THE only unfortunate aspect surrounding the announcement of Chris Rogers' return is that Derbyshire have not also signed two or three more like him.

The Derbyshire skipper – for now and the foreseeable future, we hope – led from the front again yesterday as his side attempted to build a decent second innings advantage on the second day of their LV County Championship match against Gloucestershire.

Rogers was cut short of a fifth first-class century of the season when he had made 74 but, by the close, Derbyshire were ahead by 159 at 193-4.

They will need plenty more in the bank before they can confidently set about trying to win the game.

The Australian left-hander was their mainstay yet again, passing 50 for the 12th time in first-class matches this season, and, in the process, overhauling his previous highest run aggregate for a season in England.

He now has 1,372 and is averaging 57.

How Derbyshire needed Rogers to see it through to the end of play but Jon Lewis got him lbw with a ball that looked to have pitched outside the line of off stump.

Earlier in the over, Lewis had made a point of giving the umpire his best quizzical stare after having an appeal turned down.

That meant the rest of the Derbyshire batting order has a job on.

Greg Smith and Tom New saw out the last 16 overs and, with plenty of time left in this contest, careful, considered batting is called for.

New was promoted in the batting order because Steve Stubbings, who finished his first innings knock of 62 not out with a sore hamstring, was not able to field and so could not bat higher than number seven.

Conditions are much more suitable for batting now, as Gloucestershire showed by taking their overnight 98-6 to a respectable 222 all out.

Steve Snell was the main reason they were able to do that as the wicketkeeper batted with terrific poise before he was caught on the deep midwicket boundary, the last man out for 72.

He had hit nine fours and a six and his ally in chief was Lewis, who shared an eighth-wicket stand of 69 in 32 overs before the captain was caught behind for 28.

Charl Langeveldt, announced as the supporters' club player of the year before the start of play, had made the early breakthrough but it was left to Graham Wagg to wrap up the tail with two more wickets to complete excellent figures of 6-56, the second-best analysis of his career.

Wagg now has 53 first-class wickets, equalling his tally from last season.

It is a compliment to say that it is the level of performance we have come to expect from him.

The Gloucestershire lead was 34 which, considering Derbyshire began their innings when the ball was doing plenty, was more than acceptable.

However, they were soon one man down when Paul Borrington completed a miserable match, caught at slip for one to follow his first innings duck.

Dan Birch, recovered sufficiently from his latest bout of gastric problems, set about the recovery with his usual sense of purpose and, with Rogers not quite getting his timing right at that stage, he added 47 in a second-wicket stand of 71 for Derbyshire.

In the last over before lunch, Birch was lbw to off-spinner Richard Dawson, which was a costly and ill-timed blow for the hosts.

Dan Redfern was undone by Steve Kirby for 18 but Rogers' wicket was the one Gloucestershire prized.

The match is delicately poised.