Cork back for T20!

The return of Dominic Cork as specialist T20 coach is welcome news for Derbyshire supporters this morning.

And indeed playing staff. 

The success of the 2019 summer will live in the minds of county supporters and while the team failed to perform at Finals Day, there were some special displays on the way there. That the success came without major overseas input spoke volumes, and made fans wonder what they might do with a couple of quality specialists from overseas. 

We didn't find out last year. With few overseas players, injuries to key bowlers and a batting line up that simultaneously lost form, Cork was battling against the tide in 2020. The top four of Godleman, Reece, Madsen and du Plooy carried all before them the previous summer, so much so that few others had a chance to impress with the bat. Last year they struggled, for reasons that weren't immediately obvious.

The lack of real preparation didn't help, but opponents strangled the top of the innings with spin, Billy Godleman finding this especially challenging. Starts were too slow and when Leus du Plooy got in he was either left with too little time or with three down inside the Powerplay. Maybe the awareness that the bowling was struggling didn't help either, the absence of Ravi Rampaul keenly felt, while the fielding, so good the year before, was at times hapless (Durham away a prime example.)

Perhaps an indicator for this year came at the end, when Tom Wood played a fine knock at Headingley. Were I Dominic Cork, the role for skipper Godleman may be better served lower down, when the steamers largely bowl at the death and a man who has gorged on them for years is around to handle them. Certainly the thought of Ben McDermott and Tom Wood at the top is mouth-watering, while consideration may be given to Madsen, one of the best players of spin in the country, joining the Aussies to tackle the Powerplay, with du Plooy at three.

I am a big believer in your best batsmen having the most time in which to bat and with Reece, Wood, Hughes, Critchley and Godleman to follow, runs should not be an issue this year. 

Cork, like all county supporters, will hope for one more seam bowler from overseas, to share duties with the improving Dustin Melton. Hopefully  Sean Abbott, who is not only a fine bowler in all formats but also a hard-hitting bat. He averaged 94 in the Sheffield Shield this winter, as well as taking 16 wickets at just eighteen runs each. 

If Dave Houghton can deliver that final piece of the jigsaw, reasons to be cheerful could be amended to 'ecstatic'. Michael Cohen and Ben Aitchison could also be potent components of a keen bowling attack. 

Welcome back to Derbyshire, Dominic. 

None of us can wait.