So no cricket until the end of May, which surely guarantees that April and May are two of the best months of weather we have seen in years...
I hope that I am wrong, but I can see our wait for the greatest of games going on for longer than that. Perhaps we will get some cricket in between July and September, but what that delay does for the game at all levels is a moot point.
I know my old club side started to struggle when an ageing drainage system that we could not afford to replace cost them a lot of matches, even when the sun shone brightly. Players started to find other things to occupy their time and when we managed to get back onto the field, availability was increasingly a struggle.
It may take some time, but I hope that people support their local and county clubs, during and after this crisis. I have no idea what form the county game will take for the remainder of this summer, but I hope that there is some four-day cricket, even friendlies, because otherwise the game doesn't work for me. Six hours each way for a Vitality Blast game doesn't work, twelve hours of travelling for three hours of cricket. I am not alone in that, so just hope that whatever cricket is manufactured for a potential start date doesn't ignore the traditionalists, of which there are many.
As I said the other day, I will try and produce new material to keep the blog interesting and fresh, even though there will be no live cricket to write about for the next eight weeks at least.
Whether the cricket we have coming up will feature our current overseas players is another question. It will all depend on the dates, the competitive element and the speed at which a semblance of normality can be restored.
England's land may still be green and pleasant, but it is an odd one, right now.
Stay safe everyone. Keep in touch and see you on the other side.
Sunday 22 March 2020
Thursday 19 March 2020
Concern around the counties
According to a report in the Telegraph, around half of the counties could become bankrupt if the Coronavirus outbreak allows no cricket this summer.
That sobering thought is one to make a man choke on his cornflakes, yet should hardly come as a surprise. Cricket, like any other business, depends on cash flow and without the major injection from the T20, especially, many will struggle. It is not just the crowds at the cricket, it is the potential cancellation of money-spinning events, income from refreshments, memberships...we could go on.
Given that the ECB have ploughed a lot of their reserves into the competition that no one wants, were I a betting man I would have a flutter on any cricket from July onwards, which is being mentioned as a potential start date, comprising that competition and a rearranged T20, with little to no four-day cricket for traditionalists such as me.
Having said that, the counties will still get their ECB money, which will be a lifeline for many. We are also fortunate to have announced that record £400K profit, and there will be additional concern around the country where results have been less impressive.
They could feasibly play into October, of course but at this stage, when the goalposts are changing all the time, we have no idea when we can return to even a semblance of normality. When sport is allowed to return there will be plenty of it competing for attention and we can only hope that the Championship in football doesn't end up scheduled on the same night as a T20 game, with an inevitable loss of income in what is very much a football city.
I am sure that the return of sport and access to amenities that we have perhaps taken for granted for too long will see bumper crowds. It is why I see this as a silver lining for the ECB, because if the return of sport is their competition on national television, there may even be hardened cynics who will tune in for their 'fix'.
It is a major concern and like many others, fortunate to have been born well away from the disruptions of world wars, something I had hardly considered. A summer without cricket is like twenty-four hours without daylight. Much as I enjoy my football, cricket is and will always be my first love. Yet we must all keep it in perspective, when there are thousands dying now and likely in the weeks to come.
It presents additional challenges, of course. Not least for Derbyshire, who were due to celebrate their 150th anniversary this summer. I would assume that serious consideration is being given to postponing the celebrations to next year, which will not be strictly accurate, but allows time for the many ideas they have come up with to be planned with a greater degree of confidence.
I am sure that there will be plenty of commemorative merchandise in production, perhaps already at the club. There will be those who feel that we should still celebrate it in the truncated summer that we MAY have left.
My own thoughts are that it should be delayed until 2021. They could sell the merchandise, by all means, but ideas that I have seen for a cricket match, gala dinners and events with large crowds expected are going to have a question mark over them for some time to come. Northamptonshire's Alex Wakely has bowed to the inevitable and deferred his testimonial until next year, so to me it makes sense.
As for me, I will continue to write blog pieces when there is news, and hope to at least mark the anniversary with a series of pieces on memorable matches from our history.
I don't expect to see any cricket sometime soon, though.
All we can do is keep fingers crossed.
Your comments on the above are gratefully received, as always.
That sobering thought is one to make a man choke on his cornflakes, yet should hardly come as a surprise. Cricket, like any other business, depends on cash flow and without the major injection from the T20, especially, many will struggle. It is not just the crowds at the cricket, it is the potential cancellation of money-spinning events, income from refreshments, memberships...we could go on.
Given that the ECB have ploughed a lot of their reserves into the competition that no one wants, were I a betting man I would have a flutter on any cricket from July onwards, which is being mentioned as a potential start date, comprising that competition and a rearranged T20, with little to no four-day cricket for traditionalists such as me.
Having said that, the counties will still get their ECB money, which will be a lifeline for many. We are also fortunate to have announced that record £400K profit, and there will be additional concern around the country where results have been less impressive.
They could feasibly play into October, of course but at this stage, when the goalposts are changing all the time, we have no idea when we can return to even a semblance of normality. When sport is allowed to return there will be plenty of it competing for attention and we can only hope that the Championship in football doesn't end up scheduled on the same night as a T20 game, with an inevitable loss of income in what is very much a football city.
I am sure that the return of sport and access to amenities that we have perhaps taken for granted for too long will see bumper crowds. It is why I see this as a silver lining for the ECB, because if the return of sport is their competition on national television, there may even be hardened cynics who will tune in for their 'fix'.
It is a major concern and like many others, fortunate to have been born well away from the disruptions of world wars, something I had hardly considered. A summer without cricket is like twenty-four hours without daylight. Much as I enjoy my football, cricket is and will always be my first love. Yet we must all keep it in perspective, when there are thousands dying now and likely in the weeks to come.
It presents additional challenges, of course. Not least for Derbyshire, who were due to celebrate their 150th anniversary this summer. I would assume that serious consideration is being given to postponing the celebrations to next year, which will not be strictly accurate, but allows time for the many ideas they have come up with to be planned with a greater degree of confidence.
I am sure that there will be plenty of commemorative merchandise in production, perhaps already at the club. There will be those who feel that we should still celebrate it in the truncated summer that we MAY have left.
My own thoughts are that it should be delayed until 2021. They could sell the merchandise, by all means, but ideas that I have seen for a cricket match, gala dinners and events with large crowds expected are going to have a question mark over them for some time to come. Northamptonshire's Alex Wakely has bowed to the inevitable and deferred his testimonial until next year, so to me it makes sense.
As for me, I will continue to write blog pieces when there is news, and hope to at least mark the anniversary with a series of pieces on memorable matches from our history.
I don't expect to see any cricket sometime soon, though.
All we can do is keep fingers crossed.
Your comments on the above are gratefully received, as always.
Sunday 15 March 2020
And then...
No sooner had it begun than the Derbyshire players are set to return home, in light of the corona virus.
It makes sense, and is not at all unexpected. With sporting events around the world being cancelled, and other clubs on overseas tours returning home, it was only a matter of time before we did so.
Pre-season will now continue at the Pattonair County Ground.
As for the season itself, who knows what is going to happen?
It makes sense, and is not at all unexpected. With sporting events around the world being cancelled, and other clubs on overseas tours returning home, it was only a matter of time before we did so.
Pre-season will now continue at the Pattonair County Ground.
As for the season itself, who knows what is going to happen?
Saturday 14 March 2020
Derbyshire ease to pre-season opener win
Derbyshire 174-5 (du Plooy 79* Madsen 44, Dal 22*
Zimbabwe Select XI 126-8 (Chari 42, McKiernan 2-25)
Derbyshire won by 48 runs
What a pleasure it is to be writing about Derbyshire cricket again after the long winter!
How long it lasts, of course, is down to circumstances beyond cricket control, but the fielded eleven did all that could have been expected in their tour opener, played over 20 overs.
There was a touch of deja vu in the performances. After the early loss of Critchley and Reece, the openers, Madsen breezed to 44 from just 28 balls, before Leus du Plooy played in the accustomed manner for an unbeaten 79 from just 51 balls, with 6 sixes and 3 fours. He got fine support from Anuj Dal , who made an unbeaten 22 as the pair added 83 from the last seven overs.
du Plooy hit three successive sixes at one stage and it whets the appetite of supporters quite nicely.
The Zimbabwe XI lost two early wickets to Ravi Rampaul and Mattie McKiernan, before a third wicket stand gave a little hope. They were never up with the rate, however and a flurry of wickets towards the end gave the innings a lopsided look.
Rampaul once again was a standout, with 2-14 in his four overs, while credit goes to McKiernan, who opened and closed the bowling after missing most of last summer. Two leggies in the side was interesting to see, and McKiernan, like Rampaul, bowled sixteen dot balls. Tony Palladino played but didn't bowl, Billy Godleman didn't play and Alex Hughes skippered the side.
The only concern was Sam Conners not finishing his fourth over, but hopefully he did so as a precaution, rather than anything serious.
We'll not read too much into it, but it is always good to get a win, something they accomplished with a lot to spare.
Zimbabwe Select XI 126-8 (Chari 42, McKiernan 2-25)
Derbyshire won by 48 runs
What a pleasure it is to be writing about Derbyshire cricket again after the long winter!
How long it lasts, of course, is down to circumstances beyond cricket control, but the fielded eleven did all that could have been expected in their tour opener, played over 20 overs.
There was a touch of deja vu in the performances. After the early loss of Critchley and Reece, the openers, Madsen breezed to 44 from just 28 balls, before Leus du Plooy played in the accustomed manner for an unbeaten 79 from just 51 balls, with 6 sixes and 3 fours. He got fine support from Anuj Dal , who made an unbeaten 22 as the pair added 83 from the last seven overs.
du Plooy hit three successive sixes at one stage and it whets the appetite of supporters quite nicely.
The Zimbabwe XI lost two early wickets to Ravi Rampaul and Mattie McKiernan, before a third wicket stand gave a little hope. They were never up with the rate, however and a flurry of wickets towards the end gave the innings a lopsided look.
Rampaul once again was a standout, with 2-14 in his four overs, while credit goes to McKiernan, who opened and closed the bowling after missing most of last summer. Two leggies in the side was interesting to see, and McKiernan, like Rampaul, bowled sixteen dot balls. Tony Palladino played but didn't bowl, Billy Godleman didn't play and Alex Hughes skippered the side.
The only concern was Sam Conners not finishing his fourth over, but hopefully he did so as a precaution, rather than anything serious.
We'll not read too much into it, but it is always good to get a win, something they accomplished with a lot to spare.
PS Conners was later revealed to have had cramp in his foot, so nothing serious!
Friday 13 March 2020
Derbyshire return record profit to end year of great encouragement
After one of the most encouraging on-field summers in many years in 2019, Derbyshire put the icing on the cake today with the announcement of a profit over the year of £402,000.
It is a club record and worthy of huge congratulations to everyone involved in the off-field side of things. They run a tight ship and there is little to spare in the staffing, but it shows what can be done when everyone has a job to do, knows it and does it to a very high standard.
There was a time, in the early days of this blog, when I was critical of the way the club was run, but it is very hard to do so today. It is a friendly set up and the warm welcome from all involved is a pleasure.
It is easy, as a supporter of the cricket side, to become blase about the 'other stuff'. Yet it is in the success of that other stuff that the club can develop and thrive. Together with their income from the new media deal, the success of the annual fireworks show, the festive parties, concerts and meetings contribute to a very healthy picture. As did making Finals Day for the first time, which put a handy £57K into the coffers, while record attendance receipts saw an additional £91K.
It has helped Dave Houghton to strengthen this winter, while there are plans to increase the seating, replace the scoreboard and install new toilets, as well as enhancing the concessions around the ground.
I was only saying to my Dad the other night that I couldn't recall being so enthused with the set up and staff of both my football and cricket teams as I am at present. Phillip Cocu is doing a sterling job at Derby County, while Dave Houghton gives off similar calm vibes, of a man who knows what he is doing and how to take the club forward.
'Underestimated no more' is the tag line used often in social media posts from Derbyshire, and they are right. There will be few teams turn up to play us this summer and expect us to roll over, as the side is packed with professionalism from top to bottom.
If we can display another ten per cent improvement in the playing personnel when we get to the season opener, what a belter 2020 may turn out to be.
A record profit as we begin our 150th anniversary year.
Winning a trophy would make it a very, very special one indeed.
It is a club record and worthy of huge congratulations to everyone involved in the off-field side of things. They run a tight ship and there is little to spare in the staffing, but it shows what can be done when everyone has a job to do, knows it and does it to a very high standard.
There was a time, in the early days of this blog, when I was critical of the way the club was run, but it is very hard to do so today. It is a friendly set up and the warm welcome from all involved is a pleasure.
It is easy, as a supporter of the cricket side, to become blase about the 'other stuff'. Yet it is in the success of that other stuff that the club can develop and thrive. Together with their income from the new media deal, the success of the annual fireworks show, the festive parties, concerts and meetings contribute to a very healthy picture. As did making Finals Day for the first time, which put a handy £57K into the coffers, while record attendance receipts saw an additional £91K.
It has helped Dave Houghton to strengthen this winter, while there are plans to increase the seating, replace the scoreboard and install new toilets, as well as enhancing the concessions around the ground.
I was only saying to my Dad the other night that I couldn't recall being so enthused with the set up and staff of both my football and cricket teams as I am at present. Phillip Cocu is doing a sterling job at Derby County, while Dave Houghton gives off similar calm vibes, of a man who knows what he is doing and how to take the club forward.
'Underestimated no more' is the tag line used often in social media posts from Derbyshire, and they are right. There will be few teams turn up to play us this summer and expect us to roll over, as the side is packed with professionalism from top to bottom.
If we can display another ten per cent improvement in the playing personnel when we get to the season opener, what a belter 2020 may turn out to be.
A record profit as we begin our 150th anniversary year.
Winning a trophy would make it a very, very special one indeed.
Saturday 7 March 2020
Pre-season tour begins - and the end for Fantasy Cricket
Derbyshire's players fly out to Zimbabwe tomorrow on a three-week tour.
At the invitation of Zimbabwe Cricket, they will play two three-day matches, two 50-over matches and two T20s on the tour, which runs until March 29.
It will be ideal preparation for a summer in which only the foolhardy will discount the talent in the squad. I know that I have been optimistic in seasons past, but there are now real grounds for optimism among supporters, with a strong and relatively young squad that covers most of the playing bases. As long as we have the same level of commitment - and I suspect that is a given, with who we have at the club - we should be challenging this summer.
I am especially interested to see how our attack goes, with more options than previous summers. If two or three of them fire, then the batting should enable us to win games in all formats.
I look forward to following and reporting on the tour matches.
Also eagerly awaited will be the return of the county's excellent streaming service, this year enhanced as they have sorted the issues that previously saw the radio commentary out of synchronisation. I only occasionally listen to cricket commentary on TV or radio, but plenty do and this will improve the experience for them.
One thing that won't be around this summer is the Fantasy Cricket League. The Telegraph announced this week that they won't be doing it, for the first time in a quarter of a century. It is sad, especially when they cite a lack of interest in county cricket as the reason, but there's not much that we can do about it. Apologies to those whose enjoyment of the summer was enhanced by the challenge, but it is very much out of my control.
You will see my thoughts and comments on the club, its cricketers and events as usual and I hope that many of you pitch in with comments as the season progresses.
They are always appreciated!
At the invitation of Zimbabwe Cricket, they will play two three-day matches, two 50-over matches and two T20s on the tour, which runs until March 29.
It will be ideal preparation for a summer in which only the foolhardy will discount the talent in the squad. I know that I have been optimistic in seasons past, but there are now real grounds for optimism among supporters, with a strong and relatively young squad that covers most of the playing bases. As long as we have the same level of commitment - and I suspect that is a given, with who we have at the club - we should be challenging this summer.
I am especially interested to see how our attack goes, with more options than previous summers. If two or three of them fire, then the batting should enable us to win games in all formats.
I look forward to following and reporting on the tour matches.
Also eagerly awaited will be the return of the county's excellent streaming service, this year enhanced as they have sorted the issues that previously saw the radio commentary out of synchronisation. I only occasionally listen to cricket commentary on TV or radio, but plenty do and this will improve the experience for them.
One thing that won't be around this summer is the Fantasy Cricket League. The Telegraph announced this week that they won't be doing it, for the first time in a quarter of a century. It is sad, especially when they cite a lack of interest in county cricket as the reason, but there's not much that we can do about it. Apologies to those whose enjoyment of the summer was enhanced by the challenge, but it is very much out of my control.
You will see my thoughts and comments on the club, its cricketers and events as usual and I hope that many of you pitch in with comments as the season progresses.
They are always appreciated!
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