I've had a couple of blog-free days as it has been fairly quiet on the Derbyshire front.
It was good to see the club supporting Tim O'Gorman's bid to become Chairman of the English Cricket Board. To have a relatively recent cricketer in such a role can be no bad thing, especially when he has played for an "unfashionable" county like us. O'Gorman was a player we struggled to replace for years to be honest, as a gutsy middle order batsman with an ugly stance but effective technique. His early retirement was a blow but he has done well subsequently and I hope that our nomination, plus support from elsewhere, sees him secure the post.
It was also gratfying to read in Wisden Cricket Monthly that our marketing and events team were working wonders off the pitch and are regarded as one of the most enlightened in the country. As Peakview points out on IMWT,
All the counties are having to grow up for the next decade. Grounds now double up as conference centres, party venues and examination halls. Perhaps surprisingly Derbyshire are pioneers, turning into a 365 day-a- year business and the club is hopeful of announcing a fourth consecutive annual profit.
"We started from a bit farther back than other people - and it has actually worked to our advantage that we were so bad in the past" says chief executive, Keith Loring. "We no longer want to be considered the 18th county, either on or off the pitch".
Great to read!
On the pitch, Surrey have signed Chris Tremlett (a good bowler when fit) and Kent have signed Malinga Bandara who should form a good spinning partnership with James Tredwell. Worcestershire have signed Australian all rounder James Cameron. I've never heard of him, but he'll face a Titanic task in turning around their fortunes...I'm wasted, me!
Finally, Durham are chasing a T20 specialist and I'd see them as our major rivals if we are after Albie Morkel. As I've said before, whether its Morkel, Kallis, Duminy, de Villiers or Langeveldt I'd be a happy bunny. I just hope we get our man, like the Mounties, sometime soon.
are these just rumours on the albie morkel front or is he the man john morris is targeting?
ReplyDeleteJust rumours mate. He would be my best guess, nothing more. As I say, any of the above names would do me nicely but Morkel and Duminy are the big South African cheeses at T20!
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