Guest shines - and a little story...

Time for a little story..

Derbyshire has a talented young player on the staff. He's played age group cricket for his country and made the first team at a rate commensurate with his perceived ability.

His first season sees an encouraging 750 runs scored with four fifties in 36 knocks. An average of 25 is OK; nothing special but reasonable for a young player. In his second summer 21 innings sees him average only 17, with a highest score of 69. Just 362 runs. There are a few concerned eyebrows being raised, as the lad continually gets out the same way, often nicking to the slip cordon as he plays away from his body. "Too flash" say the critics, who, as always, are sharpening - if not knives - at least their pencils.

Season three? Not much better. 443 runs in 23 innings, an average of 23, a highest of 67. Three seasons of first-class cricket sees an average of 21 from eighty knocks and while the next sees a maiden century and the average creep just north of 30, another 24 innings sees one more but little else.

The player has a career record of 2100 runs from 105 innings and an average of 24. That's less than Billy Godleman (3693 runs from 132 innings at 29) Chesney Hughes (2060 runs at 35 from 61 innings) Dan Redfern (3193 runs from 112 innings at 30) Ross Whiteley (1225 runs at 28 from 50 innings) or Paul Borrington (1544 runs from 64 innings at 27).

Yet we persist and from there the young player takes off and becomes one of our greatest players.

His name is Kim Barnett.

Proof that some players take time to become established in the county game. Others take to it like a duck to water. But sadly, not everyone is granted the extended opportunity given to Barnett by a sage coach, who could clearly see the talent within.

The demands of first class cricket are strong. You may have all the talent in the world, but the realisation that you are now playing for money - and your reputation and career rests on regular performance - is not something that everyone can handle. Nor the constant testing of mental and physical toughness by senior players who want to stay just that.

For every Kim Barnett there have been plenty who fell by the wayside, for whatever reason. Chris Armishaw, Alan Morris, Pete Burgoyne, Ben Spendlove, Tom Knight, Ben Cotton - there are plenty of other examples of players who looked to have real talent but didn't quite get there.

That is why, regardless of how we do this year, I hope the youngsters emerging from our Academy will be given opportunity to first get into the side, then a chance to shine.

Harry Moore and Yousaf Bin Naeem are in the vanguard and it would be grand to see future county elevens thrive on the feats of our own product. 

So keep an eye on the second team games, whose fixtures were announced in the past week, as well as the performances of the Pathway.

Maybe the next Barnett is just awaiting his turn...

Finally today, it was good to see Brooke Guest selected for the Comilla Victorians in the Bangladesh Premier League and rewarding them with a fine performance on his debut.

Brooke took a catch and conceded no byes, before a breezy 34 at a run a ball helped his side to a win.

Something to look out for. I still think the genial wicket keeper is a likely skipper for at least one format this summer, possibly more. That should be announced soon, with David Lloyd, my guess for 4 day cricket and Samit Patel a decent shout. for T20. 

But Brooke would be a good option too and it would come as no real surprise to me.

Watch this space!