Kirby leaves for Somerset

There is a big appointment coming up for Derbyshire at the end of January, as Steve Kirby leaves his role as county bowling coach to take on a similar position at one of his old counties, Somerset.

He has made a big impression in the last two years and been a major factor in the development of young bowlers. He helped Mikey Cohen settle in this country by having him lodge with him and is credited for his role in their development by several young bowlers.

It was always likely to be a short term role for a highly regarded coach. He has made a big impression and the key for Derbyshire is now in the appointment of the successor. 

Having lost the services of Ravi Rampaul with the fall out from Brexit, then decided against offering a new deal to Tony Palladino, the club has thrown all its eggs into the youth basket where bowling is concerned.

Of the current bowlers on the staff, only Luis Reece can be considered experienced at this level, with Messrs Conners, Aitchison, Cohen, Melton and Hudson-Prentice all having much less than a full season of the first - class game behind them. They will hope that Sean Abbott is able to become the attack's spearhead, assuming he is allowed to play by the Australian cricket authorities, but the new bowling coach will have an obvious key role at the club.

Many will look to Tony Palladino as an option, which I would be happy with. Yet I understand he is starting a new role outside the game in the new year and he may or may not wish to return to county cricket. 

Perhaps former county favourite Graham Wagg could be another option, though whether he is ready to call time on his playing career is a big question. There was a time when Steffan Jones would have been perfect, but he has a globe-trotting niche as a fast bowling expert now and we would be unlikely to be able to afford him.

There will be other options and plenty of interest, for sure. 

The importance of the appointment cannot be underestimated.