Friday 5 January 2018

Happy 2018!

Happy new year everyone, and I hope that the one ahead is full of everything that you wish for.

And we wish for, in the case of Derbyshire County Cricket Club.

Yesterday, after a quiet time, came news that the announcement of our two main overseas roles may not be too far away. In an interview on the club web site, Kim Barnett said that an overseas spinner for the second half of the summer and T20 Blast, as well as a seam bowler for the RLODC and the start of the championship matches should be announced 'soon'.

Both can bat, continued Barnett, so a little teaser there for us to ponder.

My dream ticket signing in the spinning role would be Afghan sensation Rashid Khan, who at 19 is probably the best young spinner I have seen. He has traveled the world in 2017 and played T20 cricket in India, Australia and the Caribbean, starring in all of them. A bowler who can turn it viciously both ways, I thought that top batsmen might have worked him out by now, but that is far from the case.

His googly is his most potent weapon, yet no one seems to pick it with confidence and the bowler's astonishing averages of just 14 to 15 runs per wicket seem set to continue for a while yet. He is going for less than six an over in the T20, which is quite extraordinary, while his control is remarkable.

Perhaps the different wickets in England might be the making of him, or they may find him wanting, but a brave and ambitious county would offer a young man of huge talent the opportunity to broaden his experience and skills. I would love that to be Derbyshire.

I have discounted Imran Tahir, as the last we heard he wanted only to play T20 and can otherwise only throw Jeevan Mendis back into the frame after his early summer stint last year. I suppose South African Keshav Maharaj could be an option, but after that I struggle for genuine contenders who could handle both required forms of the game and have batting ability.

The seaming all-rounder? I have earlier this winter noted the claims of Jason Holder, the West Indies skipper, but otherwise suspect that our strong South African links might bear fruit.

Seam bowlers who can bat, but are less likely to have IPL involvement might include Duanne Olivier and Andile Pheluhkwayo. Both, I think, have the requisite international appearances, something that may exclude Dane Paterson, who I liked the look of last year against England and Dewald Pretorius. Wayne Parnell's angle may offer another option, but he is a regular IPL pick, as is the excellent Chris Morris.

All conjecture, of course, until we are told otherwise.

Fun all the same though...

5 comments:

  1. I hope that Critchley gets a fair crack of the whip his year in a lower middle order A/R role so hoping we get an off spinner myself.

    Spinners who can bat? Shakib would be a pipe dream. What about Imad Wasim?

    Is Ashwin a possibility? Played for Worcs part of last season and I read wants to play more county cricket.

    Jeevan would be more than capable and I wouldn’t e disappointed if he returns as late summer he should get more wickets than he got early summer and he had very decent figures and hopefully his batting would be more prepared having had a sighter over here. Clearly he is a #8 type slogger despite his average making me think he was more of an all-rounder. (Lesson learnt re overseas averages often not comparable to County first class game).

    Seamer wise would be well up for Holder. Other names Philander would be good if fit but he doesn’t fill me with confidence on that front so somebody like Holder will do for me. Left arm option would be nice but other than afforementioned Parnell not sure who else is around.

    It seems we probably have verbal contracts agreed as we did this last winter once barnett was quoted positively the signings came quickly so I would hope it’s a case of dotting i’s and crossing t’s. Exciting times.

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  2. Pakistan and India tour here next summer Mark, so that largely rules out their options.

    I don't think Shakib needs county cricket so didn't consider him, the same as Philander. Fine bowler, but the fitness record is an issue and he is a key player for South Africa, so they won't want him overworked.

    Parnell is a decent player, but prone to inconsistency. If someone could harness the obvious talent there is a special player in there...

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  3. Hi Peakfan...great debate as ever...i'll throw a name into the fray for limited over format.....JP Duminy...freed from the demands of Test and FC cricket, could do a job

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  4. Duminy would be a superb signing Stevie, though likely in demand as a fine bat, useful bowler and brilliant fielder.

    The signing of Ravi Rampaul, for me, means we don't need to replace Matt Henry as a seam bowler, so allows the signing of an all rounder for T20, who offers 'oomph' with the bat.

    I wouldn't say no to Glenn Maxwell or Mohammad Nabi either. Nabi is a canny cricketer who hits a long ball and bowls wily off spin...

    All good options

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  5. I'd love Maxwell, great player and has an 'edge' to him, think he could give the whole club a lift, and Nabi is quality, watched both of them this weekend in the BBL and both looked good. Would Guptill be available? My choices would be Guptill, and a bowling (spinner) who could also launch it. T20 wise I'd be more than happy of a top order of Guptill, (not convinced with BG) Critch, Reece, Mads, Wilson

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