Leicestershire 329
Derbyshire 281-7 (Madsen 95, Slater 70)
Derbyshire trail by 48 runs
If anyone saw someone of greater girth than Mark Cosgrove at Derby today, it may well have been me, in my seven layers of clothes. It was cold, the first official day of Autumn seeming to be one when the central heating of the sun was switched off.
Derbyshire batted well in part. Ben Slater looked workmanlike and talented in his 70, before rather undoing the good work with a lax drive. with neither Billy Godleman nor Chesney Hughes getting going today. Wayne Madsen looked imperious at times, closing on a century and passing 8000 career runs, before being bowled after tea. That was especially surprising as he had missed few balls in the afternoon session in which the visiting attack looked the ordinary that it is, in the absence of key bowlers.
I didn't see the post tea cricket, having headed off to get organised for Grassmoor and Edwin Smith tonight, but I am told that it was pretty murky when they returned after a lengthy hold up for bad light. Given we lost two quick wickets in that time, it appeared that the visitors were the sole beneficiaries of that return. It was a pity for Tom Knight, who appeared unfazed by the conditions until that point.
It looks more like a last afternoon run chase is on here. Wayne needs another 51 runs for his championship thousand, while others will hope to go into the winter with better form than they showed in the first knock.
We'll see. Thanks to those whose company I shared over the first two days and to those who turned up at Grassmoor tonight.
All thoroughly enjoyed!
Postscript - Nottingham Post reports that Notts offered Andy Carter a new deal but he opted to move to us.
Nice to read. Be in no doubt that if he stays fit he is very much a fifty-wicket bowler for next summer. Close to the finished article and will be a key member of a competitive side.
It's a measure of diminished expectations that going into the third day approaching parity doesn't seem too bad, even if it is against the bottom side in the division with its senior bowlers missing. Missed opportunity is written all over this. Comparing their 131-7 with our 262-4 before the wheels came off says clearly that we should have been well ahead by now. The loss of the two wickets at the end today was unlucky to a degree, as the match should not have resumed after the bad light stoppage, but in fairness neither Knight not Poynton looked secure or confident before the stoppage.
ReplyDeleteThe decline in Poynton's batting is dramatic. and a couple of his earlier plays and misses would have been comical if he had been a number 11. Together with untidy performances behind the stumps, it's a puzzle that he's continued to be preferred to Hosein in this match, and becomes yet another area of weakness that needs to be addressed before next season. Even allowing for last year's traumatic events, Poynton has not progressed now in 4 years, and unless we are prepared to back Hosein next year in all games and formats, there needs to be a fall-back in place.
Today's news about Andy Carter was welcome, although my personal preference from slightly out-of-favour Notts bowlers would have been Luke Fletcher. Nevertheless, Carter promises a level of consistent threat and pressure that was so desperately lacking in Derbyshire's bowling yesterday, Footitt apart obviously. I suppose my concern is whether he's coming as a replacement or reinforcement, as Derbyshire is clearly overstocked with pace bowlers - 11 if no-one is released this year. The stand-off on Footitt's comtract and Palladino's injury are obvious concerns, but I struggle to understand why we've recruited two new bowlers this week in a department that Graeme Welch has repeatedly told us that we are rich enough in to release both Groenewald and White unless significant departures are expected.
As for the direction of this match, it's unlikely with the batting we have to come that there will be any lead, and another epic performance from Footitt is our only real hope of avoiding a big run chase on the last day. I've been impressed twice now with the verve and buoyant spirit of this Leicestershire team that contrasts so markedly with the lack of spirit and low confidence of Derbyshire, and seems to do so much to offset the limitations in their experience and skills, so won't be surprised if this is enough to get them over the line by the end.
Rotation and development. You dont flog 19 to 21 year old seamers into the ground when form, as you well know, can be variable. In addition Welch must consider both further on...undoubtedly in Carter's case...than what he has and improved results are crucial next year.
ReplyDeleteMy assumption from the Carter and Milnes signings is that Footitt is off, surely there'd be no need for so many bowlers if we weren't going to be coping with the loss of our gun bowler.
ReplyDeleteAny reason why Cricinfo is reporting in match report that this could be Footitt's last game for us?
ReplyDeleteGareth
As we know all too well, contracts are generally worth squat if a player wants to leave. If someone pays up for his final year then it may be. We will need to wait and see but it could be that for Willey read Footitt...
ReplyDelete