Although primarily a piece on David Lloyd, it said:
'The Cricketer understands that a spinner is likely to join on a loan deal, though that player is not believed to be Shoaib Bashir.'
Hmm...so who?
I tossed a few names around with a friend today and perhaps the most likely - this is only a guess - would be Jack Morley of Lancashire.
He broke through into the red rose county's first team last season, where he did pretty well. Yet his chances of playing first team cricket this year would appear to be very limited, with Nathan Lyon signed as an overseas player for the season and England winter star Tom Hartley also looking for game time.
Morley will be 23 in June and I believe his contract at Lancashire is up at the end of the season. The chance for him to work with Samit Patel would be an exciting one, while Derbyshire have good links with his county. Our former wicket keeper Karl Krikken is performance manager there and we have already seen Luis Reece, Brooke Guest and Ben Aitchison make the move south to good effect.
Mickey Arthur is on record as saying he likes a slow left arm bowler and from a logistical perspective, it would make sense for the young man. More so, for example, than a move for Amar Virdi at Surrey. Dom Bess would be another option, presumably down the pecking order at Yorkshire after the signing of Dan Moriarty, but he would be a like for like with Alex Thomson, which wouldn't make a lot of sense, after the latter signed a new two-year deal at the end of last season.
I daresay we will know who it is soon enough. How much cricket either Thomson or AN Other might get is a moot point, especially in the early weeks when seam is normally king. But with Patel unlikely to play four day cricket, having an additional option would be handy, while later in the year, having two spinning specialists would be much appreciated, further adding to the competition for places that Arthur wants at the club.
Thoughts? Anyone else potentially in the frame?
At this stage we know nothing about timescales, but it would seem strange to take a spinner on loan for the first few weeks of the summer only.
Perhaps a season-long loan would work very nicely for all parties...
Tom Hartley?
ReplyDeleteI mentioned him, Anon (please add a name) but would be really surprised if Lancs allowed him to go out after a good winter.
DeleteIf they did, then no complaints, of course!
As a Lancs fan, Morley makes a depressing amount of sense. Morley and Hartley came up through Lancs youth ranks together and for most of that period I'd have rated Morley as the more likely to break through - he wasthe better actual spinner. But Hartley's got a stronger all-round game, and simply put is a year older, so he got his chance first and seized it with both hands and has properly pushed on. Can't argue with that, but it's always been a bit harsh on Morley who has everything you need to be a good county pro and who, I suspect, would have been just as successful as Hartley if he'd had the same opportunities. If it can't be with us, would be delighted if it was with Derbyshire.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the input! Certainly would be my guess based on his situation
DeleteWhen, tho, will we actually play two spinners? Lancs will probably insist Morley plays, otherwise no point in loan. So where does that leave Thomo?
ReplyDeleteMaybe he has an injury? I don't know, to answer your question, but I can't see any club loaning a player having a right to insist he plays. Not sure how the lad gets on in Lancs anyway, with two internationals ahead of him.
Delete2 spinners might play at Chesterfield, but with Dal, Reece and Lloyd in the side you could play two spinners regularly, if wickets were suitable...
Thomson had an excellent second half of last season and will we ever play 2 spinners, apart from at Chesterfield? The batting seems to have been put to one side a bit and don't we lose Madsen again in July, to Italy? Kris
ReplyDeleteWe will lose Wayne to the Hundred, almost certainly, possibly to Italy. But we have signed Donald and Whiteley, with Lamb and Wagstaff pushing for places. I didn't think another bat essential myself, but we will see!
DeleteWayne has been retained by the Manchester Originals (60k salary band) and good luck to him.
DeleteI'm not a fan of the new colour scheme Steve, sorry! On my mobile it's a bit........red!!
Prem Sisodiya from Glamorgan? Left arm spinner and played with David Lloyd at Glamorgan.
ReplyDeleteDecent call. Not sure how he gets a game with Crane having been signed. But is he as good as Thomson? Would prefer Morley, but again it could be possible and working with Patel would benefit him too. Perhaps the link between Arthur and Grant Bradburn could also come into play?
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