There are some good bowling figures for Derbyshire bowlers in the Second XI this summer.
Star turn is seamer Ally Evans, with 31 championship wickets at 20. Peter Burgoyne (21 at 25) and Jake Sherriff (19 at 19) can also be proud of their efforts. The batting is less impressive but easily headed by Matt Lineker, with honourable mention for Messrs Slater, Needham and Poynton.
Of people I've mentioned on this blog with signing potential, Ben Harmison averaged just over 40 for Durham from 523 runs, but only bowled 18 overs, presumably due to injury. David Balcombe, mentioned by a few people on the Forum, only managed eight wickets in 60 overs for Hampshire Seconds...
Michael Thorneley, formerly of Sussex, averaged 45 for Somerset, and 57 in the one day competition. He scored over a thousand runs, including appearances for Kent and Northamptonshire, as well as averaging 95 for the Unicorns A side. It remains to be seen if anyone will offer another opportunity to a lad of obvious talent, but he could become a victim of the ECB regulations. Will counties take a chance on him and hope his runs outweigh the money they would get for one of their own?
Bilal Shafayat averaged 139 in performances for Hampshire and Sussex but still got nowhere near a county deal. In (almost) the words of the old song, it's that old devil called age again. Shafayat also played for Northamptonshire in the T20 but must now see his county career as a thing of the past. It's a shame, as he looked a potential world-beater for Young England a few years back.
What is apparent from the averages, however, is that counties are throwing the net far and wide in the search for new talent. I can remember looking at similar averages, even ten years ago, and seeing perhaps eight or nine players involved in most matches. With clubs carrying smaller staffs today, there are more opportunities for matches but more pressure on players to perform immediately at some counties.
Interesting stuff - and you can see the figures on Cricket Archive. Go to:
http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Seasons/2011_ENG.html
Borrington's batting average of only 21 in the Second XI is a bit of a worry!
ReplyDeleteBen
Ali Evans may have taken wickets but looks awkward and when I have seen him tends to get hit. In the seconds 2 people have stood out Alex Hughes and Hansi Siddique. I was impressed by Tom Hamilton on both the occasions I have seen him.
ReplyDeleteDonny Scorpion
The problem with Siddique, is that he isn't scoring a massive amount of runs in the NSSCCL Premier division for Audley this year.
ReplyDelete534 @ 22.25, not brilliant honestly, but he is still young.