If Mark fails to get recognition at a higher level this winter, one can only assume that those in charge of our game are buffoons. As Maurice Leyland of Yorkshire once said, "None of us likes fast bowling...some just show it more than others". There's plenty of batsmen have failed to enjoy the 'Footitt experience' this summer and plenty of reason to suppose that his talent may flourish on a bigger stage. OK, there's few bigger stages than the 3AAA County Ground, I know that, but...
Time will tell how good our bowling performance was today, on a wicket that is expected to take spin as the game progresses. However, reports suggest that it is easy-paced and doing little for the bowlers, which makes the efforts of ours all the more commendable. Any side that bowls out its opponents on the opening day of a four-day game should be proud of its efforts.
South African born Chris Cooke, fresh from a personal best against Kent, again did well and had good late order support from County Ground old boy Graeme Wagg. At 249-6 they may have fancied a total of around 350, but Footitt and the admirable Tony Palladino returned to blow away the tail quite nicely.
Palladino has developed into a typical Derbyshire seamer, with lots of effort and a style in parsimony that makes things a little easier for those at the other end. 3-34 in 21 overs is the kind of analysis returned by heroes of yore and Tony has become an integral, perhaps reinvented part of the attack. In his younger days there was the odd bad ball to help batsmen keep the score ticking over. Now, they are few and far between and he fulfils a pivotal role in the attack. Wayne White also bowled tidily, if less spectacularly, while the spinners will doubtless play a more important role in the second innings.
Tomorrow is a chance for an innings to be built and all eyes will be on Cheteshwar Pujara, when his turn comes to bat. A slow-paced wicket should be similar to those on which he learned his game and after a fine effort today, Derbyshire have a chance to build an innings which could well dictate the course of the match.
Bat, bat and bat some more. That's the plan from here, ideally until around tea time on Thursday.
If we do that, four wins out of four is eminently possible.
Not a bad effort today. Just a little disappointing we couldn,t have seen them off for around 50 or so less,but on the whole I think we would have settled for this at the start of play.
ReplyDeleteWe owed much the the opening bowlers who rarely let us down and can be well satisfied with their return. If we can safely negotiate the early overs tomorrow there is no reason we can,t establish a healthy lead. If we can bat for four sessions it will give Glamorgan plenty to think about when they bat for a second time.We will know much more by the end of tomorrow.
A very good effort from the lads yesterday. It would have been nice to have blown Glamorgan away but probably better that we didn't. Cooke and Wagg's resistance will have stopped Derbyshire thinking 'it's going to be a walk in the park'. They are not a bad side and should be treated with respect.
ReplyDeleteAlso, although it was only three overs it was good to see we got there without loss. Slow and steady for the first half hour or so this morning and then start to steadily accelerate. Would be great if we did as well as Gloucestershire did yesterday! Things are definitely looking up. Makes a super contrast with the first half of the season.
A little late, sorry, but about footitt you are correct peakfan. Another good leftie has just destroyed Notts, ok he swings it more but mf has pace and hostility that he never possed. A good friend told me that mf bowled a spell at derby in the last game he hasn't seen since Dev. If mf doesn't get national recognition it will only be because he hasn't taken these wickets at the Oval
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