Derbyshire 173 and 74-3 (Madsen 28*)
Middlesex 358 (Stoneman 112, de Caires 80, Holden 68, Moore 3-55, Morley 3-76)
Derbyshire trail by 111 runs
They ended the day 74-3 in their second innings, still 111 behind the visitors.
Stoneman completed an excellent century for them, with Josh de Caires putting them out of sight with a powerful 80. A total of 358 was more than they should have made on such a pitch, however and a lead of 185 runs was match-winning, in all likelihood. Both spinners bowled steadily and Moore came back late with three wickets, though Brown was hardly utilised, I assumed injured or unwell.
Mitch Wagstaff opened the second innings as a concussion substitute for Luis Reece. He did pretty well and outlasted Harry Came and Brooke Guest, before falling to the day's final delivery.
Madsen again batted well, but unless he plays a genuinely great innings and the middle/lower order show more than they did first time around, this will be over by lunch tomorrow.
Overall, I feel that our bowling is not really any better than our batting. The loss of Conners doesn't help and it's not easy to be optimistic about Ben Aitchison at present. Martin Andersson is a decent county cricketer, like the other players on our staff, and at least he is only 28, but he's never taken a fivefer in a county game and to some extent he seems to duplicate Anuj Dal's role. The worry is that if the head of cricket is regarded as a lame duck, how many quality players of the right age will be tempted to join us? I don't think age matters with overseas players, who are usually shorter-term recruits, but with home-grown players, it's a key factor in any sensible strategic planning. Not that we've seen much of that for a long while. As for Lloyd and Donald, they definitely have ability: the problem is clearly one of mentality. And that is where the coaches should be doing everything possible to help the players to focus on building substantial innings.
ReplyDeleteSuch a shame Wagstaff fell at the end, he did well with Madsen to get the innings going when the game looked in danger of being over today. I hope Mitch gets another go in the last game.
ReplyDeleteAgree that it's likely going to take something special from Madsen, with decent support just to make this one interesting.
Interesting to note Stoneman is out of contract at Middlesex and set to leave.
ReplyDeleteRealise he's 37 and anoher in the Autumn of his career. But he'd bring a thousand runs a season in - considerably more than our openers this year. Plus Brooke could drop down to a more reasonable batting postion for a WK.
This match? Consigned to the scrap heap after last week's defeat. We've unearthed a gem in Moore though, envious eyes are already on the horizon I feel. Oh, and Wayne for the thousand would be good too.
We're all fans on here, so still got an interest. C'mon Peakfan, we'll get to tea at tomorrow and chip at least two out.
Well, let's hope Wayne gets his thousand, but I am not convinced this will go too long into the day!
DeleteWe will see...
Zac is playing with an injury, due to the squad being down to the bear bones.
ReplyDeleteAnuj could be back by next week, (that was from Anuj himself).
Felt really sorry for Wagstaff seemed to be doing more than OK before that last fateful over.
Expect it will be over about 2 tomorrow, but even so will still be there.
No protests, just a quite reservation that MA is going nowhere and that is that! (based on my observations before the meeting tonight).
At this stage they all carry niggles and so does every player around the country. Mickey will be here next year, for sure, but is lucky that is the case
DeleteI attended the members meeting this evening. A question was asked about the low batting averages. Mickey Arthur replied that they were all good players as "I watch them in training everyday" So batting in the nets against second string bowlers is what he is judging them on. Unbelievable. When an elderly lady followed up by saying " but look at how they perform out there (pointing at the pitch) Arthur bellowed "DON'T BE SO RUDE. SIT DOWN AND SHUT UP" When a couple of members came to her defence he again bellowed "IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT DON'T COME AGAIN" I was shocked. The man is obviously a bully. If he can treat members like that you can only imagine how he treats his underperforming players. Embarrassingly neither Morgan or Duckett proffered an apology. In fact Duckett's pathetic response was "Well you can see Mickey is a passionate man" Pathetic !
ReplyDeleteI have had several messages and emails about this and all saying a similar thing. While people have a right to reply, shouting at members isn't the right way to go about it. And telling them not to come again is not the best of moves when the club is on a recruitment drive...
DeleteI have emailed Ian Morgan and Ryan Duckett stating that Mr Arthur should have responded differently and requesting them to ask him to apologise to those involved.
DeleteBatter Steve
As a Kent supporter we are similarly in a rock bottom
Deleteposition as Derbyshire because a) we have only recruited second rate overseas players ( eg Stobo and Swanepoel) and b) have neglected giving opportunities to home grown emerging talent.
Additionally, while I’m very shocked to hear about MA’s behaviour, it is pretty obvious that the culture with him in charge is one of fear rather than support and encouragement. Derbyshire sadly are paying a huge price for the high cost of appointing him 3 years ago and giving him another year in 2025.
Just when you think it can't get any more depressing, the long talked about attitude of MA is seen front and centre and aimed at the members. Outside of an announcement that Wayne Madsen is off to finish his career at Notts and will be joined by Harry Moore, I don't know how things can get much worse 🤦♂️
DeleteI think we should all email the club to see if we can get this unfortunate lady an apology.
DeleteI echo Martin's thoughts (above). Plus points today: Moore's bowling and Wagstaff's batting.
ReplyDeleteWagstaff, in my opinion, should have played anyway. Reece has had a poor season. We need to brood our youngsters, especially when there's nothing to play for.
Bin Naeem should have also played instead of Donald, who has been poor in red ball cricket.
My comment about Nye Donald not being great this season should have said red ball, not white ball, which he did well in.
ReplyDeleteDo you know anything about the head coach shouting at members during the forum on Wednesday?
ReplyDeleteSee Silverfox comments above..
DeleteMark Stoneman is being released by Middlesex. Derbyshire should definitely speak to him to see if he's interested in continuing his career.
ReplyDeleteHe is a good player and has been for a long time
DeleteDisagree about Stoneman. Good player but would be no more than a sticking plaster. If as rumoured Fletcher or Proctor are en route then we're already assembling an absolute dad's army.
DeleteI'm dubious whether this would work next season but I'm absolutely sure it would leave Arthur's successor with an absolute nightmare rebuild on the cards the season after. If that's likely to be the start of the post Madsen era then that's going to be difficult enough as it is.
Wagstaff getting the last game should be a given, a couple good knocks and he might put his name in the hat to contend for first XI opening duties next season.
I’d snap your hands off for Stoneman. I suspect Procter will stay at Northants and I'm not sure about Fletcher.
DeleteSamit and Whiteley wont playbred ball next year, so I think we have room for another experienced player. I do agree all 3 of those would be too many.
Wow if Mick Arthur has reacted to the fans like that then he is a disgrace and he should leave the club immediately.I have always given him the benefit of the doubt but no longer.He should be nowhere near our proud club and our proud supporters Topspinner
ReplyDeleteYes Mickey lost his composure last night unfortunately. A couple of members appeared foolish but that is no justification for his response. Ryan Duckett said he expected such a reaction which begs the question why they arranged a meeting for after a day's play when everyone might be feeling a little frayed. Mickey also said two batsmen incoming so presumably something in the budget has to give. I hope it's not our home bred young players.
ReplyDeleteI have it from multiple sources that Arthur and Shahzad are unpopular in the dressing room, and of course with fans - and if remarks from the members forum are true, then that is bringing the club into disrepute and he should be sacked. Less consequentially but it beggars belief that a so-called world class coach presided over our overseas debacle with the contact book he is reported to have. Looks at Finals Day - we need to build our homegrown players around a core of older heads and TWO overseas players. While being a profitable club is noble, we are a cricket club first and foremost. Our off-field shenanigans, from now, to Godleman, Palladino, Morris, Krikken (having to re-apply for job) in this century alone (never mind Cork, Jones, Barnett, Adams etc. pre-2000) is an embarrassment and not conducive to success.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteCorrection of typos!!......
ReplyDeleteI spoke to Ryan immediately afterwards and advised he and Ian needed to respond publicly to smooth over the fall out from Mickey's outburst which shouldn't have happened and was a human reaction in a moment of frustration but will not have gone down well as other comments on the blog have shown.We'll see the outcome?
I hope that all sides realise it was a one off, in the moment, unfortunate exchange but forgive. Mickey and move on??
I also related to Ryan & Mickey it seemed unfortunate that so much emphasis was put on performance being linked to budget when I think the general consensus of members is that we have good players who aren't performing to their capabilities, often it seems through lack of confidence. Mickey seemed to accept that as fair comment and that it was his role to sort that out.
Having followed this blog for some time without making comment I was finally moved to do just that regarding Mr Arthur's ourburst at the members meeting.
ReplyDeleteIt is one thing treating employees of the club with disrespect but shouting at loyal members is completely unacceptable.
It is time for those in charge to dismiss Mr Arthur regardless of cost. Bullying should never be tolerated.
Ian B
I have played a bit of cricket locally. Nowadays neither bat, field or bowl. i do have experience of sorts, though have never managed a Test team, or been anywhere near County cricket.
ReplyDeleteBut I can throw a tennis ball, I can wear a mitt, and I can do press conferences without being rude or falling out with those who, indirectly, pay my wages.
I could even steward the pop concerts, and do a few numbers on Karaoke. Given that the results I might turn around would be no worse than this season, do you think I should apply if a position became vacant?
I'd do it for free too! Just a decent car parking spot, and lunch. The funds saved....
We appear to have a serious leadership and coaching issue. Overseas bowler, bat, contracts all largely irrelevant until the current issues are dealt with. It's just noise.
ReplyDeleteAll this while Wayne Madsen is still here and our stand out.
Personally, I'm tired of it all.
Keep blogging Steve, it's the only consistent highlight of my interest in DCCC.
MA might do well to reflect there's supporters already not going after the match by match debacles.
Andy
I think Ryan Duckett's position at the club is untenable. The club has a stringent anti-bullying policy which can be viewed on their website. When Mickey Arthur clearly bullied a little old lady member to shut up and sit down neither Mr Morgan nor Mr Duckett followed club protocol and Mr Duckett even tried to justify the outburst by saying " You can see Mickey is a passionate man ". He was therefore giving the impression that passion justified bullying. And that is wrong.
ReplyDeleteI think he tried to put a lid on it, Simon, from what people tell me. But they will need to look at this in the light of that policy. What happens from here will be interesting and they can't wait for it to die down, surely?
DeleteI don't agree with that. Ryan appears to be a good man who always has time to engage with supporters. He has overseen financial stability and was ambitious enough to appoint what appeared to be a top level head of cricket. As far as I know Ryan has no control over players form or other playing matters or what comes out of Mickey's mouth. It would certainly have been wrong if he had given Mickey a dressing down during the meeting. However he certainly has a dilemma now.
Delete