Durston in and Langers back - PARTY TIME!!

That Derbyshire have signed Wes Durston, formerly of Somerset, for the T20 with the possibility of an extension is good news as far as I'm concerned.

He was one of the names discussed as potential targets for the county on this blog at the end of last season and is a player I have rated for some time. It appears that many Somerset fans do too, if you look at their page on 606, where several suggest they made a mistake in releasing him and should re-sign him. Too late chaps...

While some might argue that his first class average of mid 30s is nothing special for someone who has played his career on the batting paradise at Taunton, the counter argument is that he has never been able to establish a regular place and therefore relax. On that basis, he's done pretty well.

The great thing about this signing is that he gives us balance. He is a fine batsman, as his knock against Sussex last weekend showed, but Durston is good enough to be a front line bowler with his off spin and was regarded as the best fielder at Somerset. By anyone's standards, this is a cracker of a signing.

News that Charl Langeveldt is returning to Derbyshire for the T20 campaign is the icing on the cake.

Last night I wrote that I would be happy to see a Charl Langeveldt-type player in the side. Lo and behold, we've got the man himself! Interestingly Juan Theron, another I mentioned, has now been picked up by Northamptonshire, so I'm on a roll at present. I just hope that extends to when I pick my replacement for Robin Martin-Jenkins in Telegraph Fantasy Cricket...

Langeveldt's signing means that Chris Rogers can take a well-earned break and that the side will be skippered by Greg Smith. For what it is worth, my first choice side, depending on fitness, would now be:

Bosman
Hughes
Smith
Durston
Peterson
Wagg
Madsen
Park
Goddard
Groenewald
Langeveldt

There are seven bowlers there and another couple of options, long batting and an excellent fielding side. Without a doubt this is the strongest XI we have ever fielded in T20, but only time will tell if it is enough to win more matches than in previous seasons. What I will say is that we have some batsmen to do serious damage and two bowlers of genuine quality in Peterson and Langeveldt.

The latter addresses a critical area. We now have a bowler with the nous to stop the opposition getting away to a real flyer and who can come back at the end of the innings and give them the bare minimum to hit. He may have lost a little pace, but Langeveldt is a wily cricketer who should make a very good impact on this competition.

I'm sure there will be the usual snipers about the fact that seven of this side are of South African origin, but I really couldn't care less. I simply want to watch a Derbyshire side in T20 that isn't beaten before a ball is bowled and can compete against the big boys.

Full credit to John Morris and everyone else involved in the deals. A far better quality of personnel are in place - it is up to them now.

Final thought - Carlsberg don't do days for Derbyshire fans, but if they did….

Our greater need a bowler?

I'd a couple of interesting e mails after Monday's game against Essex, suggesting that we should perhaps have signed another bowler for the T20 instead of Loots Bosman. The argument carries some credence, especially since it would appear that Chesney Hughes could give us a lively start to the innings himself. One suggested that we could have re-signed Charl Langeveldt for the competition, but I'm not sure on a number of counts.

Firstly, the very nature of this competition is that bowlers are cannon fodder, a sideshow if you will, to the big hitting batsmen. By the nature of things there will be times when every bowler will go out of the park, no matter how good he is.

Secondly, as I've said before, a bowler who takes four wickets will do a good job for the team but will win fewer headlines than the bloke who smashes a 23-ball fifty. Look at the inflated reputation and salary earned by Kieron Pollard to see what I mean. The other side of that, of course, is that the batsmen will generally be the people that fans will part with their hard-earned cash to see. I had a lot of time for Langers and he was a fine asset to Derbyshire two years ago, but if you asked me if he would be a bigger draw than Loots Bosman, I would have to say no.

The cricket club is a business and the more people they can attract, the more commercially viable that business will be. If Loots Bosman can conjure up one of his special innings early in the campaign, there could well be a lot of people buying tickets in the hope of a repeat performance.

The final point I would make is that Langers is not quite the bowler he was two years ago. After shoulder problems it can take some time to recover form anyway, but at 35 it is likely to take longer than in a younger man. In the South African competitions this winter he got more "stick" than might normally have been the case and my sightings of him in the IPL suggested that he had lost a yard or so of pace.

Don't get me wrong - I'm not saying he's suddenly become a bad bowler, but the Langers of 2008 was a very fine bowler. He's still good enough to make the South African squad, but I'd sooner remember him as a class act who didn't make the mistake of one curtain call too many.

Mind you, if we needed an emergency replacement for Bosman we could do worse - and I doubt he'd have been carted around Leek on Monday...

Good news from the Cape

The Cobras started their Standard Bank Pro 20 campaign tonight with a convincing win against the Lions.

Batting first the Cobras made 179 all out in 20 overs, always likely to be a challenging score. With Herschelle Gibbs making 53 from 32 balls and youngster Richard Levi an unbeaten 43 from just 20 balls, that was always going to be a tough call.

Robin Peterson made a brisk 18 opening the innings, but then he and Charl Langeveldt showed the control that is necessary in these matches to restrict the Lions to 137.

Peterson bowled four overs to take 2-25, while Langers bowled his usual, exemplary 4-0-18-3, five of the runs being early wides!

It makes such a huge difference if you have one man who goes for less than seven an over in these games. When you have two, you will win many more than you lose.

In the light of my earlier piece and what appears to be undimmed ability in this form of the game, Langers at the County Ground may still be a good option for the T20

I'm off now to see if there are any others who might come under consideration!

The end for Langeveldt?

News that Charl Langeveldt is in the South African provisional squad for the ICC Champions Trophy came as something of a surprise, but rumours have abounded that this was on the cards in recent months.

If he plays it will mean the end of his Derbyshire career after one season and I'm sure I was not alone in thinking that when Charl didn't return this year we were unlikely to see him again.

Given the depth of South African seam bowling resources, it would appear unlikely that such a recall would come the way of Nantie Hayward. Langeveldt is a fine bowler, but especially in the one day game. Hayward's forte is probably in "proper" cricket, when he can have the slip fielders that a bowler of his pace needs to succeed. That's not to decry his ability in the one day game, where he has played with a great deal of success, but Hayward is a good bowler. Importantly he is currently a Derbyshire bowler. No one knows how the Kolpak regulations will be tightened later in the year and how it will impact on Wavell Hinds and Hayward, but I would hope that should the opportunity to return present itself, Hayward would show a little loyalty to the side that have given him an opportunity this year.

These changes should not, however, affect the likes of Garry Park, Greg Smith, Tim Groenewald and Wayne Madsen (should he be signed). The first three have, I believe, a British passport while Madsen could play on his EU (Italian) passport on mobility of labour regulations (as does Michael di Venuto).

Should Langeveldt remain in South Africa he will be remembered as a very fine bowler, possessing stamina, guile and an abundance of skill. Not quite a legend - you need more than a good season to earn that in my book - but a very, very good cricketer.

Poll

So only one person reckons that we'll win the Championship this year.

For all I know it could have been Mr J Morris or Mr C Rogers...

Slightly more people thought we were going to miss out on promotion than thought we would get into division one, but at least it is an improvement on recent years when the primary vote would have been of the "we're doomed" variety.

I'm (for once) not sure. Much will depend on weather and fitness, together with people rising to the occasion when the pivotal moments occur. The major players are almost certainly going to be skipper Chris Rogers and our influential opening bowler Charl Langeveldt. If Buck carries on his winter form he should get a stack full of runs, while Langeveldt will always be a handful in helpful conditions.

But which is the most important? Tricky one huh? No sitting on the fence folks, you make the decision in this week's poll.

One thing about the polls - someone mailed me to say they looked out for the start of a new poll to find out which way I was voting. To be honest, I only vote near the end!

Can't wait to see your thoughts on this one. Two fine players, but who's your top dog?

Final thought on the IPL

Meant to put this earlier, but the earlier news of Charl playing in the IPL took me back a few years.

More than a few in fact, as I recalled going to bed the night before Derbyshire were playing Hampshire in a televised game.

Being a good lad, I remember getting in bed after saying my prayers, which finished something along the lines of

"Please God, let Derbyshire win tomorrow but let Barry Richards make a good score"

Amazingly, both things came to pass...

So you'll understand me when I hope that Charl has a fantastic IPL and proves himself the world class 20/20 bowler we know he is.

However, I hope they get hammered in every game so he's back over here as soon as possible!

Charl goes so come on down...

After the early part of the week being spent in a state of excitement following the signing of Stuart Law, it is back to earth with a bang as news comes through that we will lose the services of Charl Langeveldt to the Indian Premier League between 18th April and 24th May.

By my calculations (albeit quick) that rules him out of three Championship matches and all but one/two of the FP trophy matches, depending on the time of his flights subsequently. It is, beyond a doubt, a blow to Derbyshire's prospects, especially in the one day competition that I saw as our best bet this season.

To be fair, however, there was little they could do about it. While the odd fan here and there may be outraged by his lack of loyalty, could anyone in their heart of hearts say that they wouldn't do the same? The chance to earn more in a month than in the rest of the season would tempt anyone. I enjoy my job, but if someone offered me another where I could just work for a month and earn the same money I would snatch their hand off...

So the onus now lies on others to fill the gap. Logic suggests Tom Lungley will be first choice to take his place, so long as his body is fully recovered from last year's various strains and pains. If not, there would appear an early opportunity for Tim Groenewald. Neither could be claimed to be as complete a bowler as Langeveldt, but both bring something extra to the side.

Lungley can dismiss the best on his day and when he has rhythm is himself a potent force. It is an important year for him after last season's problems as the club cannot carry an injury-prone bowler. Tom is also a worker in the field and offers something with the bat, although not as much as his double century in the local leagues a year or two back suggested. He and Graham Wagg are great mates and I suspect that one could feed off the success of the other. We'll see...

Tim Groenewald could otherwise get an early opportunity to impress. Known as a lively fast medium bowler who hits the deck, he has yet to fulfil the early promise he showed in his native South Africa, but could just be a later developer and another who benefits from a change of county. In recent years we've had Tim Munton, "Pop" Welch and Graham Wagg from Warwickshire. The latter two were unqualified successes while Munton was still a fine bowler. If Groenewald shows that level of ability we'll be more than happy.

He also brings a reputation as a fine fielder and a huge hitter of a ball in the lower order. It may be that the compromise is that Lungley plays the Championship matches and Groenewald the one dayers, which would certainly have its merits as an idea.

Only John Morris knows the answer to this little dilemma. We'll know in due course the effect this may have on our season, but for now I'll happily think that this threat to our side's success may just turn out to be an opportunity to a couple of players who need one.

Supporters Player of the Season - Charl Langeveldt

The term "Kolpak" has evolved from one that describes a sportsman on a passport of convenience to one that is even more disparaging. Many players have used the loophole, which is essentially what it is, as a means of making a quick buck and have offered little in return. No names, no packdrill, but look around the county circuit and they will be obvious.

There have, of course been exceptions. Dale Benkenstein has led Durham with skill and has showed a tactical nous beyond many of his peers. HD Ackerman has bolstered a poor Leicestershire side over several seasons with his consistent batting displays and others like Ryan McLaren at Kent and Lance Klusener at Northants have given excellent value.

When Charl Langeveldt's name was linked with a move to Derby earlier in the year there were eyebrows raised. Surely he was in the frame to tour England with the South Africans? There were also several other - bigger, according to the press - counties in for him, so why would he choose Derbyshire?

When he did eventually sign after a delay that matched the "phony war" of 1939, we were all pleased. He'd done well in a brief spell at Leicester, less well in a shorter one at Somerset, but he came from a sensational season back home where he produced extraordinary figures, especially in 20/20 matches. We knew he was a man of principle, as he had by that stage retired from international cricket in protest at the quota system in the South African game. He was quite happy to be picked on merit, but not merely because of the colour of his skin.

South Africa's loss has definitely been our gain. It was a loss for them, as despite winning the Test series in this country, they appeared to have some fine fast bowlers but no one who could really put it on the spot consistently, especially when the focus switched to one day cricket.

From the start, Langeveldt has been an outstanding player for Derbyshire, nothing more, nohing less. Only Michael Holding in my memory has so consistently carried the burden of being both shock and stock bowler. Charl is a burly man, solidly built, probably as close to the ideal for a fast bowler as it is possible to be. From start to finish of the season he has walked back to the start of his runup and come in flat out every day, an economic action being the precursor to a baffling array of deliveries.

Quick one. Slow one. The one that swings away late. The one that cuts back. The toe crushing yorker (available in two varieties). The occasional bouncer just to keep batsmen on their toes. Langeveldt has them all and bowls them with such skill that we are surprised when he goes for - horror of horrors - three an over. In the 20/20 competition, no one really got hold of him and it has been especially noticeable, even on great batting tracks (Essex in the Pro 40) that when the ball has been flying everywhere, Langeveldt still has commanded respect. It is a pleasure to once again have an opening bowler who you EXPECT to take wickets. You don't hope with Charl, he's too good for that.

Times many this season he has been given the ball when batting was easy and has broken through, or tied things down at one end to the benefit of the man at the other. It's the old trick and many's the bowler who has profited from the accuracy of a Hendrick, Cartwright, Shackleton, Gladwin and Jackson. We've not had one for some time and it has been a pleasure to watch a craftsman in action.

The statistics don't lie. 413 overs in 12 matches. Only Graham Wagg, perhaps his closest rival for the award with Chris Rogers, has exceeded that and only by two overs. He's also played three more matches, so Langeveldt's workload has been considerable. He has had a niggle from his knee and a slight back problem but you'd not know that from the way he has run in. As the one day season has fallen apart from the side he has had an opportunity to rest for these matches, but his 54 wickets at 22 are testimony to the skill of his bowling. A further 16 wickets in one day matches at just 18 each, plus eight 20/20 victims at just under 15 tell their own story. So too does his run rate in the short slog game - a shade over five and a half an over. Amazing really.

I've not mentioned his batting and fielding. We didn't expect much from his batting but he has entertained when he has made it to the middle. An average of 17 from a man who has mainly batted at eleven is prefectly acceptable and the fact that 2/3 of these have come in boundaries show his attitude. The agricultural heave is a favorite shot, sometimes with more textbook strokes, but Charl really should be accompanied to the crease in matches to the music of "One man went to mow". It is often short, but never less than exhilarating.

His fielding meanwhile is like his bowling. Total commitment and if not the most lithe of movers he does what is required and has a good pair of hands when the need arises.

It has been a genuine pleasure to have Charl in the Derbyshire side this season and with the reassurance of his being back next year we can enjoy the winter. I hope that he continues in the colours for years to come, by which stage he will have cemented his place in Derbyshire cricket folklore.

Well done Charl - and thanks from all of us!

Derby v Warwick day 2

Well, when they were 240-4 with Trott going well and a long batting order I feared the worst and thought we'd be 150 or so behind on first innings.

For the deficit to be only 40 is a good recovery, although our top order will need to do much better in the second innings to get ahead in this game. The first priority, as I type is for Stubbo and Rogers to get us through to stumps and we could do with one of these two batting a long time tomorrow. Ideally, we'd like them all to, but we need to post 300 in the second dig to make a match of this.

I don't know if it was starting to turn a little, but it was good to see Nayan Doshi break through with two quick wickets. He would have enjoyed the dismissal of his predecessor in the spinner role, Ant Botha, especially getting him for a duck. Langeveldt again showed his class, and figures like that (3-42 in 22 overs) don't lie, while Tom Lungley rattled through the tail and finished with 4-70.

Elsewhere, Jon Clare followed his batting heroics with a steady spell and a wicket, while Rikki Clarke was a little expensive.

Anyway, close of play has just come with Derbyshire 3-0. All to play for tomorrow, here's hoping for a hot day, no cloud or humidity and a chance to post a good score.

All followed by muggy cloud on Saturday of course!