Yet, in this annus horribilis it comes to pass tomorrow, when Academy Pathways coach Daryn Smit takes the gloves for the first time since 2019. Harvey Hosein's continued absence through concussion protocols and that of Brooke Guest, who is self-isolating through Covid protocols, means that Smit will make a belated return to senior cricket.
He recently announced that he will not return next season to Ramsbottom, where he has again been professional in the Lancashire League. Almost 600 runs at 53 and 36 wickets at 13 suggest no dimming of powers, but the commitment on top of a busy role and with a young family is too much.
At 37 he doesn't quite approach Harry Elliott, who came out of retirement to keep wicket in four matches in 1947, at the age of 55, but it will add something to a largely dead fixture from a Derbyshire perspective.
We will be bottom of their division in the Royal London Cup, regardless of tomorrow's result. Following on from bottom in the four-day competition and next to bottom in the Vitality Blast. I still struggle to get my head around how a strong finish, when we play our next game in EIGHTEEN days time, equates to a season of progress, but it is the first time in 54 summers when I can't wait for it to end. There you have it, words I never expected to ever write, but very much from the heart.
Fynn Hudson-Prentice is also isolating in accordance with Covid protocols, so tomorrow's squad reads as follows:
Mitch Wagstaff, Harry Came, Tom Wood, Anuj Dal, Alex Hughes, Alex Thomson, Nils Priestley, Mattie McKiernan, Connor Marshall, George Scrimshaw, Ravi Rampaul, Ben Aitchison, Daryn Smit
As for our visitors, they hammered Warwickshire last time out, thanks to an unbeaten 140 from 70 balls by Tim David. Despite a number of absences, they still boast a fairly strong side, captained by Rikki Clarke, which last time out lined up as:
Clarke, Stoneman, Steel, David, Dunn, Geddes, McKerr, Moriarty, Patel, Reifer, Smith
Surrey can overtake Nottinghamshire and move second in the table with a win tomorrow.
It will take a big performance by the home side to prevent it.
I really hope tomorrow Anuj Dal can finally get big score. He has been messed about by the constant changing of his role. Is he a batsman that bowls ? Is he a bowler that bats ? Is he a bowler that bats at 7 and then doesn't get a bowl ? Can he bat at number 3 ?
ReplyDeleteThe latter decision at the start of the season to play him as a number 3 (arguably the hardest position to bat) seems to have eroded all of his confidence.
Imagine having the pressure of having to bat with his career effectively on the line with the contract due for renewal at the end of the season.
Good Luck to all of them tomorrow.
I think all supporters wish them luck, David.
DeleteI just think it odd that after four years on the staff and three years under Dave Houghton that the latter should say recently that 'we don't know if he is a batter who bowls or a bowler who bats'. Surely by now we SHOULD know, but too often he has been a non-batting and non-bowling fielder.
Despite having nothing to really back it up in the way of statistics, I wouldn't be in the least surprised if another deal is forthcoming.
I don't know if there is more to come from Nuj and if he will go down as one of the many lovely blokes, decent player, JUST short of f/c standard we have had.
I think we must aspire to better, but...
We've seen glimpses from Anuj Dal, but, for whatever reason, I don't think he has consistently performed to the standard I'm sure he'd like to. He hasn't found his niche. One minute he's batting at three; the next minute at nine.
ReplyDeleteCounty cricket is a tough game and some players just lack that bit extra to be a success. On the other hand, sometimes it just needs a change of clubs - or management.