Sunday thoughts

Really not all that much to report this weekend my friends.

I mentioned yesterday that Cap'n Buck made 149 for Victoria. Leicestershire fans will be pleased to see that their pro for next year, Andrew McDonald also made a century, as did former county overseas Brad Hodge as South Australia were left with a lot of batting to do on the last day to avoid defeat.

Victoria have the quick and awkward Dirk Nannes in their attack, which is always handy. Every top side has a quick, awkward opening bowler and Nannes is certainly that. In fact, it crossed my mind as to whether South African quick bowler Makhaya Ntini may be tempted into signing a Kolpak deal somewhere after dropping down the pecking order in the national side.

With Steyn, the Morkel brothers, Parnell, Tsotsobe, Van der Wath, McLaren and Langeveldt all vying for a Test place, Ntini may see a last pay day in England as an opportunity not to be missed. At 32 his express days are behind him, but he's a decent bowler who on his day is a real handful.

As we saw in the Championship last year, there aren't loads of real quickies out there, with the best of them not keen, or able, to undertake a year's county grind.
You can understand why, when they've not only got 64 days of Championship cricket, but the 40 over game and around 16 Twenty/20s where they'd be expected to throw themselves around in the field. Gone are the days when the young Bill Bowes, when playing for Yorkshire, got a row from his skipper, Brian Sellers, for diving to stop a ball. He was told, in no uncertain terms that he was in the side to bowl, not field. You can't see such a conversation happening today.

Despite the restrictions on Kolpaks, I think there will be a few in the county game in 2010, but they will have to be of a higher standard than has sometimes been the case in the past. The days when a South African or West Indian with a passport could come and ply their trade in England as a matter of course are gone, as evidenced by the departure from the scene as such players as Pedro Collins, Dwayne Smith, Wavell Hinds, Francois du Plessis, Dominic Telo, Grant Hodnett, HD Ackerman and many more.

Instead, those who are here will be recent Test or one day internationals and therefore, by definition, of a higher standard than has sometimes been the case. The trick for all county coaches is to find the right man who is available, at the right price and who will add to the side, especially when taking into account the financial penalties. A batsman who would guarantee a thousand runs, a bowler who would take fifty wickets or an all rounder who could perhaps score 500-750 runs and take 30-40 wickets would still be worth every penny. If you have the money.

There are counties, as highlighted by Steve Rhodes last week, who are paying way over the odds for ordinary players. While he is a good bowler, might someone not consider that, instead of paying £100K for Hoggard, paying £50-70K for a talented, ex-international South African or West Indian (plus the financial penalties) might not be better value? Just a thought.

As I wrote earlier in the week, there's not been many players who have moved so far, even if we had the money, that I'd have been desperate to bring to Derby. In fact, with the possible exception of Nick Compton, I'd say there were none. I'm not sure he'd have got into our top four, based on last year's form.

If we could sign a top spinner (maybe a top spinner who can bowl a top spinner!) I'd be quite happy with where we're at. A young batsman, a talented under 22 (or under 26) would be useful, as would perhaps another young seamer, but I don't think we'll see much more than that over the winter.

Then its down to the second overseas role for the Twenty/20. The BOSS - Bums On Seats Signing. I'd be surprised if we sorted that one before the New Year, to be honest, but you never know.

See you soon.