Please Don't Go...

While doing that last post, it crossed my mind that very few players have left Derbyshire for success elsewhere.

I'll accept that Kim Barnett played a great part in Gloucestershire's one day successes and that Peter Bowler gave sterling service to Somerset. Likewise, Chris Adams leadership and batting were a major factor in Sussex's success in recent years and Andrew Harris did well, between injuries, for Nottinghamshire. Yet while John Morris had his good days at both Durham and Nottinghamshire he never really replicated his early days in a fine batting side at Derby.

There were some who really messed up. Robin Weston could have been at Derby for years but opted for an offer at Middlesex that saw him disappear without trace after one decent season. Both Matt Cassar and Adrian Rollins headed to Northampton and suffered injury problems and loss of form that saw their careers at first class level end prematurely.

Luke Sutton and Dominic Cork went to Lancashire with limited success, Both must have anticipated trophy success but it has not materialised and Sutton's best days are probably behind him. I'd argue that we replaced him with a better man in James Pipe, who has given fantastic service over the last year or two. Whereas Sutton often stabilised an innings with a dogged innings, Pipe has changed the course of many a match with brilliant strokeplay and clean hitting, as well as keeping in a highly competent and at times brilliant manner. Cork had his good days and will always compete, but his glory days were at Derby. A new challenge at Hampshire may revitalise the old dog, but we saw the best of him without question.

Ant Botha, Rikki Clarke and Boyd Rankin went off to Warwickshire and limited returns, although only the former was established as a Derbyshire player. I suspect that the current seasons are crucial for all three, none of whom can anticipate further county cricket if it doesn't work out for them.

As for Chris Taylor, he left Yorkshire for Derbyshire, did very well and then went back to Headingley in a huff over alleged ill treatment. Since then he has struggled with injuries and form and looks a long way from their first choice side. Gary Ballance, nephew of Dave Houghton, went the same route after Houghton left the county and according to some reports has now left them, after being rated an outstanding talent when he first arrived from Zimbabwe. I'm currently checking this out and will let you know in a future blog.

Even when one goes back a few years the story is the same. Alan Ward went to Leicester, Mike Hendrick and Harold Rhodes to Nottinghamshire for only limited returns and success.

The other two worthy of mention are Alan Richardson and Michael Di Venuto. Richardson was written off as a youngster at Derby but has carved out a decent county career for himself (as indeed did Paul Taylor at Northants after rejection at Derby) while di Venuto was released in a decision quite staggering in its myopia. Had we retained him, our top four in one day cricket this season could have gone Rogers, Di Venuto, Law and Hinds...

I know I've not covered all those seeking their fortune elsewhere (Nick Walker and Wayne White at Leicester for example), but I hope that this brief run through has highlighted and confirmed that few have used Derbyshire as a springboard to greater success. Rather their reputations have been built at the County and in most cases have remained there.

So if any of the current squad read this, just remember that if John Morris comes with an offer of a new contract - snatch his hand off!