Skinner himself was a modest performer, though in this he was no different from the other amateurs – Gilbert Hodgkinson and Edward Gothard – who had captained an otherwise entirely professional side since the Second World War.
The move was not successful, and Derbyshire, missing the all-round skills of George Pope, fell to 15th place in the County Championship.
Skinner was a right-handed batsman in the lower-middle-order and played 36 innings in 23 first-class matches with an average of 13.57 and a top score of 63.
[2] In 1950, Derbyshire registered the former Cambridge University and Nottinghamshire amateur Guy Willatt to take over as captain, and though the registration was delayed until August and then scuppered by an immediate injury to Willatt, the county preferred to operate under the temporary captaincy of Pat Vaulkhard than to renew Skinner's tenure, Vaulkhard having at least a reputation for successful hard-hitting batsmanship.
His brother, Alan, also played first-class cricket for Derbyshire, having made his debut sixteen years before David.