Derbyshire 251 (Godleman 95)
Glamorgan 20-0
Aside from a sterling effort from captain Billy Godleman, once again leading from the front with a dogged 95, there wasn't much to admire in Derbyshire's batting today.
I didn't see any of it because of work, and it was always going to be an easy decision for Glamorgan to bowl, but 251, while more than we looked like getting, is just about enough to keep us in the match - IF we bowl well.
There was a debut for Martin Andersson, but neither he nor Tom Lace made many on a wicket that offered help to all of the bowlers. It made the skipper's vigil all the more impressive, while those around him tried alternately to hit their way to success and grind it out with equal lack of success. 26 was the next highest score, which tells its own story.
The more I think about it, the more I agree with a number who have filled my postbag in recent days. The only way the signing of Lace and Andersson makes any sense, at this stage of the summer, is if we have a possibility of engaging them for next year.
Why not play Anuj Dal? Or Calum Brodrick? Or Tom Wood, who has played pretty much every match for the second team this summer? All three are players of talent and are crucially ours. Might we not learn a little more of their worth if they played a few first team games, even if it was to confirm that they weren't quite 'there'?
I don't think it fair on them or on the Academy set up if we are bypassing it and taking two players from that of another county.
If the players within our own Academy are not doing well enough, it poses questions about the current set up and the role of Mal Loye. If they are, surely, when there is little at stake bar pride, we should be playing them?
I'm a bit baffled by it all, to be honest.
Hopefully the coming weeks might reveal a few of the reasons.
Couldn’t agree more PF. Taking 2 players from another county when we have home grown talent sat in the wings. If your never ever going to give people like Broderick a chance at this point of the season then really what is the point. Dal as done more than enough to be given the last 3 games. As for Wood, 1000 runs for the 2s this summer in all forms. I have to say, words fail me. I really don’t know who’s making these decisions but I see no sense to it.
ReplyDeleteTom Lace's father was at the first two days of the Kent game and he told us that its only a few weeks since Tom signed a new contract (I believe it was for 3 years) with Middlesex so it seems unlikely that we will get a look in there.
ReplyDeleteAs for Andersson I can't say. I'm sure he's a very good prospect but I, like many others cannot understand what Dal has done to prevent him from being picked and, if the fringe youngsters don't get a go at this stage of the season, the when will they?
I get the feeling that we are just marking time, fulfilling our fixtures until the end of the season when the real work begins. At this stage of the season it always tends to be like this with us, and, as depressing as the end of another years' cricket watching is, this one can't end soon enough for me, and, apparently, some of the players too.
Lets hope the weather picks up a little tomorrow and we at least get a full day in.....
This is a terrific summation, Peakfan. I recall a contribution by Mike Carey to a Derbyshire Yearbook in the 1970s, about Ashley Harvey-Ealler: someone said to Mike “Oh, he’s just a good second eleven player”. To which Mikes response was - if he’s only good enough for the seconds, why is he here at all? Of course, as we all know, given the chance, Ash was no bad player at all. But if second eleven players aren’t given a chance at the end of the season, when there is nothing at stake, why are we bothering at all?
ReplyDeleteWe haven’t signed well, all in all, these last couple of years. I do hope we can move towards a bit of a clear out.
I agree re Lace and Andersson
ReplyDeleteIt has only just occurred to me that this is probably Dave Houghton’s doing, given his role at Middlesex
Luke
Derbyshire CCC and Chesterfield FC, rip. What a shambolic duo and two badly run clubs to boot. Who is making these ridiculous signings at Derbyshire?, like you say Peakfan baffling when we have some good talent in the seconds. Houghton has a right job on his hands sorting this rabble out, and I can't see things changing for the better.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you regarding loan signing at this time if the year when there are decisions to be made regarding players from 2nds. With the appointment of David Houghton I am sure the loaning if two middlesex youngsters has something to do with the future, I assume Houghton likes what he sees in them. On the subject of 2nds, I looked at the scorecard from a game the other day and only recognised a couple of names. I think we need to sign a reliable No. 3 or 4, or if reece fills that, an opener so we can push everyone down a position, is wessels out of favour at Notts? I think Hughes is a good bits and pieces player, but not a No. 4, may be hosien at 5, Hughes 6 and critchley 7, throw wilson, lace and ano into the equation and we have some competition. Off to county ground to see what our bowlers can do today!
ReplyDeleteHi PeakFan, I often read the blog and wonder why there are so many references to "the Academy"....as far as I know they have only played a couple of games, had no training sessions since the winter and in one of the games v Notts earlier in the season got battered with half the players in borrowed kit - shambles springs to mind. The lads in the Academy have been overlooked for 2nd team games on most occasions with umpteen trialists and failures from other counties preferred. The County 17's have not been watched at all by anybody from the County this season - maybe they have watched the Staffs or Cheshire games as that is where Derbyshire tend to go for their "home-grown" talent
ReplyDeleteIn the conditions and against bowlers who performed well I thought that 251 wasn't a bad score - but we will see. Godleman's effort in context was a considerable effort although he did play and miss with some regularity. Some poor dismissals - what was Hosein thinking off?
ReplyDeleteI'm with you about Lace and Andersson PF. Really surprised that the latter has been brought in as we aren't short of middle order options; I wonder whether this could be the early thoughts of our new DoC as he will know both players from his recent coaching days at Middlesex in which case with Lace in particular a longer term deal might be possible.
Over the last couple of years we have signed multiple high cost bowlers in an attempt to purchase success. To my knowledge I can not recall any batman since Reece who came as an all rounder. Might it be the case that when batsmen ie messers Godleman and Wilson are what appears to be running the cricket side of the club, it is not in there interests to sign meaningful competition for batting spots. So even when the chances arrive for young players at the club to show what they may be able to achieve, that chance is not given . Why would that be ? Instead we sign loaners with less first class experience than our own youngsters less they get embarrassed and make senior positions less certain. Sorry if this sounds like conspiracy theories but there must be a reason for the decisions. If any one can give me an altarnative theory I’d be happy to listen.
ReplyDeleteJim from Chad
I would have thought it has got to be to do with Dave Houghton and his work at Middlesex. Even if Lace has signed a contract I would have thought we must have been given the nod of being able to get him for a season loan deal next year otherwise as you say there is no real point in doing it.
ReplyDelete