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OXBRIDGE have brought England captains, the odd erudite spinner and cultured stroke-making batsmen. Kent-registered Ed Smith, 19, maintained the third of those traditions yesterday with a well-constructed 85 from 126 balls.

What Oxbridge have lacked, almost totally, is pace. Since Trevor Bailey played his last Test in 1959, just two of their fast bowlers have gone on to represent England. In days when other nurseries - farm, factory and pit perhaps - could supply the speed this might not matter.

Now, however, Derbyshire stand virtually alone in their depth of able, eligible seam. Perhaps no other single factor better explains England's Test decline.

Even without Dominic Cork and Andrew Harris, Derby's seam quartet proved serviceable. Andy Hayhurst, making a debut for his third county, deservedly claimed a career-best three for 47.

Only Smith had an answer. Adept at working the ball off his pads with impressive timing on a lifeless pitch, he saw four men fall at the other end before lunch.

Phil DeFreitas swung the new ball in to have John Ratledge caught off inside edge and thigh pad and trap Anurag Singh leg before. Will House went to Hayhurst's ninth ball for Derbyshire and Robin Jones's rash drive, with lunch a delivery away, brought a superb catch at slip.

When Smith's concentration disappeared in a wild, back-foot slash, the freshmen Quentin Hughes and Steffan Jones, second XI players at Durham and Glamorgan last season, fell to successive Clarke googlies.

Though a third debutant, Mark Dawson, was now joined by David Churton to add 47 sensible runs, he attempted a second run to Devon Malcolm on the boundary and went to a direct hit. By tea, the innings had closed.

Cambridge's new-ball seamers were then savaged. Dean Jones, opening after Kim Barnett developed a back twinge, charged to his fifty in 69 balls. He eventually top-edged a swipe at the first of the spinners, Jim Freeth, to be caught at short third man. Though Dawson contained well, Derbyshire will relish some abundant, comfortable runs today.