The news, announced by Chris Grant this evening on Radio Derby, that David Wainwright has signed for Derbyshire is a huge boost for fans as we go into the close season.There were plenty of other teams chasing the player, some of them in the first division. That he chose Derbyshire may have been from a convenience angle, but it also suggests that players are increasingly aware of what is happening at the club and that they will be given an opportunity to shine. I am of an age where I recall too well when we picked up only the cast-offs of other clubs, the ones who had no other offers on the table and/or were looking for one last pay day before retirement.
As I have written before, Wainwright is a fine player who has toured with England Lions and, at 26, is coming to the point in his career where he knows his game and can be relied on to contribute when the need arises. It is not beyond the realms of possibility that he could get back into the international reckoning and is thus especially heartening that such a player has opted for a move in our direction. As a batsman he is far better than the number nine he has usually found himself at Yorkshire. I fully expect the left-hander to make a strong case for batting at seven and he could eventually get up to six. He has a solid technique and can play his shots, but is equally able to dig in when the need arises. He is one hundred per cent the type of player we need in the middle order and I expect to see him do well.
As a bowler he has an easy action that enables him to bowl long spells, while his record contains enough four and five wicket hauls to suggest he will take advantage of favourable conditions. Equally important, he has a a good economy rate and should be a valuable member of the attack in T20 when batsmen are attemtping to "get after" him.
Given his all-round ability, both Tom Knight and Peter Burgoyne will still have an opportunity to get into the side, especially for one-day games. As I've written before, however, time is on their side and they have plenty of international commitments that meant that the club needed a viable alternative. Wainwright is above viable - he is a cricketer of considerable talent who is well rated in Yorkshire and elsewhere.
In short? Big thumbs up from me. Another genuine all-rounder at the club and undoubtedly a player who strengthens the side.
Congratulations to Messrs Krikken and Grant for convincing the player to move to Derbyshire in the face of weighty opposition and coming up with an appropriate contract. For those who have queried whether this might happen post-Morris, this signing is a massive reassurance.
Well you know my view on Wainwright. I think he has the potential to be an excellent signing. Although some will disagree or be surprised, I think he could prove the best of the signings this week, snuffing out Van Jaarsveld and Denly's moves into the bargain. His mid to long term value could prove very rewarding for our club.
ReplyDeleteI could be wrong of course, but I can envisage him being with us for the long haul.
On paper a decent signing for us. I can't understand your reference to John Morris, afterall he didn't sign every player in the club's history!
ReplyDeleteBen
A good signing,no doubt about it. He offers all round talent and will,im sure prove far more useful than the spinner/batsman we have just offloaded to Essex. Well done to those who peruaded him to come to Derbyshire. I just wonder if this signing may end any interest in Kaneria,if indeed there was any in the first place.
ReplyDeleteI thought you were under the impression he did, Ben...
ReplyDeleteAs Karl Krikken suggests in the Derby evening telegraph that Wainwright will be our number 1 spinner I expect our overseas player wont be Kaneria
ReplyDeletePeakfan, yes John Morris was brilliant at getting us the 'bargain basement' players and turning them into better players. However, it would be unfair on Karl Krikken to keep comparing his signings to that of Morris. Hopefully Waiwright will be agood signing but to start comparing him to say Robin Peterson for example would be totally unfair to all parties.
ReplyDeleteBen
This would possibly leave a likely line up as: (guessing that we would now want a batsman as our overseas player)
ReplyDeleteMadsen
Overseas
Hughes
Durston
Redfern
Whiteley
Wainwright
Clare
Sutton
Groenwald
Palladino
I think that is pretty much it, Gary.
ReplyDeleteAnother option could be for Madsen to drop down to three, and one of the middle order players to miss out instead of, say, Lineker or Borrington. Of course, both these players could play instead of Hughes and Redfern, although I would see that as the least likely scenario, at least at the beginning of the campaign. I know we finished with two inexperienced openers, but there was little to play for at the time. I think it more likely either your XI or just one of these openers would start.
Bit too early to be selecting teams just yet. There may be other signings in the pipeline. We haven,t replaced Jones for a start and even then i think we need another seamer,so plenty may yet happen. I do think the overseas player is now more likely to be a batsman,but you never know.
ReplyDeleteI'd like to see a little strengthening of the batting, but the real fragility and lack of depth is the quick bowling.
ReplyDeleteWe can be fairly confident that Hughes and Madsen will be back stronger for their struggles, and Durston and Redfern will kick on from strong seasons. I remain to be convinced about either Borrington or Lineker, but we'd be unlucky if neither could establish a place. I don't think we can bank on Whiteley not having second season syndrome, but with the potential of one or other of the younger batters coming on and a strong late middle order, we'd get by. I can understand why an ageing Van Jarsveld wasn't top of our priorities.
The quick bowling is the worry. Groenewald, Palladino and Clare are as good as any in the division, but that's it. Footitt, Turner and Whiteley can't be relied on and with no Smith for second change, there's nothing else in the cupboard. We can't expect G,P and C to get us through the season, so a quality, experienced, and proven pace bowler should be the priority. As they're not ten a penny in county cricket, that suggests to me that our overseas priority needs to be in this area. Praveen Kumar would do nicely, apart from his availability. But he might provide the template - ability to use English conditions more important than pace (witness Vaas).
Come on Ben! I have a very good memory and back on August 10 you posted:
ReplyDelete" The squad is in need of at least a couple of quality players if we are to improve and now that John has gone I am not sure who on the staff we have got to keep unearthing the gems liked John did"
Peakfan, I stand by my claim that if we are to improve then we do need another couple of quality players. Although Wainwright may turn out to be a good signing we can hardly claim to have unearthed him as he has been playing for Yorkshire for nearly ten years!
ReplyDeleteBen
Still got a way to go before Derbyshire catch up with Importshire.... aka Notts. Good blend of homegrown talent with signings from elsewhere at Derbyshire.
ReplyDeleteSimilarly we can't claim to have 'unearthed' Durston, Palladino, Groenewald or Madsen! They all learned their cricket elsewhere but needed the right environment in which to prosper. I agree we need a good overseas and a seamer (ideally experienced, but...)though Wainwright's acquisition is a very good start.
ReplyDeletePeakfan,
ReplyDeleteWhen Morris was our Head Coach you was his biggest fan and now he has gone you seem keen to put the knife into him at every opportunity! I am sorry I can't buy that sort of attitude. John is a Derbyshire Legend and in my book like Taylor, Jackson, Barnett and Barlow etc. once a Derbyshire legend always a Derbyshire legend as far as I'm concerned!
Ben
When have I ever put the knife into him Ben? You read the blogs and the answer is obvious. What in the comments above is "putting the knife into him"? I have consistently said that John did a lot of good at Derbyshire, but now he's gone and the club moves on, as I have and you need to.
ReplyDeleteThis is Krikk's team now and he has the opportunity to take it forward.