I don't know if many of you saw it, but Tom Knight looked a different class as a bowler for England under-19s today against their South African counterparts.
3-27 was an excellent return in seven overs and it was telling that he was the bowler chosen to bowl the extra over. He bowls an excellent, probing line and looks an outstanding prospect.
Meanwhile Peter Burgoyne gave a good account of himself too, scoring a few runs, holding a catch and taking a wicket in a solid display. Mind you, Daniel Bell-Drummond of Kent looked a batsman of very high quality for England, while the Saffers had some clean stroke players in their side.
If the youngsters keep coming through at this rate at Derbyshire I can see our T20 side being renamed once again next year.
Krikks Kreche has a ring to it...
From various blogs it looks like Groenewald and Smith are on their way. This is one of the reasons why I have to question paying £180,000 a year for a player's wages. Surely, if we have got that sort of money we would be better paying the existing 'better' players a little more to keep them. JM left us with the makings of a good side but if we continue to let decent players go then we will never have a good side. If existing players are leaving over a few quid then we can't say that we can't afford them when on the other hand we are offering 'silly' money to other players.
ReplyDeleteWell, we don't know what the situation is with Smith and Groeners, though the former is likely to leave as far as I see it. Nor do we know what salary Collingwood wants nor we are offering for sure. I'm sure that current players who are worth it will be offered as much as we can afford. But, as was the case with Graham Wagg, if the gap between what they want and we can afford is too great, they will go, simple as that.
ReplyDeleteI did see some of the game and our boys did very well. Strange how MOM always goes to someone on the winning team. Should have been Knight.
ReplyDeleteNo surprises with Smith and Groenewald then. I don,t think anyone will lose much sleep over it,especially Smith. I wouldn,t be offering him a new deal anyway,unless it was to bat around number eight. I,ve said it before,he is not a front line batsman,he,s far too inconsistent and simply doesn,t come up with sufficient runs.
1) GUPTILL
ReplyDelete2) DURSTON
3) HUGHES
4) REDFERN
5) PARK
6) WHITELEY
7) POYNTON
8) SUTTON
9) TURNER
10)JONES
11)PALLADINO
Here is the team for Northants (assuming fitness). Clare is rested for this game. Smith and Madsen are dropped and Groenewald is not considered. Turner gets another chance and Poynton gets his opportunity as a batsman.
Not sure about that Marc! Redfern is very doubtful, Guptill less so. While he is on the staff, irrespective of future plans, Groeners will always be in my first choice side if fit. We can still win promotion and need the best team out for the best chance to do it.
ReplyDeleteSutton's batting in 4-day isn't an issue and Madsen for me is our best batsman. The man struggling for form is Smith. I wouldn't be resting Clare either!
I rested Clare to give him a break. He,s played alot of cricket lately. Madsen is out of touch at the moment,but in reality i guess he will play. Poynton is in as a batsmen for Smith. We would have to rely on Durston and Hughes for spin. I hope Redfern is fit to play. Groenewald will probably play if fit,but Jones has had a good rest. If we are going to play Turner in CB40 he really has to play in this game and hopefully he can gain some confidence. If he flops again we must surely rule him out of the one day games.
ReplyDeletePoynton isn't a good enough yet to be play solely as a batsmen in my opinion. Given the form of Borrington for Ticknall and the seconds surely he is next in line to be given an opportunity?
ReplyDelete