There will be few Derbyshire fans that are not pleased at the news, broken in the Bristol Evening Post today, that Steffan Jones is set to sign a two-year deal with us for 2010-11. No doubt the news will be on the club site in the near future, but as they say on the X Files – the truth is out there!
Furthermore, Jones is signing a contract that gives him additional responsibilities as the bowling and fitness/conditioning coach.
There has been considerable discussion on fans bulletin boards in recent months on whether the lack of a bowling coach was a factor in some erratic bowling, especially in one-day matches. I cannot believe that anyone would deny that our batting last year was substantially improved on recent years in all forms of the game. John Morris and Andy Brown deserve full credit for instilling sound principles into what is essentially a young and relatively inexperienced batting side.
It was interesting listening to Morris commenting on the recent Club Twenty/20 finals day on the art of twenty over batting. Aim for four every ball, if you can’t get four, get a two, if you can’t get two, get a single and rotate the strike. Common sense it may be, but an approach that was lacking in previous seasons. As I wrote the other night, 150 in a 20-over game should be challenging if you bowl properly, which is where Steffan will come in.
Far too often in one-day games our bowlers have been guilty of bowling a length, which is hittable. The successful bowlers in the World T20 showed that you either have to bowl very full or just back of a length to make the batsman’s job much harder. It is very difficult to get under a ball to lever it for six if it is right up in the block hole and Steffan Jones has shown, especially in the latter part of his career, that he is adept at putting the ball in the right places. If he can pass those skills on to younger players he will do a very good job.
Then there is the conditioning role. Our bowlers have suffered a number of injuries in recent seasons. Ton Lungley has had an assortment of niggles, Jon Clare missed a lot of the last campaign and even that most willing of workhorses Graham Wagg missed cricket last year. If they are all fit and firing, I think our seam attack is among the best in Division Two, with only Gloucestershire (Kirby/Lewis/Franklin) of the same quality. We missed Langeveldt last year, but Jones, Groenewald, Lungley, Wagg, Clare and Hunter, backed up by Greg Smith comprises a pretty good line up.
If we assume that Lungley and Groenewald will sign new deals for 2010 (and there’s been nothing to suggest otherwise) and with Atif Sheikh and Ross Whiteley coming through, Derbyshire don’t lack seam bowling options. If Jones can keep them fit and firing we will be more than competitive, especially if a quality spinner can be added to the mix.
Which leaves, of course, Jones the bowler. Nothing in his bowling last season suggested a spent force, as he bowled with heart, energy and considerable skill to revitalise an attack that was struggling with injuries.
If I was honest, from a career point of view Steffan should never have left Derbyshire. His success in 2006 suggested there was much more to come, but he never became a regular at Taunton, nor could he have enjoyed bowling on the most batsman-friendly tracks in the game. He left for family reasons and I would never criticise anyone for that, but at the end of his career, he will probably be 50-100 wickets short of what he would have achieved at Derby.
Still, that’s history. The Jones boy is back. A fine bowler and a fine man. I remember in his first stint with us sending a question into the club site about how he kept himself fit, as I was at that time struggling with a back injury of my own that stopped me doing so in matches.
He replied in considerable detail on how it was important to have a strong “core” and kindly offered to meet me the next time I was at the Ground to show me some exercises that would help me to strengthen the weakened area and return to bowling.
I never got the chance to take him up on that kind offer but did source local classes on core strengthening that helped immensely.
So thanks for that Steffan and a sincere welcome back to Derby. We’ve missed you, but it’s great to have you back!
Furthermore, Jones is signing a contract that gives him additional responsibilities as the bowling and fitness/conditioning coach.
There has been considerable discussion on fans bulletin boards in recent months on whether the lack of a bowling coach was a factor in some erratic bowling, especially in one-day matches. I cannot believe that anyone would deny that our batting last year was substantially improved on recent years in all forms of the game. John Morris and Andy Brown deserve full credit for instilling sound principles into what is essentially a young and relatively inexperienced batting side.
It was interesting listening to Morris commenting on the recent Club Twenty/20 finals day on the art of twenty over batting. Aim for four every ball, if you can’t get four, get a two, if you can’t get two, get a single and rotate the strike. Common sense it may be, but an approach that was lacking in previous seasons. As I wrote the other night, 150 in a 20-over game should be challenging if you bowl properly, which is where Steffan will come in.
Far too often in one-day games our bowlers have been guilty of bowling a length, which is hittable. The successful bowlers in the World T20 showed that you either have to bowl very full or just back of a length to make the batsman’s job much harder. It is very difficult to get under a ball to lever it for six if it is right up in the block hole and Steffan Jones has shown, especially in the latter part of his career, that he is adept at putting the ball in the right places. If he can pass those skills on to younger players he will do a very good job.
Then there is the conditioning role. Our bowlers have suffered a number of injuries in recent seasons. Ton Lungley has had an assortment of niggles, Jon Clare missed a lot of the last campaign and even that most willing of workhorses Graham Wagg missed cricket last year. If they are all fit and firing, I think our seam attack is among the best in Division Two, with only Gloucestershire (Kirby/Lewis/Franklin) of the same quality. We missed Langeveldt last year, but Jones, Groenewald, Lungley, Wagg, Clare and Hunter, backed up by Greg Smith comprises a pretty good line up.
If we assume that Lungley and Groenewald will sign new deals for 2010 (and there’s been nothing to suggest otherwise) and with Atif Sheikh and Ross Whiteley coming through, Derbyshire don’t lack seam bowling options. If Jones can keep them fit and firing we will be more than competitive, especially if a quality spinner can be added to the mix.
Which leaves, of course, Jones the bowler. Nothing in his bowling last season suggested a spent force, as he bowled with heart, energy and considerable skill to revitalise an attack that was struggling with injuries.
If I was honest, from a career point of view Steffan should never have left Derbyshire. His success in 2006 suggested there was much more to come, but he never became a regular at Taunton, nor could he have enjoyed bowling on the most batsman-friendly tracks in the game. He left for family reasons and I would never criticise anyone for that, but at the end of his career, he will probably be 50-100 wickets short of what he would have achieved at Derby.
Still, that’s history. The Jones boy is back. A fine bowler and a fine man. I remember in his first stint with us sending a question into the club site about how he kept himself fit, as I was at that time struggling with a back injury of my own that stopped me doing so in matches.
He replied in considerable detail on how it was important to have a strong “core” and kindly offered to meet me the next time I was at the Ground to show me some exercises that would help me to strengthen the weakened area and return to bowling.
I never got the chance to take him up on that kind offer but did source local classes on core strengthening that helped immensely.
So thanks for that Steffan and a sincere welcome back to Derby. We’ve missed you, but it’s great to have you back!
Another week off Peakfan? Quick of the mark on Jonesy........
ReplyDeleteJones is a sensible addition, both as a player and as coach.
I still have a worry with the bowling. Will Lungley click again? What has happened to Hunter? Will Clare regain his pace/form?
We just couldn't put sides away last season and the group of seamers we have assembled (or so it appears) is basically the same as last term. Do we have a golden arm there? No, just good (or not so good) Steady Eddys.
Morris has chopped out a number of non-performing batsmen, but left the bowling alone (Lawson aside), when this clearly didn't function well in 2009. Oviously, viable alternatives are hard to find, but I have to confess to being less optimistic than you are as things stand.
I still expect a batter and a twirler to come in. Jason Brown looks a fair bet for the latter role, even if the older brigade is then getting bigger. It might spell the end of a seamer maybe?
I guess I just feel that a bit more of a shake in the bowling department would help our prospects. I can't see some of them improving markedly, now they are in their late twenties.
MASTERVILLAIN
Haha! No, at work again Mastervillain but my work involves news and news feeds so it's easy peasy to spot the important stuff!
ReplyDeleteI think we may see another seamer come in, but the key to next season will be a decent spinner. I'd be surprised if we moved for Brown, to be honest. He may be a plan C, but I think John will have other irons in the fire/
Age is certainly against Brown. Middlebrook offers more all round ability, but is less likely to go through a side than Brown at his best (can he still do it?). Beyond that, I am struggling with homegrown players. Plan C suggests at least one other option is in your mind - are you suspecting an oversees solution or is someone else on the circuit up for grabs?
ReplyDeleteMonty would appear to be too expensive.
MASTERVILLAIN