Add into the mix the shenanigans around the departure of John Morris and Andrew Brown and that he was still big enough to stand up and take some of the heat and you get some idea of the measure of the man. Yes, Sutton as a batsman was a shadow of the one we saw in his first stint at the County Ground. but he was still good enough to score 500 Championship runs, something few others managed around the country, especially those batting down the order. There was an occasional dropped catch too, but not many and Sutton's glovework remained a solid feature of Derbyshire's improved outcricket that his successor, presumably Tom Poynton, will have to work hard to match.
Keeping wicket, especially at first-class level, is akin to being a goalkeeper at football. Others in the side can make mistakes and few will notice, whereas a wicket-keeper's errors, like the football custodian, tend to be exaggerated and emphasised. That being the case, Sutton did a fine job and when one considers that he also held the captaincy his efforts were extraordinary and deserving of the highest praise.
Most of all we will miss the captain, the old head in the dressing room. As a player with three counties behind him, Sutton had been involved in match situations that undoubtedly helped when things got tight. He led a happy and united squad and was a major factor in an improved Derbyshire side in 2011.
In the light of what we now know, I hope Derbyshire fans, when commenting on our form and fortunes in the future, think twice before being overly vitriolic. You never know what is going on in people's lives and it is patently unfair to make comments such as some of those that were hurled in Sutton's direction last season, especially when he struggled for runs in restricted limited over opportunities. I'm not sure what some expected, to be honest, when he often came in with two overs to go. Anyone who has played the game knows that you're on a hiding to nothing in such circumstances and for every time you blaze 20 from six balls there are plenty when you lob a gentle catch to mid-wicket, victim of the need to hit before you're used to the pace of the wicket and the bowling.
I'd like to thank Luke Sutton for being a very good Derbyshire cricketer in both his stints for the club. Irrespective of anything else he was a role model for his peers, polite with fans and always, always one hundred per cent committed to the cause.
He will be missed. Thanks Luke.
Chris Grant says that his replacement will be announced within days and although I'm sure the club have known of this for some time, my guess is that the successor will be from within. The thinking money would be on either Wes Durston or Wayne Madsen, though with 56 and 63 first-class games behind them respectively they are some way short of extensive experience. Madsen, however, has shown loyalty to the club that perhaps deserves to be rewarded. A player of genuine talent, his dip in form last season will only be temporary and an opportunity to lead the side may be the catalyst to greater things. He would be my choice and I think the players will respond to the promotion of an intelligent and articulate man who has become a vital cog in the side. Durston or Tim Groenewald would make an able deputy and I feel a young side would continue to develop with such men at the helm.
As for the wicket-keeping role, while I have seen suggestions of looking for an experienced replacement, I see no merit in the idea. We have an obviously able young prospect with bat and gloves in Tom Poynton and this is now his time. If we are serious about an Academy side, we need to blood players when the opportunity arises and that is now for TP. I'll accept there is no experienced backup, but Chris Durham is highly thought of and if these lads don't get the opportunities we will never know how good they can be.
For what it is worth, after some thought I'd be inclined to use the money from Sutton's salary for another seamer. While I would be far from unhappy if we moved for Jamie Dalrymple, I feel our greatest need in the squad is for another experienced seam bowler. Quite who is available is unclear, but we only need a couple of injuries to Messrs Groenewald, Palladino, Clare, Footitt and Turner and we have a major problem. The one weakness of the current Academy is that there is no obvious seam bowler ready to burst onto the scene. I'd like to see that change in the coming months.
It will make for an interesting time, that's for sure.
pronsLuke's not had the best of luck off the pitch over the last few years but he's proved himself to have been an honourable man when called upon to stand up & be counted - obviously at some cost to him & his family. We may never know the repercussions of the Morris/Brown affair but it's probably safe to assume that the fall-out has not helped during the last few months.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your input over the years Sooty & best wishes in sorting out your health issues.
I am sure that the constant speculation over the Morris and Brown sackings couldn't have helped Sutton. Having said that he was a 'steady' county player who always gave 100% for our club so we must thank him for that.
ReplyDeleteBen