The Twenty20 campaign delivers some gain – but plenty of pain

THERE are times when it is tempting to feel Chris Rogers has discovered the perfect approach to Twenty20 cricket – go and lay on a beach somewhere until it is all over.

But there was, of course, a genuine purpose in the Australian's absence from this season's tournament.

Derbyshire honoured an agreement to allow him a mid-season break and the hope is that Rogers will return refreshed and ready to score lots of runs in the second half of the Championship season.

We return to the four-day game on Sunday, when Derbyshire go to Chelmsford to face Essex in the first of 10 remaining Championship fixtures through the last three months of the season.

Rogers' runs will be vital if Derbyshire are to push for promotion from Division Two but how has the Twenty20 break affected the form of the other players whose contributions will be crucial to the cause?

GAIN: Greg Smith needed to re-establish his credentials after being out injured since the start of the season and did that spectacularly with his unbeaten hundred at Headingley. Wavell Hinds was less in need of grabbing John Morris' attention but will benefit from getting used to the feel of bat on ball again after playing little cricket this year and, likewise, Jamie Pipe is back in the swing following a lay-off.

Charl Langeveldt has maintained his high standards, while Graham Wagg is back to his best after impressing at Chesterfield and Jon Clare, though he has not played in many of the Twenty20s, will have learned from being involved and will feel better for the break.

It is pleasing to see Nayan Doshi bowling with confidence again and Jake Needham did himself no harm under the pressure of Twenty20.

SAME: It's been a bit of a struggle for Dominic Telo as he gets used to English conditions and he is clearly still adjusting.

Tom Lungley's feet will be in better shape for his lack of activity in the Twenty20s, Steve Stubbings and Kevin Dean have had to be content with second team cricket and the same applies for others on stand-by, such as Ian Hunter, Freddie Klokker and Wayne White.

PAIN: The game is made for Rikki Clarke's kind of impact batting but he has not been able to knock himself back into form, though his bowling has been useful.

Dan Birch might also have been expected to land a few lusty blows and may have been better off stepping up his progress in the four-day game, while John Sadler, who has many happy memories of Twenty20, is no nearer breaking out of his slump.