Derbyshire v Sussex: Day 2 Review

It was a funny old day at the County Ground today, one that ebbed and flowed but ended once again with Derbyshire up against it, despite the best efforts of Mark Footitt. He fully justified his selection with five wickets as Sussex ended the day on 328-8, a lead of 105 runs.

Starting the day on 158-6, we hoped for 250 but fell some way short, though Richard Johnson justified his recall and Jonathan Clare hit well for a while. Again though, it is unfair to lump expectation on the lower order to succeed where the top order fail, handy though it is when they do so.

Sussex came out to take on the fastest gun in the west – aka Mark Footitt (left) – like an aging boxer keen to make one last impression, standing toe to toe and trading blows. His first three overs went for 30, but there were two wickets. Footitt was expensive, his twenty overs costing 104 runs, but five wickets kept us in the match and that’s what happens with express bowlers. Those of you who can think back to Devon Malcolm will recall days when the radar was locked on to fine leg, rather than the stumps and he was carted round the park. Yet when it clicks, it is wonderful to watch and Mark deserves full credit for his efforts today, just as for his wickets against New Zealand last week.

He also took a blinding catch from Jonathan Clare, but the latter and debutant Ally Evans were expensive and the visitors scored at not far short of five an over. Ed Joyce had to return home for a family emergency and was missing today, possibly for the rest of the match, but Mike Yardy made the most of a life in the forties and ended the day unbeaten on 121. His stand with Chris Jordan possibly took the game away from us, but we will find out more about that tomorrow.

There was a lop-sided look to Derbyshire’s bowling here. If Dan Redfern bowls ahead of Ross Whiteley, we must assume that the latter is injured in some way, especially when he doesn’t bowl at all. That being the case, I’m not sure his current batting form justifies selection and he might be better getting it back in the seconds. That would allow Hughes to drop to his preferred middle order slot and let Ben Slater, a man in prime form, into the side to open. Hughes didn’t bowl either, so again one assumes he is carrying an injury.

Such niggles were largely averted last year, but they are starting to mount up for us and we can ill afford to lose too many players. Wes Durston was missed for his bowling today too and it will be a backs to the wall effort tomorrow to turn this game around.

It can be done. If Chanderpaul strikes top form and the rest chip in, Sussex may not fancy chasing 250 in the last innings. But we need more than the skipper to score runs and if ever there was a time to show their true mettle, the next couple of days are as good as any to do it.

There are big innings for a few players tomorrow. I’m sure we all hope that they come up with the goods.