It is another contract that is thoroughly deserved after a summer of remarkably consistent performance by a player in his first summer as a full-time cricketer. Following on from the signing of Richard Johnson, it also means that Derbyshire have two top quality wicket-keepers on the staff for the next three summers and the competition involved can only be good news for the county. I still feel that Johnson may also be seen as being a batsman of sufficient potential to play in his own right in the medium to long term, but time - and other signings - will tell on that one.
Similarly I missed commenting on the announcement of Derbyshire cricket's new "brand", a logo that will be worn by players from Derbyshire Cricket Board upwards. Reflecting the club's history, in the use of the good old chocolate, amber and pale blue, the more common dark blue of today and the date of the formation of the club, it is clean, simple and perfect for requirements.I could see young cricketers with thoughts of a career in the game looking down at their shirt or jumper and feeling quite proud. Thinking back to when I was that age, I know I would have been. Wearing the same badge as Wayne Madsen, Wes Durston or your favourite player - what's not to like? It is additional evidence of an increasingly seamless transition from junior cricket upwards and can only enhance the club's growing reputation as friendly and homely, offering genuine opportunity for young talent to flourish, if they are good enough
Anyone who follows Chris Grant's Twitter feed will have been interested in his tweet of yesterday which said "More announcements in the pipeline about existing players and new signings to strengthen where we need to for life in Div". One assumes from this that the coming week may bring more glad tidings, as the work of Mr Grant and Karl Krikken since the end of the season has been breath-taking in its intensity, speed and professionalism. Squad members that the club intend to retain have been offered longer, presumably improved deals, so we may well see news of contracts for Dan Redfern and some of the better of our young players.
Two of them, Ben Slater and Peter Burgoyne, are in action today in Zimbabwe, featuring for the Southern Rocks side against Mashona Eagles. Dave Houghton has taken over the very young Rocks squad, which has won very few games in recent years and as such has few expectations of success. When you think about it, that sounds something like Derbyshire of fairly recent vintage. Burgoyne and Slater can only benefit from exposure to foreign climes, wickets and cultures and will doubtless return as improved cricketers and men.
Staying in Zimbabwe, I read the other night that their cricket board are planning some additional tours for a fledgling side and the likelihood is that this could eat into the English county season. I can understand the rationale from their perspective as they were roundly outclassed in the World T20, but one supposes that this would make their skipper Brendan Taylor unavailable for county action this summer. Regular readers will be aware of my advocating a move for the player as an overseas for 2013, but additional national commitments would make this highly unlikely.
The player has a colossal workload as captain, star batsman and wicket-keeper since the retirement of Taibu. One wonders how long he, indeed any player, could sustain such demands, both physically and mentally, for any length of time. I cannot think of anyone else who has "enjoyed" such responsibility for long and it suggests that the player may be in great need of downtime to recharge his batteries whenever there is the chance.
Where that leaves Derbyshire in their quest for overseas players is the big question. The answer is "pretty much the same as everyone else". I have a feeling that the richest pickings for potential overseas cricketers next summer is likely to be South Africa, primarily because of their policy of picking different sides for Tests, one-day and twenty-over cricket. That sees more cricketers than might otherwise be the case picking up the requisite amount of international cricket to at least see them eligible to get a visa to play in the county game.
Which is fine to a point, but next summer, aside from the ICC Trophy in this country, sees them tour Sri Lanka in July and August for a tour that includes three Tests, five one-day internationals and three T20 matches. Ho hum...
With the best Australians in England for the Ashes, the commitments of other countries are such that the only country currently fairly free is Bangladesh - who may, of course, be the intended opposition for Zimbabwe and don't really have an opening batsman of established class. Tamim Iqbal seems to have gone back a little and Shakib, their best player, isn't really what we need.
Tricky huh? So all Messrs Grant and Krikken have to do is identify a world-class batsman who is not needed for his national side, or is willing to turn his back on them, isn't interested in IPL, is available and willing to come to England for six months, and will pretty much guarantee runs in every format of the game.
Simple really, isn't it...
Postscript
Southern Rocks 50-5 as I close, with Slater making a gritty 20 and Burgoyne 10. With all five wickets going to catches to the keeper, I think one can assume that it has been a baptism of fire for the Derbyshire lads. As the only players so far to make double figures against a side containing two international bowlers, they didn't do too badly.
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