Derbyshire 121 and 117 (Madsen 29, Hannon-Dalby 4-24)
Warwickshire won by 191 runs
There isn't much to say here.
We bowled well again this morning to take the remaining wickets, but were bowled out before tea, as most expected.
Congratulations to Mikey Cohen on his first five-wicket haul in English cricket, which was well deserved. Sam Conners also bowled splendidly again, but until we start scoring runs, we won't win matches.
I will leave it there.
This has to be the worst Derbyshire team since Houghton was last at the club. Never go back, as they say in life.
ReplyDeleteI have seen poor teams over many years.
DeleteThis isn't one of them, but there is a crisis of confidence at present. Good players, too many out of form at the same time.
It's more or less the same team that were in pole position to reach the final of the Bob Willis Trophy last year until the third day of the last match, and finished one of top 6 teams in the country. And the last time Houghton was at Derby, we won the second division and got promoted. Plenty enough to criticise without making things up.
DeleteKrikken was the coach when we won Division Two.
DeleteKrikken was the coach when we won Division Two.
DeleteLook at the impact Marcus Harris has had for Leicestershire. They've built their batting around a few promising local players, the experience of Ackermann and an absolute run machine who can win games and leads by example in Harris.
ReplyDeleteThat's the impact you want from your overseas. Before the season started I'd have said our top 6 was the stronger but clearly not so far.
Looking for positives though the bowling unit were really good over the last couple days. Conners and Cohen look serious players. To the extent we may struggle to hold on to them.
Totally agree. We need a Diva, Rogers or Jones who will bat and keep batting. Looking at our staff, winter recruitment has to focus, for me, on an overseas bat. The bowling looks OK and we will see how many overseas are allowed. But a batsman would seem our greater need on the basis of this year.
DeleteThe post Dean Jones team of 1997 was a demoralised shambles against Essex at Southend they managed to loose by an innings in less than two days it all came right in the last game of the season against Yorkshire when KJB and Tim Tweats broke the all time Derbyshire batting record
ReplyDeleteWell done for being very composed in your write up peakfan, because I'm certainly not. It is a complete and utter shambles this so called batting, infact we're actually getting worse by the game if it was possible. I know McDermott has only just joined but so far he looks totally underwhelming in this format, maybe he can come to the fore in the T20. The only positives from this shambles are Cohen and Conners, well done to those two, the rest take a long hard look at yourselves and be ashamed
ReplyDeleteYou infer by that comment that people aren't trying and that isn't fair.
DeleteThese are good players, who have proven it over many years at a level of cricket most of us have never been close to.
But right now, confidence is low. Players don't set out to perform badly, but sometimes other teams are too good.
Unless exceptional, after a while sports coaches lose the ability to motivate their players. You see it in all sports.
And sometimes when it goes badly and people get on their back, players can struggle mentally and physically. The very best coaches can help with that.
We will see if in the coming weeks DH and DC are in that category.
To be fair to McDermott he only signed for T20 and RLODC. He doesn't look like a bloke who will score heavily with the ball swinging and three slips in place. Then again, neither did Adrian Kuiper, and he was as good a one day player as I have seen.
Horses for courses. Hopefully...
I have been a Derbyshire supporter for even longer than Steve and I can't recall our team looking a more demoralised shambles than at the moment. The malaise has spread to our senior batsmen too and unless we do the unthinkable and perform well at T20, this season will go down as an absolute disaster. The solution? Perhaps the entire coaching team needs to be sacked. If a football team had such an appalling run of heavy defeats that's what would happen.
ReplyDeleteI would excuse Ajmal Shahzad as his seam bowling charges have all kicked on and he deserves credit for that.
DeleteBut it is hard to argue with your basic premise. In football, the exit sign would be illuminated by now.
The question is can anyone do better within finite resources? Or are we as good as we are going to be?
Personally I think we are capable of so much better, even without changing personnel. With the right tweaks, it is possible for another year.
Just when you thought things couldn't get any worse...
ReplyDeleteAll of this does not augur well when it comes to scoring runs in the T20. So many players are out of touch with the bat. How on earth does Corky get them believing in themselves again and finding form? Confidence must be rock bottom among many players. At least du Plooy has scored some runs in the T20 for the seconds.
Will Corky bring in Henry Came for the first game. I'd barely heard of him before the seconds game against Durham in the T20 this week, but if he can smash 113 in fifty or so balls, he deserves consideration.
At least our bowling attack looks in better nick. Connors, Cohen, and Aitchison have all claimed their first fivers this season, which is hugely encouraging. And if van Beek has improved since 2019, we can cause real problems for other teams.
I would be surprised on Came and sooner he played Tom Wood to see if he has it. Harry (not Henry) was released by Hampshire after a few games.
DeleteHe could be another FHP, but you have to be careful that second team feats aren't confused with first team success.
The change of format will at least be refreshing..
Even Wayne Madsen has been affected by the current malaise. Either that or it's the natural drop in returns due to his age. I'd be interested to know his average in FC cricket over the last 4/5 years.
Delete30, 37, 38, 30, 35 over the last 5 years, Tim. 35 is this year
DeleteYou are quite right to focus on the leadership issue, but to my mind its not only Dave Houghton that needs to look themselves in the eye, but also the captain. I know that Billy Godleman has never been the most orthodox batsman, but recently it looks to me like he just wants to come in, play a few shots one day style, and if he gets out so be it. I'm sure he does care, but he does currently give the impression that he doesn't. In leadership impressions count, and he isnt giving a good impression. Do you think this is likley to be his last season as captain?
ReplyDeleteI don't know, David. Depends on what happens but there aren't many alternatives in the current personnel.
DeleteI suspect a new coach might change things, but if we get to the end of a poor season, everything needs looked at, on and off the field
He's never been remotely pretty at the crease (and perhaps it's the increased exposure I've had via the streams) but what I see is ropey at best. Unfortunately little of what I see is befitting of the captain of a first class county in terms of batting.
DeleteI was a member in 2018&19 season. Looking at the results and reading about the performances they are going to have dramatically improve before I part with £200 to be a member.
DeleteThere is something radically wrong. It is either the opposition are much stronger & have better quality players or it's a lack of desire, belief, temperament and good recruitment.
It seems to me the place needs a shaking up, & maybe the Ferguson hair dryer treatment to some.
You are in the results business so let's get started. M
Godleman is not leading from the front. Sorry to have to say it. He needs to set the example.
ReplyDeleteI went down to the Incora yesterday and sat near where the players come out, I was somewhat disheartened, not only with the performance, but like PF says, the players need a spark to light their enthusiasm. I played the game long enough to know that no one is full of the joys of spring when dismissed but expressionless blank faces? Also when coming back out between innings and tea Derbyshire sauntered out in dribs and drabs, although Billy did get 10 of them (Reece was late to the party as he had disappeared to the old pavilion) in a huddle at the start of the Warwickshire Innings.
ReplyDeleteAnother point was that one usually sees the opposition coaches wandering around the ground observing or talking to the players, yesterday I saw Mark Robinson down on the perimeter on least three occasions and Graham Welsh was out helping the players warm up after a break. I have a lot of respect for Dave Houghton, but I have never seen never seen him around the ground, and rarely see the other coaches, infact Fran Clarkson is the most high profile, organising the 12th men and drinks.
As noted by others, at the start of the season we were worried about the young inexperienced bowling unit, and believed we had the firepower and determination to score +300, how that has been turned on its head. Whilst we are disappointed with the batting, we must congratulate the bowlers for managing to bowl teams out, just a pity we cannot last 4 days!
Hopefully the ground restrictions will be lifted soon as it is something of a clinical experience being confined to a specific area and unable to meet up with friends seated in other areas, that and the quality of cricket is not making for a pleasurable day at the Incora
Very good summary of the current situation at the Incora .
DeleteI went yesterday and thought the COVID arrangements were fine. More flexible than elsewhere where at Headingley and Edgbaston you have to sit on your nominated seat. Teamwise - decent batsmen haven't become bad batsmen as someone has said elsewhere there has to be a confidence issue somewhere. Warwickshire had come into the game on the back of a very good win last time out and it showed on the field and with their bowlers. Whether that's down to Mark Robinson walking around - don't know but I've never understood why coaches don't look at the game from different angles at various spots in the ground. We don't know what goes on behind the scenes but someone like Luis Reece looks half the player he has been over the last couple of years. There were people around me suggesting that Godleman should go as captain but aside from the question as to who would replace him is that really the answer. T20 coming just at the right time.
DeleteThere is definitely potential in this fast bowling attack, but to me we lack the basics. A quality top order batsman and a wicket taking spinner. I actually thought the players in the field were quite chirpy. I recall Reece and Godleman having a few big stands in years gone by, but that feels an age ago. I don't think they are bad players, but to have so many batsman out of form is strange. Madsen will play a few nice strokes, but maybe the match winning innings have given way to old father time. Kris.
ReplyDeleteI think Hosein and Critchley have been our best batters this season so I'd look to move them up the order. I am a strong proponent of the concept of your best batter coming out at 3, and for me that's Critchley. I think he has the mindset and it would seem the work ethic to make this work even if it may mean a focus on batting over bowling for now. Thomson coming in can take up the slack spin bowling.
ReplyDeleteGuest has looked competent opening so can continue that gig with Reece dropping down. Though have to feel that short of Godleman, Reece, Guest or Wood making a significantly improved impact in the last 6 first class games this season that an opener should be on the shopping list in the summer. Tempted to suggest Hosein could open given his technique and temperament but frankly as one of only a couple who has produced runs may not want to move him up to much in one go.
Godleman
Guest
Critchley
Madsen
Hosein
Reece
Hard to justify a place in the top 6 for either du Plooy or McDermott. Though the hope has to remain that du Plooy can step in for Madsen if and when he retires.
What, no place for McDermott! Are you serious? He is someone who has proved to be explosive in the T20s. That's why we signed him.
ReplyDeleteI'd also pick du Plooy, who has cored 47, 42, 26, 26, and 10 in his T20 games for the seconds. This suggests he is finding his form again.
I do agree with your comment about needed a New batsman next season. Our top order has become jaded.
Think he’s talking about the 4 day team. Mcdermott will be gone by then
DeleteThe above was in reference to our 4 day side. I 2ould open with McDermott in the Blast.
ReplyDeleteApologies. I didn't realise. My mind has switched to T20 mode in preparation for Wednesday.
ReplyDeleteNo worries. I'm certainly keen to think about something else other than our first class fortunes too.
DeleteFor information tickets are only £5 at Old Trafford on Wednesday if you can face it! Not sure why so cheap or why it is a 2.30 start on a weekday but seems a good deal
ReplyDelete