Despite several inches of snow that has covered our gardens and streets in the past few days, the cricket season seems closer now. We're getting through January, then have one more month until we can say that cricket starts 'next month'.
There have been a few signings in recent days. Lancashire signed Joe Mennie, an Australian fast medium bowler with one Test match to his name, as their overseas player for the season. His first-class record is OK, but it is not a signing that will have had people looking the membership hotline. Then again, he could be the latest in a long and successful line that includes John Hastings and Steve Magoffin and the red rose county will hope for similar results, as will Durham, after signing Nathan Rimmington through his UK passport.
Down the road, Leicestershire will have their overseas role shared between Mohammad Abbas and Sohail Khan. The two fast medium bowlers have excellent first-class records, though, as we found last year with Jeevan Mendis, overseas figures don't always tell the truth about players as the standard can be variable. Both have OK international records, but the signings will have been made with one eye on the city's sizeable ethnic population. If they can get a few more people into the ground and produce some decent statistics, then they will have done their job.
Over in Australia, Matt Critchley hit 149 for his Sydney grade side to suggest he is in decent nick. I think he will start the summer at six in the Derbyshire side, then what he makes of the position will dictate where it goes from there. With a seamer as overseas in early season, he and Wayne Madsen will offer spin variation, unless we slip Hamidullah Qadri into the side on a likely wicket.
There is a nice solidity to the batting line-up, assuming all are in form, with good men outside of it. Getting the right signatures for those overseas roles could make for an interesting old summer.
On the assumption that our starting XI will have overseas/Viljoen/Rampaul/Davis at 8/9/10/11 then that looks a long tail unless the overseas is a very handy bat.
ReplyDeleteOn the overseas would it be too cynical to expect an announcement next week before the early bird renewal closes?
Medium term, the idea of Hughes/Critchley/Hosein at 5/6/7 looks promising & good for the academy
Mark B
If 8 is Philander with da Critchley at 6 and Smit at 7 then I would say tail is good and not long at all. Personally I would have Smit/Hosein at 6. Critchley 7. Philander 8 if he is indeed the man we sign.
ReplyDeleteLooking at Derbyshire's current squad it appears to be a least one recognised batsman short
ReplyDeleteI agree with Mark. IF we get Philander, he currently bats seven for South Africa, so one would assume eight would be within his compass. Viljoen can handle a bat too.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure how we are short, Anon (and please use a name!)
If you took a notional top six of Godleman, Slater, Reece, Madsen, Hughes, Critchley, that omits the vice-captain, Gary Wilson. Brodrick, MacDonell and Hosein will be pushing for selection as well, so for me there's a good mix of youth and experience there
I agree it works if we sign Philander, or even Holder. Stoiinis was an interesting shout, it would probably signal more intent in white ball than red.
ReplyDeleteMark B