I had an a mail last night asking what I thought Derbyshire's plans would be for winter recruitment.
Well, I'm not expecting a massive overhaul as we don't have the money to carry a large staff - especially of senior professionals - and I don't think that a major overhaul is required.
First of all, look at who has left - Stef Jones and Greg Smith, together with the overseas role. Garry Park has become 2nd XI skipper and AJ Harris' role has changed, but essentially we're looking to replace three positions on the playing staff as things currently stand.
My thoughts are that the county may well target Danish Kaneria as the overseas player and it will then depend on what happens. If we get him, subsequent recruitment will turn to an experienced batsman on the county circuit and to a seam bowler. If we don't, I could see David Wainwright of Yorkshire come into the mix with our overseas target switching to a batsman, or batsmen to share the role like this season.
I know no more than the rest of you who is available this winter, namely only those players whose availability has made the media. There were a few calls for Balcombe, who took wickets against us for Kent over recent days, but he has another year to go at Hampshire. I'd have quite liked to see Chris Wright of Essex join us, but don't see that likely after his successful loan spell at Warwickshire that will almost certainly see him join them for 2012.
Dominic Cork has now been released by Hampshire, but has not yet made a decision on his future. News reports suggest that a second division side has already approached him for his services and it would be easy to see how that could be us, with his son in the Academy. He has been an outstanding cricketer, but next year he will be nearly 41. I could see him as a handy one-day player and filling in when required, but much would depend on his financial demands and availability elsewhere. It could not be seen as anything other than very short-term and I'm not sure whether Cork would want to end a glittering career as a squad player, rather than automatic choice.
I've previously suggested Ben Harmison as a possible bowling all-rounder and still thinks that has possibilities. The reality is that you have to consider our weaknesses in the squad. We have plenty of young batsmen and two very young spinners. Even if we were lucky enough to land Kaneria for perhaps a couple of years, Tom Knight would only be 20 and Peter Burgoyne 19 at that stage, with two years working with an interntional star behind them. They can only benefit long-term and could pick the brains of a master of the craft in that time.
We don't have much backup for Messrs Groenewald, Palladino and Clare apart from Footitt and Turner. There have been more sightings of Bigfoot this year than Atif Sheikh and Matt Higginbottom in Derbyshire colours, something that has to be a concern, so I think we need another seamer. Ally Evans, the trialist from Loughborough University has done very well, but may still have studies next year and may not yet be ready for senior cricket.
In short? An experienced batsman, seamer and spinner are my thoughts on winter recruitment, with one or more of them ideally having additional skills to bring to the mix.
Should be some interesting thoughts on this one!
It is strange how bowlers can be discarded by one side and then come up trumps elsewhere. Chris Wright was surplus to requirements at Essex, where they are not awash with pacemen, bar Masters. Then there is James Anyon, just capped by Sussex, who Warwickshire decided would not make the mark. Similarly, our own Timmy G and plenty more.
ReplyDeleteThe Hampshire guys rate young Griffiths highly, but he rarely plays. Apparently, pretty quick. I thought another quick from Middlesex, Robbie Williams, looked as though he could go places, although University has held back his playing opportunites - mind you, Middlesex have loads of seamers, so he would fall into my young and promising possibles basket too.
Speaking to those who watch Durham, they don't rate Ben Harmison at all. I think we could do better. I think that Clare and Whiteley are better options as allrounders to be honest.
ReplyDeleteBen
To be honest though Ben, there are people who watch Derbyshire who don't rate some individuals in the side! Its down to opinion and the one that matters is Krikk's.
ReplyDeleteWe do need another good batsman but of more concern is the seam department. A replacement for Jones is the absolute minimum,ideally we need two seamers. We,ve been fairly fortunate that Clare,Groenewald and Palladino have, for the most part, remained fit.
ReplyDeleteI,ve said before,if any medium or long term injury happened to any one or a couple of these we would be in trouble. Footitt and Turner have their moments but have generally proved unreliable and rather expensive. We also need to bear in mind that Footitt is injury prone as are the two youngsters who have been mentioned by yourself.
Obviously if we signed Kaneria that would take a fair bit of pressure off the seamers. Part of me want,s to say yes to the prospect of Cork,s return,but the more i think about it,the less sense it makes. Like you say Peakfan,his age is the major concern and also the fact he was not universally popular when here last,though most of the players who were around at that time have now departed. All in all i think it would be a retrograde step,that sends out the wrong sort of message.
I hope we can sort the overseas player out sooner rather than later. That way we would have a better idea of our other requirements.
Marc,
ReplyDeletejust picking up on your comments that Footitt and Turner are unreliable and expensive.. I'm not saying they can't improve, but have a look at the Div. 2 Championship averages. Footitt is the top ranked Derbyshire bowler, with 12 wickets at 24, Turner turns in 21 wickets at 30.8. I wouldn't necessarily call that unreliable, and there are others who have been more expensive.
In one day matches that may be another thing, but in the Championship they seem most definately to be improving.
One more thing, who, according to the PCA Most Valuable Player rankings is(was) the top Derbyshire player, why none other than Gregory Marc Smith ... now there's a turn up for the books (I'm smiling as I write).
Having said all the above, I do agree that another sharp penetrative bowler to replace Steff, Kaneria if we can get him, and an effective opening batsman would be exceedingly useful for next season. Roll on April!!
I was lucky enough to see Turner at Northants when he was on fire.He can also bat abit , a very athletic fielder (a la Park)and I feel he is a work in progress.Footitt may be erratic but I feel in time will become a good back up bowler( even better if he gave up smoking!!)
ReplyDeleteDonny Scorpion
Well Alan,that just proves you should never read too much into averages. They often distort the truth,especially when a player has only played a handful of matches. I hope both Footitt and Turner can do the bizz next season,but i have grave doubts.
ReplyDeleteYou are obviously unaware that Smith.s agent made up the PCA rankings in his spare time. Derbyshire certainly didn,t regard him as their most valuable player and neither did I. Most over rated and over paid i will agree with.