My understanding has always been that Derbyshire are seeking another seam bowler for the second overseas role. That's fine, but with Amir, Conners, Chappell, Aitchison, Brown and Potts on the staff - and with Dal, Reece, Lloyd and Whiteley to offer alternatives - I am not convinced it is the area of greater need.
Samit Patel will remain a force in one-day cricket, but apart from Mitch Wagstaff's leggies, there is otherwise only Alex Thomson's off spin on the staff. Wasim is a very fine cricketer, one with a career highest of 207 and several centuries to his name, as well as a number of five wicket hauls. In T20 he goes for under seven an over and scores quickly with the bat, averaging over 20 with the bat.
At 35 he is experienced, knows his game and would be an asset to any side. He will know Samit Patel well from his stints with Nottinghamshire, while apparently being good friends with Mohammad Amir.
I wonder...
He will not lack offers from around the world, but I would take him at Derbyshire in a heartbeat.
I read the same earlier today and wondered likewise. Intriguingly he was born in Wales. Would he be classed as an "overseas" player ??
ReplyDeleteI would assume so, Simon, at least initially. But into hypothetical situations, could you imagine Amir and Wasim playing as British players, when the former qualifies through residence and the latter from being born in Swansea?!
DeleteThe thought made me chuckle..maybe next we will find out Babar Azam has a granny in Codnor..
I'm not so sure he would classify as a non-overseas player. He's said in an interview that he doesn't have a UK passport and that his parents were only living in the UK temporarily--and he seems to imply that neither of them were UK citizens (which is important since the law was changed several years before he was born to exclude people born in the UK from citizenship unless one of their parents was a UK passport holder).
DeleteOn the other hand, I'm intrigued as to why he would choose now to announce officially an end to an international career which to all intents and purposes looked finished anyway...
I think there will be a county contract somewhere. He is also in demand for global T20 competitions and can make a good earner by playing in a few of these.
DeleteMaybe he doesn't need county cricket and, having signed a few players, maybe we don't have the budget to attract him. But he is a very good cricketer. But like you I see an overseas, not local deal
Well he certainly fits the demographics.
ReplyDeleteOver 35 ! Not sure we will be stopping many quick singles next year. Would suggest this will be the oldest team ever to grace the field for Derbyshire. It’s a big shame if this is all Mickey can attract. Old players on one last pay check! It may work next season, who knows. However, its a short term solution and shows very little on progression. I suspect that is all MA wants. Short term gains that is. He’ll be gone probably by the end of next season and we will be left with not a lot of players Of the decent age to move forward. In response to if we need another bowler id say we need both. Can’t see anyone signed who is gonna replace deploys runs. An Allrounder fits. A bowler who can bat. Our issue over the last 2 years is the inability to bowl teams out. Amir may be the answer but I’m led to believe he hasn’t played red ball for 2 years like so many of our recent signings . Only time will tell.
Jim
Hi Jim. Just to clarify, we don't know if MA is interested in him, but it fits nicely. At 35 I would argue he is at his peak anyway, and has four or five good years in him for someone. Let's face it, a younger player might be poached before they had that many years with us...
DeleteAs I wrote earlier, you don't really replace the weight of runs scored by LDP. You just find other ways of making them. If we get the pitches right at Derby we have the talent to bowl teams out.
It will be a country mile from our oldest ever team. Before WW2 and just after it we had a lot of players playing well into their 40s...
If he comes I accept our fielding won’t be enhanced but if he’s successful as a bowler/ batter then who cares ? As for the youth policy and planning for the future - thats been a success over the last 30 years hasn’t it !!!??
DeleteNo for me it’s all about the here and now , the future will take care of its self.
Paul
At this rate we will be known as "Dad's Army" when thd new season starts. As has been said previously , the 1981 Nationality Act withdrew rhe concession that anyone born in the UK was automatically classed as British.
ReplyDeleteI think you could play T20 cricket at 45, if you are a spinner or batter. It's not a lot of work, if your eye is good. I honestly couldn't care less if they are old, if we win a trophy. Kris
ReplyDeleteWe've a good few months to go yet to season start. Training just begun and the new guys bedding in. Meanwhile, the keyboard warriors write them off. Just an ounce of positivity would be good every now and then.
ReplyDeleteI'm looking forward to seeing what might happen, knowing full well that as a paying punter I can change precisely nothing about the team make up and how we play.
Andy