As much as it is possible to tell from one innings, pre-season, I suspect that Matt Lamb will be a very effective player for Derbyshire this year. His unbeaten 60 from 78 balls was the highlight of the day. It was controlled aggression against a keen division one attack and served to illustrate the depth of Derbyshire's batting this year. With Wayne Madsen missing, his teammates took the opportunity for time in the middle and they all did well. Skipper Leus du Plooy was the only one to miss out, but everyone will benefit from time spent at the crease. Lamb looks a very good player. Tall, po ..read more

I have been working on my season preview for the County Championship for the past few days and will be presenting it for your 'delectation and delight', as Leonard Sachs used to say, during the course of the next week. There will be a few of them around, though I have to say I disagreed with the first that I saw, on Twitter, which came up with the following Derbyshire starting eleven: Billy Godleman Harry Came Brooke Guest (wk) Wayne Madsen Leus du Plooy © Luis Reece Mattie McKiernan Anuj Dal Suranga Lakmal Sam Conners Nick Potts While appreciating this was a personal choice by someone not ..read more

When I saw that a biography of Roy Gilchrist was among Pitch Publishing's output for this Spring, I was excited. I had heard a lot about the West Indian fast bowler over the years. Most of it, to be fair, erred on the side of 'nasty and unpleasant', while some offered balance and said that he was 'a nice guy when you got to know him and probably when he was on your side.' Which is pretty much what comes out of this excellent biography by Mark Peel, an established cricket writer of some reputation. Gilchrist appears to have gone through much of his life with a chip on his shoulder and a d ..read more

With the season fast approaching, news comes today that Ian Bell will continue as Derbyshire's batting consultant during the coming season. He did sterling work last year, as virtually the entire top, seven had prolific seasons and appeared to respond to his work with them. They were aided, of course, by some unusually good early season batting wickets, as well as by the prolific output of Shan Masood. It is always easier to bat when someone appears to be using a barn door at the other end and keeping the score ticking over. The expectations have been set and it will be interesting to see ho ..read more

The first cricket book that I have read in 2023 is by the experienced writer, Matthew Appleby. This is his seventh book and he is on sure ground with this biography, of his late father, Edgar. In fact it is part biography, partly autobiographical and shows how the author grew up with a father who was cricket-mad, a serious collector of its memorabilia and literature, as well as a keen player, until age took its toll. Each chapter focuses on a particular collectible and it is an engaging read. The book shows how the memorabilia and cricket collecting market has grown dramatically over his ..read more

Wayne Madsen, as reported by Cricinfo, will miss two county championship games for Derbyshire in the coming season, between July 20 and 28, as he will at last be playing international cricket - for Italy. An Italian passport through his mother, which enabled him to qualify and play in this country in the first instance, allows him to represent that country in the T20 World Cup Europe qualifier, which will be held in Edinburgh between the above dates. Two teams will qualify and the hosts, Scotland, together with Ireland, will be the favourites to do so. Yet the recruitment of Madsen, as well ..read more

Thank you all so much for your kind words below my last post. Which, when I come to think of it, should probably have a bugle call attached at the end of the sentence... Those words were very much appreciated and I am grateful to you all for taking the time to message, or to send me an email. I'm not doing much at the moment, on medical advice, which has afforded me the opportunity to watch Haider Ali in the PSL. It is quickly obvious, in watching him, that he has talent to spare. He is one of these mercurial players who seems to have a shot, sometimes two, for every ball. What will be inte ..read more

With the cricket season 50 days away, excitement is building among supporters around the country. Over the coming weeks, the ' big Spring jacket' will be brought out and checked, as will the location of the flasks, gloves and hats that are de rigeur for the start of summer cricket follower. I was among them, having planned a trip to Derby in April for an early home fixture, one to Durham for my usual 'home' game and my attendance of the Chesterfield cricket festival, the date having worked for me for the first time in a number of years. Alas, yours truly will be getting surgery in April - th ..read more

On the basis of contemporary accounts, William Chatterton must have been one of the most graceful batsmen to represent Derbyshire, as well as being one of the most loyal. Indeed, when the history of Derbyshire cricket is considered, there is strong argument that he, with George Davidson, were the main reasons that the club regained and retained first-class status in 1894, having been demoted in 1888 for poor results. A batting average of 25, to modern eyes is indicative of a player of only modest talent. Yet Chatterton, or 'Chatty' as he was known, made many of his on poor, uncovered and und ..read more

This afternoon, Leus du Plooy will play in the semi-final of the SA20 for Joburg Super Kings, after his batting was a major factor on them getting to this stage. There are a lot of very fine batters on display in the competition, but the Derbyshire captain has looked very much at home in such elite company.  I am hopeful that this summer will see him truly emerge in all formats as a player of the highest calibre. There have been times since his emergence over here when he has looked that way, but others when his footwork has been hesitant and his scores disappointing as a result. For m ..read more