Welch the warhorse

Late it may have been but victory at Somerset in the last Championship match averted the county's first winless summer in the competition since 1924 and provided the highlight of the season. Things are likely to be very different next summer with Derbyshire under new, positive management and a good handful of fresh faces at the Racecourse Ground.

Graeme Welch won the player of the year award from the supporters and his team-mates, not surprising given his 792 Championship runs at an average of almost 32 and 58 wickets at a touch below 26. The flame-haired allrounder is the epitome of what a county cricketer should be and his tireless efforts with bat and ball have kept the team alive in a poor summer.

The debuts of youngsters like the seamer Wayne White and right-hander Paul Borrington, son of the former Derbyshire player Tony, show the county are willing to put more faith in their youngsters than some, and the team spirit remains good despite the setbacks. A better year in one-day cricket saw them twice narrowly pipped: for promotion in the League, and for a quarter-final spot in the Twenty20 Cup. Some shrewd dealing in the winter should ensure that progress is made on all fronts for the county with the smallest membership.

"The results don't indicate the good cricket we have played at times," says Dave Houghton, the director of cricket. "What we need is a greater consistency and that is what we are working towards. It's not easy but players like Graeme Welch have shown it can be done and he is a fine example to our younger players."

Player of the Year A one-horse race: Graeme Welch
High The last-of-the-summer win.
Low The costly tied match with Scotland in the totesport League, which helped deny promotion.