First of all, he comes with the highest of credentials for the role, having worked with various international sides and individuals with great success, most recently England. Without doubt he 'knows' batting and I once read Graeme Hick talking about how he strips down a player's technique and spots flaws better than anyone he had worked with. With Derbyshire having a number of young batsmen coming through it will be fascinating to see how Houghton is able to help the mto progress their games.At the same time, this lays down a marker and is confirmation of the merits of the blueprint. The specialist coaching fund that Chris Grant identified has been put to excellent use with the introduction (re-introduction if you will) of one of the best in the game.
Cynics will, of course say that Houghton has been here before and did little in his time at Derbyshire. I didn't think that his time in charge of the side was one of the better periods in our recent history and have written so, but there is a world of difference between being a coach and being in charge of everything. One has only to look at the recent travails of Steve McClaren, an acclaimed coach, in the football world to see that. This job will suit Houghton's skills perfectly and I am delighted to see a throughly decent, talented and engaging man return to the County Ground in a role that will suit him perfectly.
Hopefully Houghton will be employed on a full-time basis. After Morris and Brown left some of our batsman, Hughes and Madsen in particular, really struggled without a batting coach.
ReplyDeleteBen
Welcome back Dave - should never have been backed into a corner in the first place.
ReplyDeleteWhat corner was that ACD?
ReplyDeleteThe corner of mediocrity?
I,m pleased to see him back in this sort of role. He is,without doubt,one of the best batting coaches in the game. His time in charge was an unmitigated disaster but i applaud the club on his appointment. Hughes should be his first port of call.
ReplyDeleteThis is a good signing and perhaps further endorses the plan that appears to be favoured of developing the talent from within, rather than seeking established batting performers from elsewhere. Clearly, we can't afford the latter option and, secondly, it would fly in the face of the recent contract awards, where most of the squad have been signed up for a relatively long period (3 years is about as good as it gets in modern day cricket).
ReplyDeleteSo, now is the time for the younger guys, in particular, to rise to the challenge. Messrs Borrington, Lineker, Hughes, Whiteley and Redfern now have the security and the extra coaching support, so it is over to you, chaps. Show what you can do.......
Great news. However badly it ended, Houghton was heading us in the right direction before it all went haywire in 2007. Bringing him in says volumes about him, and lots about the value that both Krikken and Sutton place on him.
ReplyDeleteId rather derbyshire concentrate on signing decent players just like leicestershire have done today, rather than bowling coachers/fielding coachers. we missed out on a decent middle-order batmen, big style.
ReplyDeletepaul.