But when the news broke of his loan signing this morning, my initial thought was short and sweet. Why are we signing him for T20?
He is South African-born and although he has a UK passport, this needs to be remembered, because we have a good few already. More to the point, he has played NO T20 first-class cricket.
What message is this sending to Sam Conners, Ben Aitchison, George Scrimshaw, Dustin Melton? It makes no sense to me and surely we would be better served giving experience to our own?
It seems to me that Surrey are sending him to 'little Derbyshire' for just that and unless those named above are all injured (it seems unlikely) shouldn't we be prioritising the development of Derbyshire players?
Especially when our greater need appears to be for a batsman, having lost McDermott, Madsen and Hughes, and given that Tom Wood is mysteriously being omitted time after time.
The whole season is taking the form of one of these 'choose your own adventure' books, where you can take the story in whatever way you fancy, no matter how weird.
No criticism of McKerr whatsoever, a cricketer I have great time for, but it seems an unnecessary signing, unless we have a swathe of injuries.
If that is the case, couldn't it have been communicated to members and supporters?
Exactly,Peakfan. A good player, sure. But signing a bowler who has as I believe yet to play a t20 gane when we have just been shorn of 3 quality batsmen? OK he can play in 2 dead rubbers in the Champuonship. Smart move or just anorher example of the illogical and timid thinking that has got us in the mess we are in today?
ReplyDeleteBig changes needed at the top.
Now.
Wasn't one of last years excuses for T20 struggles the fact that Ben Aitchison was injured yet he has not yet featured in a squad this season when he is fit and been one of the best pace bowlers along with Conners this season.
ReplyDeleteSurely a batsmen or two was the priority ? I'm clueless to the rationale at DCCC.
ReplyDeleteI too found this baffling. We already have enough pace bowlers: Cohen, Connors, Melton, Scrimshaw, Aitchison, and van Beek, plus Reece, who can zip it around. McKerr might be good - although he's no T20 experience - ,but what we need is another batsman, especially with Madsen out of action for the next few weeks.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately Dave Houghton appears to have lost the plot just like he did in his first tenure,over loading the team with seam bowlers hadn’t worked this season, I don’t know how much cricket Knowledge/experience is on the management board are they leaving all cricket decisions to DH? It would be interesting to hear DH’s rational behind taking on another bowler
ReplyDeleteThis is an odd signing. Good player however realistically in this format it's generally the players with great variation and whom who take pace off the ball (medium pacers and spinners) who thrive in keeping the run rate down, you only need a couple of pace bowlers in the side and Scrimshaw was signed to be the short format strike bowler.
ReplyDeleteWith our batting on it's knees both in terms of depth and power hitters we sign another pace bowler.
I wish him all the best though, if he comes in and bowls some tight spells then fair play to him.
I'm getting more disillusioned with Derbyshire by the day, this is an appalling signing, one that just isn't needed. We should be looking at an opening batsman on loan, there has to be one out there somewhere, who could do any worse than Billy G?. We're just stacked top heavy with seamers now,and it's a case of just pick any three from seven for the remainder of this T20 campaign
ReplyDeleteRegarding the Wood situation. I think he'd admit he's not been in the best knick this season so far. I've watched him in club cricket for a number of years and although I'm a big fan he does get out to balls a top class batsman shouldn't. However, against Chesterfield on Saturday from ball 1 he struck the ball beautifully and scored a sublime ton. In 20 over cricket he needs to be given a chance, not think about his game too much and just attack the bowling. He's extremely talented in this regard so it's beyond me why he's not been given a run.
ReplyDeleteSpot on Steve regards McKerr makes no sense at all......some of the decision making this year seems baffling to say the least. But regards Wood I don't think his form in the 2's has been enough.....for me drop Godleman and bring Critch up the order and give Mattie a good run at it.
ReplyDeleteOf course we can all agree that Derbyshire's highest priority for loan is a batter, with 2 injured, 2 struggling and a raw newcomer. It's obvious that we need a quality, experienced player capable of scoring quickly. Who also happens to be out of their home county's T20 planning, available for loan and (in all probability) from a South Group county, as none of our group rivals will want to improve our qualification chances by lending us a player.
ReplyDeleteAnd the obvious candidate is....ah. The hard reality is that such a player is hardly likely not to be part of their home county's T20 thinking unless desperately out of form. If they are good enough for us (that is, better than our only alternatives, Wood and Hosein) they are going to be good enough for a squad place if not a regular first team place with their home county. Unless you can think of a name (Tom Lace being one that springs to mind) this is just wishful thinking.
In this context, I can see the point of bringing McKerr in. While his contract with Surrey runs to 2022, his career has stalled ad a result of injury and their recruitment of star bowlers, and at 23 he needs to be playing regular first team cricket. If he can't see a route to that at Surrey, he might be considering a permanent move, and a loan could be a first step towards that. Even if a longer-term commitment isn't in prospect, in the absence of Hughes, we have 4 reliable overs to find. Cohen looked as if he could be an option but against Birmingham his habit of spearing the ball wide of the left-handers leg stump reappeared and cost us dear - without his 4 wides, Woakes and Briggs would have needed 16 off 8 balls rather than 16 off 12. Scrimshaw did OK but one match isn't a lot to go on. Melton showed last year he could bowl good overs but not good spells, while Connor's and Aitcheson's pace and natural length makes it easy for batters to get underneath and I'd rather not see their development muddled by trying out ne one-day tricks. Though McKerr hasn't played T20 for Surrey, he's been effective in their 2nd XI, and his pace and bounce could make him very awkward.
So not the loan signing we most need, but one that's possible and positive.
I disagree, but you know that.
ReplyDeleteI think it is typical of the muddied thinking that has blighted this season.
I would rather four overs from someone who might benefit us in the long term, not Surrey. Certainly not another player of South African origin, which the club is awash with already .
No disrespect to those concerned, but if the ECB want an argument as to why they should prune counties, that provides it.
You could also claim that the pace and bounce of several players whose claims are being overlooked could be awkward. I would sooner Conners and Aitchison got exposure to another format than someone who is on high wages which we will likely have to pay, with no long term benefit.
Yes he is a good player. But it is a wrong move, for me. And we are making way too many of them for comfort now
We're not going to qualify from the group this year.
ReplyDeleteIn any given year, for Derbyshire to qualify, we need the rub of the green. Losing McDermott, Madsen and Hughes means we clearly aren't getting it this year.
With that in mind - it's got to about thinking about the future. To be honest, I'd rather get hammered four times but learn something new about our squad, than lose narrowly four times, or even sneak an occasional win, while not contributing to our chances for next season and the season after.
So on that basis, for me, I'm not convinced by the McKerr signing. And the only reason for not giving Wood a chance is if we think the experience of getting hammered and getting low scores will hamper his development. Can't imagine that's the case.
Agreed 100%, Oliver.
DeleteIf there are injuries, then tell us so. If there aren't, then the decision is flawed.
If you don't trust the players on the staff that you signed, you made a mistake. But give them the opportunity to progress, at the very least
Do you think Du Plooy could open Peakfan? His pacing in T20s so far feels more like someone who is there to anchor the innings. Whereas he is coming in at No. 4 when, imho, we're wanting to push the innings on.
ReplyDeleteI think the best teams have an opener geared to bat through, but tick the score over. You could do that and allow Reece, Came and Wood to hit away.
DeleteAnything that shows we are thinking outside the box gets my vote!
You need people up top who can score quickly and take advantage of the power play. Ideally 50 for 1 is the par score requirement. That’s why you need players who have the shots and intent to do this. So far duploy as struggled to get above a run a ball. It might be easier for him to do that with only 2 out. For me I’d let Wood see if he could replicate an innings similar to his one game last year. Duppy at 3 is fine for me. 8 out of 10 times he’d be in in the power play at some point giving him a chance to hit over the top. If he’s not it’s because we’ve had a great start cos both Wood and Reece would score at a good rate or get out so not wasting balls in the power play.
DeleteI think opening with du Plooy could be a smart move. He's always been a slow starter, but he can go through the gears once he's settled. I'm hoping Came will go big tonight. Ten in his first game, 17 in his second...
ReplyDeleteBe good if he did. I don't want to write 'Harry Came and went quickly...'
DeleteYou have to be so careful, Steve, when you say Harry Came, as it can sound like Harry Kane. Mind you, Harry Kane could probably do a better job with the bat than some of our players at the moment. If he wasn't playing in the Euro Championships, I wouldn't put it past Dave Houghton to try and sign him on loan for the T20s!
ReplyDeleteJust seen our eleven for tonight ,what a mish mash of a side it looks. Billy still gets a gig, I think his place is safe if he gets another couple of ducks in his next two innings. The bowling attack looks just as poor with Mckerr and Scrimshaw our two pace options. Think we'll get hammered tonight
ReplyDeleteSo in the second eleven game against Yorkshire yesterday, Godleman scored 8, Hosein 43, and wood 26. And Godleman gets the nod today and fails again. Something very fishy going on here, the team isn't being picked on merit
ReplyDelete