Derbyshire 200 (Hughes 39, Hudson-Prentice 38, van Beek 34*)
Gloucestershire 46-2
Apologies for the lack of blog last night but family matters overtook me.
I don't think that Derbyshire did too badly, on a pitch that remained awkward until the end of the day. A truer picture will be known at lunch today, but the visiting batsmen had their own trials and tribulations in turn and this morning will be a test.
I appreciated the batsmen digging in and fighting, as elsewhere around the country wickets fell and teams capitulated. Alex Hughes again came up with runs when most needed, while Fynn Hudson-Prentice mixed grit with aggression and reinforced the positive impression he has made.
Late on, even Ravi Rampaul dug in for a, while and supported Logan van Beek to get us to a batting bonus point. The latter played his best innings in the county colours, as well as producing the shot of the day, a majestic 'hold the pose' six over long on, one of two.
200 was more than looked likely in the morning session, as wickets tumbled and both openers were quickly back in the hutch. Madsen batted well for a while but the wickets were the result of fine bowling, rather than lax batting.
All to play for today, then.
Just an early warning that a blog is unlikely tonight, as I am working a 12 hour shift and start early again tomorrow. Feel free to put your thoughts in here!
It was a terrific effort by Alex Hughes yesterday. To survive 137 balls in those conditions showed great determination and application. If only some of our Test batsmen could show the same restraint and awareness of the conditions. Tom Lace did well too. Without him Derby could have been all out by lunch, as Higgins bowled beautifully (and is really nice bloke too!). It also enabled to Logan to take good advantage of a tiring attack late on. He looked a very good hitter and defended sensibly early on. It is great to see Logan looking so much more confident.
ReplyDeleteDave Houghton gave members some excellent insight in the morning's meeting. He is so impressive and I could listen to him talk cricket for hours. He was clearly upset by last Thursday's defeat in the T20 and is greatly concerned by the team's apparent psychological fragility whenever the pressure is on. I suspect the team's sports psychologist may have a bigger role in the future. He is hopeful of signing Tom Lace next season. Tom likes it at Derby and is aware of where he would be in the pecking order at Middlesex, with the highly-promising Max Holden not even in the team. Anuj Dal's contract ends this summer and both he and the club have a decision to make. Dave was extremely complimentary about Anuj's ability and attitude and just felt sorry that he couldn't guarantee him a place. Dave is worried about the young quick bowlers' recent injury record and is keen to implement a fitness programme that focuses much more on bowling, asking them to bowl 2 hours every day in preparation for the season.
Nice updates Sean, thank you!
DeleteAnd I agree on Dave. Very engaging to listen to!
DeleteFHP at 9. I will never understand our approach to batting orders. We had commentary earlier in the season that Reece would be put in the middle order as he is bowling lots. He opens the batting again when Lace would seem suited to opening alongside Godleman with the good old LH RH partnership. How many times has Fynn top scored for us this season so far. It’s like when Du Plooy was batting 8. Don’t get me wrong I understand that we have depth to the batting due to a lot of all rounders but I just never understand the order. Even the way the squad list is announced it hints that Lace is opening then he’s at 4. (I personally would like Madsen at 4 I don’t know what he prefers but I always feel he is better at 4 maybe the stats don’t prove this). Anyway, we are in the game. A huge morning as you suggest Peakfan. I am hoping for a slight deficit at best. If we can get them out for 225 or less batting 3rd hopefully we can leave them a tricky chase and Rampaul will lead us to victory. Don’t eat me wrong I would love a first innings lead I am just not sure we will be able to force one unless someone gets on a roll. Fingers crossed.
ReplyDelete225 I said. Haha we’ll be lucky to get them out for 425. Bowling attack needs major surgery in the summer. Reece has been brilliant. But he’s a first change bowler, not an opening bowler. And van Beek well let’s put that one down to experience and move on.
ReplyDeleteI sincerely hope I am not misrepresenting Dave Houghton's comments in Members' meetings, but he said he has two extended conversations with Luis about opening the batting and Luis is very keen to continue. It is useful to have Tom Lace at hand should Luis have bowled a lot in one innings and therefore feel like dropping down the order.
ReplyDeleteWith du Plooy, Dave wanted to ease him in to the set-up and was understandably reluctant to immediately throw him in at 4 or 5. I think the same applies to his handling of F H-P, and Dave admits it is hard when the team has so many all-rounders and a player of F H-P's ability has to bat at 9.
On current form Fynn Hudson Prentice should be batting ahead of both Critchley (8) and Hosein (9) .
ReplyDelete