I was delighted to read about the three-year deal signed by Dan Redfern today.
Redfern is a player of talent who has looked exactly that since he first made it into the Derbyshire first eleven. His composure at the crease has always set him apart from many of his contemporaries but until last season he has not translated that talent into weight of runs.
Last season was not spectacular, but 700-plus runs were made in the characteristic style. He has plenty of time to play his shots but seemed more still at the crease last year, maybe better balanced, and the result was a season of steady accumulation. Having said that, Redfern has shots all round the wicket and normally scores quickly. I've written before that he reminds me of Lancashire star Neil Fairbrother and I think that he will go on to score heavily for Derbyshire.
The surprise is that he hasn't played too much one-day cricket, but at 21 he has years ahead of him. That first elusive century is all it will take and he came close this year. Had he not had the hamstring injury in August it could well have arrived, but I have no worries about the future for Mr Redfern. The lad is a class act and I look forward to seeing him develop in the years ahead.
Elsewhere a living county legend retired today, after considerable discussion over a possible return to the County Ground on the Forum. Dominic Cork was an outstanding player for Derbyshire and a good one for England. His best days were at the County Ground and no one will forget the brilliant innings he played in that Lords final against Lancashire. The partnership he shared with Karl Krikken as our innings came to a close that day was as good as it has been for a Derbyshire fan.
There were "show pony" labels and there was no doubt that Cork thrived on attention in his early years, but he had the talent to back it up. His late innings partnerships with Krikken and Phil de Freitas changed the course of many games, while his aggressive bowling, especially when he was in the mood, ran through many sides. Even in his later years he retained the ability to bowl a "magic" ball, as he showed last season for Hampshire.
Of course, time waits for no man and I am glad that the Cork name at Derbyshire will be carried only by his son. Rumours of a return were out there, but why come back and risk tarnishing a reputation? Greg has a long way to go to live up to his old man, but if he has the same competitive edge he can do it and it already seems evident that the talent is there.
As for Dominic, he leaves the game with his reputation intact and as a star.
No man could ask for more.
Showing posts with label Dan Redfern. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dan Redfern. Show all posts
Thursday, 22 September 2011
Thursday, 11 August 2011
Derbyshire v Gloucestershire day 2
As second days go, this one was up there with the best of them, as Derbyshire bowled out Glouceestershire, enforced the follow on and took a quick wicket in their second innings which closed with them still 186 short of making us bat again.
Much can happen in the next two days, possibly rain, but we are in a strong position that rekindles hopes of promotion. Outside ones they may be, but maximum points here will keep the teams above us with a wary eye on our progress.
There was fine bowling today by the seam quartet, who shared the wickets. There was an excellent tight and penetrative spell by Jon Clare and an inspired move by Luke Sutton in giving him the new ball in the second innings, one that saw him remove the dangerous Hamish Marshall. Although the Derbyshire innings petered out after yesterday's frolics, maximum batting points always gives you a chance and so it proved today in an excellent effort.
Although Greg Smith took a wicket, his short spell of five overs for me raised questions as to why he was preferred to the in-form Dan Redfern in this game. With four seamers (five if you count Ross Whiteley) plus Durston and Hughes to bowl spin, the selection was clear cut - pick the batsman in form.
Redfern's last 12 innings for Derbyshire have seen scores of 82, 41 not, 34, 29, 30, 53, 55, 15, 88, 7, 99 and 63. In some seasons I've seen over the years we'd have given him the freedom of the city for a run of scores like that. Instead, he is sent to Bristol, presumably to prove his fitness by fielding all day, which he did while Gloucestershire Seconds racked up 400 yesterday.
Thanks to Mike, who was at the game, I understand that Redfern today made an unbeaten 80-odd for the Seconds and looked the class act he is - a class act that should have been on display at Derby. There is merit in a player proving fitness in a one day game, but none whatsoever in having a player who has torn a hamstring running around in the field for nearly a hundred overs. He could have done that at home...
Paul Borrington got 60-odd for Derbyshire and Matt Lineker 30-odd as we closed a shortened day on 205-3. Bear in mind the runs that Marc highlighted under last night's post have been scored by Madsen, Hughes and Smith of late, there is no rational reason why Redfern should not have played at Derby, especially when his appearance in the side brings us in around £2K while Greg Smith's costs us that sort of sum. Sorry to bring the subject round to money again, but a county that lost £180K last year needs to consider such things.
I think Karl Krikken needs to consider not just the impact of what keeping out of touch players in the Firsts is doing to them, but also what it is saying to players scoring heavily in the Seconds. We've rarely had this luxury at Derbyshire over the years, but players need to know that hard work in the Seconds will be rewarded. Equally, players sometimes need to drop down, rediscover form and fight for/justify a place.
I firmly believe that Dan Redfern HAS to return at Chesterfield next week and that Matt Lineker should come in for Wayne Madsen. You will then have a firing batting line up and optimise the chances of a win.
Nowt but logic...as always, I look forward to your comments.
PS Sorry about the late blog, but tonight Peakfan and family went to see Harry Potter. Not in person, you understand, but it was truly...ahem...spell-binding...
Much can happen in the next two days, possibly rain, but we are in a strong position that rekindles hopes of promotion. Outside ones they may be, but maximum points here will keep the teams above us with a wary eye on our progress.
There was fine bowling today by the seam quartet, who shared the wickets. There was an excellent tight and penetrative spell by Jon Clare and an inspired move by Luke Sutton in giving him the new ball in the second innings, one that saw him remove the dangerous Hamish Marshall. Although the Derbyshire innings petered out after yesterday's frolics, maximum batting points always gives you a chance and so it proved today in an excellent effort.
Although Greg Smith took a wicket, his short spell of five overs for me raised questions as to why he was preferred to the in-form Dan Redfern in this game. With four seamers (five if you count Ross Whiteley) plus Durston and Hughes to bowl spin, the selection was clear cut - pick the batsman in form.
Redfern's last 12 innings for Derbyshire have seen scores of 82, 41 not, 34, 29, 30, 53, 55, 15, 88, 7, 99 and 63. In some seasons I've seen over the years we'd have given him the freedom of the city for a run of scores like that. Instead, he is sent to Bristol, presumably to prove his fitness by fielding all day, which he did while Gloucestershire Seconds racked up 400 yesterday.
Thanks to Mike, who was at the game, I understand that Redfern today made an unbeaten 80-odd for the Seconds and looked the class act he is - a class act that should have been on display at Derby. There is merit in a player proving fitness in a one day game, but none whatsoever in having a player who has torn a hamstring running around in the field for nearly a hundred overs. He could have done that at home...
Paul Borrington got 60-odd for Derbyshire and Matt Lineker 30-odd as we closed a shortened day on 205-3. Bear in mind the runs that Marc highlighted under last night's post have been scored by Madsen, Hughes and Smith of late, there is no rational reason why Redfern should not have played at Derby, especially when his appearance in the side brings us in around £2K while Greg Smith's costs us that sort of sum. Sorry to bring the subject round to money again, but a county that lost £180K last year needs to consider such things.
I think Karl Krikken needs to consider not just the impact of what keeping out of touch players in the Firsts is doing to them, but also what it is saying to players scoring heavily in the Seconds. We've rarely had this luxury at Derbyshire over the years, but players need to know that hard work in the Seconds will be rewarded. Equally, players sometimes need to drop down, rediscover form and fight for/justify a place.
I firmly believe that Dan Redfern HAS to return at Chesterfield next week and that Matt Lineker should come in for Wayne Madsen. You will then have a firing batting line up and optimise the chances of a win.
Nowt but logic...as always, I look forward to your comments.
PS Sorry about the late blog, but tonight Peakfan and family went to see Harry Potter. Not in person, you understand, but it was truly...ahem...spell-binding...
Wednesday, 8 June 2011
Fantasy stuff
Here's a couple of posers for you in your (imaginary) job as Derbyshire's cricket supremo.
You are coming to the end of the season and have two 23 year old players. Both are technically very good and are strong mentally, though not powerful physically at this stage of their careers.
Player A has played 7 games, 11 innings, 133 runs average 12.09
Player B has played 26 games, 42 innings, 1109 runs average 29.97
Resources mean you have to sack one of them, but you can give a three-year contract to the other. Who do you sack? Player A, presumably?
Having sorted that one, next you have two 21 year old players to consider. Both are 'flair players' with a lot of natural ability that can see them perceived as a bit rash or careless at times.
Player A has played 58 games, 82 innings, 1606 runs average 22.30
Player B has played 39 games, 64 innings, 1740 runs average 29.00
Again, you have to sack one player and give the other a three-year contract. Once again, I would suggest on record you would sack player A.
Congratulations. In the first example above, you have just sacked Chris Rogers and given a three-year deal to Paul Borrington. In the second, you sacked Kim Barnett and gave Dan Redfern a three-year deal...
That's young cricketers for you and why I feel too many give them a raw deal. If you want more examples:
At the age of 24, Chris Adams was averaging 27
At the age of 22, John Morris was averaging 27
At the age of 23. Eddie Barlow was averaging 28
At the same age, Peter Bowler was averaging 25. So was Martin Guptill.
At the age of 24, Greg Smith was averaging 22
At the age of 22, one of our greatest batsmen, Denis Smith, was averaging just 13...
If you want to go outside the county, Graham Gooch averaged 24 when he was 23 and Mark Butcher 23 when he was 22. Yet still we moan about under-achievement!
Reading about Ross Whiteley's (pictured) knock for the Seconds yesterday (65 not out from 37 balls against a decent Lancashire attack with first team experience) heightened my feeling that he is potentially our most destructive young player since Ian Blackwell. At 22 his first team statistics are not overly impressive (17 average with the bat and just one wicket) but I have always been impressed by his clean hitting and feel his bowling can come on still further. He has a tendency to drop one down leg side regularly, but that's just a case of grooving the action a little more. He can swing it and with experience will gain in confidence.
Others, like Ben Slater, Hamza Siddique and Tom Poynton are showing enough flashes of talent to warrant genuine optimism, Poynton batting four and aggressively for the Seconds and keeping wicket with great style (and no little vocal talent!)
But you can't expect perpetual brilliance from kids. Why, Dean Jones only averaged 33 when he was 21, and Michael di Venuto 34 when he was 22. They were/are exceptional players, yet in average not massively ahead of Redfern and Borrington at a comparable stage.
It makes no sense whatsoever, on any level, to cut ties with young players of that age. They make money for the club on each appearance until they are 26 and if they've not done it by then, fair enough. Socially, emotionally, physically and technically few are really cutting it before 23 or 24 anyway. Playing cricket for your livelihood is massively different to playing with your mates at the weekend and when some of those on the boundary edge go into print saying you're a waste of space (or worse) it can't be easy. I've had bad days in my working life, but no one has ever gone onto a web site that evening and told the world about it. That's a crucial difference.
A contributor the other night suggested that the players were well rewarded. I understand that the young summer contract players at Derbyshire are on around £1,000 for playing in July and August, after their University commitments. Throw in their gear and its a good deal for a student - a world better than slaving away in a fast food outlet, but not exactly Rockefeller standard. Ross Whiteley is probably on less than £5K for his summer deal and will have earned that back for the club from his appearances this summer. Borrington and Redfern will probably be on less than £20K is my guess, but next year, with under 22s likely to attract £2,500 per game and under-26s earning the club £2,000 per appearance I expect both to feature heavily.
Returning to the early theme of this post, what would you do? Pay Greg Smith £70-80K to keep him at Derbyshire? We've already invested a lot of money in Smith and he's still technically an overseas player costing us more each time he plays. Critics would suggest he's only had two really good summers and that if he was going to re-sign he would have done so by now. They might also suggest that the player has used Derbyshire as a convenience, retaining his South African citizenship despite opportunities to qualify much more quickly.
Or do we accept that he's going and invest time, opportunity and much less money in Ross Whiteley, giving him a three-year deal and encouraging him to go out there, confident that his place is secure to play his natural game? During that time he will bring in money each time he steps onto the pitch. I'm genuinely confident that the lad could take that number six berth and make it his own, just as I am that Poynton will be a very good wicket-keeper batsman for Derbyshire for years when Luke Sutton takes a step back.
From a purely financial angle, playing Hughes, Redfern, Borrington, Knight/Needham, Whiteley and (maybe) Poynton next year would bring in enough money to finance a top overseas player. You could notionally go with this side
Madsen, Borrington, Hughes, Durston, Redfern, Whiteley, Sutton/Poynton, Clare, Groenewald, Palladino, Knight/Needham
You'll note that side includes Tim Groenewald, who I think will stay, and doesn't include an overseas player. The identity and skills of that person are as yet unknown, so there's no point putting someone in for the sake of it.
A young side? Yes, but improving. Last year we came bottom with an experienced one AND lost £180K. How we do with this one is open to conjecture, but we wouldn't do worse - and would at least balance the books.
For me, as Chris Grant is poised to unveil his plans to the Derbyshire committee, it is the way forward. Karl Krikken, responsible for the emergence of these youngsters, would play a major part in the future too, working alongside an overseas player/coach. He knows the players, they respect him to a man, there's experience and exciting talent side by side and this would prepare us for cricket in the long term, as a club run to an effective business model that would be one for others to emulate.
It's the way forward all right. The DERBYSHIRE way.
You are coming to the end of the season and have two 23 year old players. Both are technically very good and are strong mentally, though not powerful physically at this stage of their careers.
Player A has played 7 games, 11 innings, 133 runs average 12.09
Player B has played 26 games, 42 innings, 1109 runs average 29.97
Resources mean you have to sack one of them, but you can give a three-year contract to the other. Who do you sack? Player A, presumably?
Having sorted that one, next you have two 21 year old players to consider. Both are 'flair players' with a lot of natural ability that can see them perceived as a bit rash or careless at times.
Player A has played 58 games, 82 innings, 1606 runs average 22.30
Player B has played 39 games, 64 innings, 1740 runs average 29.00
Again, you have to sack one player and give the other a three-year contract. Once again, I would suggest on record you would sack player A.
Congratulations. In the first example above, you have just sacked Chris Rogers and given a three-year deal to Paul Borrington. In the second, you sacked Kim Barnett and gave Dan Redfern a three-year deal...
That's young cricketers for you and why I feel too many give them a raw deal. If you want more examples:
At the age of 24, Chris Adams was averaging 27
At the age of 22, John Morris was averaging 27
At the age of 23. Eddie Barlow was averaging 28
At the same age, Peter Bowler was averaging 25. So was Martin Guptill.
At the age of 24, Greg Smith was averaging 22
At the age of 22, one of our greatest batsmen, Denis Smith, was averaging just 13...
If you want to go outside the county, Graham Gooch averaged 24 when he was 23 and Mark Butcher 23 when he was 22. Yet still we moan about under-achievement!
Reading about Ross Whiteley's (pictured) knock for the Seconds yesterday (65 not out from 37 balls against a decent Lancashire attack with first team experience) heightened my feeling that he is potentially our most destructive young player since Ian Blackwell. At 22 his first team statistics are not overly impressive (17 average with the bat and just one wicket) but I have always been impressed by his clean hitting and feel his bowling can come on still further. He has a tendency to drop one down leg side regularly, but that's just a case of grooving the action a little more. He can swing it and with experience will gain in confidence.Others, like Ben Slater, Hamza Siddique and Tom Poynton are showing enough flashes of talent to warrant genuine optimism, Poynton batting four and aggressively for the Seconds and keeping wicket with great style (and no little vocal talent!)
But you can't expect perpetual brilliance from kids. Why, Dean Jones only averaged 33 when he was 21, and Michael di Venuto 34 when he was 22. They were/are exceptional players, yet in average not massively ahead of Redfern and Borrington at a comparable stage.
It makes no sense whatsoever, on any level, to cut ties with young players of that age. They make money for the club on each appearance until they are 26 and if they've not done it by then, fair enough. Socially, emotionally, physically and technically few are really cutting it before 23 or 24 anyway. Playing cricket for your livelihood is massively different to playing with your mates at the weekend and when some of those on the boundary edge go into print saying you're a waste of space (or worse) it can't be easy. I've had bad days in my working life, but no one has ever gone onto a web site that evening and told the world about it. That's a crucial difference.
A contributor the other night suggested that the players were well rewarded. I understand that the young summer contract players at Derbyshire are on around £1,000 for playing in July and August, after their University commitments. Throw in their gear and its a good deal for a student - a world better than slaving away in a fast food outlet, but not exactly Rockefeller standard. Ross Whiteley is probably on less than £5K for his summer deal and will have earned that back for the club from his appearances this summer. Borrington and Redfern will probably be on less than £20K is my guess, but next year, with under 22s likely to attract £2,500 per game and under-26s earning the club £2,000 per appearance I expect both to feature heavily.
Returning to the early theme of this post, what would you do? Pay Greg Smith £70-80K to keep him at Derbyshire? We've already invested a lot of money in Smith and he's still technically an overseas player costing us more each time he plays. Critics would suggest he's only had two really good summers and that if he was going to re-sign he would have done so by now. They might also suggest that the player has used Derbyshire as a convenience, retaining his South African citizenship despite opportunities to qualify much more quickly.
Or do we accept that he's going and invest time, opportunity and much less money in Ross Whiteley, giving him a three-year deal and encouraging him to go out there, confident that his place is secure to play his natural game? During that time he will bring in money each time he steps onto the pitch. I'm genuinely confident that the lad could take that number six berth and make it his own, just as I am that Poynton will be a very good wicket-keeper batsman for Derbyshire for years when Luke Sutton takes a step back.
From a purely financial angle, playing Hughes, Redfern, Borrington, Knight/Needham, Whiteley and (maybe) Poynton next year would bring in enough money to finance a top overseas player. You could notionally go with this side
Madsen, Borrington, Hughes, Durston, Redfern, Whiteley, Sutton/Poynton, Clare, Groenewald, Palladino, Knight/Needham
You'll note that side includes Tim Groenewald, who I think will stay, and doesn't include an overseas player. The identity and skills of that person are as yet unknown, so there's no point putting someone in for the sake of it.
A young side? Yes, but improving. Last year we came bottom with an experienced one AND lost £180K. How we do with this one is open to conjecture, but we wouldn't do worse - and would at least balance the books.
For me, as Chris Grant is poised to unveil his plans to the Derbyshire committee, it is the way forward. Karl Krikken, responsible for the emergence of these youngsters, would play a major part in the future too, working alongside an overseas player/coach. He knows the players, they respect him to a man, there's experience and exciting talent side by side and this would prepare us for cricket in the long term, as a club run to an effective business model that would be one for others to emulate.
It's the way forward all right. The DERBYSHIRE way.
Wednesday, 27 April 2011
Leicestershire v Derbyshire day 1
While a number of batsmen got a start but didn't go on to something really worthwhile, the real significance of our efforts today won't be known until our innings is finished and the opposition bat.
238-5 must have been a heavy going day for all concerned, but that score is only ten short of the best from four innings in Leicestershire's first home match. If we could push on over 300 towards 350 tomorrow we could be nicely in the box seat, assuming we bowl well.
Three wickets for Claude Henderson suggests spin will play a part as the game progresses and Azeem Rafiq may enjoy his first Championship bowl for us in due course. Pride of place today goes to Dan Redfern, whose unbeaten 58 in 2 and three-quarter hours was just reward for a lot of hard work over the winter months. I hope he keeps his head down and goes on to the big one tomorrow, something that would give me great pleasure.
It was a good team effort though. I've never judged any innings until we see how the opponents handle conditions and won't break that habit now. One can only admire the determination showed today and hope that the players continue in similar vein tomorrow.
In closing, special mention for the skipper, whose partnership with young Mr Redfern could be very important in the context of the match. At 174-5 we were rocking. 238-5 seems much more solid and gives us something to build on.
Thumbs up (cautiously) from me after day one.
238-5 must have been a heavy going day for all concerned, but that score is only ten short of the best from four innings in Leicestershire's first home match. If we could push on over 300 towards 350 tomorrow we could be nicely in the box seat, assuming we bowl well.
Three wickets for Claude Henderson suggests spin will play a part as the game progresses and Azeem Rafiq may enjoy his first Championship bowl for us in due course. Pride of place today goes to Dan Redfern, whose unbeaten 58 in 2 and three-quarter hours was just reward for a lot of hard work over the winter months. I hope he keeps his head down and goes on to the big one tomorrow, something that would give me great pleasure.
It was a good team effort though. I've never judged any innings until we see how the opponents handle conditions and won't break that habit now. One can only admire the determination showed today and hope that the players continue in similar vein tomorrow.
In closing, special mention for the skipper, whose partnership with young Mr Redfern could be very important in the context of the match. At 174-5 we were rocking. 238-5 seems much more solid and gives us something to build on.
Thumbs up (cautiously) from me after day one.
Saturday, 18 April 2009
Fantasy stuff...
I picked my team for Telegraph Fantasy Cricket last night. I'm convinced this is the year I scoop top prize with a galaxy of talent that will be the envy of the cricketing world. Until they're injured or pick up some exotic tropical disease of course...
I included, for what its worth, two Derbyshire players in my side. Tempted as I was to include the skipper, I decided against it as it would be the kiss of death. Given their ratings, however, I opted for Garry Park and Dan Redfern in my engine room.
Park rated as a 2? The man has a first class record of just under 40 and should play most matches this season. He's a brilliant fielder and for my money a steal at that price.
Dan Redfern a 3? Arguably the best young batsman in the country and another who should get plenty of opportunities to cement a place. Like most young players, Redfern may have a season to unleash himself on the circuit before they work on his perceived weaknesses, but I'm hopeful he'll score a good few runs this year.
Crucially, both can also earn valuable points with their bowling and catching so we'll see what happens.
I was also tempted to include Greg Smith as an undervalued 4, but stuck with the lads above after due care and consideration.
In return I ask only two things - that John Morris picks them in every match and that they both score a thousand runs in all competitions before the end of May...
No problems then...
I included, for what its worth, two Derbyshire players in my side. Tempted as I was to include the skipper, I decided against it as it would be the kiss of death. Given their ratings, however, I opted for Garry Park and Dan Redfern in my engine room.
Park rated as a 2? The man has a first class record of just under 40 and should play most matches this season. He's a brilliant fielder and for my money a steal at that price.
Dan Redfern a 3? Arguably the best young batsman in the country and another who should get plenty of opportunities to cement a place. Like most young players, Redfern may have a season to unleash himself on the circuit before they work on his perceived weaknesses, but I'm hopeful he'll score a good few runs this year.
Crucially, both can also earn valuable points with their bowling and catching so we'll see what happens.
I was also tempted to include Greg Smith as an undervalued 4, but stuck with the lads above after due care and consideration.
In return I ask only two things - that John Morris picks them in every match and that they both score a thousand runs in all competitions before the end of May...
No problems then...
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