IPL should not exist - Botham

Ian Botham used the platform of his MCC Spirit of Cricket Cowdrey Lecture to brand the IPL "too powerful" for the good of cricket and said he believed it should not exist.

He said that the tournament provided the "perfect opportunity for betting and therefore fixing" and on the subject of corruption also called on the ICC to do more to expose the "big names" involved.

"I'm worried about the IPL - in fact, I feel it shouldn't be there at all as it is changing the priorities of world cricket," Botham said. "Players are slaves to it. Administrators bow to it.

"How on earth did the IPL own the best players in the world for two months a year and not pay a penny to the boards who brought these players into the game?

"I know this has been modified to a degree, but it is still an imbalance. The IPL is too powerful for the long-term good of the game.

"Corruption is enough of a problem in itself, but the IPL compounds that problem given it provides the perfect opportunity for betting and therefore fixing."

Expanding on the corruption theme, he added: "We have seen a few players exposed, but does throwing the odd second XI player into jail solve it? To kill the serpent, you must cut off its head. The ICC Anti-Corruption Unit must pursue the root of the problem and if necessary expose the big names."

Closer to home, Botham questioned whether the presence of central contracts had made England's players too "cosy" and also called on the UK government to do more cricket in schools.

"Central contracts are brilliant, but it has now become so essential to the England player that the sharpness goes," he said. "A long contract is a cosy contract. To play international sport, above all else - above even freshness and rest - you must have desire. Hunger is still the most important attribute for any sportsman."

On the facilities and time given to sport, especially cricket, in schools Botham said it drove him "insane" how little is being done and called on the Prime Minister David Cameron to live up to his promise of making change happen.

"Why aren't the Government focusing on sport as a necessity in the school curriculum?" he said. "This subject drives me insane. I feel it is my duty to point out the problems that face sport in schools, and specifically cricket.

"The problem is now that schools are too big and there is no personal touch with the teachers. And as schools get bigger, one of the things you lose are your playing fields," he added. "Come on David Cameron - when I came to Downing Street to meet you, you made all the right noises and promised to come back to me with your ideas. I'm still waiting."

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McMillan named New Zealand batting coach

Former Test batsman Craig McMillan has joined New Zealand as their full-time batting coach for the next two years. McMillan filled the role temporarily during their recent tour of the West Indies after Bob Carter's departure earlier this year and has just returned home from a successful New Zealand A tour of England.

He will now be part of the permanent setup, joining head coach Mike Hesson, who on Wednesday had his contract extended until 2017, and bowling coach Shane Bond. New Zealand Cricket's head of cricket Lindsay Crocker said McMillan had established a good rapport with the players over the past few months.

"The West Indies and NZA tours were his first as a coach at that level, and we're very happy with his development," Crocker said. "He's been awarded his two-year contract on that basis and I'm confident he'll continue to form an excellent coaching trio with Mike and Shane."

McMillan played 55 Tests for New Zealand from 1997 to 2005, scored six centuries and averaged 38.46. In 197 one-day internationals he scored three hundreds and averaged 28.18. He retired from first-class cricket in 2007.

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Mathews named SLC Cricketer of the Year

An outstanding year as a Test batsman, ODI allrounder and captain saw Angelo Mathews reap the Cricketer of the Year prize at the Sri Lanka Cricket awards. Mathews also won the Best ODI Batsman and ODI Allrounder awards, and got a joint nod for the Test Batsman prize alongside Kumar Sangakkara.

Rangana Herath was the Best Test Bowler for the third year running, for his 60 wickets from 10 matches in the qualifying period. Lasith Malinga took home the ODI and T20 bowling prizes, having also captained Sri Lanka to a World T20 victory, while Thisara Perera and Kusal Perera won awards for T20 Allrounder and Batsman respectively.

Wicketkeeper-batsman Niroshan Dickwella was SLC's Emerging Player of the Year, thanks to a bright start in Tests. He has pouched 12 catches and made two stumpings in his three matches so far, as well as hitting an aggressive 72 against South Africa on debut. He also won the domestic limited-overs batting award.

Mathews has been exceptional down the order in all formats for Sri Lanka, hitting defining innings in each of the series and tournaments that Sri Lanka have won in the past six months. He hit 1292 Test runs at an average of 92.28 in the past 12 months and 965 ODI runs at 53.61.

His 160 in the second Test at Headingley transformed the outlook of that match, but he had also struck a 23-ball 40 to help see Sri Lanka to the World T20 final, as well as averaging 196 in their victorious Asia Cup campaign. He has also contributed steadily with the ball, largely in the limited-overs formats.

Mathews could not shake Sangakkara's five-year grip on the People's Choice Award, which was voted on online and via text message. The joint win for Test batting was also the fourth straight year Sangakkara had won that award. In the past year he had hit 1502 runs at 75.10, which included a career-best 319.

Former Sri Lanka captain Shashikala Siriwardene was the major winner in the women's categories, claiming the bowling and allrounder awards, while Chamari Atapattu took the award for batting, in what has been a quieter year for the team.

Jehan Mubarak won the Best Batsman Award in first-class cricket for an exceptional season in which he hit 1165 runs at 105.90, and had been the primary contributor to Nondescripts Cricket Club's tournament win. Colts Cricket Club's left-arm wrist-spinner Lakshan Rangika was the Best Bowler, having taken 54 wickets in the competition, while Jeevan Mendis was Best Allrounder. Ragama Cricket Club's left-arm seamer Nilanka Premaratne and Tamil Union allrounder Sachith Pathirana also won prizes for List A cricket.

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SA collapse to give England series

England Women 141 for 3 (Edwards 75*) beat South Africa Women 99 (van Niekerk 34, Gunn 3-13) by 42 runs
Scorecard

For two-thirds of this match South Africa produced a better account of themselves at Wantage Road than they had done in the opening game, but England were ultimately too strong as they secured the series on the back of another captain's innings from Charlotte Edwards and three wickets from Jenny Gunn when the visitors had set themselves up in the chase.

After opting to tackle the match from the opposite way round - batting, rather than bowling, first - Edwards' unbeaten 75 off 61 balls led England to a solid 141 for 3 but while there were 20 fours in total, 11 of them coming from Edwards, the sixes tally stood at zero and having been 98 for 2 after 15 overs the home side could have expected greater acceleration.

South Africa made a lively start to their reply and were marginally ahead on the comparisons after the Powerplay - 46 for 1 against England's 44 without loss - but from 71 for 2 in the 13th over they lost 8 for 28 to mean they again fell short of three figures.

Katherine Brunt had started the innings with a no-ball and the subsequent free hit was top-edged for four by Dane van Niekerk who, having earlier bowled her legspin neatly, collect five boundaries in the Powerplay.

England knew they were in a contest this time and were relieved when Mignon du Preez picked out deep midwicket off Danielle Hazell and it was the spinners who regained control. The first three overs after the fielding restrictions went for just nine and Hazell completed her four overs for 17 as the asking rate started to head towards 10 an over.

Having reached 25 at a run-a-ball, van Niekerk made nine her next 21 deliveries before she was superbly caught in the deep by Brunt. That gave Gunn her first wicket and in her next over she tripled that tally in the space of two deliveries to end the chances of a late push for the line by South Africa.

There were some cheap wickets at the end as South Africa swished and missed, providing the chance for Sarah Taylor to put on fine exhibition of glovework especially with the stumpings off Anya Shrubsole and Brunt.

The foundation for England's innings was laid by an opening stand of 45 between Edwards and Lauren Winfield, both players producing crisp straight drives, before Winfield was stumped having dragged her back foot out of the crease trying to sweep.

Taylor chipped to mid-off for another unfulfilled innings but Edwards' fifty arrived a short while later from 45 balls, her four consecutive international half-century. Back-to-back boundaries at the end of 16th over appeared to signal a final surge from England but it did not quite emerge that way as South Africa held their nerve, keeping the last four overs to 32 runs. Ultimately, though, they did not have the depth of batting or calmness to force an upset.

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Six USA players may withdraw from Uganda tour

USA players put pressure on USACA and ICC over security concerns for tour to Uganda

Three USA players have said they are definitely withdrawing their availability for USA's scheduled tour to Uganda in October over safety and security concerns, while three others have said they are considering pulling out depending on how the situation continues to unfold. All three players who are committed to withdrawing played for USA in 2013 and can be termed as first-choice players for the national team, while two of the three who are considering withdrawing are also key players who could expect to be picked for the tour.

The development comes ahead of a USA Cricket Association (USACA) board meeting this week to decide whether USACA will approve of sending a squad to participate in the six-team ICC WCL Division Three from October 26 to November 2. The event is part of the 2019 World Cup qualifying structure and the top two teams will be promoted to WCL Division Two in January.

ESPNcricinfo has communicated with 16 players about the Uganda tour, all of whom have played for the USA. Seven of the 16 rated safety and security as a major concern for touring Uganda while four stated they had received pressure from family members not to go on the tour. The majority of players felt the ICC would provide adequate security for the team if the tour went ahead, but four players felt that USA's squad would not be provided with any additional security compared to the other teams, while two felt there would not be enough security to convince them to go.

"2010, that's the safest tour I've been on and I felt safe on that tour," one player told ESPNcricinfo. The player was referencing enhanced security for the team ahead of their first-ever match against Afghanistan on the 2010 tour to the UAE for the World T20 Qualifier. Those security arrangements were specially made by then USACA chief executive Don Lockerbie.

"For every two players we had one security guard. If five or six of us went out, we had at least three security guards so we could go anywhere we wanted and would feel okay and not have to worry about anything but not on the other tour." The player said that on a subsequent tour to Dubai for another World T20 Qualifier, USA had far less security to the point where he did not feel comfortable leaving the team hotel on his own. As such, he did not feel confident about any guarantees made by tournament organisers regarding security for the team in Uganda.

The player was less concerned about general safety in the country and is more worried about Ebola virus as well as USA's players being the target of a terrorist or kidnapping plot. In particular, the player mentioned the recent murder of an American journalist carried out by ISIS militants in the Middle East as something that factored into his decision to not travel to certain countries while representing a national team.

"I listen to a lot of talk radio and politics. You're going over there to represent America. Yes it probably won't happen but I personally think about the worst situation. Anything could happen so it's better to be safe than sorry. You will be wearing the uniform. The flag will be there. Word starts going around. It's kind of sad that James Foley probably had nothing to do with this whole stuff. He was just a regular journalist and he got caught up in it. That's probably the same mindset that he had, 'What would they want with me? All of the politics that are happening here, I don't have anything to do with it,' but he actually got dragged into it.

"Anything to do with America, there are so many people that really don't like us so you just have to be really careful. Once you have anything to do with America, then more than likely you will be a target. I don't look at it as whatever they have happening in the Middle East is the only branch. I think copycats and someone who has the same beliefs that they do will try to capitalise on whatever is going on."

Another player said he had been in regular contact with several players from Nepal on the issue, including one player who could be described as a key first-choice player, and that they held concerns mainly over Ebola virus but also some security concerns. Two other USA players said they would make themselves available for selection if the tournament is moved to Singapore, Malaysia, Nepal or the USA. One of those two will not play otherwise while the other is undecided on whether he will accept a squad invite if the tournament is not moved from Uganda.

Most players are in favour of a USA team going on tour whether or not they themselves wind up traveling. Only two players said that anyone from USACA had reached out to them to get their opinions on the issue while many players said they had not had any communication with USACA since USA's last tournament in November 2013. Of the two who want the tournament moved, one said the lack of a professional contract and support structure for USA was a consideration to not go to Uganda. Taking time off from work and risking personal safety for little to no pay was not worth the trip and that if a first-choice team can't go, then USACA should consider calling off the tour.

"Everybody wants to play for the USA. You would like to have your best team participating in the tournament and you'd like to win," the player said. "If certain players want to go anyway and the USA qualifies, I'd be happy, but I won't go. If USA can't select the best 14, no I don't think they should go because at the end of the day, it's a product. If you send a product out there and the product is no good, then it's going to reflect badly on you. To leave my job and go over there for how long and they won't pay me, as much as I want to represent the USA, it doesn't make sense. It's not worth it, not at all."

Uganda Cricket Association chief executive Justine Ligyalingi has sought to downplay any fears over safety and security at the tournament. Uganda has successfully hosted multiple recent ICC Africa regional tournaments, including both the ICC Africa Division One Twenty20 and the ICC Africa U-19 World Cup Qualifier in 2013. Ligyalingi is eager to showcase Uganda's cricket facilities and demonstrate that Uganda can host an equally safe and successful global tournament.

"The Association has been working closely with the government of Uganda and the ICC regarding safety and security arrangements for the forthcoming tournament," Ligyalingi wrote in an email to ESPNcricinfo. "Obviously it's been a matter of priority and a lot of discussions and preparations have gone into this area. The USA embassy in Kampala has also been involved in this. We're confident that the arrangements being put in place will provide a safe and secure environment, guarantee safety and security for all the participants and we will have an enjoyable tournament."

The ICC has previously said in emails sent in August to the six participating countries that "there are currently no major concerns identified or any specific threats to the tournament, teams, match officials, match venues or hotels." ESPNcricinfo contacted the ICC in August to ask if there was any contingency plan in place should USA or any other country withdraw from the event, but a spokesperson declined to comment.

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Helpless Rajasthan's players 'in a dilemma'

The continuing impasse between the BCCI and the Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA) has left the players confused and distressed. The players feel both sides, which are charged with protecting their interests, have let them down. They feel they are caught between the vague offers of the BCCI and the silence of RCA president Lalit Modi.

"The RCA is trying to challenge the BCCI ban. But neither the RCA nor the BCCI are coming up with any options for the players," a senior Rajasthan player told ESPNcricinfo. He said in the current situation players should be told they will get some sort of help, and in case things are not sorted out the players should still be shown some direction rather than being forced to sit at home. He pointed out that most of the year players "are waiting" to play the domestic season and then, suddenly, they are now faced a situation where "we can't do anything".

On Sunday players got a call from the RCA, asking them to report to the preparatory camp starting at the academy grounds inside the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur from Tuesday. That was not really news to the players since, during the pre-season fitness camp in July, they had been told training sessions would commence on August 20. But it was the timing of the call that surprised the players, and confused them too, seeing as just last week the BCCI had omitted Rajasthan from Ranji Trophy, women's tournaments and all age-group cricket - Under-16, Under-19, Under-23. Following that, the RCA did not feature in the central zone meeting organised to finalise venues for zonal age-group tournaments.

Mehmood Abdi, a senior member of the RCA executive board, called the BCCI move a PR exercise. According to him the RCA was sticking to its activity calendar. Accordingly, the camp for the senior team started today and will go on till September 8. The Challenger Trophy for Under-19s will be held between September 4 and 6 in Jaipur, from which the ODI colts team will be picked.

Despite Abdi's words, the sidelining of the RCA has not been lost on the players, who questioned the usefulness of the camp. The senior player, who was spending time with his family, said he and his team-mates had no other alternative but to attend the camp. "What else can we do?" he pointed out, adding if he did not it could harm his chances.

Through all this Modi, expelled by the BCCI but elected as RCA president in May, has made himself scarce. The Rajasthan players want Modi to address them directly. According to the senior player, there has been no proper communication till date "explaining the situation to us". He felt "the simplest thing" that can be done is to speak to the players.

Even the assurances of BCCI secretary Sanjay Patel, who had said that if a Rajasthan player wanted to turn professional (meaning, sign up with another domestic team) he would keep that option open to them till the very last minute before the season starts in October, has not offered much comfort. According to a few Rajasthan players it was not such a straightforward decision to turn professional and turn up for another state.

For some, shifting teams is not the preferred option; one of the players pointed out that he could have turned professional a few years ago but representing Rajasthan remained his priority. The player said: "Nothing is clear about till when the ban on RCA will last. In such a scenario, to decide whether to play as professional is not so easy. To run away is not the answer."

Another reason the players do not want to risk moving out is, "what if by next month the problem is sorted out"? There is no clear-cut answer. The players say they are "in a dilemma". They "definitely" want to play Rajasthan, that remains their "first" preference. But more than anything "we want to play cricket", a player explained.

After Modi assumed the RCA presidency, he immediately declared no amount of coercion from the BCCI would defeat him. He assured the elected members as well as players that the issues that developed under his predecessor, CP Joshi, would be turned around.

While addressing the executive committee in the last week of August, Modi, speaking from London via video conferencing, assured the various district units and the RCA administration that he would handle the situation and asked them to stay put. Exactly what - if any sort - of truce he is willing to sign or concessions he is open to, no one was aware of. But his combative attitude has only added to the confusion.

Despite having suspended the RCA the BCCI had said that it would not neglect the players and would keep the slot for Rajasthan open in case the Brijesh Patel-led committee could resolve the deadlock between BCCI, RCA and the Rajasthan government.

In early August three members of the ad-hoc committee, appointed by the BCCI to oversee disputed states, met Rajeev Maharshi (chief secretary) and JC Mohanty (principal secretary, sports) of the Rajasthan government, to seek some clarifications and assurances as well as highlight the issues between the BCCI and the RCA. It is understood that the committee explained the BCCI's plan to remedy the situation to the government officials.

Modi had utilised the Rajasthan Sports Act, which governs the constitution of the RCA, to come back to power in spite of his BCCI ban. Hence the committee was obliged to keep the state government in the loop. Even if the BCCI believes the issue is between the board and the RCA, it wanted to make sure it would not be faced with any future legal implications if it were to go ahead and select players for various teams itself, under the Rajasthan banner.

Apparently, the Rajasthan Sports Act prohibits the use of word Rajasthan without permission. It also states that the only a body affiliated and registered with the registrar can manage and govern the game, which in this case is RCA.

Despite that meeting, though, things have not moved forward on the legal front for the BCCI. "Currently things are just languishing. The sub-committee has not got any directions from the board's legal cell yet," a BCCI official said.

The official said he was confident about the players' future being secure. "I am sure the teams will play ultimately. Whatever happens, the players will not lose out. I can understand their anxiety, that the season is approaching and there is lack of clarity. But in the end I do not think there is no Rajasthan. Because it is bad for everyone: BCCI, RCA, Rajasthan government, for everybody involved. Nobody wants that to happen."

These may well remain empty words to the players, though, till both the BCCI and the RCA personally speak to them.

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Cook accepts World Cup chances 'a bit far fetched'

World Cup not for underperformers - Cook

Alastair Cook has admitted the idea England can win the World Cup is "a bit far fetched" but insisted he has no plans to step down as England's ODI captain. England were thrashed by nine-wickets by India at Edgbaston with almost 20-overs remaining, sealing a 3-0 series result with one match to come.

It meant England had lost their last five ODIs in succession and five series out of six. The single series victory, in the Caribbean, came when Cook was not in the team.

With a maximum of 13 matches to go ahead of the World Cup, England are running out of time to find a viable plan to render them competitive - a view now officially sanctioned by a captain who has virtually written them off.

But while Cook, who has now not reached 80 in an ODI in 38 innings and 26 months, admitted to some doubts about his own form, he remains convinced that England's strategy remains correct and that he can play a part in turning around the disappointing run of results.

"I've captained for three-and-a-half years with the goal to try to win the World Cup in Australia," Cook said. "I know that seems a bit far-fetched at the moment but there's a lot of really good players in that changing room and if we can improve at the rate we need to improve we've got a chance. That's what we have to believe.

Any team that improves at the rate it needs to would, by definition, automatically become champions.

Cook insisted that his doubts about his own performance were ever present. "You always have those doubts and I've had those doubts for 80 games and 100 Test matches. You always are trying to prove that you're good enough and trying to contribute runs for an England win. That's the ultimate aim as a batter and at international cricket you're tested every single day, There's always doubts, that doesn't change.

He insisted that he had no plans to quit. "At this precise moment in time, no. I don't have a say on selection, but if I'm allowed to be, yes, I'll be at the World Cup. If not, then I have to take that on the chin. I hope not, but if it is, it is.

"I believe at the top of the order that, if I bat for 40-odd overs, I will score enough runs at a good rate. That's what I have done when I've been batting well."

The reference to 40-odd overs suggested that Cook was putting his own emphasis on an ability virtually to bat through the innings, which sounded dangerously close to all or nothing.

While Cook admitted the poor run of results had done nothing for the confidence in the dressing room, he suggested it was more due to poor execution of skills than poor tactics.

"Maybe for a few of these guys, it is the first time that we've lost as badly as this," Cook said. "It is a true test of character for the whole team, really.

"We don't quite know our best 11 at the moment because the results are showing we're not performing. When that happens you always start to doubt. That's the position we're in at the moment. We've got six months of one-day cricket to try and put that right.

"I don't think our strategy does need to change. I just think we need to do it better. The first two games we got really good starts off the first 10 overs and the problem is none of us have gone on.

"It's been our lack of execution of fairly basic skills at the moment with our batting. As a one-day batter, you need to be able to score at a good rate, at certain times take low-risk shots for a while but have the option of putting the pressure back on the opposition but also staying in. Unfortunately, we're not doing that.

"But it's amazing how quickly you can turn around. We've got to stay true to our beliefs as a team and actually the belief you have as a player because when you lose games of cricket people chip away at you and you start doubting the reason why you probably got selected in the first place."

While some have claimed that England are suffering in the shorter formats partly because their priority has often appeared to be Test cricket - this season is the first in which domestic cricket has been played over 50 overs for many years and in the past key players have been rested from limited-overs sides with a view to keeping them fresh for the Test side - Cook dismissed the theory.

"You only have to look at the dressing-room now to see whether it matters or not," Cook said. "We're brought up in a country where Test cricket has huge importance. But just because you put huge importance on Test cricket doesn't mean one-day cricket doesn't count.

"We've got a World Cup in six months. That's our big focus now. There is no Test cricket for six months, so it is very important."

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New Zealand extend Hesson's contract

Mike Hesson has extended his contract as head coach of New Zealand, signing on for another two years after next year's World Cup. Hesson began in the job in July 2012 and his original contract was due to expire at the end of April next year, but that has now been extended to the end of April 2017.

New Zealand have won their past three Test series under Hesson, at home against West Indies and India, and then away against West Indies. Only twice before have New Zealand won three consecutive Test series. Their most recent ODI series was also a triumph, beating India 4-0.

"It's great news for the players and for the sport to have consistency in this role for our flagship team for nearly five years," the New Zealand Cricket CEO David White said.

"Mike has worked incredibly hard to build our relatively young Test team into one that is now challenging the top sides in the world. His selections have also earned praise from some of the greats of the game."

"How the team performed at home over the summer against both the West Indies and India showed that both Mike and [captain] Brendon [McCullum] have built a side capable of knocking over anyone on their day."

Hesson, who came to the role after coaching Kenya and spending six years at the helm of Otago, said he was keen to keep developing the side after the World Cup. "It's a really exciting time for the sport with the World Cup at home," Hesson said, "our senior players performing well and a promising group of youngsters who are all fighting for World Cup spots."

New Zealand are also expected to announce their new batting coach in the next few days. Craig McMillan filled the role in a short-term capacity during the tour of the West Indies after the

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Bell-Drummond keeps Kent in touch

Kent 205 for 4 (Bell-Drummond 71) trail Glamorgan 329 by 124 runs
Scorecard

Daniel Bell-Drummond's determined 71 ensured Kent and Glamorgan remained in the balance with two days to go at Canterbury.

Bell-Drummond battled through 68 overs to anchor Kent's reply of 205 for 4 to Glamorgan's first-innings total of 329 before falling on the stroke of tea. The second day's play was later cut short by 23 overs due to bad light and rain.

Pushing forward to Graham Wagg's left-arm seam and swing, Bell-Drummond edged to Mark Wallace behind the stumps after facing 206 balls. But in between the stoical defence, the young Kent opener produced some sparkling strokes among his 11 fours.

Bell-Drummond, who turned 21 less than a month ago, has now scored 780 Championship runs this season at an average of 39 and this innings was the seventh time he has passed fifty. But his 101 against Derbyshire in late June remains his top score and only hundred of the campaign.

Kent resumed on 1 for 0 and Rob Key dominated an opening partnership of 60 with Bell-Drummond before, on 41, edging Jim Allenby's medium pace to Wallace.

Key greeted the introduction in the 17th over of Kieran Bull, a 19-year-old offspinner from Carmarthen making his first-class debut, by shuffling down the pitch to hit his fifth ball high over mid-on for six. There were also five fours in Key's innings and Brendan Nash, who added 67 with Bell-Drummond for the third wicket, played equally positively as he reached 40 from 67 balls until, trying to cut, he chopped a short ball from seamer David Lloyd onto his stumps.

In between Key's departure and Nash's arrival at the crease, the highly rated Bull bowled tidily and well from the Nackington Road End and was rewarded just before lunch when Ben Harmison was beaten by an arm ball and adjudged lbw for 10.

Bull, overall, had figures of 1 for 34 from 14 overs and, with the accurate Allenby and the metronomic Michael Hogan, kept Kent's batsmen largely quiet.

Wagg, indeed, was the only Glamorgan bowler who failed to maintain tight control on what was an attritional day. But Darren Stevens brightened up the last half-hour of play, before bad light and then rain prevented any more cricket beyond 4.45pm, with three crunching boundaries in his unbeaten 24 from 33 balls. Sam Northeast was the other not out Kent batsman, with an obdurate 18.

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Footitt four ruffles Worcester

Worcestershire 221 for 6 (Fell 70, Mitchell 67, Footitt 4-61) trail Derbyshire 356 by 135 runs
Scorecard

Derbyshire again stood in the path of Worcestershire's promotion chase as Mark Footitt endorsed his England claims with another impressive display of fast bowling on the second day at Derby.

Footitt was a constant threat, combining pace with control to take 4 for 61 from 19 overs which helped restrict the Division Two leaders Worcestershire to one batting point in bowler-friendly conditions despite dogged half-centuries from Daryl Mitchell and Tom Fell.

The sustained accuracy and quality of Derbyshire's attack was highlighted by Fell's innings which contained 158 dot balls and at the close Worcestershire were still 135 runs behind on 221 for 6 in reply to Derbyshire's 356 all out. Derbyshire's last two wickets added 33 to secure a fourth batting point with Charlie Morris taking his fifth wicket when he had Alex Hughes lbw playing across the line for 74.

Cloudy skies suggested batting would be harder than on the first day and Worcestershire did well to reach lunch only one wicket down as Footitt and Tony Palladino, who conceded only 26 runs from 17 overs, bowled testing spells.

Although the floodlights were on, conditions were still not easy for batting and both Mitchell and Fell were beaten a number of times after Richard Oliver got a leading edge in the third over and was caught and bowled by Footitt, who conceded only 13 runs in his opening six over burst.

The fact only 46 came from 20 overs showed how difficult batting was and it got no easier in the afternoon as Footitt beat Fell repeatedly outside the off stump. Mitchell looked more secure but should have gone on 40 when he sliced a drive at Alex Hughes to gully where Billy Godleman juggled the ball but could not hold on.

The pair battled through the second session, scoring 80 in 34 overs, but Footitt changed the complexion of the game in the space of three overs after tea. Mitchell had shown good judgement until he left the third ball after the interval and was bowled for 67 and two balls later, Alexei Kervezee, who had scored hundreds in his previous three Championship matches against Derbyshire, was caught behind for a duck.

Tom Kohler-Cadmore carved Footitt to point and when Wayne White clipped the top of Ben Cox's off-stump, Worcestershire were 169 for 5 and still 38 runs away from the follow-on target of 207.

Fell defied the bowlers for more than four-and-a-half hours but when Derbyshire turned to the spin of David Wainwright, he chipped his first ball to midwicket where substitute fielder Scott Elstone took a low catch.

Joe Leach, who was struck on the back of the helmet by White, and Shaaiq Choudry averted the follow-on before Derbyshire claimed the second new ball shortly before the end of another good day for the home side.

"With the overhead conditions, it did a bit more than yesterday and credit to Derbyshire, they bowled really well, put the ball in the right areas and made life very difficult for us," Worcestershire captain Mitchell said.

"It was a case of survival, there wasn't much to feed off and Footy [Footitt] bowled a fantastic first spell with pace and swing. We are obviously behind the game at the moment but hopefully we can get some runs in the morning and then try and bowl Derbyshire out cheaply."

White, who has returned to Derbyshire on loan from Lancashire, added: "Footy caught fire in that after-tea spell and any lead on that wicket will be good because there's plenty going on, up and down bounce and it looks to be getting more uneven so chasing anything over 250 might be a tricky task.

"It's good to get back in with the Derby lads and my home club. We had a few frustrating spells, plenty went past the bat but more importantly we kept it really tight and five wickets in that last session has set us up for tomorrow."

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