Guptill goes with reputation enhanced

There is always a gamble when choosing an overseas player with minimal experience of English conditions. When Derbyshire ended up with Usman Khawaja and Martin Guptill for 2011, there was a combination of pleasure coupled with uncertainty as to how they would fare.

I've previously covered Khawaja's stint but Martin Guptill, despite early struggles in the County Championship, heads back to New Zealand with his reputation firmly enhanced. Not just as a player, which I'll come to in a minute, but as a man and most importantly a team man. One has only to look at the various Twitter messages from his Derbyshire colleagues to know how much they valued having him around, as well as how much he enjoyed himself. I can think of few other overseas players who would have willingly carried the drinks and been happy to be one of the boys as Guptill was at Chelmsford last week. Certainly Essex' players, who experienced something nearly diametrically opposed in "Lotsie" Tsotsobe this season, must have been surprised...

Guptill had his problems in the Championship at the start, but it is fair to say that he had his share of unplayable balls too, in common with a lot of batsmen in division two. Many put it down to the Tiflex ball, which had a habit of offering early help then doing nothing, as evidenced by the number of tailenders this year with somewhat inflated averages.

An average of 39 in the Championship was not overly impressive, but 70 in the 40-over league and 34 in the T20 certainly was. I suggested a few months ago, before the twenty over stuff started, that Guptill would score more heavily than Loots Bosman the year before and that was the case. Guptill is a batsman, Bosman a slogger and there's a crucial difference.

It was the way he scored his runs that was special. Quick footwork got him down the track and he was unafraid to loft the ball over the infield, as those who saw him at Leek will testify. He favoured the area between mid-off and extra cover but could score easily all around the wicket. Yet for me his trademark shot was the on drive, played with the straightest of blades and with the pose held as the ball heads for the boundary ropes. It is a shot that only players of high quality can play with regularity and Guptill is a high quality player.

I suspect that the stint may prove of even greater value to him in the long term and he will go back to New Zealand with a tighter technique as a result of his stay. I fully expect to see his averages rise in the years ahead and will watch his progress with great interest.

We never saw his occasional off spin at Derbyshire, but as a fielder Guptill is up there with the best. His athleticism was remarkable, while his ability to pull off catches that some might not actually consider chances was extraordinary. With Guptill, Ross Whiteley and Garry Park in the same team, Derbyshire were largely a superb fielding side in the one day game.

I hope that we see him back at Derbyshire. Next year may be problematic with his country's international commitments and Derbyshire's preference (I think) for a quality spinner from overseas, but if he had the time Guptill would be a fine signing for the early stages of the T20.

I doubt few people would disagree. Thanks Martin - your efforts were appreciated and we enjoyed watching you.