Derbyshire's award night rightly honoured the sterling efforts of a young team in the 2012 season, one in which they surpassed the expectations of most fans and saw an acceleration in the club's blueprint that was surely never anticipated.
Yet perhaps the most important component of the side missed out on an award because there was nothing tangible or physical about it.
Team spirit.
There will be teams next summer that are man for man stronger than Derbyshire, that have players with international expeience-aplenty and are the result of a lot of money. It is unlikely, however, that any of them will have the spirit shown by the Derbyshire side, because it is never an easy thing to forge between a squad of disparate individuals. There can often be loners in a side, or team members who don't see eye to eye with the coach, or those who have issues affecting their performance and integration outside of the game of cricket.
Astonishingly, Derbyshire managed it. From a dressing room that was reputedly unhappy last summer when Karl Krikken took over from John Morris, this summer's side was perhaps the closest that the club has ever seen. There are numerous examples that highlight this. How many overseas players, for example, would relinquish a nice place of their own in Derby in favour of taking the spare room chez Poynton and Whiteley, as both Ross Whiteley and Usman Khawaja did? Both players opted for the company of friends rather than their own space and their enjoyment was patently obvious. Guptill's regular texts from wherever he was in the world as the season progressed illustrated clearly how much the club and his team mates meant to him and his pride in their achievements was touching.
So too was the friendship of the players, who regularly socialised, went out on the town or for a meal together. Again, there are plenty of teams where the players are away as soon as they can justify it, but that has not been the Derbyshire way. Those who drink and play together, win together, as the old adage says.
It could be seen quite clearly in the last match. Paul Borrington held a blinding catch to help us to break through then missed what, at first appeared a sitter (though they seldom are, especially with the wind swirling). There were no obvious recriminations, but when Ross Whiteley removed the dangerous Shafayat shortly afterwards, Borrington was engulfed by team mates. They knew it could happen to anyone and were glad to help Bozza through it. Mind you, it didn't stop one wag shout "Catch it, Boz!" when the re-runs were shown on Sky in the bar afterwards...
Perhaps the greatest example was that shown by Tom Poynton when Richard Johnson came to the club. Poynton was injured, but there was a strong possibility that the Warwickshire man, deemed a better batsman at the time, would take his place for the remainder of the campaign. It would have been easy for Poynton to give the new man a wide berth, but to his eternal credit he went to the player's hotel, sought him out and took him for a meal to help him settle in. Could a player be more selfless?
Next summer will be tough for Derbyshire, beyond doubt, but the collective spirit of a young group of players will be a major factor in their success. That would surely be measured as remaining in division one at season end.
Maybe I'm alone, but with the right recruits I think we can do it.
as delighted as I am with the promotion, and I really don't believe anyone is more thrilled than myself, lets be honest about the batting performances in the last six matches- they were pretty inadequate and had there been one more match I don't believe we would be where we are at this moment. Getting the 'right recruits ' as you call them is as essential as it possibly could be and in that search, you just hope that Karl can use every ounce of his knowledge and ability to attract players of real high calibre. Personally, I am very uneasy with three of the players in the current first team and despite the excellent team spirit, without at least three solid, tried and tested incoming recruits
ReplyDeleteI don't think it will be possible for us to survive. Sentimentality aside, I also feel that the on-field decision making needs to be sharper and more hard-edged.
Well Anon, there will be new recruits and you need to factor in continued development of those in the team.
ReplyDeleteThird bottom will do me. That's my target for the team next summer...
I don,t think there is any doubt about the benefits of a solid work ethic and team spirit,both of which can take a team a long way.
ReplyDeleteThere seems to some feeling that additional players may upset the apple cart and team spirit could be affected. I don,t subscribe to that view. The most likely factor in undermining team spirit is a poor run of results and within that, individuals who may be struggling for form.
It is far easier to foster and maintain team spirit in a winning side,for obvious reasons. Any new players would need to "fit in" and enhance what we already have,rather than become a disruptive influence. I,m sure Krikken is fully aware of this and will ensure we get the right type of players.
I still maintain we need an experienced opener,whether that player is the overseas recruit or not. We will have difficult times next season and experience in those situations is invaluable.
Amid all the euphoria of promotion,a look at the second half of the season in close detail throws up a number of warning signs we would be ill advised to ignore. I don,t think there is a lot wrong and sensible strengthening of the squad would give us a reasonable chance of staying up. Having arrived in the promised land,we have to make sure we don,t become one season wonders and throw it all away.