The penultimate home game of the cricket season and Derbyshire welcome Glamorgan to the 3aaa County Ground tomorrow. It is the latest example of barmy scheduling, playing a match Tuesday to Friday when few can easily attend. Anyone would think the ECB were attempting to marginalise the county game...
Middlesex all-rounder Martin Andersson has signed a short-term loan deal to the end of the summer, one which had a few knives out on Twitter earlier. I know little about the lad, except that he is 21, is a good batsman and bowls right arm medium. I can only assume that there may be some longer term potential, as otherwise his skill set is very similar to Anuj Dal, who I and a good few others would like to see getting an opportunity before the end of the summer.
It will also be interesting to see the final line up tomorrow, with Gary Wilson back from Ireland duty. It would be unfair were he to take the gloves over Harvey Hosein, but we appear to have a squad where a couple of deserving players will miss out.
I doubt our quicks will be especially enamoured with the wickets at Derby this summer and I don't expect it to be rock hard tomorrow, either. Slow and lifeless appears the order of the day this summer, and it has been frustrating when we have fielded an array of quicks. I know I have mentioned this before, but it points at a frustrating lack of cohesion in the planning. Why sign fast bowlers if we are preparing pudding tracks? Another thing for David Houghton to look at when he takes up his post.
The Derbyshire squad:
Billy Godleman
Tom Lace
Wayne Madsen
Alex Hughes
Gary Wilson
Matt CritchleyHarvey Hosein
Anuj Dal
Martin Andersson
Tony Palladino
Hardus Viljoen
Lockie Ferguson
Hamidullah Qadri
Ravi Rampaul
Were I picking tomorrow's side I would omit Wilson, Rampaul and Qadri, enabling others to make a case for themselves, though the latter could get a game if the wicket is dry
Glamorgan are bottom of the table and have only one win all summer in the four-day game. They have signed South African Stephen Cook for the rest of the season, while Graham Wagg returns to a ground where he was a firm favourite.
Their squad:
Cook, Brown, Cullen, Lloyd, Carlson, Cooke, Wagg, Hogan, Bull, Smith, Lawlor, Van der Gugten.
I'm going for a Derbyshire win here, although the last scheduled day looks set to be plagued by showers.
We'll just need to aim for a win in three days, then...
My little quip on Twitter wasn't aimed at the lad but at the brains trust that dreamed up signing a guy contemplating imminent retirement.
ReplyDeleteHi Tim it was others I was more referring to, mate. If Andersson offers genuine all round potential and there is a chance of a longer term deal then it is a sound move. But Dal deserves a crack.
ReplyDeleteErvine? He made it clear that his decision to quit was one that came to him since leaving Hants. No real blame there but of course it looks poor from an outside perspective.
Peak Fan imagine if you was a Derbyshire Academy player at this current moment. You have worked many hours in the nets. Played 2nd IV cricket all year waiting patient for the opportunity to come. Then all of a sudden the club sign loan player who hasn't played hardly any 1st class cricket. I could understand the move if his contract was up. It would make sense both parties looking at one another. I really can't make sense of this direction the club is going. I have commented quite a few times on your blog saying that players need opportunity and also time to develop. At this current moment I am struggling to see the point of the academy if you not prepared to try them out. I think they will be lot of young lads at the moment wondering why aren't we getting a opportunity?
ReplyDeleteI'd agree with your selection view PF. Surely Dal must be given a chance and I can't see the benefit of changing the wicketkeeper although I suspect Wilson will play. Glamorgan have lost their last four games heavily since Derbyshire played them in June and the last three by an innings. Cook should strenghthen a frail batting line up but he struggled last time at Durham. They'll miss Meschede but Hogan is the sort of player you'd always want in your side and I have been quite impressed with Rhuari Smith.
ReplyDeleteThe benefits of retirement mean that I will be going today and Thursday but agree that the scheduling is absolute madness - all now focussed around T20 finals day. If I'd still been working I would have been very angry with none of the final four rounds with weekend play.
Nice comment about 'Waggy' Peakfan. He was always a favourite of mine. Always gives 100% effort, and I was upset when he left us. However, like Slater, they only have a short career, and must make their decisions accordingly. Sorry he doesn't appear to be having a great season, and wish him all the best after Friday of this week.
ReplyDeleteFuming for Dal. Didn’t let anyone down in the T20. Made his first class debut for us when wickets falling down after he was assuming 12th man (concussion to slater) and never seen again. Absolute joke selection. Makes me question Godleman as a capt. I like him as an opening bat but he’s supposed to have the authority and he gets it wrong more than he gets it right for me from a selection point of view. 251 par? We need a couple of wickets before the close as I type 14-0
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