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!