Last week I wrote that Derbyshire would be busy offering contracts to players right now. Karl Krikken will have identified players that he wants to retain and those negotiations will be undertaken and concluded by Chris Grant.
Today comes news that Jonathan Clare has signed a three-year deal, while Wes Durston has signed for two years. Both are good news for me. Clare showed last night that his confidence in his shoulder now allows him to bowl at nearly 90mph, while Durston batted and bowled well in the match, as well as fielding with his customary brilliance.
It was just a shame that collectively we lost it last night. As a contributor says below, Mark Turner was again wildly erratic and has a lot of work to do in the winter. Guptill's batting made me wonder why he had such travails in the Championship this year, but the way in which both he and Durston gave it away when they were coasting the game was disappointing.
Greg Smith played a strange shot, Whiteley got one that turned ad bounced and Poynton had too much to do when he came in. Having said that, I thought he kept tidily and held a good catch, while keeping the team on their toes with his encouragement. Clare cold have worked it around, rather than giving it the long handle and the batting showed inexperience and naivety in the closing stages. A well timed and placed shot allows two when the field is back and Wayne Madsen simply had to much to do.
Disappointing, but we move on. More contract news I fully expect in the next week.
Good news about Clare and Durston. I wish we could re visit the Smith situation because if we are to replace Smith with someone from another county of the same ability it will cost us a lot more that what we were paying Smith.
ReplyDeleteBen
Delighted to read this news. Big fan of John Clare in particular, and the experienced head of Wes in the top order will be much needed if the 'youth is the way forward' policy kicks in next year.
ReplyDeleteBoth deserve new contracts. Clare appears to have put his injury problems firmly behind him and Durston has probably been our most consistent batsman in all forms of the game. Good news.
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