Leicestershire 280
Derbyshire 252-3 (Madsen105*, Lloyd 73, Guest 34*)
Match drawn
Once it was clear that there was to be no artificial result in this game, the only interest was in whether Wayne Madsen would have the time and opportunity to reach his thousand runs for the season.
He did, with yet another century in the county colours and an innings of considerable charm, as most of them tend to be when he is at the crease. He remains a magnificent player and I hope his talents remain at our disposal for another two or three years. An average of 50 in red ball cricket over the summer suggest no diminution of his powers.
Looking ahead to next season. I thought the lineup looked better today. Caleb Jewell should work well with David Lloyd, who looked to be more at home at the top of the order. Meanwhile Brooke Guest offers additional solidity at five, where he will have the opportunity to rest if he is in the field for a long time. Follow him with four all rounders in Luis Reece, Anuj Dal, Martin Andersson and Zak Chappell and we should get runs.
I couldn't see the result being fabricated because Leicestershire were quite happy with the draw points and a mid table finish. Losing to Derbyshire wouldn't have been a great end of season and when they failed to score enough runs yesterday, the writing was on the wall.
So that's it until 2025. I will be back in the middle of the week with my end of season review. Between times I have birthday celebrations today and tomorrow.
I will catch you all soon!
Enjoy your birthday Steve.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your efforts as always. Sure we'll all be back to commenting midweek, but until then have a pint or two on me.
Bizarre we didn’t see a change in the batting order earlier in the season – we collected the fewest number of batting points in the division - even though the County Ground was supposedly too flat to force a result in recent seasons. David Lloyd needed a change and looked to have benefited in this game.
ReplyDeleteRelated but slightly different in that I am surprised we didn’t see what appeared to be the team balance for this game…i.e., more batting, with Reece and Lloyd as 5th and 6th bowlers, with Guest (or Reece, or Donald/Bin Naeem) batting at 7. For next season this could mean Dal at 8, Andersson at 9, Chappell at 10! Plenty of batting, though no frontline spinner…unless Thomson bats 11!
Discouraging to supporters not to set up a game today, much like at Headingley and other grounds …nearly as bad a decision as omitting Bin Naeem, when our batting was packed anyway so surely we could have found a space (for Donald most likely)…
And disappointing to hear Pettman has retired, yet another player that has ruined their career by moving or remaining at a ‘big’ county…there is a long list (and many football equivalents too…Danny Drinkwater anyone?) but Jack Blatherwick at Lancs another one who would have played far more games and be with a shout of England had he progressed as he might have. Matthew Waite the example of the opposite…a key player with bat and ball in a sixth-place Championship side…and how much Lancs would have loved to have had Rob Jones (who they let go to Worcs) in their side this year!
I know Lancashire have been bad this year but saying they would have loved to have had Rob Jones and his average of 21 in their side is one of the funnier things I've read on here.
DeleteI meant more for his relative experience and that they haven't done any better - but point taken :)
DeleteAnd so the 2025 cricket season ends after a dismal Derbyshire failed to make an impression in any of the 3 different compeitions. The only reason I am bothering to write this is to salute the amazing Wayne Madsen who scored his 39th first class century and in the process went past 1,000 runs. Congratulations Wayne. What a state we would be in without you.
ReplyDeleteIs this a prediction for next season? Grant from Telford
ReplyDeleteI see Reece -6, Came -6, Lloyd -7, Donald -6, Guest -2, Dal -8, on averages this season, compared with career ones. Hopefully can get there's up to Wayne's next season, who is +10 this season. Kris
ReplyDeleteUnsurprisingly the weather was the only winner but not unexpected when the ECB decide to shoehorn much of the season into early April and late September.
ReplyDeleteThe only highlight was Wayne’s ton and another thousand runs for the umpteenth season. Where would we be without this outstanding cricketer? I can’t imagine the batting lineup without Wayne Madsen at four.
Look forward to Steve’s review of the season and maybe news of some much needed recruitment for next season.
Nudger