Whisper it quietly, but there are signs that Derbyshire are starting to be taken a little more seriously in the game. If anyone needed evidence of that, it comes from the Live Sky schedule, published this week.
We are on FIVE times in the current listing, three of them in the ECB Pro 40 and the remainder from the T20. The games in question are (Pro 40 first):
Friday 7 May - Northamptonshire v Derbyshire (d/n)
Tuesday 20 July - Derbyshire v Gloucestershire (d/n)
Tuesday 24 August - Derbyshire v Middlesex (d/n)
Wednesday 9 June - Derbyshire v Warwickshire
Monday 21 June - Derbyshire v Worcestershire
Four opportunities to get your face on TV at the County Ground - excellent!
I'm also delighted to read that we are, as DCCC Forever suggested, taking cricket back to Staffordshire and the lovely Leek ground. That county has been and continues to be a rich source of talent over the years and the more that we can encourage the locals, the better it will be for membership figures.
I'm all for cricket at out grounds. I have to admit that when I was a kid, my least favourite ground was Derby. The players seemed so far away and it was a fairly open, unattractive ground. Now, the facilities are excellent and will continue to improve. Chesterfield was my favourite, but I liked Buxton and even Heanor. Ilkeston was OK, no more than that, but we're unlikely to go back there from what I've heard of the place these days.
A lot of clubs suffered when Health and Safety legislation changed and the facilities at many out grounds were unsuitable for food preparation, for example. Car parking can also be an issue in some places, but it is good for people to see the county coming to them, if at all possible. Having spent a lot of money developing the County Ground we're not going to become a nomadic eleven in a hurry as there would be no logic in doing so. Giving an out ground a game each season is encouraging and may lead to improved facilities in these places.
Elsewhere, thanks to Peter who posted a link in response to a recent blog. It suggests John Morris is close to signing his T20 specialist. For those who didn't see it, here is the link:
http://www.testmatchextra.com/Blogs.aspx?BlogView=Post&PostID=1381602a-85cb-4ff2-a8f7-7f2ba67d2137&BloggerID=945a8657-c692-4216-b395-5cf672919e26
My guess is that his three names will be South African as that is a favourite hunting ground where he has plenty of contacts. I've previously suggested that my preferred names would be Albie Morkel, Jacques Kallis and AB de Villiers and will stick with that, possibly throwing in Charl Langeveldt, again I've said before. JM has surprised us before though...
I see that Northamptonshire have today signed James Middlebrook, who will do a sound job for them. He's no Robin Peterson though, who has followed his blistering first innings 70 against a strong Lions side with figures of 4-65 in nearly 25 overs. The Lions include Monty Panesar and it will be interesting to see how he bowls in the final innings. In the first innings, Panesar's 0-26 in seven overs compared poorly to Peterson's 2-28 in nine.
The man's on fire!
See you soon.
Update: RP took 5-70 in 27 overs...
South African Wayne Parnell might be another option for the second 20/20 overseas berth. He is one of the best young fast bowlers in the world in the one dayers and can bat a bit too. He played at Kent, as we know, last year but they have stated this week that their overseas players for this season have not played for the county before. In the 20/20 it is vital that when bowling you take early wickets otherwise nine times out of ten you are facing a mamouth score. This was our problem in the one dayers again last season. Our priority has to be a decent fast bowler who might bat a bit and I am sure that John Morris is aware of wehat we need.
ReplyDeleteNice to see us back at Leek. My only worry is that the match is in early May which can be wet and might cause them a problem. Still I suppose if it is wet they could switch it to Derby.
DCCCFOREVER
Parnell is a fine player and outstanding player but after a meteoric rise he's hit a bad spell of late.
ReplyDeleteAnother would, of course, be JP Duminy, but everyone will want him and he won't be cheap!
Langers and Morkel would both have a point to prove so would be perhaps the more likely options.