Monday against Lancashire was one of those days. Every team has them and has done so from the time that cricket first started. I have lost count of the number of disappointing and underwhelming batting displays produced by Derbyshire over the years, but they are not specific to us, by any means.
I remember us slipping from 161-3 to 166 all out against Tony Merrick and Warwickshire in 1988. Yet it did not define what was a pretty decent side and we made 428-7 in the second innings.
Before my time, but what about Surrey in 1936? Set only 94 to win at Derby and they were coasting at tea on the final day, 49-2. Yet they were all out for 77, as Derbyshire won a great victory, Bill Copson going through them like the proverbial dose of salts. It was one of the many memorable games, as the county progressed to the Championship title.
There was also a pretty decent Middlesex side in 1957, bowled out for 29 by Cliff Gladwin and Les Jackson at Chesterfield. They must have been quite relieved, because at one point they were 13-9...
My point being that these things happen and they have done many times to all sides. It was disappointing, frustrating, probably downright annoying, yet the crux of the matter is how Derbyshire respond to that display.
They have played eight days of cricket so far this summer and have done very well for over seven of them. It is again indicative of a side that has to deliver its best all the time to win. They are not a team of superstars, where one player can lead a triumphal march to victory, it needs everyone playing to potential. You can perhaps carry a couple of substandard individual performances, but not much more than that.
Hopefully Wayne Madsen will return on Friday and he will give a massive boost to confidence throughout the squad. The team captain, the best batter, a man who can be the catalyst for the summer. Had he been at Old Trafford, the result may have been different. Were Jimmy Anderson missing, it would have been. On such things matches turn and there's no getting away from that.
Moving on, Sufyan Moqim is having an excellent PSL and is currently the leading wicket taker in the competition. Like Mickey Arthur, I do enjoy a 'mystery' bowler and Sufyan seems to be enjoying that few people are reading him with confidence, at this stage of his career. It always helps when the surfaces are conducive to spin and I hope that he can enjoy one or two pitches in his time with Derbyshire that are on the second or third use. I look forward to seeing him in county colours in the very near future, as I am sure you all do. I suspect he will prove a handful in those crucial middle overs, when teams are either looking to accelerate or rebuild.
Finally tonight, this substitute player idea is a bit of a joke, isn't it? Today, Lancashire were told that they could not replace Ajeet Singh Dale, a right arm quick bowler, with Tom Bailey, of similar style but lesser pace. But they could bring in Ollie Sutton, a left arm bowler and better bat. Confused?
It makes no sense at all. The whole idea needs to be binned until it has been properly thought through. Call me old school, but if you get an injury, that's one of those unfortunate things that happens. You can't carry a range of substitutes around who may or may not be deemed appropriate alternatives. Any more than you can have replacement players traversing the country like glorified Uber drivers.
It's a good job that this did not exist in the 1980s, when the all conquering West Indies attack devastated batting lineups. They would have been tagging in and out at remarkable rates, assuming that those who were out actually wanted to be in...there were a few omitted from games at that time who were quite pleased they hadn't to face one of the lightning Caribbean quicks.
Anyway, enjoy your weekends. I will be back early next week, when the county Pathway sides start their seasons. There is some exciting talent coming through the age groups and I look forward to reporting on their efforts during the course of the summer.
Postscript: the worst collapse I have been a part of? Opening the batting for my Polytechnic side in a cup competition, we were breezing along at
59-0 against a keen attack, that we later found contained five players from county second teams.
I have no idea what happened, but we were 72 all out.
Funnily enough, we didn't win...
I suspect some of those collapses were on uncovered pitches!
ReplyDeleteI agree about the substitutes, although not too disappointed that Lancashire feel aggrieved 😆
The two early ones were, but there was reportedly little wrong with the pitch at Derby when Surrey were bowled out. Just high quality bowling.
DeleteAt Chesterfield, batting second, Derbyshire made 153 and won by an innings!
It seems that Counties are abusing the substitute rule. How many of the substituted players would have carried on without the availability of a substitute.
ReplyDeleteIn principle I can see the benefit like when we had Ryan Sidebottom (not that one) on loan from Warwickshire and he (I think) had a hamstring injury on first morning of a match (Middlesex away I think) and we were a bowler down for over 3.5 days.
Changes I would make are substitutes are only allowed during the 1st Innings . Once 2nd Innings have started no subs allowed. This would prevent a fresh player coming in on last day.
Also Subs must be aged 21 or under, this would at least give opportunity for young players to get experience.