supporters from the right side of Brian Clough Way...

I was very impressed by Whiteley today. He needs such performances to stake a claim for being around next year, but today he played the perfect hand. He knocked it around sensibly while Basra cut loose, then took over and delivered for his team. A white ball contract for 2026 could yet be his, on this showing.

Nottinghamshire needed a good start from the established pair of Hameed and Slater, but the opening bowlers, 'Aitch and H' were accurate and probing. Hameed went to a sharp catch by Jewell from Aitchison, while Haydon was wicketless but again made a good impression. He bowls accurately and looks like a young man who has worked out his game. Like Basra, he should become a fixture in Mickey's Team, Version Three.

Nottinghamshire were largely up with the required rate but regularly lost wickets, with the home ground fielding far better than that the visitors had displayed earlier. This was expertly martialed by Brooke Guest, who not only changed the bowling cleverly, with no formulaic bowling spells, but held two outstanding catches after departing to the one himself, earlier. 

The first, removing the dangerous Haynes, was a tribute to his footwork, while the second, doing unto Moores as he had himself been done to, was down to his extraordinary agility. It's a pity that Bob Taylor wasn't at the former players day today, as he would undoubtedly have approved of the skipper's glove work throughout. It isn't easy doing both of those things well and Bob himself couldn't manage it, but Brooke was highly impressive today

Slater batted nicely, but was never allowed to cut loose and eventually departed caught and bowled to Morley, who did very well here. So too did Andersson, varying his pace and proving very difficult to get away. Aitchison, who has got better with the white ball as he has got fitter (unsurprisingly) took four well-deserved wickets, with the attack looking far better in this match. Good catches were held and the ground fielding stood strong.

This was a memorable performance and a fully deserved win.

Onwards and upwards, eh? 

Derbyshire v Nottinghamshire Metro Bank preview

Zak and Jack return to the Derbyshire squad for tomorrow's game against Nottinghamshire at the Central Co-op County Ground.

Messrs Chappell and Morley are welcome additions to a thirteen-man squad, which is missing Matt Montgomery, unable to play under the terms of his loan deal. 

It is hard to call the final eleven, but the squad is as follows:

Came, Jewell, Guest, Andersson, Basra, Whiteley, Bin Naeem, Chappell, Hawkins, Aitchison, Haydon, Morley, Potts.

Nottinghamshire had a thrilling tie against Worcestershire in their last game, a stolen bye from the last ball earning them a share of the points. I wouldn't expect much of a change in their side, in which the batting is more experienced than the bowling. 

Likely eleven:

Slater, Hameed, Haynes, Seecharan, Moores, James, Sams, Pocklington, Lord, Hutton, Hayes

For me, the two sides are fairly well matched, both more experienced with the bat and it depends who performs on the day. The forecast is fine and hopefully Derbyshire can get a win under their belts. 

What do you think?

In closing, my latest interview with Matt Rhodes of North Derbyshire Radio is now available. 

You can listen to it here

I am on at the 45 minute mark. Mixing my seasons, call me the half time entertainment...

Under 18s draw at Denby

Nottinghamshire were all out for 435 against Derbyshire under 18s, replying to the home side's 504-9 today. Rain took a good chunk out of the day, which meant an inevitable draw.

In the Derbyshire second innings, Rubaiyat Abrar followed his first innings 50 with 67*, as Derbyshire reached 123-5 at the end of the game. As he also took four wickets in the Nottinghamshire innings, it is fair to say he had a fine game. 

Another young man to keep an eye on..

Glamorgan v Derbyshire Metro Bank One Day Cup

When the first post of the day from Neath confirmed that it was raining, the forecast always suggested that today would be a washout. 

It's a shame, because I felt this was a game that Derbyshire could win, but it happens in cricket and especially when the first class game is moved to outgrounds, where drainage and facilities or not of the same standard.

We move on. Next stop is Nottinghamshire, who tied today against Worcestershire. That should fill the Central Co-op County Ground! 

A suggestion for the One-Day competition

Regardless of it having been downgraded as a competition, running as a supposed alternative product to the hundred-ball 'main event', the One-Day Cup is still a hugely enjoyable competition. 

Why? Because it closely resembles a format that I grew up with, be it 60 or 55 overs. The old Gillette Cups and Nat West Trophies were terrific and there was much to commend both knock out and group formats.

Many of my favourite cricket memories came in such formats and regardless of the idiocy of the ECB in promoting another that no one else plays (nor is likely to) I suspect that will remain the case.

You can see a game ebb and flow and have a full day out at the cricket. There are elements of both red ball and T20 cricket and it is an enjoyable part of the cricket season. It is, in short, a good day out.

For me, it could still be better.

The biggest problem with it as it stands is the unfairness. Some counties have their squad decimated by the other competition, while others have few absentees. At the same time, some decide it offers a fair chance of silverware and play their strongest team - which can make for mismatches - while others decide that it is a development competition. 

So why not make it so, with a few tweaks? 

It is seen already as a means of unearthing and giving opportunity to young players, so why not make it a largely under-25 competition?

Each county can field three players of their choice over that age (who they can rotate to suit the balance of the side) plus one overseas player. But the nucleus of every side will be in young players, which ensures that counties continue to develop and offer opportunity to them.

Senior players who are not playing can do so for their allocated club side, as well as coaching and working with the county age group sides. This would enable some of them to work towards their coaching badges and a potential future career, as well as helping the next generation to progress and further help to streamline movement through age groups to senior cricket.

With players complaining about workload, counties would have an opportunity to manage this in the selection of senior players and they will still have an opportunity to work on their skills in the nets, when not required for playing duties. 

I don't think that this would be to the detriment of the competition. Far from it, I think supporters would be keen to see young talent coming through their own system and perhaps be in at the start of 'the next big thing'.

As always, I look forward to your comments!

Meanwhile at the Bunbury Festival

Oscar Edwards made 47 as the Midlands easily beat South and West in the Bunbury Festival. 

He scored at a run a ball, before Tommy Bush took 4-32 to seal a 67-run win

Doing well, these Derbyshire lads!

Scorecard here

Good day for Abrar at Denby

Rubaiyat Abrar enjoyed a good day at Denby today.

He took his overnight score to 50 as Derbyshire under 18s declared on 504-9, then took 4-107 with his slow left armers, as Nottinghamshire replied with 366-7.

Matt Stewart took 2-70 in a long day in the field.

The game looks a nailed on draw, unless there is some creativity with a declaration tomorrow.

Scorecard here

Glamorgan v Derbyshire One Day Cup preview

Anuj Dal drops out of the thirteen that was at Cheltenham the other day, as Derbyshire go with twelve for the game against Glamorgan at Neath.

It does pose the question as to why he was included for that game when he clearly wasn't fit, but I dare say we will find out in due course. 

I think it would be an idea to leave out Ross Whiteley tomorrow and allow Yusaf Bin Naeem an opportunity to impress. Of course, the contracts of both are up at the end of the season and each will want the opportunity. Yet Yusaf has a longer potential career ahead of him and I would like to think that bigger picture is looked at. 

So the Derbyshire twelve

Jewell

Came

Montgomery

Guest

Andersson 

Basra

Bin Naeem/Whiteley

Hawkins

Aitchison

Potts

Haydon

Glamorgan are laudably encouraging youth and there is no place for Messrs Northeast, Ingram, Van Der Gugten and Cooke in their squad. 

They have named the following:

Carlson, Hurle, Root, Harris, Gorvin, Morris, Leonard, ul Hassan, Smale, Horton, Tribe, Franco, Byrom

There is a chance of a shower tomorrow at Neath, but hopefully not enough to intrude too much on what should be a good game. 

There is enough in the Derbyshire side to win it, but the bowling unit has to do better than it did at Cheltenham. With the batting that we have, keeping them to under 300 gives us a chance. 

Let's see what tomorrow brings!

Vallabhaneni and Akhtar go wild at Denby!

Meanwhile, at Denby, Rohan Vallabhaneni and Hasnain Akhtar shared in a stand of 299 for the under 18s against Nottinghamshire, those runs coming in just 56 overs.

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

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

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

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

Scorecard here

Gloucestershire v. Derbyshire One Day Cup

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

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

Gloucestershire won by 59 runs

Derbyshire went down by 59 runs at Cheltenham today.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Gloucestershire v Derbyshire Metro Bank Cup preview

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

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

The Derbyshire squad:

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

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

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

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

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

Here's hoping...

Postscript: Gloucestershire squad -

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

Under 18s make the final!

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

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

Derbyshire won by 4 wickets 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Scorecard and video clips here

Matt Montgomery signs from Nottinghamshire

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Four Pathway players at Bunbury Festival

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

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

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

Battling draw for under-18s

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

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

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

Northamptonshire v Derbyshire day four

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

Northamptonshire 550-9d

Match drawn

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

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

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

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

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

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

Will it bring further opportunity for someone on the Pathway? 

We will need to wait and see.

Thoughts on Arthur and recruitment

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Here's another comment from Arthur:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

It has to be.