"I'm sorry but you are wrong, the declaration should've come a whole lot
earlier and before lunch. If it was the other way round you would be
lamenting the opposition. Pure and simple it lacks ambition, we've got
nothing to play for and we decide to take the draw. It just shows we
don't want to finish bottom and rather take the draw.
Take your Derbyshire CCC glasses off because whatever the decision they make you seem to agree and never seem to criticise."
Thus wrote Harry to me, this evening, disagreeing somewhat with my comment in the earlier piece and prompting this one before bed tonight.
I can only assume that Harry's not been reading the blog for too long, as there's plenty of decisions, team selections and performances that have received criticism from this direction in even the recent past. Yes, it would have been nice to have ended that game with the win points, but there was a strong possibility of a loss on a small ground with a fast outfield and against a long and powerful batting line-up.
Let's be honest, this isn't the strongest attack that we have ever had and outwith the opening bowlers there's little to worry quality batsmen on a good batting track. Had Mark Footitt not taken three in an over, I reckon that Bopara and Ryder would have given them the foundation for an assault that could have taken them very close.
What would people have said then? I have a pretty good idea and for a side low on confidence to emerge on the credit side of a draw on such a wicket is, at this stage, all that we can hope for. To be in the ascendancy for much of this game and then end up losing it would have been a contender for a crime most heinous. We need that like I need a course in cross stitch...
A draw doesn't redefine our season but a loss could have put another nail in its coffin. As for Harry's suggestion that we should have declared at lunch, had we done so, we'd have lost, plain and simple. I would have led the castigation tonight if we'd had them eight or nine down, but that was a good batting track and we had only taken four wickets by the close. Without the post-lunch runs/overs equation, they'd have needed around ninety from thirteen overs with two not out centurions and good batsmen to follow. If anyone fancies our chances in that scenario, you're a better man than I, Gunga Din. Surely you've seen us bowl in the T20 this summer?
As for that assertion that we don't want to finish bottom, Harry, why would we? If five points takes us a little more clear of a local rival, I'll gladly take that right now. There will come a time in this team's development when that's not the best course of action - perhaps if we're pushing for promotion another year - but right now I'm grateful for small mercies.
I will criticise Derbyshire, players, coaching staff and administrators alike, if I feel it is deserved, but not just for the hell of it.
And certainly not tonight.
I've no idea what planet some of our internet 'supporters' inhabit. The fact we only took four wickets showed the game would have been lost.In the end Ten Doeschate and the solid Browne were scoring at a rapid rate.Maybe, just maybe, if the early slip catch off Browne had been held, we were still in with a shout.Any extra overs just suited Essex.
ReplyDeleteWell played Derbyshire,a much improved all round performance.
I think you are placing far too much importance on the significance of defeat. If you get thrashed by an innings,lose inside 7 or 8 sessions or some other catastrophy then it wouldn,t be much good in terms of confidence.
ReplyDeleteTo lose a game when attempting to win it is a different matter all together. The assumption that had we set our opponents a more realistic target would have inevitably led to defeat is pure speculation. It might have done,but it might also have resulted in victory for ourselves.
If,for example,we were second in the division and Essex were breathing down our necks in third place,then under such circumstances a draw would be a good result and not allowing your opponents to win is a sensible ploy. It,s all about situations and there was absolutely no reason not to give it a real go yesterday.
Sometimes defeat is acceptable,more acceptable than cowering behind a myth that losing would be the end of the world and destroy what little confidence the team may have. If you win 8 or 9 matches you will win the league,irrespective of what may happen in the remainder.
We were too cautious and there is no getting away from it. This team is well used to losing,so one more would hardly have made any difference in any event. What it needs to do is to start learning how to win and positive leadership is a good place to start.