Mail bag and comment responses

It is a good job that Derbyshire are playing at the opposite end of the country to me, today, as otherwise I could tell you with a degree of confidence that there would be no play before lunch...

A wet morning and early rise gives me the opportunity to answer a few questions I have received over the past few days.

Sean Ervine? Various questions on that one, but he is capable of batting anywhere between four and seven in the order and, as a left-hander, offers a different line to most in our side outside the openers. I love an all-rounder in my side and he is also capable of bowling first or second change with decent pace. He isn't as quick as he once was, but is still a canny bowler. He is only 35 and one has only to look at the impact of older players around the circuit, such as Darren Stevens and Ian Bell, to assess their value. Much of his cricket has been in division one, so his ability should be unquestioned.

It is the same age as Eddie Barlow when he joined us. As far as has been made public, the deal is to the end of the summer, but if there is a mutual understanding then I suppose we would be in poll position for his services. I can only assume that Billy Godleman has been the 'driver' in his signing, as there is no coaching staff other than Mal Loye to otherwise be involved.

Yesterday I pointed out the number of mid-thirties players already on our staff, but Tony Palladino plays only four-day, Daryn Smit seems outside the group at present and Gary Wilson has Ireland commitments. The contracts of all three are up this year or next  and a new Head of Cricket may see some as surplus to requirements.

For me, there is much to like about Ervine, a cricketer of great experience who can play all three formats of the game and contribute. Were I the new Head of Cricket, I'd make a move, but sadly I haven't yet been invited for interview...

On to that role and questions about timescale. I would have thought it possible that we should have identified the successful candidate by the early part of September. Equally, that it would be in our best interests to do so.

The role will have attracted interest from this country and the rest of the world. Were the successful candidate to have two or three matches to look at the staff in action, it would put him in a stronger position to decide on the way forward over the winter. There is the nucleus of a strong squad here and again, having someone in place to take advantage of the release of or availability of players elsewhere would be to our advantage.

Recruitment? I normally take a pragmatic approach to things and so assume that if we are going to the expense of a role such as this that we have the budget in place for team strengthening. For me, that includes the retention of the better young players on appropriate deals, as well as attracting others who can strengthen us in the short and medium term.

We can't carry a big squad and that is why the absence of Luis Reece has been so keenly felt. Unless you are Surrey, replacements of comparable standard are not awaiting their chance in the second team. So we must perforce keep our fingers crossed on the fitness front and keep some talented young players on the staff who can gain experience. That's why I hope Anuj Dal gets a few games before the season ends. He looked talented in the T20, but can he back up obvious talent with weight of runs instead of nice cameos?

Finally Ben Slater. Part of me thinks that Ben would have signed a deal by now were he going to do so. Whatever he decides to do I wish him well, but he is 27 next week and his next deal is important for him.

I just hope that he and his agent have thought it through. If the rumours of a move to Nottinghamshire are correct, then he has only to look at Mark Footitt, Greg Smith, Jake Libby and Paul Coughlin for examples of players who moved there and have never got regular first team cricket.

Each had reasons, of course, but I would be asking myself if I wanted to be playing second team cricket in front of fifty people for much of the summer as I approached thirty. Ross Whiteley does that and it must be tough to keep playing and awaiting a call for one day matches. If Alex Hales lost his England deal, Ben could be behind him, Mullaney, Wessels and Libby in the queue, maybe others.

Leaving Derbyshire worked for a few players, but didn't for a whole lot more. Had 'our' Greg Smith stayed put he could still be playing for us at the age of 35. There are plenty of similar examples, Mark Footitt a prime one but so too the likes of Rob Weston, Adrian Rollins and Dan Redfern,

We'll see what happens.

Here's to good form at Hove today and the next few days.