Once again a Derbyshire man lifted the County Championship. Unfortunately Chris Adams was
leading Sussex at the time. But after a decade of squandering talents like Adams sensible management produced a warm glow at Derby. Kindled by a pre-season darts night in
Graeme Welch’s local, it developed with two Championship wins in the first three, victory at the
Racecourse Ground to end a 33- match hex, a lucrative return to rustic Chesterfield, the emergence of Gary Ballance and Wayne White and a projected profit, after last year’s unsustainable £215,000 loss. The new glow helped alchemise David Houghton’s signings
– condemned by vocal members at the pre-season AGM as “rejects”. The best, Steffan Jones pounded out 56 wickets, almost twice what any of his team-mates managed. The batting averages, with the 11th man on 22, reflect a more solid order. Injuries and a weakness
against spin meant the side limped to the finish but chief executive Tom Sears admits he would have accepted fifth place in April. However, in September Jones left for Somerset, having
received a contract offer he called “insulting”. It leaves Houghton with no strike bowler and a
serious problem. By opening with a low offer the management misjudged a proud man. But for once cock-ups were the aberration not the rule.

Paul Coupar, The Wisden Cricketer