Wednesday 5 September 2012

Signing conjecture

I'm taking advantage of a day off today (sadly, it's because I have to work on Saturday) to catch up with a few mails and I have had several asking what I think about player X from a Derbyshire perspective for next summer. It struck me that I might as well share my thoughts with everyone on here!

First and foremost it should be made clear that Derbyshire will have far greater appeal as a first division side than if they remain in the second division. It is obvious - players want to test themselves against the best and, as James Harris has illustrated, if they are remotely ambitious and entertain international hopes they want to play at top level. I know that Bopara and Cook are from Essex and Bairstow from Yorkshire in the current England setup, but the side is largely from the top tier.

Second, it needs to be kept in mind that there is no football-style windfall with getting promoted. Millions of pounds and parachute payments for the relegated may be accepted in football, but Derbyshire will largely have the same to spend for next summer.

As I wrote the other night, I think we are well covered in the spin department, but could probably do with one extra seamer, ideally one who can bat, to cover the bases. Realistically, whoever comes in has to be better than one from Groenewald, Palladino, Clare and Turner, or there's no point. Mark Footitt has much to offer if he could stay fit, but unless a big name was available and wanted to join us - a James Harris style player, for example - we may as well give a full time deal to Ali Evans, who has done little wrong on a summer contract. Seven wickets yesterday for the Seconds highlights that the Scot is a decent bowler who wouldn't let anyone down and crucially will only get better.

It would probably be good to have competition for Tom Poynton behind the stumps, but if money is tight I don't see it as a necessity. There are plenty of guys out there who could come in on short-term deals if required, but Poynton has staked a very strong claim to be Derbyshire's wicket-keeper for a long time to come.

Which leaves the batting. For me, we need an English opening batsman and an overseas player. Lancashire and Worcestershire look like coming down - do they have an opener who is out of contract and worth signing? Do one of our second tier rivals - assuming, which we can't, that Derbyshire will get promoted? To some extent it doesn't matter, as wherever we play our cricket next year it is patently clear that we need another opening batsman as we currently only have Paul Borrington as a specialist opener.

That leaves the overseas role and next season will be a nightmare for counties. There's not just the Indian Premier League and then the ICC Trophy in June, but now an American Twenty Over competition, where money is likely to be no object and there is an opportunity to get in at the start of something that could be big. It coincides with our T20 as it is currently planned, so guess where the bigger names will go?

I wrote three months ago and haven't changed my stance since that the best overseas batsman from a talent and availability perspective next year is likely to be Brendan Taylor of Zimbabwe. Taylor is an exciting, aggressive player in a similar mould to Martin Guptill. He is national captain and wicket-keeper, as well as being a useful spinner. He can either open or go in first wicket down and scores his runs quickly. Yes, he is largely untried in our conditions, but is available for almost the whole summer and could be a big success. There are plenty of others who could come in and out through a revolving door, but Zimbabwe are the only major cricket country with a largely free English summer in 2013. Any county that gets Taylor's signature for 2013 will be securing the services of a gem and I suspect he will be engaged by one of them before the end of October.

I would also like to see a second overseas batsman for the T20. Rana Naved was a failure and the statistics back up my suggestion that there is little wrong with our bowling. Few teams collared us in 2012 and you could add Messrs Knight and Burgoyne to the attack next summer with a degree of confidence. We need two batsmen who can reach or clear the boundaries and pull in the crowds. It won't be easy, for reasons I have already explained, but it has to be the aim.

Finally Murray Goodwin. Could he do us a job? I think Goodwin and Darren Lehmann have been the standout overseas batsmen in the county game over the last ten years, but he will be 40 well before the season starts and averaged only 13 this summer. In a younger player you could write it off as one of those things, but I can't see Goodwin getting better at that age so it's a "no" from me.

But as always, I'm keen to hear your thoughts!



8 comments:

  1. With this current batting collapse we can forget being in division one next year! If we were to sign Brendan Taylor, would you give him the gloves as well?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Today's collapse has done us no favours but not ruled out promotion Sam.
    If we went for Taylor I'd play him as a batsman only, with a keeping option perhaps in T20. Too big a risk getting a finger injury and then you're in big trouble...
    Besides, Poynton has done a very good job and will continue to do.

    ReplyDelete
  3. The batting has been a complete shambles for the last 4 months, and if by some miracle we did manage promotion big changes would need to be made this winter. We have to try and get Guptill back, he was absolutely pivotal to the top order of our batting line-up. Without him, nobody has stepped up to the plate and taken over from him. Khawaja has been the biggest disaster apart from that one ton, very poor and expected a lot better. Madsen also has been very inconsistent, Durston - so,so, Borrington - lol. We're desperate for a couple of quality batsmen this winter.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Regarding todays play, yes they collapsed (again). Well batted to Captaine Madsen, and also to the tail. Our bowlers are not only the best in the division they are also the best batters at 9, 10 and 11!!! 3 wickets at the end of play could be crucuial...yet again Durston bowls and gets wickets..... completely underused in my opinion. Agree that we need an opener, not sure Guptill is available but we definitely need someone of his calibre. I also think we have to be aware not to slate our batters too soon. 'Fans' talk about us being rubbish without Guptill. Well maybe as a collective, butwe forget about the times when Guptill failed (and we still won), the difference is now that no-one is stepping up as they did when he got out chepaly. These boys who are top of the table, if they get promoted, they deserve the opportunity to pitch themselves against the top teams. I for one, will support them whichever division they play in next season.

    ReplyDelete
  5. The only chance of Guptill's return is MAYBE for T20. New Zealand's schedule and the likelihood that he will be in the IPL legislate against any more than that, even if he wanted to.
    Anon - totally agree. See tonight's post.

    ReplyDelete
  6. If Evans is considered good enough then I will go along with him being given an opportunity next season. I would rather it be someone with at least some experience,but the priority has to be the batting department,and this is where any money we have available needs to be used.

    Taylor would be a good addition to the squad and as you point out Peakfan,we wouldn,t be in a position of having to swop and change during the season. that in itself is a big plus point.

    We need a second opener,of whatever nationality he may be. Proven ability is paramount,age somewhat immaterial. Two good openers will make a huge difference and good starts will obviously breed confidence within the batting as a whole.

    At the risk of repeating myself,If we get a second overseas player for the T20,it has to be another batsman. Any Tom,Dick or Harry can bowl 4 overs and given that spin is important,if not essential,we are well covered in that department. Bowlers rarely win games single handed in this form of cricket. Batsmen can and do.

    On the whole I tend to agree with you regarding Murray Goodwin. Two years ago he would have been an excellent signing. At 39 he is bound to be in decline and would represent as much of a risk as a youngster. Besides,he is not an opener.

    Agree fully with Poynton. The lad has done well and we do,nt want to be wasting money on another keeper. we have Durham and shouldn,t be afraid to use him,should the need arise.



    ReplyDelete
  7. Hi,

    Interesting comments again Peakfan regarding possible signings for next year.

    I think one of the most important considerations has to be how a player fits in to the existing squad. I've read and heard many stories in the past where big-name players have gone to counties and thought that the team revolves around them only for that not to be the case and it's led to friction etc (Brian Lara at Warwickshire for example). One thing that has been apparent from watching Derbyshire over the past couple of seasons is the very good team ethic that has been established. This is too important to sacrifice at this stage of the team's and club's development. Therefore, additions to the squad must buy into this ethic at the outset to maintain the harmony.

    As regards individuals, I read the comment about getting in an extra experienced seam bowler. I know I run the risk of contradicting myself but maybe Saj Mahmood could be the answer - OK he might be expensive, but if he wants to continue to play cricket then perhaps he could find a place here. I seem to remember he said he could be on his way out of Old Trafford after Ajmal Shahzad's arrival, it could be the makings of a decent attack - Palladino, Groenewald and Mahmood -. On the flipside however, I have also read that he may not be the easiest person to deal with but with the right handling he could be just what is required.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Good comments folks. Yes Scorebook, whoever comes in has to fit the team ethic without doubt.
    Mahmood is a decent call, but I am not sure if he's good enough to be one of the main three nor would be willing to move from Lancs to Derbys for more reserve cricket. Very much a rhythm bowler as we saw at Derby in the T20, when he had a nightmare
    He may end up at Somerset, where he is on loan.

    ReplyDelete

Please remember to add your name. Avoid personal comment at all times. Thanks!