Patel gives clue to T20 recruitment

There is an interesting interview with Samit Patel in the current issue of The Cricketer.

In it, the Derbyshire T20 captain says that the club are looking for a leg spinner to play in the short format. It would help him to bowl more aggressively and enable him to be more selective over when he bowled in the innings, he says.

Leggies have been prized in the short format for a long time, because a decent one is often very hard to read and creates all kinds of problems for batters. Perhaps international players can read them more easily, but lesser mortals can cause havoc. Look at how effective Imran Tahir was for us (still going strong, too, but I doubt we need another player aged 40...)

A couple of weeks back there was an interesting comment regarding our best T20 side and I didn't respond because it was important to see where the county focus was going to be for that short format specialist.

It becomes a little clearer now, although there are different ways in which a leg spinner could be recruited. You could get a specialist, or someone who adds depth to the batting lineup. None of us would say no to Wanindu Hasaranga, while Ish Sodhi has been very effective for a number of years. Yet such players cost serious money and I suspect Derbyshire will be looking at another end of the market for the player they hope for. 

Again though, there would be plenty of options. Maybe a specialist like Waqar Salamkheil, who played alongside Caleb Jewell for the Hobart Hurricanes at the start of the Big Bash before jet-setting off to Abu Dhabi for another tournament. The Afghan star had replaced Bangladesh leg-spinning all-rounder Rishad Hosein, a talented bowler and powerful hitter. Ideal, one would think, for short format cricket. 

Then there's a player like Jason Sangha, whose leg spin looked very useful in the Big Bash and who opened the batting powerfully for Sydney Thunder. I guess it comes down to whether the perceived need is a mystery bowler or one who can offer in all departments of the game. 

Crucial for me is that whoever comes over has a googly. I had a lot of time for Mattie McKiernan in T20 and he bowled some effective spells. Yet despite protestations that he had the one that went the other way, it wasn't evident when he was getting hit around the County Ground by Mitchell Santner, nor when Rilee Rossouw hit him to distant parts of Taunton. Against good left handers a leggie really needs that 'other' ball, especially if protecting a short boundary, which is commonplace.

Until we know who that player will be, it is hard to call a first choice T20 side. Assuming fitness, Pat Brown and Zak Chappell will lead the attack, Patel would be the third bowler and the overseas presumably the fourth. The question then is who would be the fifth  

Derbyshire could line up like this: 

Jewell

Donald

Madsen

Andersson 

Lloyd

Whiteley 

Patel

Guest

Overseas 

Chappell

Brown 

But no Luis Reece? What about the claims of Harry Moore? Could Andersson, Lloyd and Whiteley share fifth bowler duties?  On the basis of his form for Middlesex last year, when he opened the innings with success, Andersson could earn an elevated place in the order.

We also saw brilliant one-day knocks in fifty over cricket last year from Anuj Dal. Could he force his way in? Or Harry Came, for that matter?

All I can say at this stage is that there are more questions than answers. 

I'm sure we'll know better when this overseas role is confirmed. 

Enjoy your weekend!

End of January thoughts

Caleb Jewell duly became the latest member of the Derbyshire squad to pick up silverware this winter, when the Hobart Hurricanes won the Australian Big Bash yesterday.

Jewell's contribution wasn't massive in the final, but his knock in the semi-final was a major factor in them getting there.

His team mate Mitchell Owen completed a century and tournament to remember with an astonishing knock that equalled the fastest in the competition history and featured 11 sixes. He is in the form of his life and of course should capitalise on that with numerous offers from around the globe. I suspect his feats will put him out of Derbyshire's range financially, but also I would expect a Vitality Blast deal from somewhere. It makes sense for him, given that it also puts him in the shop window for that other pesky competition, later in the summer..

It was good today to see Tom Poynton speaking honestly on the club site about 2024 and the expectations for this summer. I was especially interested in hearing of our plans to use more hybrid pitches at Derby, which makes considerable sense considering the makeup of our attack. It will then be down to the batters to do their thing and offer something for the bowlers to work with.

Also interesting was his reference to big name players - and I paraphrase - setting the standard and justifying their contracts. It is important that they do so and win matches. 

T20 is a world apart from red ball cricket and it is important to remember that a quick twenty from ten balls can make you a hero and match-winner. So too a tight spell of bowling, but Poynton made it clear that contracts for 2026 are there to be earned and will need a greater standard of consistency than last year. 

I still feel that the squad has the talent to be competitive in all forms and Tom referred to the collapses that were far too common last summer. We need to see a different Derbyshire this summer, one that gives more to remember than impressive but fleeting individual performances. 

As an example - and there are many, one could choose - Nye Donald has to become a match winner in T20, not someone who slaps a quick fifty in the Powerplay, then gets out. A little greater nous would see him bat the innings and put the total out of sight after such a start. How many times have we all seen a blistering opening reined in by the fielding side, as tumbling wickets see the new men having to 'get in?' We all know Nye can hit the ball a country mile, but choosing the right ball to do so makes a big difference, in any format.

Anyway, only 66 days to go to the County Championship, 56 until the first pre-season game. While it didn't seem so when Storm Eowyn was rattling windows and felling fences last week, we're getting there! 

Catch up

Apologies for the delay in my weekend offering, but the challenges of clearing my Mother-In-Law's house and finding her a place for her remaining time is taking an undue amount of my time just now, as is getting the forementioned house on the market.

But it wasn't a bad old week for Derbyshire supporters. Blair Tickner celebrated his Derbyshire signing with figures of 4-34 for Central Stags in New Zealand, cementing Ben Smith's side at the top of the table. Tom Bruce has been in fine batting fettle for them, playing some powerful innings in the middle order to take totals out of sight or chase down targets professionally. They seem a decent side, based on what I have seen in reports and scores.

Meanwhile Caleb Jewell returned to form in the Big Bash for Hobart, his 76 from 49 deliveries the top score as they chased down over 200. He was unlucky in the next game, departing to an exceptional catch by Marcus Stonis, but hopefully he can build on his success now.

I have enjoyed watching Mitch Owen, his opening partner, who is not especially graceful but hits a ball a country mile. It was an experiment to move him up the order, but it has proved very successful and I am sure his performances will have created interest around the globe. Who wouldn't like an opening bat who scores at a rate in excess of 200 and bowls handy, accurate medium pace? 

Work has prevented me from seeing too much of the South African T20, but it will soon be time for the Pakistan equivalent, which is usually good fun. I don't bother with the IPL these days, as the surfaces are too heavily weighted in favour of batters and I have no interest in watching bowlers anihilated all the time. At least the Big Bash is a fair battle between bat and ball, which is how it should be.

Anyway, I hope you're all getting through the winter well. Another ten days or so and we will be into February. We can then look forward to the cricket 'next month'.

Regardless of performances, that has to be good news, right?

Tickner returns to County Ground

I don't think it needed Sherlock Holmes to work out that Blair Tickner was going to be returning to Derbyshire. As soon as it became common knowledge that it was a bowler who was 'returning' to the county, it could really only be him, in my opinion. Which is why I wrote most of this piece some time before the news was announced. September, actually.

There were times last season when he looked a good bowler and he certainly would have had far better figures had our slip cordon (and surprisingly Brooke Guest) not put down a number of chances from his bowling. I am not sure if that was early season-itis, cold hands or unexpected nip, but the New Zealand international did create opportunities. He can't be down at the other end to 'cop' them as well.

Having said that, he ended his spell prematurely with only eight wickets at 61 runs each. With decent close fielding that average could have been down to mid thirties and would likely have improved further on later season pitches. He was lively and what was undeniable was that he enjoyed the experience and gave everything at a time when his wife's illness must have preyed on his mind. He seemed like a good bloke to have in the dressing room and to enjoy his stay. Certainly a smile was never far from his lips and that must have been a challenge, with everything going on in his life.

I would have changed things, but it is important to understand that sometimes the kind of player you want is in short supply or outside your price bracket. The county with one of the two smallest playing budgets in the country can only do so much. He's here for the season, too, which is always a preferred option. If we can pick up a T20 specialist, we can adopt a 'horses for courses' approach to the competition.

So Tickner returns, which I assume means his wife is progressing well. That in itself is excellent news and we can only hope that the Blair Tick Project 2 is a sequel better than the original. 

Fingers crossed and let's hope he is in fine fettle when he returns.

And that we don't collectively have teflon hands, this time around...

That overseas role...

I watched a remarkable innings by Glenn Maxwell this morning in the Big Bash. 

Batting for Melbourne Stars against their rivals the Renegades, his innings of 90 from 47 deliveries took them from 75-7 to an all out 165. His innings included ten sixes and it was quite extraordinary, adding 81 runs with Usama Mir, of which the Pakistan player contributed exactly none..

It enabled them to win the game from a position where it was effectively lost and highlighted exactly what you sign a big name player for.

He has done it before, of course and is a very fine player. He also bowls handy offspin and is an outstanding fielder, but Birmingham supporters will perhaps have a different opinion of him. 

In 2023 he was their overseas player for the whole of the Blast and averaged only 17, with a highest score of 47. This is considerably lower than his career average, having scored around a dozen centuries in the format. Indeed, he has played for five different counties in the Blast and only Lancashire might claim they saw anything approaching his best, three of his six half centuries in the competition coming in their colours in 2019.

You can imagine the excitement of the Bears support when his name was announced for that season, the frustration when it was not to be his year. He wasn't the first or last to disappoint, of course and we have had our share. 

I was no gambling man, but would have put a few. bob on Lawrence Rowe scoring several centuries in his summer at Derbyshire, not going home with his debut 94 being the best that he managed in all competitions. He arrived on the back of a triple century against England and yet it never worked out.

Marcus Stonis did little for Kent in the T20, David Warner making only one fifty in seventeen knocks when he played in the Blast. Despite playing for five different counties and being a regular pick around the globe, Dwayne Bravo did little either, a highest score of 38 in 24 matches backed up with only 22 wickets. You would take any of them if offered (I know Bravo has retired) but the statistics don't always add up to the undoubted expenditure.

Reputation is no guarantee of success, as we found when we had both Tillakaratne Dilshan and Hashim Amla in the same side. In our minds they would lead us to glory - the reality was quite different. Just as it was when Shahid Afridi turned out for us, neither batting or bowling anywhere approximating his best form.

Whether at club or county level, the role of overseas professional is a tough gig. The pressure of becoming part of the team is one thing, leading by example another. Many struggle under the weight of expectation, which splits the wheat from the chaff.

Which is why I wouldn't be too upset at the lack of form shown by Caleb Jewell this winter. Anyone who has played the game will know that there are periods when you feel there is no middle to your bat. Maybe it is down to a slight change of technique, to bad luck, external factors or even a different bat. Players try everything to change their fortune and to keep a run going when things are as you want them. 

John Wright told me that he once glued his gloves to the bat handle when he had found the optimum position for them, neglecting the fact that it made running between the wickets a challenge and giving him 'the turning circle of the Queen Mary.' 

Jewell hasn't scored the runs he so far has in first class cricket by being a bad player. Several good judges have marked him down as one to watch and the feeling remains that a good summer in England **might** be the making of him. He will come out of this run, as good players do, but you never know when, until the ball finds both the middle of the bat and the gaps in the field with equal regularity. 

Michael di Venuto was much more prolific in England than in Australia. So too Mark Cosgrove, who scored heavily around the shires for a number of summers. Since the double-lacquering of Kookaburra balls, batting averages have dropped in Australia, those with defensive frailties being found out a little. You also see it in the Big Bash, where scores are much lower (and games more entertaining as a consequence) than in other parts of the world.

While I have noted the lack of form of Caleb Jewell this winter, it is with no sense of satisfaction, no perverse desire to see him fail. Quite the opposite, I would love to report on runs flowing from his bat like water from a tap. 

It hasn't happened yet, but he will arrive in Derbyshire in time for pre-season nets with a burning desire to get both his career and his international ambitions back on track. Maybe under-promising and over-delivering is the way to go...just as long as you manage the latter, of course.

Neither Sam Konstas, Jake Fraser-McGurk or Nathan McSweeney have yet proved themselves the opening partner Usman Khawaja needs. A fine summer in England could easily see Jewell leapfrog them all.

I am sure all Derbyshire supporters hope that is the case.

Talking point - Arthur's dual role

Apologies for the late publication of my thoughts on the latest news surrounding Mickey Arthur, but my mother-in-law has been in hospital for nine weeks and now needs to go into a care home, with all the work that it entails. 

I can see two sides to the news that Arthur will be Director of Cricket for the Northern Superchargers during that other competition in the 2025 summer.

One is to share the general indignation that the county is entitled to 100% of his available time and input, at a time when things could hardly be said to be going swimmingly. 

I honestly feel that the frustration, annoyance, anger - call it as you will - expressed on social media yesterday would not have been so severe had it not followed on from the 'job share' of our Head of Cricket role with that in charge of Pakistan cricket.

Regardless of the job that we do, all of us have only 100% (I really dislike when people talk about giving it 110%...) to give to our working life. If anyone dilutes their job with another role, whether honorary, advisory or 'hands off', that first role can no longer get 100%. Sure, you can work longer hours, but that ends up doing no one any favours, certainly not yourself. If you say 'I will be working harder' my usual response has been 'why weren't you in the first place?'

So I do understand supporter frustrations. The 2025 season will be a watershed for Derbyshire, with the contracts of a number of players up for renewal at the end of it. A lot of people have reasons to work very hard in the coming months as they will otherwise be surplus to requirements when October comes. 

My gut feeling - although yesterday's press release suggested the contrary - is that Derbyshire will go into the one-day cup led by Ben Smith. Ajmal Shahzad has been involved with Trent Rockets and I expect that will continue, so we will see how that all plays out in the months ahead.

But is it really so bad? Other county coaches have done similar dual roles, Arthur replacing Marcus North, whose Durham role hasn't suffered as a consequence. Mind you, Durham have a far greater budget than Derbyshire and that's where you can turn that argument on its head.

Arthur will be working with Andrew Flintoff, who is Head Coach of England Lions. He will be in a strong position to push the claims of the likes of Pat Brown, Harry Moore and maybe Zak Chappell for a place with the Northern Superchargers. If they do well, they could force their way into the England Lions reckoning, which in turn brings money into the Derbyshire budget. 

It is easy to say 'but then we won't have them for the One-Day Cup'. Equally, it is fair to say that the additional Performance-Related Fee Payments (PRFP) will enable us to better fight for available players, both domestic and overseas.

None of us are especially happy with county performances, but improving them requires better quality players, who cost money. Some of the existing squad have reached their performance ceiling, others have their best days behind them. I suspect 2026 will see a drastic change to the county staff, but bringing in BETTER players requires more money. 

I understand that Derbyshire will look to bring in a T20 specialist for The Blast, but the quality of player will be dependent on the budget available. We would all like to see a big name in the county colours, but realistically, even if they were available, you would need to cross their palm with a quantity of silver that we don't have. 

Maybe a rethink is needed at the end of the coming summer, as bigger name players likely depart. We need to develop our own and reap the financial and reputational benefits that brings with it. Perhaps a young, hungry squad with a couple of gun overseas players is the reset that we need?

The bottom line is that we cannot carry on as we have for the last two summers. So perhaps there is an alternate take on things than indignation and outrage...

In less than three weeks we can say 'cricket starts next month.

So we will find out soon enough.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year to each and every one of you! Let's hope that 2025 is memorable for derbyshire supporters, ideally for all of the best reasons..

There isn't much news to report on. Martin Andersson seems to be settling in well at the club, according to a video on the club site, but that's not a surprise as it has always been very welcoming, with good people in and around it.

Caleb Jewell still finds himself outside the first choice eleven for Hobart Hurricanes and the way they are currently playing he seems unlikely to get back in, anytime soon. Mitch Owen is giving them some flying starts, with Matthew Wade at the other end. With West Indian Shai Hope, Ben McDermott and Tim David in the middle order they have plenty of power, while Nikhil Chaudhary reminds me very much of Anuj Dal when he bats. 

It is far from ideal that Jewell will not have been playing much top level cricket before coming to Derbyshire. Nor that he has been in poor form in that he has played. 

There has been some good cricket played in the Big Bash. I haven't seen all of it, but Australia has some fine young talent, alongside some that is evergreen. 

Cooper Connolly of Perth Scorchers remains the best young player I have seen, while Spencer Johnson bowls some serious pace for Brisbane Heat.  Will Sutherland is also an excellent all-rounder, likely pursued by a few counties. Turning the clock back, Lockie Ferguson is still bowling rockets for Sydney Thunder, the toe-crushing yorkers we enjoyed for Derbyshire still very much in evidence.

Moving on, I had the pleasure of a chat with county legend Edwin Smith last week, on his 91st birthday. He is now the oldest former player for Derbyshire, as well as the only living man to take over a thousand wickets in our colours. He has had his health issues in recent months, which hopefully are behind him. 

I don't often comment on international cricket, but I have a few observations on the recent Border-Gavaskar Trophy series, between Australia and India. 

For all of the talent their players possess, India will never be the number one Test nation until their players are allowed to experience cricket on overseas pitches. It's all very well hanging on to the supposed supremacy of the IPL, but flat track bullies don't translate well, when they are playing in different conditions. 

Nor will they prosper again until their side is picked on talent rather than reputation. Virat Kohli has been in woeful form in the past two years, mainly because he is vulnerable outside off stump. Has he got lazy with his footwork, playing on these flat pitches, or have his eyes gone? Either way, he does not justify a place in the side and it is not healthy to have someone in any eleven who is living on past glories. 

Finally, they cannot keep using Jasprit Bumrah as shock and stock bowler. It was no surprise to me when he hobbled off in the final match of the series and now looks likely to miss a fair bit of cricket. He is a generational talent, but your main strike bowler cannot bowl more overs than almost anyone else and he needs support. 

As for the Aussies, their struggle to find a partner for Usman Khawaja (learned his trade in Derbyshire...😉) continues. Sam Konstas is another talented lad, but perhaps needs to tone it down a little until his achievements match his confidence. There is a fine line between confidence and cocky and it is one that is best not crossed too early..

That's all for now. After the turn of the year, the domestic cricket season will be upon us before we know it. 

That has to be a good thing, right?