Edgbaston (day 3 of 4): Warwickshire 476-9 dec, Derbyshire 462-7.

Lee Daggett has finally completed his transfer to Leicestershire and will begin a loan move to the club on Monday.

Daggett was told several weeks ago that he had no future at Warwickshire. Leicestershire’s initial attempt to take him on loan faltered when Warwickshire refused to release the player until his wages were paid, but the intervention of the player’s mother seems to have broken the deadlock.

Although neither side were prepared to take Kathleen Patrick’s (nee Daggett) money, her offer forced Warwickshire to re-think their original decision.

Not only did her kind offer pull at the heartstrings, but it also prompted the Professional Cricketers’ Association (the players’ union) to examine the legality of Warwickshire’s stance. More importantly, however, director of cricket Ashley Giles’ stance softened as he reflected on the full implications of unemployment on the 25-year-old Daggett.

Now, with only a day to spare before the loan window closes, a compromise solution has been reached. Leicestershire will pay Warwickshire £100 for each day Daggett plays first-team cricket for the rest of this season (a maximum of 14 days), but Warwickshire will continue to pay the player’s wages.

While Daggett was understandably delighted with the news, in some respects his story is only just beginning. He is only on trial at Grace Road and must use the next few weeks to convince Leicestershire’s director of cricket that he is worth a contract for next season and beyond.

All Daggett ever wanted was an opportunity, however, and at least now he has a chance of extending his playing career.

The news also signalled a thawing in relationships between the clubs. While the financial element of the deal is largely face-saving from a Warwickshire perspective, it did show that officials at both clubs were willing to compromise for the benefit of Daggett.

Though Giles and KD Smith, Leicestershire chief executive, might not be at the stage where they are about to go bivouacking together, Smith was generous in praise of Warwickshire’s director of cricket.

“I want to put on record my thanks to Ashley Giles and [Warwickshire’s cricket committee chairman] John Dodge,” Smith said. “They’ve worked very hard to make this deal happen and I hope it will be to the benefit of all parties.”

Meanwhile, at Edgbaston, the grindingly dull Championship match against Derbyshire wore inexorably towards a draw. Though Chris Rogers completed the fifth double-century of his career, passing 10,000 first-class runs in the process, this game has long since been reduced to stalemate. It will take almost unimaginable intervention to conjure an outright result on Saturday.

The pitch provides one explanation for the dull cricket. Certainly it is desperately slow, encouraging only mediocrity and actively inhibiting entertainment. Pitches like this threaten the health of county cricket.

But a lack of quality from the bowlers was also apparent. Warwickshire, fielding what looked on paper to have been the most potent attack for several seasons, failed to display the basic disciplines of line and length and conceded almost four an over.

There were mitigating factors. Ant Botha limped off the field with a hip injury in the early stages while Rogers’ play off his legs was excellent. But Chris Martin’s lack of control was disappointing for an international bowler, while Boyd Rankin was also highly erratic.

For a while it appeared Warwickshire might not secure a single bowling point. Derbyshire’s opening pair recorded the highest opening stand in either division of the Championship this season, withstanding one admirably hostile spell from Rankin, and progressed with dispiriting ease.

In such conditions, the best an attack can do is keep things tight and hope that batsmen’s frustration creates opportunities, and for a while they managed it. Rogers was stranded on 65 for 36 minutes. But, as the bowlers tired and Rogers grew in confidence, the runs began to flow and Warwickshire looked utterly bereft of ideas.

Darren Maddy called on nine bowlers in search of a solution. Perhaps most surprisingly, former wicket-keeper Tony Frost’s off-spin was called upon for the first time since 2002. Though the decision was met with howls of derision, his first ball turned sharply and came within an ace of taking Roger’s outside edge when the batsman had 94. It was as good as it got for Frost.

Rogers’ only other mistake came when he had 154. Prodding at a good ball on off stump from Rankin, the edge carried to Maddy at second slip only for umpire Trevor Jesty to signal no-ball.

It was the first no-ball of the day, but Rankin subsequently went to pieces, losing his line and length horribly, while Rogers (237 not out, 323 balls, one six and 32 fours) became the first Derbyshire man to make a double-century in championship games against Warwickshire and resumes today with power to add.

Fortunately he is running out of partners. Paul Borrington (62 off 160 balls, ten fours), perhaps unsettled by the introduction of Frost at the other end, missed a full toss from Ian Salisbury, Dan Redfern edged one angled across him to second slip and Wavell Hinds’ bucolic innings was ended when he slogged to long-off.

Chris Woakes, the pick of the bowlers once again, struck twice in three deliveries with the new ball. Greg Smith played across a straight one before Rikki Clarke’s miserable season continued when he top-edged a pull.

Salisbury wasn’t at his best. He pitched too short and was cut and pulled as a consequence. He struck twice in the closing overs, however, and gave Warwickshire hope of claiming full bowling bonus points. Sadly there looks as if there will be little else to relish at Edgbaston on the final day.

* Naqaash Tahir produced a fine bowling performance to help Warwickshire to victory in their Second XI Championship match against Leicestershire at Kenilworth Wardens.

Naqaash claimed six for 61 as the visitors were dismissed for 199 in their second innings, despite the absence of Jimmy Anyon with an ankle injury. Warwickshire reached their victory target of 56 for the loss of just one wicket (Navdeep Poonia, for 21), with Richard Johnson building on an excellent display of wicket-keeping by making an unbeaten 33. It confirms their place in mid-table.
Warwickshire seconds have just one match left this season. It begins next Wednesday, against Derbyshire, at Knowle & Dorridge CC.