I think the pink ball 'experiment' produced a very good cricket match here. It is a shame that we came out on the wrong side of it.
Whether it was the wicket, the ball, the lights or all three, it was a proper game in which batsmen could score runs, if they had the technique and the ability to do so, but bowlers could zip it around and make life difficult for them.
I didn't see any of it, but the bottom line is that our visitors handled it better than we did.
It isn't that our batsmen, with one exception, are out of form. Slater got runs again, Critchley made a second innings score, Madsen one in the first innings. Hughes had a ton in the last match. They are in decent nick but we fail to put an innings of substance together because it seems to be one man only, every time. Until we have two or three meaty contributions, we will struggle in the four-day game.
Until Billy moves back to the top of the order, he will too. I like Billy, as a lovely, quietly spoken bloke with an easy smile and pleasant demeanour. He is a good cricketer too, but as skipper he has to lead from the front. If you think back to the top captains at the club - Kim Barnett and Eddie Barlow in my lifetime - they did what was most needed, when it was most required. They asked nothing of the team that they wouldn't do themselves and set a standard with strong leadership and example.
When four-day cricket resumes, Billy has to do that. I don't think his footwork quick enough, especially when he comes in, to bat five and face spinners, who always challenge him. Far better when he is 'in' and they come on, so he really has to bat at one when things resume, both to help himself and the team.
In the RLODC he averaged 73, while in the championship it is a mere 13. The real Billy Godleman is somewhere in the middle of those averages, somewhere in the forties, but I would guess that 95% of his career hundreds have come at the top of the order. So...
The batting travails of our wicket-keepers continue too and I think Gary Wilson now has to be in poll position for that gig in the T20. I think Daryn Smit a good batsman, but he isn't getting the weight of runs to confirm it, while Harvey Hosein hasn't got any either, albeit in a more unfamiliar opening role. Having three wicket-keepers is excessive, but when none are scoring runs the level of irony goes through the roof.
The bowling? Well, Duanne Olivier is off now, after an excellent spell, while both Ravi Rampaul and Hardus Viljoen have still to convince me that they are value for money signings. Both are good cricketers, their records over many years confirm it, but neither, I think, could look in the mirror and say 'I am doing the job well for which I am paid handsomely'. With international status comes responsibility and the figures of each are more indicative of an average county player, than globe-trotting star. There is a degree of embarrassment in Rampaul's seven four-day wickets at 63, while Viljoen's, while better, need to be better still to reflect the county's huge investment in his services.
Only Tony Palladino emerges from recent performances with reputation upheld. As I have previously written, he gives you everything and his current benefit year deserves bumper success from supporters who will recognise this. Tony leaves nothing in the dressing room and both now and in years to come will be acknowledged as a player who gave one hundred per cent. Of such men are county legends made...
The T20 has come at the right time. Guys getting caught in the slip cordon can now edge with relative impunity, while the old Eddie Barlow maxim of 'see the ball, hit the ball' has never been more apposite. Maybe a few bucolic knocks might be the making of a few people, while a 'threefer' or better will improve the mood and impression of a bowler or two.
There will be new faces in the dressing room. Fast, experienced international bowlers and an aggressive batsman, all of them unsullied by recent shenanigans.
We can only hope that they pick up where they left off last year and that the T20 shines like a beacon in our season's memories.
Because the four-day game, sadly, really won't.
Reference your comment about Billy going back to opening PF. Do you know decides the batting line up in professional cricket?? Is it like league cricket, where the captain decides on the line up, or is it the coach/management??
ReplyDeleteEvery supporter, bar none, that I have spoken to at the 3aaa's agree that Billy should go back to opening. It's where we all want to see him, and where he performs best. Personally, I think it was very unfair of the club to finally give Hosein a game, and then put him up front.
I know we move into T20 now, but when we get back to championship cricket I would like our top order to be....Godleman, Slater, Madsen, Hosein, Hughes and Critchley. If Luis Reece regains fitness in time, he can replace Madsen at three, with everybody else dropping down one.
Any views???
The side will be picked by the senior group, David. While Barnett is there to advise Billy, he doesn't have direct input and that has never been his remit, as I am aware.
DeleteCan't argue with your top six for the four day game.
Lots bemoaned the Rampaul signing, due to his averagness and size at surrey, yet you congratulated the club as a masterstroke signing. Hes been awful.
ReplyDeleteBilly is at best a mid 30's div 2 player to say more is to ignore his career.
SMit hasmt scored a run all season, HH has had a couple of games out of position and is lumped in with him.
Your positiity has its place PF but really in 4 day cricket you should be giving the club both barrels, and admit you were wrong about RR and DS.
TP you are spot on about, county legend a bit far, as we have had no success with him. County cult figure would be more appropriate as legend disserves those true legends.
H Peak
What I said about Ravi was 'I suspect he could turn out a real asset'. He hasn't, though T20 is his game and we can hope.
DeleteAnd 'lots' didn't bemoan his signing. There was one, having checked back...
Smit? Take your point on Smit's batting but not THAT many innings and useful RLODC cameos. And to say we were wrong with him ignores arguably the club's second best keeper since WW2.
TP? Getting into pedantic territory. We had no success with Bill Bestwick but I would call him a legend. What dd we 'win' with Gladwin and Jackson?
As for positivity, I support. I criticise. I don't give 'both barrels' but I am happy to defend any of my comments to people at the club in person, as I use my name and my photo.
With respect, not many will do that.
I agree with everyone else, except the 'senior management team' that Billy has to go back to opening. This is where a coach/manager can sit outside the dressing room and make a decision and say, you are our senior opening bat, so that is where you bat. It is fine if Harvey has ambitions to open, but to throw him into open is unfair when he has been pushed from piller to post over the last 3 years, world record dismissal, late middle order batsman, to second team, then first team opener he has not had time to become part of the 1st team. With an inexperienced opener our out of form middle order are exposed too quickly, if we got a start middle order may have chance to regain their confidence rather than feel under pressure every time they come to the wicket. I think matt critchley should be congratulated as to how he batted yesterday, he played attacking shots to the right balls and batted responsibly when needing to, pitty nobody stayed with him so he could get a ton, he only perished when he was trying to protect rampaul.
ReplyDeleteI don't know Harvey's aspirations, Opening Bat, and I agree with you on his position. But sometimes opportunities offered are taken and as we needed an opener (like you I don't know why) he had to make a fist of it.
DeleteI agree a good time for T20 to commence
ReplyDeleteDifferent game, different team ,different coaching team
I find the 4 day squad and tactical thinking somewhat muddled
Billy has forged his career as an opener whereby he averages high 30”s the movement to 5 is just not working
Harvesy has achieved a career average at 30 + batting at 7/8 but is asked to open in CC but he doesn’t even do that in league or 2nd X1
We have 3 wicket keepers and the one that represents the future doesn’t get to do the job
We have tilted away from using our youth at the expense of journeymen
Davis v Rampaul
Smit v Hosein
The most worrying aspect is we seem rudderless from a leadership perspective and it is placing enormous responsibility on a somewhat novice captain
The Fans Forum came and went with a no show from Mr Barnett , this leads to concerns regarding transparency of direction and decision making
Looking forward to T20 and J Wright’s obvious skilll in people management and technical coaching
We need some of that in the second wave of Championship cricket where we seem unable to win back to back sessions and fully function as an 11
I think Kim has plenty on his plate right now and his usual appearance and honesty makes his absence excused for me.
DeleteWe haven't helped ourselves in 4 day cricket, that's for sure!
I think T20 has come at the right time for Godleman - no captaincy responsibility. Think everyone on these pages agrees - he must open in Championship for the Northamptonshire game by which time whoever makes these decisions will also have a clear wicketkeeping strategy. For me it has to be Hosein for the rest of the season batting at 5 or 6. Great innings by Critchley in the Leicestershire game.
ReplyDeleteLooking ahead to next year, essential we have the right coach/director of cricket (or whatever we want to call them but someone who is accountable). On Tuesday evening Paul Nixon/Matt Mason sat in the stand behind the bowlers arm - when Jones took what was a good catch to dismiss Slater immediate words of encouragement/praise; KB was there too but seemed to be little emotion regardless of what was happening on the pitch and particularly during that irritating last wicket stand when all the players were on the boundary . I'm not necessarily being critical because I'm not sure of KB's role but the difference struck me and all the more pressure on Godleman.
As I said earlier Lion, Barnett advises Billy if asked and recommends players to sign. He is not there as a coach. It is far easier to be effusive over a wicket than anything else but they are paid to. Barnett isn't.
DeleteHosein has earned a run but much depends on T20 form...
Is T20 Rampaul’s speciality? Not checked the stats. But given he can’t bat and I doubt his fielding is anything more than a burden to the captain he best be good with the ball.
ReplyDeleteHear what you say Peakfan re KB's role but it doesn't feel right that the captain (or the senior group) have so much responsibility. I guess back int eh day that's how it used to be but the development of a coaching structure with a coach at its helm must be the best model. John Wright has been brought in to do this for T20 so unless it's a cost issue, why different in the other competitions? Re Ravi, he was never heavily involved in red ball cricket at Surrey as they had had lots of fast bowling options and I think his focus has been on white ball cricket where he was quite successful. Three year contract never felt right however and his 50 over performances didn't quite convince so we'll see with the T20 - either way with the loss of Olivier, we'll need him when we get back to four day cricket .
ReplyDeleteIt's becoming worryingly apparent that Derbyshire's weak financial position is beginning to hurt. T v money sent football went this way which is why only a handful of Premiership clubs are ever involved in chasing silverware (Leiceter City were a very rare exception). The "test" counties get richer because they are the "big city" outfits. The 2-division Championship has added to the mix; the extra £1.3 million that each county will earn from The 100 (don't start me on that!!) is simply going to have an inflationary effect because of its universality - the net benefit to the smaller counties will be marginal as players' pay increases.
ReplyDeletePerhaps it js time to look at the governance/financing of the club. I think Kim and his team are doing the best they can but are too restricted financially to make significant improvement.
Phil C
Phil, I agree 100% on that. The club has to look at its spend, on and off the pitch and, for me, has to direct more to the cricket, because we are a CRICKET club. All the concerts and all the off field staff and events are and must always be secondary to the cricket side.
ReplyDeleteMy understanding, which may be wrong, from press pieces etc is that Kim Barnett recommends players to sign, and is there only in an advisory role to Billy Godleman and other players as required.
For me, the time is right to extend that role and give Kim the entire cricket side to manage. That may or may not change the current 'senior group' set up, but would allow him - if not already the case - to discuss and agree contracts and salaries when they come up for renewal.
It has to be done by a cricket person, who knows cricketers and their respective worths. When we are dealing with such a comparatively small budget, it is crucial that it is spent correctly and apportioned dependent on a player's value to the club.
Moving forward, as vultures hover around our best young talent, that will be absolutely crucial to retaining their services.
Tim, Ravi has been signed around the globe for his T20 expertise and has played with success.
ReplyDeleteIf he fails, I will be disappointed, but let's cross bridges when we get to them!
Smit has been a strange one for me. My memory may be wrong but when he signed wasn't he suppossed to be a batsmen who bowled a bit of leg spin and had kept wicket in the past.
ReplyDeleteI think that if he played as a batsman only he would score a lot more runs.