Leicestershire 574 Derbyshire 167 {Lloyd 54, Donald 45) and 224-6 (Madsen 59*, Thomson 46*) Derbyshire trail by 183 runs Given the weather forecast for tomorrow, Derbyshire may escape from this game with a draw. Yet even the most partisan supporter would struggle to say that they deserved it.  After chasing leather for five sessions, they lost four wickets last night and a further twelve today. Let us not forget that this is against Leicestershire, more specifically a largely second choice attack in the absence, through injury, of their first choice bowlers. On the same pitch, lest we ..read more

There were a lot of comments after yesterday and some of them I declined to publish, because there was no name appended and they were too much of a rant - and personal, in one instance.  I am sorry, but I am prepared to have my name and face on the blog and will be critical if I feel it is deserved, happy to do so face to face if it came to it. But I will not be personal and everyone should remember that sports people don't set out to have a bad day. Neither do you, but it happens I always welcome comments, but I must insist on either you creating a Google account, which doesn't take lo ..read more

Derbyshire return to the Incora County Ground tomorrow, with a local derby against Leicestershire. It is again, on paper, a winnable fixture for us and the game would appear to be blessed by four days of dry weather. All we need now is for good Derbyshire to turn up and the pitch not to be one where a squillion plays a trillion in the first innings. If we can get something similar to Cardiff last week, that would do me fine, with the eleven  tweaked to enhance our chances. Leicestershire are missing several bowlers, including Josh Hull, Roman Walker, Chris Wright, Rehan Ahmed and Wiaan ..read more

I was always likely to enjoy Matthew Appleby's second cricket book. I enjoyed his first, about his father, his love for cricket and the literature of the game. He has a style of writing that is enjoyable and the theme of this one was very much up my street.  There are similarities with my own second book, In Their Own Words, In that the author has sought out heroes of yesteryear who in some cases have disappeared from the public conscious.  Others are better known, such as Mike Selvey and John Barclay, while the pieces on Chris Cowdrey and Geoffrey Boycott are enjoyable. Yet f ..read more

Glamorgan 237 and 361-7 Derbyshire 198 and 225-3 (Reece 91*, Guest 72* Harris 2-24) Match drawn There may be those who are thinking tonight that Derbyshire should have had a go at the run chase at Cardiff. It was never on. The loss of overs in the morning and a further stoppage after lunch meant that the run rate had climbed and, having lost the wickets of David Lloyd and Wayne Madsen before lunch, it would have been very easy for the side to have capitulated.  That they didn't was due to fine innings from Brooke Guest and Luis Reece. Both are players of high quality and I never felt ..read more

This book is a terrific read, but it is a shame that it has to be written at all.  It is effectively a 'state of the nation' address about English cricket in 2024. It is an elegy to days gone by, as well as being a warning to what may happen in the future and indeed is happening right now. But as well as recognising the challenges faced by those who play the game, and the concerns of those who have watched it for decades, the author also recognises that the game has had to change and diversify.  Indeed, as Derbyshire's CEO Ryan Duckett says within its pages, in the 2022/23 fi ..read more

I think it is fair to say that the wicket changed a little on day three of this match.  There was still turn, but not as sharp as it had been on the first two days. The ball still nipped off the seam, but really only when it was new and the old Kookaburra ball didn't do that much.  There are some good bowlers in this Derbyshire side and that leads me to be hopeful that we can, at the very least, hold out for a draw tomorrow.  We could have done without losing the wicket of Harry Came before the close, but Lloyd and Reece took it to that point without any further loss. Earlie ..read more

Glamorgan 237 and 74-4 (Thomson 3-35) Derbyshire 198 (Madsen 63, Lloyd 60, Crane 4-60) Glamorgan lead by 113 runs An intriguing match is well balanced at the end of day two, with day three looking likely to be the final one at this stage.  I cannot help feeling that Derbyshire let themselves down a little today, with a lack of assertion with the bat. With the benefit of hindsight, perhaps more aggressive intent towards Mason Crane may have brought dividends. Then again, an extra spinner in the side for this one would probably have seen us on the way home by lunch time tomorrow.  ..read more

Glamorgan 237 (Carlson 74, Thomson 7-65, Tickner 2-57, Conners 1-51) Derbyshire 46-1 (Lloyd 35*, Came 11*) Derbyshire trail by 191 runs Career best bowling figures of 7-56 by Alex Thomson put Derbyshire into a strong position at the end of the first innings of this game. An off spinner. In April... Thomson bowled superbly, flighting the ball beautifully and getting significant turn from the start of his spell. Perhaps the only concern was that Derbyshire, having won the toss, had opted to bat last on this pitch and omitted Jack Morley the second spinner. Whether Mason Crane and Kiran Carls ..read more

Whisper it quietly, but it looks like we will get some cricket over the next four days at Cardiff... The forecast doesn't look too bad at all, so a prompt start will depend on how well the ground recovers from the recent rain that has covered the country.  Derbyshire will travel with a squad of thirteen and unless the pitch suggests turn, which would be unfeasible at most places this early, I don't see many changes to the likely side at Derby. One spinner, and/or a choice between Matt Lamb and Nye Donald - unless we decide to pack the batting, of course.  Squad: Lloyd, Reece, Cam ..read more