Derbyshire 258
Durham 208 (Eckersley 82, Bancroft 39, Aitchison 6-28, Critchley 3-54)
Match drawn
It won't be the last either, based on his efforts for Derbyshire thus far. He didn't quite have his usual rhythm at the start of the season, but was surprisingly rested for the trip to Chelmsford.
He should be an early name on a team sheet now, as his bowling here was superb. Sixteen overs, 6-28 are figures that Les, Bill, Brian, Cliff and George would have been thrilled with over the years. He showed remarkable control for a young bowler and looks like he is here to stay. He was rightly applauded off at the end by his team mates.
It was good to see Sam Conners back in the wickets too and Matt Critchley's elation at removing Bancroft was quite clear. The Australian had batted 49 painstaking overs for his 39 and never looked fluent, but he dug in for his side.
The best batting came from Ned Eckersley, who must wish he could carry our attack around in his cricket bag. Since his Leicestershire days he has feasted from our bowling and did so again today.
Overall we have done well in this truncated match. There was greater discipline in the middle, far more with the ball.
The news today that Dave Houghton is seeking another overseas 'only for the T20' will give opportunity to those who have reputations to build and careers to preserve at this level.
I think it is right, though the caveat that we would keep in touch with Billy Stanlake, while laudable, is an odd one. Any contract offer will carry far greater risk for a man who has had too many stress fractures already. While he can bowl, when the rhythm and fitness are there, I just think it too great a risk.
We should see Ben McDermott at Worcester, so that will see a slight rejig of the side. He may replace the struggling Leus du Plooy, with Anuj Dal replacing Harvey Hosein, if the seven-day rest protocol is observed, which it has to be really.
More from me in the week, but I welcome your comments as always.
otally agree with you, Steve, Aitchison seems to have something about him. A fantastic performance today!
ReplyDeleteBoth he and Connors began the season as rookie bowlers, but both have now taken fivers, which is the marker you need to pass to announce yourself as a proper bowler.
I disagree about dropping du Plooy for the next game, however – even though I had advocated this in an earlier post. He’s had a poor run of form, but he will come right. And perhaps having McDermott in the line-up might help him to regain his form.
So my starting XI against Worcestershire would be:
Godleman
Guest
Wood
McDermott
Du Plooy
Madsen
Critchley
Hudson-Prentice
Aitchison
Connors
Melton
I’m assuming that Reece and Hosein are still injured. If this is the case, Wood deserves another chance. Granted this line up is weighted more towards batting than bowling, but I think it looks strong enough.
I am inclined to agree with notoveryet, that opening and keeping wicket are as big an issue for Guest long term as Reece. A huge ask to do both to high standard. So it may let Wood in, unless Guest wants to, a different thing altogether.
DeleteI think McDermott away from the new ball in his first appearance here a good move. Different in T20, but a good four or five!
Madsen at 6?! I wouldn't think so... Wood isn't quite good enough, another Lineker unfortunately.
DeleteI think that's a bit harsh Jasper. Wood needs a decent run; could be the Royal London will give him that opportunity. I'd question Critchley at 7 given he's the third or fourth top run scorer in the country.
DeleteAfter the terrible results against Notts and Essex, this was a competent and professional performance against a form team that came into the match on the back of two big wins against Warwickshire and Worcestershire and are neck and neck with Notts and Essex for a place in the top division. We've become used to Durham being a second division peer of ours, and it's easy to underestimate our performance here. Wins against Worcestershire and Warwickshire are probably essential if we are to avoid the third division group but doing so well against a team that hammered both of them gives us a little more optimism than we had a week ago. Worcs morale must be low after two huge defeats but Worcester has been a bowlers' graveyard this year with two high-scoring draws, so it's going to be hard work even if we sustain the improvement we've seen in this game.
ReplyDeleteOne aspect of Aitchison's outstanding performance is worth comment. There's been much discussion of Derbyshire's selection policy this year and Aitchison's omission from the match against Essex, after a decent performance against Notts and a week's rest, has received particular comment, not least Dave Fletcher's constant grumbling about it. Aitchison explained in his interview yesterday that he'd been working with the bowling coach on straightening his action at the bowling crease and they wanted to test it out in a match situation without the pressure of a first team match. We saw the benefits of that yesterday as he ran much straighter through the crease and got much better direction as a result. Perhaps Derbyshire could have explained this earlier, or the journalists could have asked the question rather than just grumble about it for several days, but it's a reminder to us all that we often don't know the background to decision-making and that just because we don't know what they are doing, it doesn't mean they don't.
The lack of cricket knowledge sometimes from the commentators is quite painful to listen to. For example at one point yesterday Fletcher was moaning about du Plooy bowling and Aitchinson bowling "spin" when is was quite obvious that due to the poor light, bowling pace would have meant the umpires taking the players off the field. We were in no danger of losing and in pursuit of bowling points...to be fair his colleague from Durham seemed equally baffled.
DeleteWhilst I'm on a rant I do wish they would concentrate on the game and cricket in general. If I was interested in how Tranmere were getting on I'd be listening to their commentary and not the cricket...
I can understand that some people prefer commentators to only talks about cricket, but I love Dave Fletcher's musings, whether they are about Tranmere, the hotel he's staying in, or kebabs, and his banter with his co-commentators. I find him very amusing and greatly look forward to his commentaries.
ReplyDeleteIt is each to their own. I don't listen to commentary on cricket these days, especially now there are the excellent streams. I might pop it on if something appears to be happening that the cameras aren't picking up, but I don't listen to Sky (who largely irritate me) or local radio.
DeleteThey do a good job, and for those without the stream an invaluable one. But I don't need a commentary on a cricket ground to know what is happening.
My personal preference, others will be much different, of course!
I don't mind some of his "musings" and I appreciate a day of championship cricket can be a long day "at the office" but I think the whole of Derbyshire knows by now that he likes a kebab or two!
DeleteLike peakfan I often have to turn the volume off, particularly when he's being ultra critical, often in a sarcastic manner and sometimes uninformed as highlighted above by notoveryet. I've supported Derbyshire CCC for about 45 years, what with that and supporting Chesterfield FC I'm depressed enough as it is without listening to some Lancastrian telling me how useless Derbyshire are!! I've suffered long enough - give me a break! ��
Apart from that he does a good job! and at least he's an upgrade on his predecessor...
It seems much more of an ordeal to watch it in silence. Having to watch every second in case missing anything and none of the sounds that provide the rhythm of cricket - the appeals, the bat on ball and now, the applause of the crowd.
DeleteIn fairness. Fletcher doesn't pretend to be a cricketer or expert pundit, and he's actually pretty good at describing events. I also appreciate that many will find the banter entertaining even if it is repetitive and out of place to me. But I draw the line at him offering ill-informed opinion and still worse criticism. I don't expect and don't want an ultra partisan commentator, but he should realise that for most of the world, he is the voice of Derbyshire cricket and his often snide and belittling comments does us no favours.
DeleteI find Fletch quite easy to listen to, but Martin from Durham's constant recalling of holidays he's enjoyed makes him sound like the type of person you would avoid on a cruise!
ReplyDeleteClassic Emmerson on Sunday when he started to pay tribute to a BBC Newcastle colleague who'd just died at a very young age and spent what seemed like 5 mins about how painful his back had been once when he was having dinner with her. Everything is about him. Fletcher kept silent but whether respect or embarrassment I'm not sure. Just imagine 4 days in a box with him.
Delete