Some week that was...

Sorry that I've not blogged for a few days, but this has been a seriously hectic week for me, as I left a post in a Scottish local authority after nineteen years there.

It has been a non-stop week of lunches and dinners with colleagues and friends and tonight I'm out to a dinner in a nice hotel where all my closest colleagues will be in attendance. I've to give a speech, and although I asked them if they'd like half an hour on Derbyshire's fortunes this coming season, they politely declined and suggested an overview of my time there may be more in order...

The great thing is that one my leaving day yesterday I heard that I've secured an exciting Civil Service post in Edinburgh. This will take the usual plethora of checks before I start, leaving me two or three weeks with my family and to get ready for the start of the blogging - sorry, cricket - season proper.

To be fair, I've not missed much on the Derbyshire front. I clicked onto the club site this week and read something about Women on the Verge of HRT. My immediate reaction was to run through the Derbyshire players, thinking it was the initials of one of them, but it turns out to be a stage show at the Derby Theatre. I'm quite looking forward to similar headlines this season, perhaps on the lines of "Rogers on the verge of TON" and "Derbyshire on the verge of WIN."

Some bloke called Tendulkar became the first man to score a double century in a 50 over international. The diminutive Indian is an extraordinary player and has graced the game for twenty years now, mastering all forms of it. Yet I still think back to the first time that I saw him, playing for India A against Derbyshire at Chesterfield, when he was 16 or 17.

Ian Bishop bowled like the wind from the pavilion end that day, getting sharp bounce and movement and troubling everyone. Tendulkar batted serenely but was beaten on a number of occasions by Bishop, who looked like removing him at any time. Near the end of the game, when the runs to overs equation was getting very tight, Bishop dropped one short and Tendulkar rocked back and smacked him a country mile over the scoreboard at mid wicket. The shot didn't win the game, but it changed it and India won a game that was going away from them.

It is remarkable that Tendulkar's only foray into the County game was a disappointing stint as a teenager at Yorkshire. Hardly surprising really. A young man, no matter how precociously talented, is sure to struggle in a strange land and different environment. Long term, it undoubtedly helped his technique, yet Tendulkar has never since headed for the county circuit - he hardly needs the money!

Loots Bosman, previously mentioned on this blog as someone who may get a T20 deal somewhere, has fairly carved up India this morning with a blistering 68 from just 46 balls. South Africa are going well at present, but they have to. With the Indian batsmen in their current form, 450 should set a decent total...

Last night the Cobras lost a first semi-final (eh?) to the Warriors by three runs. Robin Peterson did well, following a controlled 1-27 in his four overs with an unbeaten 50. He had little support though, and was unable to hit the last ball for the required four to win the game. The Cobras have gone off the boil since losing Langeveldt and Gibbs to the national side and now need to win the second leg on Wednesday to take it to a decider. I might be old fashioned, but I see nothing wrong with a one game semi final and think this is just another "milk the punters" moment.

South Africa have also named an initial squad of thirty for the World Twenty 20 in March. It will be cut down to 15 in due course and they have some fine players for that format. The Caribbean tracks may help them too and I'd see them as contenders - just as long as they don't choke, as they have so often before.

No doubt England will do something similar and we'll perhaps see Steve "perennial tourist" Kirby in the initial squad. The oldest Lion in captivity seems to curry favour in the corridors of power, yet was a disappointment on the recent tour.

What price a place for Graham Wagg? If he averages 60 with the bat this year and 20 with the ball he may get a place in the Hong Kong Sixes.

Cynical? Moi?

Finally, it was nice to see the 1990 Refuge Assurance winners reunited this week. That was a fine side, with tight bowling, a terrific batting line up and some good fielders. Maybe their reunion was propitious and we could see similar success this season?

You never know.

See you soon