Random stuff

There was an interesting day at Belper today for the Second XI, with Wayne Madsen, Matt Lineker and Paul Borrington in the Derbyshire line up, all vying for a place in the side against Gloucestershire on Friday.

As it turned out, Lineker top scored between the three with thirty-odd, while Ben Slater grafted hard on an awkward pitch for 47. Had that been Michael, his ex-Aussie Test namesake, he'd have slogged 20 in three overs, then hit one up in the air...

There's a couple of interesting articles 'out there' today, one on Peter Burgoyne, which you can see (and hear) at:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/14392215.stm

The other is on a lad I know little about, but who sounds quite promising, Johnny Marsden of Buxton CC.

http://menmedia.co.uk/macclesfieldexpress/sport/cricket/s/1454483_kings-paceman-picked-for-county

Good to see young men attracting media attention from the club, as well as the club's net continuing to be cast far and wide.

On to more serious matters and I have to say that I am introducing a name only policy for comments/posts on the blog. If a post doesn't have a name on it - used consistently from that IP address  - I will have to delete it.

Why? Because I am increasingly concerned about the comments from what appears to be two people billing themselves as 'Anon' with regard to John Morris and Andrew Brown, but especially with regard to Derbyshire's chairman, Chris Grant. Not to mention anything to do with the club that doesn't result in a win.

The former is old hat and, unless anything newsworthy arises from that quarter, the issue will not be mentioned again on here. It is yesterday's news, pure and simple.

The latter is of more concern to me. I don't know if Derbyshire's chairman ever reads this blog - I doubt it, to be honest - but if he did he would, I'm sure, be disappointed with some of the comments of people who seem to be either jealous of his success, petty, or both.

I had the pleasure - I use the word advisedly - of twenty minutes with Mr Grant earlier in the season and what struck me was his passion for the game, and for Derbyshire cricket in particular, as well as his enthusiasm and desire to turn things around.  It needed little of that time to convince me that he was exactly the right man to take charge of the club and that he would work tirelessly - and well - on our behalf.

He could, of course, have carried on doing what he did in the city, making a lot of money. I asked him that day what exactly he did, and essentially he transformed the fortunes of businesses (my words, not his) with his business acumen and made them successful after a roots and branches overhaul. That is exactly the sort of work he has started to do at Derbyshire, without, it has to be stressed, taking a penny from the club in return. He also did substantial contractual work with young traders and business analysts in the city, something that must have stood him in good stead in recent weeks. Surely it would be remiss of the club not to use the skills of a man with such expertise?

Make no mistake, we are very lucky to have someone with his ability, someone with the club's interests at heart and with the financial know how to ensure that we stay on the right path. I know no more than anyone else what happened with John Morris, but Mr Grant acted with commendable speed to avert what appeared to be an issue. Similarly, the facts about Greg Smith will no doubt come out in due course, when we find out where he is going.

Paul Collingwood? The word from the north east is that the player had little intention in coming to Derbyshire and simply used our interest to better an existing deal at his home county. The figure mentioned, £150,000, also emanated from that area and I have serious doubts that we would offer that kind of money. Again, Mr Grant is a shrewd businessman and I simply cannot see him authorising such a spend on a player of Collingwood's age with our limited budget. It doesn't add up with paying people fair salaries  without breaking the bank, which is what he's doing with everyone else.

If we didn't have Chris Grant, a man, don't forget, elected as chairman by a committee itself elected by members, we would be in a difficult situation. He has generously helped the club out on several occasions and no doubt will do so again when it is appropriate to do so, while he has a network of friends and business associates to call on too. Given that the worthy Don Amott is happy to take a back seat now, there are no viable alternatives out there, nor should we want one. As Rod Bransgrove has done for Hampshire, so could our chairman, given time and support, do for us, though following a far more sensible business model.

As the person responsible for this blog, I would hate for it to have any part in him deciding, at some point, that the backbiting was too much. So please, keep your comments on cricket matters and avoid personal ones. Constructive criticism, like many regulars is fine, but perennial moaners do no one any favours.

With a man like Chris Grant at the helm, Derbyshire cricket is in safe hands. It is the obligation of everyone who purports to be a fan to ensure that the current healthy promise within the club flowers in due course.

Get behind them, through thick and thin. And thanks to the vast majority of you for your insightful and interesting comments.