As regular readers will know, I tend to be one of those people who looks at life through a half full glass.
So too my cricket. I appear to be in a very small minority who predicted anything other than trials for Derbyshire this summer. I remain confident that we will acquit ourselves well in the T20 and County Championship.
As for the RLODC, I am less sure.
In the four-day game, our seam attack, long batting order and range of bowlers will serve us well. In 20-over cricket, I suspect our spinners will prove especially effective, as batsmen try to dominate from the off.
I am less sure about the 50-over game.
One would assume that at this early stage of the season, spin bowlers will be less effective. At the same time, historically we have not used Tony Palladino in this form of the game, and Logan van Beek has not yet convinced me of his ability to control the scoring rate as will be required.
While I feel the Derbyshire side is capable of chasing a total in excess of 300, in a very strong section it is possible that may be some way short of targets.
Messrs Reece, Rampaul and Hughes will thus be important and I suspect there will be an early elevation to senior ranks for Mark Watt, after fine bowling for the second team yesterday. Wayne Madsen will doubtless bowl an over or two, as may Matt Critchley.
The makeup of the announced squad will be carefully watched. Will Dave Houghton put in one of his young seam bowlers? Will there be a place for Matt McKiernan, who hasn't yet featured for the second team? Or will there be an enhanced role for Anuj Dal, which includes a few overs?
Will there even be a role, as the summer progresses, for Tom Wood? He seems to have brought his Australian form with him and is scoring big runs in the second team. Crucially, he usually does so at a good rate.
With no announcement as yet regarding our new batsman, it would seem unlikely that he will be here for the game against Northamptonshire. That will be a blow and we can only hope that the deal has not hit a snag.
Plenty of questions then, and only Dave Houghton has the answers. We will know more in the next 48 hours and like the rest of you, I eagerly await the news on the squad.
Was told about your new batsman on Saturday as his brother is over playing league cricket. Apparently he will be over when his countries T20 season ends.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn’t be surprised if the deal has hit a snag. The interview in which we were talking about an incoming batsmen must have been3 if not 4 weeks ago now? Probably two weeks now since Peakfan said he had heard rumours it would be announced “this week”. Seems daft to not announce it if it’s signed and sealed. I appreciate may need admin be clearance done through south African cricket and potential legal hoops to jump through here but it is worrying. Could easily miss two RLODC games at this rate as well as the 2 championship games and we’ve had all winter to do recruitment seems a bit strange.
ReplyDeleteThese things take time and it is a very sensitive issue.
DeleteProbably taken longer than was expected, but my understanding is the player honoured commitments back home, which is laudable.
Not so simple as 'we had all winter to recruit' Sometimes opportunities come up when least expected...
Yep,looking like it's not happening. As Mark says, there's been to long a delay or maybe the player has had a change of heart?
ReplyDeleteIF HES PLAYING IN THE FRANCHISE T20 COMP THE LAST ROUND ROBIN GAME IS
ReplyDelete28TH APRIL WITH THE GRAND FINAL ON 5TH MAY.
IF ITS A DONE DEAL NOT SURE WHY THE CLUB CANT TELL US HIS NAME LIKE THEY HAVE THE T20 IMPORT
ReplyDeleteBecause they and the player are not ready to, for whatever reason.
ReplyDeleteIt is their prerogative alone to release the news when they best see fit. Maybe he will drop in by helicopter on Friday 🤔