Sussex v Derbyshire: day 1

Be honest, we’d have taken that in advance, wouldn’t we?

All things considered, a pretty good effort by our boys today and to bowl out Sussex just before the close (and thus not have to bat tonight) was a master stroke you would think they had planned…

Top marks tonight go to new boys Matt Higginbottom and Alex Hughes, both of who marked their championship debuts with wickets, the latter going on to three of them in an excellent display. There was also three wickets for Tim ‘Mr Reliable’ Groenewald and two for our mystery spinner, Wayne Madsen, the mystery perhaps being why he’s not bowled himself more.

I like to see a skipper try something different and Madsen’s Lancashire League record suggested a bloke who could bowl at least adequately. It was surprising that his first wicket today was only his second for us, so to get two at such minimal cost was an impressive piece of work by the skipper.

314 all out should, unless we bat horribly, ensure that we stay in this game, but it could have been an even better day had a few chances been held and some balls not fallen short of fielders, especially in the morning session.

Sussex were anchored by the increasingly impressive Luke Wells and we need someone to do that for us tomorrow against a steady but far from lethal attack. Jordan and Magoffin have made a good opening attack this summer and Panesar will always need watched, but we shouldn’t be ripped apart by this attack.

You can never tell with Derbyshire though and we’ll need to hope that the battling performances remain in the boys, especially with so many of them having much to play for in building reputations, establishing themselves and earning contracts for next season.

Should be another good day tomorrow and I look forward to following it as it progresses. One last day in Blackpool tomorrow, then head for home later in the evening and we’ll be in our own beds tomorrow after a terrific break.