After our 276-3 in two sessions on day one, Worcestershire struggled to 237-7 in their two sessions. Curiously, all the wickets today fell to left-arm bowlers - with two to Harry White and one each to Greg Cork, Chesney Hughes and Tom Knight. All will have enjoyed their success but Hughes and Knight have each come a long way to get to this stage.
Chesney hardly bowled a ball last year as he fought back from a serious shoulder injury and was missed. While his left arm spin could hardly be deemed slow (he's quicker than me off my long run...) it is a potent weapon, especially in the one-day game.
As for Knight, his action has been remodelled and grooved better than a flower power classic. A proper bowl will have done him the world of good and the wicket will be a timely boost of confidence.
In the Worcestershire one session second innings, they reached 126-3, with wickets to the Hughes boys and one to Shiv Thakor, leaving Derbyshire 88 to 'win'. They did this with some ease, making 114-4, largely thanks to an unbeaten 67 from Ben Slater. There were early dismissals for Chesney, Alex Hughes and Tom Poynton, but all have runs under their belt and Wayne White got a few in the middle of the bat today.
Slater continued the good impression made at the end of last season and looks increasingly like a potential county opener for years to come. I have watched him bat several times and like his uncomplicated method. He is a busy little player who could become a good one-day bat, as well as a lynchpin in the longer game. One to watch, that's for sure....
One game to go, that a T20 friendly against Middlesex. It would be good to finish with a win, but it has been an excellent tour regardless. A lot of young players have put their hands up and made a case for selection and we've not seen the likes of Footitt and Durston yet.
Finally tonight, I had to smile yesterday when I read a piece that said we had 'a couple' of decent all-rounders at Derbyshire. A couple...I wonder who that is, between Durston, Clare, Hughes x 2, Knight, Thakor and Wainwright? Always assuming you excuse the very handy with a willow Tony Palladino...
Some funny ideas about cricket in some places...
Postscript: a few days after writing of the merits of Brendon Taylor of Zimbabwe, Nottinghamshire sign him on a Kolpak deal. It leaves the country with only a couple of international quality players and in my eyes a far worse side than Ireland.
It is yet another typical move by Nottinghamshire though. Do they have a youth policy worth a light, other than the one run by Leicestershire?
it has proved a worthwhile tour and a number of players will have gained valuable experience. The only downside is we still have a month to go before competitive cricket begins in earnest.
ReplyDeleteThe nets are no substitute for competitive action and i,m sure Welch will know more about some of his players than he did a few days ago.This tour may have come a little too soon for the likes of Clare,whilst Durston and Footitt may not be fully fit themselves.
The interesting question for me is who will emerge as first choice keeper to begin the season. Both are good keepers but I believe Hosein will prove to be a far more capable batsman and technically,he is the man in possession. An interesting one for sure.
Then there is the question of who opens with Guptill. I can,t see any further than Slater,which may seem a little tough on Godleman,though his chance will no doubt arrive at some point.
I also believe Chesney Hughes will emerge from the shadows and become a potent force once again. Welch has some difficult decisions to make but at least he is blessed with a number of options, which is not a bad place to be sitting.