It is somewhat ironic that a season that carried more good things than many of recent vintage was bookended by two performances that in the world of damp squibs were damper than a barnacle's boxers...
Gloucestershire at Bristol was poor, but from start to finish the display at The Oval was mediocre at best. I'll accept that the toss was important and that they have some good players, but as someone wrote earlier today, with the eyes of the cricket world on Derbyshire and how we fared in this last match, we fell apart like a soggy tissue.
It was a shame, because we know we're better than that and so do the players. It was turning a bit too, but we made a poor fist of batting and bowling in this game and it's a pity we couldn't end on the Kent match at Derby.
It was a shame that Paul Borrington couldn't reach three figures but the lad did well at The Oval and can go into the winter with renewed confidence. All the batsmen need work over the winter, but they'll do it and come back improved players next term.
Unless it hoses down tomorrow, Surrey and Middlesex will go up with Yorkshire and Hampshire coming down to battle for promotion with us next season. Joking apart, we're not that far away and just need to sort some important roles over the winter to go perhaps one step closer in 2012.
We need a steady batsman from somewhere and we need a decent spinner. One of them will probably be the overseas player, but which one is likely to take some time to resolve. I still think there will be interest in Danish Kaneria, but whether he will be granted carte blanche to return to the international and county fold is as yet an unknown. If not, my guess is that David Wainwright will be a worthwhile signing, almost certainly set to leave Yorkshire this winter.
I am a huge fan of Tom Knight and think that he, Peter Burgoyne and others from the Academy will be a fixture in the side in years to come. Yet it is asking a lot for a teenager to hold down a regular spot in the side from April to September as the physical and mental demands are massive. Both are also likely to have England Under 19 calls next year too, so we need to have someone who could offer decent spin option when required. Wainwright seems to be the best available and is a decent bat too. If Kaneria is unable to come, or takes a big offer from division one, he would be a good fallback.
Another seamer is essential as far as I'm concerned too and I look forward to seeing retained lists and the names of those released in coming weeks. Meantime, I'll be doing my review of the season at the weekend and giving my marks for the players. There will also be my 'how was it for you' poll.
More tomorrow.
PS Sorry for misleading you re promotion last night. I thought Northants were further clear of Surrey. Edged out two years running eh?
Shocking today again, no more to say really but it was made worse with the national coverage!
ReplyDeleteWe could do a lot worse than sign Wainwright but a number of other county sides are currently carrying about 5 spinners, Surrey included, so a few may come available.
Batting has been a problem all season so I would look to get an overseas batsman and possibly another batsman from another county and another fast bowler.
John Morris left us with a decent squad but the players we bring in for next season will tell us what sort of ambition the club has or hasn't got.
Ben
The only consolation from this debacle is the fact that Surrey wont be around next year. Last game or not,this was poor in the extreme and ends what has been a season of improvement on a sour note.
ReplyDeleteIt highlights the fact we need some new blood in the shape of a spinner,two seamers and a quality middle order batsman.
It,s a problem knowing who to sign without knowing who the overseas player will be,so i hope we can sort it before too long.
Now,where did i put my snow shovel?.
I would like to add congratulations to Karl Krikken. There are some things i would have done differently and with hindsight there are probably things he would have done differently,but overall i think he has done a good job. It couldn,t have been easy,particularly when one considers the circumstances in which the job came to him. I believe he was the right choice.
ReplyDeleteI think we are both in agreement with our thoughts for next season. Three new faces would be good, but there will need to be some hard work done to explore the various options, as they emerge county by county.
ReplyDeleteEven after our targets are decided upon, Karl Krikken then has to negotiate moves that compliment each other, which can be tricky in itself, as one failed bid might affect the route he takes and might introduce and eliminate another move for somebody else. All done, of course, whist other counties are attempting to do the same. Time to earn your chips, Karl!
This is also an unenviable time for a lot of fringe players, who face uncertain futures and, invariably, a few surprises will emerge where unexpected names drop out of the hat, as each counties announces their departures. Remember Afzaal, Shafayat and others?
I am sure this year will be no different, other than being possibly worse, with counties mindful of the ECB incentive structure and a slow recovery economy.
Quite often though, following the scramble for fresh deals, we see a discarded pro find fame and fortune elsewhere after previously struggling to break though or hold onto a first team place. For some reason, I think it tends to occur more with seam bowlers, so I would be more than happy if we can continue or recent trend and attract another Groenewald or Palladino, who were both peripheral performers with their previous counties.
All in all, I find the close season changes quite facinating, but of course I can afford to in the comfort of my armchair.
would agree we need a quality top order batsman - id like both our overseas from this year back and id be happy with that. Their quality was undeniable - also like a proven quality spinner to bring on Tom and Burgoyne and somebody to work with Footit to turn him into a hostile opening bowler - him on fire with Pally, Timmy G and JC with Ross and a spinner would be a quality attack.
ReplyDeletebut time to enjoy the footy now till april and renew my membership (which i will do after this year)