Haydon signs on for three summers!

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

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

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

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

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

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

Welcome (back) to Derbyshire, Rory! 

Seconds on top at Taunton Vale

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

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

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

Scorecard and video clips can be found here

Seconds battle at Taunton Vale

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

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

Archie Vaughan took 3-27 for the home side

More from me on this match as time allows

Scorecard and videos here

Under 18s robbed by the rain

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

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

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

Well done lads! 

Video clips and scorecard can be seen here

Weekend thoughts

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Without doubt, it is desperately sad. 

Postscript: last night's interview can be heard here

I am on 34 minutes into the show.

Good day for under 18s

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

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

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

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

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

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

That game starts at Kibworth at 10.45.

We're all rooting for you, lads! 

Under 18s do well at Chesterfield

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

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

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

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

Derbyshire v Essex One Day Cup

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

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

Essex won by 44 runs

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Derbyshire v Essex One Day Cup preview

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

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

Brooke Guest
Harry Came

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

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

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

Essex squad:

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

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

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

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

Hampshire v Derbyshire One Day Cup

Derbyshire 339-5 (Jewell 98, Guest 76, Andersson 44, Basra 34*, Came 33, Abbott 2-33)

Hampshire 341-7 (Mayes 62* Middleton 57, Brown 56, Fuller 54, Aitchison 3-47, Hawkins 2-59, Potts 2-77) 

Hampshire won by 3 wickets

No complaints from me tonight, as Derbyshire produced a very good, though ultimately losing display against Hampshire at Southampton. 

The batting today was excellent, but it has been throughout this competition. Jewell and Came led off in fine style before Came was very well  caught (allegedly, as the stream wasn't the best). Montgomery looked in good touch before playing on to the excellent Kyle Abbott (the sort of attack leader we need next season).

Jewell was again brilliant and produced the full range of the strokes we have come to love this summer. He will have been disappointed to get out before a well-deserved century, having been becalmed as he approached it, but looked a player of the highest quality today. 

Guest was also excellent, running hard and hitting exquisitely at times. Andersson joined him in an enjoyable stand of 94 in 12 overs, before Basra came in to improvise impishly and brilliantly in the closing overs. His unbeaten 34 from just 15 deliveries took the total to more than initially looked likely. 

Yet bowling displays this summer suggested that 339 might not be enough. In similar vein, I suppose, to Brian Clough, when he sarcastically asked his team mates after a 6-3 defeat in which he scored all the goals how many he should score the following week, to ensure a point.

Hampshire's strong batting line up always seems up to the task and throughout were around the required rate. Aitchison, who bowled splendidly, removed both openers after a lively opening stand and Hawkins dismissed McMullen as he was getting into his stride. There were also two good wickets for Nick Potts, who bowled some crackers today, though interspersed with half trackers that ruined his figures. 

There was greater accuracy than the debacle of Derby, though we need more who can consistently find the right length like Aitchison. He has learned very quickly this summer and will be a key player in all formats next year.

Hawkins also bowled encouragingly again and took his first List A wickets, both caught and bowled. In that skill he is already better than Mohammad Ghazanfar...

In the end, on an excellent batting pitch the home side prevailed. Like Derbyshire they made runs consistently down the order and could pace their chase, which they did admirably. Seventeen-year old Ben Mayes played a very cool hand at the end and looks a terrific player. He was well supported by the bucolic James Fuller and Hampshire came out on top with five balls to spare.

Middleton and Brown earlier made fine fifties and although it was a much improved effort, I never felt Derbyshire had control. Having said that, I thought Guest used his bowlers well and to add to his excellent knock held a fine one-handed catch above his head to dismiss Middleton from the bowling of Potts.

Improvement then, but we all know the biggest issue. A defeat was expected against a very good team in the first division, but we were not disgraced today. It was another excellent advert for the county game.

In closing, the stream wasn't the best, was it? For a Test ground and with all their resources I expected much more than a glorified single camera with the odd wide angle shot.

I wouldn't swap their coverage for ours, that's for sure.

Hampshire v Derbyshire preview

A thirteen-man Derbyshire squad heads down to Southampton for tomorrow's game against Hampshire.

There's no Pat Brown or Rory Haydon and with Derbyshire now unable to qualify. I would hope that the final eleven includes players who would benefit from the experience. Of course, a win would be nice but planning for next year has to start now. 

The thirteen - with my side the first eleven:

Came, Jewell, Montgomery, Guest, Basra, Andersson, Dal, Chappell, Aitchison, Hawkins, Potts

Whiteley and Morley.

We know what Ross can do so I would rest him here, but Morley might get in the final eleven if turn is likely.

There is no news on the Hampshire side as I write, but this was their eleven against Nottinghamshire, last time out:

Orr, Gubbins, Middleton, McMullen, Prest, Mayes, Organ, Neal, Abbott, Wheal, Jack

I am interested to see how Brandon McMullen fares, having been a standout for Scotland in recent seasons. He is a fine player with bat and ball, at 25 likely featuring in a few wish lists around the counties. 

I suspect Hampshire will be too strong for Derbyshire, but it is hard to come to a different conclusion after the way we bowled in the last match. The return of Ben Aitchison should help, as it would if Matt Montgomery was fit to bowl a few overs.

There are cases to be made for a few players to be out and others to be in, but we will see how things go tomorrow.

The morning after...

A couple of things struck me this morning, when I logged onto my laptop to check the statistics for this site.

First up, usage is higher than it has ever been, which, if nothing else, reflects a major interest in Derbyshire cricket. Every post has thousands of views, which is flattering and very much appreciated. 

Secondly, the number of comments are increasing. If you regularly log in and would like to say something, please feel free to do so. Comments are approved before publishing, just to ensure that nothing unduly personal is put out there. But please feel free to say something and participate, preferably adding a name - even one you would prefer to use on the site, if not your own.

Going back to yesterday - and I would prefer not to, but needs must - it is easy to forget, after another defeat, that there are positive signs. 

Our batting is not really an issue. I think that Ben Smith has done a pretty good job and if one looks ahead to next season, there is strength in both red and white ball lineups. 

We don't yet know about Harry Came, though I would expect him to sign a new deal and probably open the batting with Caleb Jewell. With Montgomery, Madsen, Guest, Basra and Reece to follow, we shouldn't lack runs. Maybe another young batter will force his way in, which would be nice, but with Nye Donald and maybe Ross Whiteley for white ball cricket, we should usually get runs on the board.

What we REALLY need is an attack leader. An experienced overseas player who we can first of all afford and who wants to come and play in England and specifically for Derbyshire. The riches available in global franchise cricket these days almost make that a mission worthy of Tom Cruise (or Peter Graves, for those of my era, not the former Sussex player...)

Therein lies the challenge. Assuming Rory Haydon signs, with him, Ben Aitchison, Harry Moore, Nick Potts and Pat Brown we have a youthful quintet of seam bowlers who would further benefit from on-field guidance. A name, a man you could throw the ball to, as Kim Barnett once did to Michael Holding, or we once did with Tony Palladino when the going got tough. Or Mark Footitt, who for two summers was a one-man Blitzkrieg on batting lineups, thigh pads and helmets.

But just as I have praised the work of Ben Smith, at the end of the summer there has to be an evaluation of Ajmal Shahzad, as there will be of all coaches and players. While accepting that the Derby pitches are too heavily weighted in the favour of batters (in my opinion) I don't think there is a bowler who could hand on heart say they have improved this year. 

Maybe Jack Morley, but the seamers have all appeared less grooved, less effective than in 2024. The question needs to be asked why? Maybe it is the pitches, but when there is a collective deterioration, the question at least needs to be asked if they are getting the wrong advice, coaching or support. I can accept form being a cyclical thing, but everyone? There has to be a reason and Mickey Arthur has to get to the bottom of that.

Pat Brown came in for a lot of stick yesterday, both on and off the field. Yet he was starring for England Lions less than twelve months ago and has previously been very effective in white ball cricket for Derbyshire. It is painful to see a player struggling as he did yesterday, the nadir of a troublesome season for him. He can get it back, but needs help, the right help, in order to do so. 

He has been at the Hundred, sat in the dugout, lacking game time and probably confidence. The latter is a big thing in cricket and sometimes the feet aren't right, the head isn't as a consequence and the ball comes out all wrong.

Years ago I played under a very good professional who brought my game on considerably. His coaching stripped down my batting technique and in his two seasons I scored consistently and took my share of wickets. He even got me through coaching badges to better understand the process and I only wish I could have played and worked under him longer. Subsequently a 'name' Australian was professional and he hadn't remotely the same skills in coaching. When I hit the inevitable bad patch, he couldn't help and it was down to me to get out of it.

Sometimes the message can be overly complicated, sometimes it has been heard too often and a fresh approach - or voice - is needed. Mickey Arthur himself said when he came to Derbyshire that three/four years was usually the 'fresh' lifespan of a coach. 

So while I don't expect wholesale changes this winter, I do hope that this side of the club is not neglected. There is talent, we see that throughout the summer with some stirring displays. 

But the message from coaches to players has to be consistent and clear. The ability to galvanise, to motivate, is not given to all, but it is crucial that all angles are looked at. Why are almost all of our bowlers averaging over forty in red ball cricket, a couple over thirty? Why are they going at tens and elevens in T20? Are the coaching methods wrong? Are the instructions flawed? 

In any organisation I worked in, the performance of a team was the result of the managers and their ability to get the best from those underneath them. The best managers, like coaches, get to know their team, how they are most effective and how they produce their best. Then create the environment and culture to enable them to grow and develop their skillset.

Cricket is no different.

Derbyshire v Surrey One Day Cup

Surrey 388-4 (Thomas 162, Sykes 115, Barnwell 43*, Chappell 3-61)

Derbyshire 345 (Montgomery 114, Jewell 77, Guest 48, Basra 39, Majid 3-57, Karvelas 3-73, Sykes 2-58

Surrey won by 43 runs

This is my 59th summer watching Derbyshire and I cannot recall a more shambolic bowling performance than they offered today.

With the exception of Zak Chappell and Joe Hawkins, who kept a line, length and bowled to their fields, the rest was horrendous. 

Let's not forget this was against Surrey 2nds/3rds. A team with only one senior player, in Rory Burns, who was quickly back in the dressing room and able to watch as Adam Thomas and Ollie Sykes dismantled the home attack in a third wicket stand of 265 in just 34 overs. I take nothing away from the batting of both talented young men in recording their excellent maiden centuries in first-class cricket, but they will have faced better bowling in the Seconds, maybe even the Surrey Leagues.

It was an appalling, indisciplined effort  which contained eight no balls and twenty wides. Nick Potts even managed a no ball wide, which has rarity value, but the major concern has to be Pat Brown. 

Ten overs for 114 runs speaks of a massive crisis in confidence and form which has been pretty much season-long. He would appear to have totally lost his mojo and one has to question the bowling coach, Ajmal Shahzad. I cannot think of a single bowler who has improved this summer, despite the protestations of Mickey Arthur that every single member of the squad has done so. Is there a disconnect between coach and players? The evidence suggests so.

Brown is a good lad and certainly not without talent, as he has shown in the past, but maybe needs a different coach or environment. On the basis of today, they all do, because that was embarrassing to watch. Truly, undeniably awful. You can get hammered around the park at times when not bowling too badly, but that was not the case today.

I felt for Brooke Guest, because I have been there as a captain, when everyone is going around the park and no one seems able to bowl to whatever field is agreed. 

Given Derbyshire historically reach nose bleed territory chasing over 275, the Surrey total of 388-4 suggested a defeat was forthcoming.

So it transpired, despite a century of class by Matt Montgomery, who barely lifted a ball off the ground in anchoring the chase. There are similarities to Wayne Madsen in build and technique, but he looks a player of the highest calibre and it will not be his last century for the club. 

Caleb Jewell batted very well, without going on to the big innings that was needed today. So too did Brooke Guest and Amrit Basra, who in contrasting styles helped the score to mount.

Yet Derbyshire were never really ahead of the game. How can you be, chasing such a total? The debutant left arm spinner Ralphie Albert, only seventeen, bowled an excellent spell that slowed the scoring, but the telling contribution again came from Sykes, captain for the day. 

I don't think batting is Derbyshire's biggest problem, but a discerning county could do worse than approach Surrey for a season-long loan for the 20-year old. He doesn't look like getting anywhere near their first team in the immediate future, but is clearly ready for the level and its challenges. His century earlier was brilliant (with the caveat of the bowling standard) but here his slow bowling earned respect. Adam Thomas also looked a good bat, more circumspect until reaching three figures, but then cutting loose in excellent fashion.

Montgomery eventually went for 113 to Karvelas, the loanee from Sussex. 81 were needed to win with seven overs left and the heroes of Leicester, Dal and Chappell, were at the crease.

But there was to be no reprise and Derbyshire slipped to a very poor defeat that ended their interest in another competition.

This to a club that carries a squad of around forty players, yet had to borrow a seamer, because they were short.

Wow...there are no words.

Derbyshire v Surrey preview

Pat Brown, Yusuf Bin Naeem and Joe Hawkins are added to the thirteen that played at Leicester for tomorrow's game at the Central Co-op County Ground against a heavily depleted Surrey side.

I couldn't call a side for the fixture, but it would be good to see youth given an opportunity within the final eleven.

Ben Foakes and Rory Burns are the experienced heads in a Surrey squad that otherwise lacks it. I have watched a couple of their games and left-handed middle order bat Ollie Sykes looks a player of potential. He made a dazzling 90-odd against Gloucestershire, before being suckered out by Graeme van Buuren.

Their squad:

Foakes, Burns, Albert, Barnwell, Blake, Gorantla, Griffiths, Hunt, Karvelas, Majid, Sykes, Taylor, Thomas 

Ari Karvelas has been signed on loan from Sussex for the remainder of the competition.

It is a game that Derbyshire should win, with a good weather forecast

I will be back tomorrow. Tonight my wife and I head into Glasgow to see Cabaret at the theatre

I will publish all comments later tonight or early tomorrow.

Have a good one! 

Basra signs and thoughts on Mickey Arthur

The signing of Amrit Basra on a two-year deal is the first part of the winter rebuild of Derbyshire, one that WILL be done by Mickey Arthur.

That much came out of several chats I had today, the contents of which must remain private for the most part, but I can confirm a few things as a result of them.

But first, Basra. He fully deserves his opportunity, because he has taken advantage of his appearances in the second team, both last season and this, to deliver a consistent high level of performance. He would have liked to turn some of those scintillating innings into three figures, which is probably the next step, but sometimes it is watching a player and HOW he makes his runs that is important. 

There is a flamboyance, a panache about Amrit at the crease, just as there is a coltish enthusiasm from him in the field. Nor should we overlook his bowling, which will probably take a few wickets across the formats over the season. He will be especially valuable in the Blast but I see him slotting nicely into next summer's middle order. 

He isn't the finished article, but working on his game over the winter will give him the opportunity to hone his technique, without restricting the flair that makes him such compelling viewing.

It is hoped that a deal will follow for Rory Haydon, although I am aware of interest, via his performances for Staffordshire, from another county. I would like to think Rory will sign sooner, rather than later, but we will need to wait on that one. 

There will not be wholesale changes over the winter, because the budget is finite, but I get the impression that the future sees a more athletic, more home-reared Derbyshire that supporters can get behind, but at the same time be patient with.

It is, however, clear that regardless of the feelings of some supporters and members, including myself, Mickey Arthur is here to stay and 'remains fully invested in the club'. There will be details that will undoubtedly be revealed by the club when they are ready to do so, but regardless of what we all think from recent events, things are not so clear cut.

The ECB says there HAS to be fluidity between the county game and the Hundred and a willingness for coaches to be released on request. What was not realised at the time the press release was made in January was just how much overlap there would be between Derbyshire fixtures and those of the Northern Superchargers. The communication of the Head of Cricket's absence COULD have been better, but his strategic role doesn't see him have too much 'hands on' coaching involvement. So from that perspective, leaving Ben Smith and Ajmal Shahzad in charge was not such a leap of faith. But I understand that he has still picked teams and still spoken to players before and after matches

I also understand that around 12.5% of salary comes back to clubs for players and coaches who are recruited for the new competition, so that will be times four in our case, with three players and a coach.

We need to keep in mind, I think, that players (apparently) do want to come and play for Derbyshire AND for Mickey Arthur. Indeed, contracts can in some cases be ripped up in sport, if the coach of choice who persuaded the player to come to the club is no longer in post. Some even get it written into contracts these days..

But plans are in motion for next season and Mickey Arthur WILL be building his squad over the winter and leading the club into it. If the plans come to fruition, it will be exciting and well worth the price of admission.

If it isn't, I don't think any of the above should prevent Derbyshire from going in a different direction. We will by then have had five years and three versions of 'my team'. 

In other news, I can confirm that Josh de Caires will not be coming, nor will Sean Dickson, who has not been on the county's radar at any point, despite newspaper reports to the contrary. I suspect de Caires will stay at Middlesex, especially with an opening berth available after the departure of Steve Eskinazi to Leicestershire.

Supporters will of course look at Leicestershire and think 'Why can't we do that'? I can only suggest keeping an eye on that county, because several stories have come to me from various trusted sources of a 'boom or bust' mentality. Which is fine, if you are prepared to risk the latter, of course. I would prefer my county to live within its means, just as long as it doesn't reach the end of a financial year with multiple thousand pounds of profit. After all, it is a cricket club and the majority of expense has to be on the sport, as well as the facilities for those who come along to watch it. 

My conversations today didn't change my opinion that the transition to The Hundred was badly handled. If the club had communicated what was happening, the unrest of the past fortnight could have been avoided.

It would have been better had Ben Smith taken charge for the One Day Cup with no interference,  no frequent phone calls and messages to the middle. A press release giving him control would have made more sense, so too the Head of Cricket having faith in him and allowing him to run things. 

I can't say any more at this stage, but I am grateful for the time spent on those conversations today.

Like it or not, Mickey WILL be staying. Here's hoping his team, version three, is an enhancement..

There cannot be a version four. Whoever he attracts to the club, he has to create an environment in which they can thrive and produce their best cricket.

Can he? 

Leicestershire v Derbyshire One Day Cup

Leicestershire 312-5 (Patel 94, Hill 93)

Derbyshire 312 (Came 67, Chappell 49, Montgomery 47, Dal 45, Green 5-64)

Tie

A pulsating day's cricket at Leicester saw a fine game end in a tie, a result that was probably no use to either side in the grand scheme of things.

Leicestershire batted well, although during the second wicket stand between Patel and Hill their tally looked likely to be closer to 350. At 180-1 in the 33rd over they would have hoped for more than 312, but the pitch seemed to get slower and the Derbyshire fielding was very good in the latter stages. Ross Whiteley was especially good in the deep, although that is taken for granted these days.

The bowling was handicapped by the early loss through injury of Rory Haydon, who was only able to bowl three overs. With Amrit Basra ruled out of the game through illness, it wasn't the best of days for the short term contract players. The wickets were shared around, with Ben Aitchison the pick of the attack today.

For a while Derbyshire looked comfortable, with Jewell and Came leading off well, the latter playing some lovely strokes before being dismissed very tamely, spooning a catch to mid off. Montgomery also batted well, though clearly inconvenienced by a hand injury that he repeatedly flexed. When he was dismissed by a quick bouncer from Mike, the balance of the game began to change and boundaries began to dry up. Guest, Andersson and Whiteley were dismissed by the giant Green, who looks an excellent prospect, the latter's (also tame) dismissal seemingly ending the hopes of the visiting side.

Dal and Chappell revived Derbyshire hopes with a stand of 64, both playing some fine strokes and running hard. Fifty were needed from the last six, then 40 from 5, 34 from 4, 22 from 3, as Chappell hit Mike for a remarkable one-handed straight six. Then fifteen were needed from the last two, after Dal was run out, backing up.  

Aitchison's dismissal to an excellent catch by Trevaskis, who earlier had bowled well, gave the prolific Green his fourth wicket , quickly followed by his fifth, with Morley held at point by Budinger.  Green ended with 5-64 and looks the latest excellent prospect from a long assembly line.

A six, two and four from the first three balls of the final over left it at two from three, but Scriven held his nerve (after a wide) and Chappell was run out from the final ball to leave the game as a tie. 

It was a terrific effort from Zak, but he couldn't quite take us over the line. Again though, questions need to be asked of those higher in the order, who should have handled the situation better than they did.

Again, that was a run chase that should have been comfortable. 108 from the last fifteen overs with seven wickets in hand is an equation most sides would fancy.

Sadly, not Derbyshire. They need to win their last three matches now and keep their fingers crossed. They should beat a much-weakened Surrey, but Hampshire and Essex will be much tougher matches.

The thinking money is not in our favour, I'm afraid.

PS Mickey Arthur wasn't there again today. Presumably he is at Lord's...

Leicestershire v Derbyshire One Day Cup preview

Matt Montgomery is recovered from the injury that forced him off during the defeat to Worcestershire last week and is included in the Derbyshire thirteen for the trip to Leicester tomorrow.

Anuj Dal also returns to the squad after his half century against Zimbabwe A, as Derbyshire go with the following squad:

Jewell, Came, Montgomery, Guest, Basra, Whiteley, Dal, Andersson, Aitchison, Chappell, Haydon, Potts, Morley

There's no news on the Leicestershire side as I write - they have been too busy announcing new signings for 2026 - but will include Peter Handscomb and Shan Masood as their two overseas players. 

Last time out they went with the following eleven but were well-beaten by Essex 

Holland, Budinger, Hill, Masood, Handscomb, Cox, Scriven, Mike, Walker, Wood, Wright

A win tomorrow would keep alive Derbyshire's hopes of qualification, while defeat would pretty much end their interest in the competition. 

Will Mickey Arthur be there? I understand that he wasn't at Neath or Repton, as the Northern Superchargers had fixtures on those dates. They have another one tomorrow.

So will he be at Leicester or Lord's? That might be a test of his loyalties...

I think that Derbyshire can win the game tomorrow, as long as the batting doesn't fall apart like a house of cards, as it did at Repton. 

We will see soon enough.

Seconds lose thriller at Quarndon

Thanks to John for alerting me to the fact that the second team had an excellent friendly against Zimbabwe A today at Quarndon.

Batting first in the 50 over game, Derbyshire were all out for 273. Anuj Dal made 64, Joe Hall 40, Sam Cliffe 36 and Ajay Khunti 30. 

Zimbabwe won by three wickets with an over to spare, with Matt Stewart (2-38) and Nick Potts (2-72) the best bowlers.

Sounds like a cracking game! 

Two postbag questions..

To answer here the same question that I have been asked several times in recent days, I do think that Rory Haydon, Amrit Basra and Joe Hawkins will get deals for 2026. Indeed, the likelihood is that these will be announced in one press release in the not too distant future.

All offer something that the club needs and they are the right age, with a collective desire to succeed. On what we have seen so far, there is no real gamble in the offers.

If Derbyshire overlook the very obvious claims that these fellas have staked, I would be pretty concerned, to be honest.

But for the most frequent question in my postbag in the last seven to ten days - where is Mickey Arthur? 

Back in January, on the club website, it was announced that he had been appointed Director of Cricket by the Northern Superchargers.

In the article, on the tenth of that month, it said:

Arthur, who will remain with Derbyshire during the Metro Bank One-Day Cup, will undertake the largely hands-off role alongside his duties with the club, as the Superchargers prepare for the fifth edition of The Hundred this August.

It went on:

Arthur said: “Derbyshire remains my primary focus and I’m committed to achieving our goals of bringing success to the Club. 

Fast forward seven months and, with no announcement by the club that I have seen, it appears that Derbyshire has become the 'hands off' role. There has been no sign of him at the Metro Bank matches, according to my sources, and I find that extraordinary.

You can dress it up any way that you like. There can be protestations that the other coaches are being given opportunity to lead, but the fact remains that someone who is being paid a lot of money to oversee the cricketing fortunes of Derbyshire County Cricket Club, appears to be doing so at a distance and in a part-time capacity. Presumably for full-time wages. Could you imagine a football manager being told that they didn't need to turn up on match day?

Maybe the club is getting something for this 'other job'. Possibly that role offers contact with players who *might* come to the club. Some will maintain that it is good for the club's name to be taken into a different environment. Maybe he is at our matches, but if so is either keeping an unusually low profile or is cunningly disguised. 

If he isn't, I think it is disrespectful. 

To the players and supporters of Derbyshire, to the club itself. It smacks of our being an afterthought and all parties deserve better. 

Imagine you are Amrit Basra or Rory Haydon, bursting to impress on what is effectively a trial at a first class county. Only the person who is ultimately responsible for your getting a long-term contract isn't there. Yes, he can watch a stream, but don't these young players need feedback at the end of a day, or a game? Don't you need to see how they prepare? Offer a few, sage words of wisdom?  Of course he has his coaches, but it hardly seems sensible for someone to be controlling the destiny of others from afar. 

How can you tell your players to give total commitment to their jobs when you are clearly not doing it yourself? Derbyshire might be 'the primary focus' but it is clearly NOT all of the time.

Perhaps the club is fine by this, but I doubt that members or supporters are. At the very least, a press statement should have been put out to say that he was going to be elsewhere during this competition. As it is, the assumption is that they hoped no one would notice.

The club could nip these rumours in the bud by having him front up after the game at Leicester on Wednesday, from the ground. The suggestion that he should always do a media piece after games is a valid one. This is potentially the last game of real significance this summer and Arthur should be talking about it, win or lose.

I don't think it appropriate for someone who is Head of Cricket at our club to take on another role that prevents him from doing the job he is paid for. I don't care that much if he takes on a position in the early winter, when the players are doing fitness work. But I strongly feel that he should be at the club and with the players during the season.

I'd be surprised if anyone disagreed with me. And I am happy to apologise if he has been at recent matches.

But based on the quantity of trusted people telling me otherwise, I don't think that will be necessary.

Aitchison and Potts sign new deals

Given his form since his return to the Derbyshire side, it is no surprise that Ben Aitchison has been rewarded with a new, two-year contract.

I suppose the concern is always that the more affluent counties will sniff around any player of talent - and Ben is certainly one of those. But the county has been patient with him while he recovered from surgery and there are signs that this patience will be rewarded in spades.

There is a lot to like in Ben. He isn't, as described on Cricinfo, a 'fast' bowler, but he doesn't need to be, because his bowling has other strengths. Line and length are the prime ones, together with moving it just enough to cause problems. It is all well and good to obtain extravagant movement, which looks great on replays. But the best bowlers know that you only need to move it half a bat's width and find the edge to reap the rewards. As Wilfred Rhodes once put it, the rest is for show...

At 26 and having lost two years to his back injuries, Ben will be keen to make up for lost time. He was thrust back into the Derbyshire side and had to play T20 when he was neither match fit nor experienced in the format. Even now, he has only bowled 43 overs in the short form and while he took wickets, including 5-29 at Headingley, he will be keen to get his runs per over into single figures. 

His averages in all formats are very good and are likely to improve. So too is his batting, which has always been worthy of greater respect than given in some quarters. Whether he ever becomes a genuine all-rounder is something time will tell, but he will always be an asset in the field, where he has a safe pair of hands anywhere, especially in the slip cordon, together with a good arm.

With Mickey Arthur keen to reduce the age demographic of the Derbyshire side, Ben still fits into a 'young' category, but will increasingly become a 'go to' for captains. With Harry Moore (18)  likely to return next season and Rory Haydon (22) knocking loudly on the door, the county will have young pace options, including Nick Potts (23).  He too has signed a deal until the end of next season and will need to prove that he can stay fit , first of all, then limit the bad balls that often ruin his figures.

He is capable of pace, has a good yorker and, like Ben, is excellent in the field.

We will see next year if he can make it, or if like many before him, his ceiling is that of a very good league cricketer.

Fingers crossed he makes it. 

But that is encouraging news today.