If any remaining sceptics needed proof of the spirit in the Derbyshire camp it was provided today with another excellent performance that, with better luck from the weather, would have produced a win.
We did the early work, keeping the target to under 230 with fine bowling. Greg Smith continued an impressive start to the season with four wickets, while there were three more for the talented Azeem Rafiq, a young man getting betterwith every match (get that loan deal lengthened Krikk...)
Yet 223 was not going to be easy on a wicket on which you were never really 'in'. When we slipped quickly to 29-3, old-style Derbyshire would have declined to 75 all out. Not these guys though. Dan Redfern and Wes Durston started the recovery before Dan was caught at short leg, then Greg Smith played some good shots before departing with the game in the balance at 118-5.
Then came the skipper, man enough to support the chairman and tell the world what has been happening. Slowly at first the runs started to come and the two would almost certainly have seen us to an easy win but for the weather. At 201 with the rain falling, Sutton departed to a shot he would not have played in normal circumstances but there was barely time for Ross Whiteley to get to the crease before the heavens opened and the game was declared a draw.
Wes Durston's innings deserved to be a match-winning one and was the latest in a sequence of fine knocks. An unbeaten 90 from 101 balls on a surface that gave the bowlers every chance was a great effort. That century isn't too far away.
The win points would have been useful and thoroughly deserved. The point (singular) had been made, however - the team is together, they're playing positive cricket and they won't lie down.
Full credit to all of them. Now for a big game in Sussex.
Showing posts with label Essex. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Essex. Show all posts
Friday, 13 May 2011
Wednesday, 11 May 2011
Derbyshire v Essex day 2
Derbyshire's President, Derek Morgan, once suggested that the Derby Telegraph used to have a block of type that was permanently available and read, reflecting on him replacing Gladwin and Jackson as first change "with the advent of Morgan the scoring rate increased appreciably."
That's what I'm finding right now, as most blogs (and I never thought this would be the case) seem to start "another good day for Derbyshire..."
Without doubt that's what today was. On a wicket that still seems to offer help to bowlers, our tail battled brilliantly to take the lead past 100 and a strong position. Note I didn't say "match winning" as there's a lot of work to do in bowling this lot out a second time. They bat long and with three England past or present in there have to put up a better fight in the second innings. Yet we've won two days of this game and the positive signs are oozing from the club right now.
The way that Redfern, Sutton, Rafiq and Groenewald stuck in there today was most impressive. I like the look of young Rafiq and if there was a chance of extending his loan I'd snatch Yorkshire's hand off to do it.
Bear in mind too that with him and Chesney (20) Redfern (21) and Whiteley (22) we're not doing our ECB money any harm either.
I don't know if the weather will allow a positive climax to this game or if we're yet strong enough to force a win from this position, but the Derbyshire team right now is playing excellent, positive cricket. The mails that I am getting regularly reinforce what I saw at Derby recently - this is a happy side who are 100% together and will take on anyone on equal footing.
We're not yet in mid-May and there's a lot of cricket still to play, but this is as good as most people have felt about Derbyshire in a long time. Congratulations to all involved for a fantastic effort.
Oh - and keep it up!
That's what I'm finding right now, as most blogs (and I never thought this would be the case) seem to start "another good day for Derbyshire..."
Without doubt that's what today was. On a wicket that still seems to offer help to bowlers, our tail battled brilliantly to take the lead past 100 and a strong position. Note I didn't say "match winning" as there's a lot of work to do in bowling this lot out a second time. They bat long and with three England past or present in there have to put up a better fight in the second innings. Yet we've won two days of this game and the positive signs are oozing from the club right now.
The way that Redfern, Sutton, Rafiq and Groenewald stuck in there today was most impressive. I like the look of young Rafiq and if there was a chance of extending his loan I'd snatch Yorkshire's hand off to do it.
Bear in mind too that with him and Chesney (20) Redfern (21) and Whiteley (22) we're not doing our ECB money any harm either.
I don't know if the weather will allow a positive climax to this game or if we're yet strong enough to force a win from this position, but the Derbyshire team right now is playing excellent, positive cricket. The mails that I am getting regularly reinforce what I saw at Derby recently - this is a happy side who are 100% together and will take on anyone on equal footing.
We're not yet in mid-May and there's a lot of cricket still to play, but this is as good as most people have felt about Derbyshire in a long time. Congratulations to all involved for a fantastic effort.
Oh - and keep it up!
Tuesday, 10 May 2011
Derbyshire v Essex preview
Back to the Championship for Derbyshire today and a tough home game against Essex. The visitors have one of the best batting line ups in the division and we will need to be at our recent best to get a positive result from this game. However, Essex are in this division on merit so I doubt our boys will go in with any negative thoughts.
England men Alistair Cook and Ravi Bopara lead the Essex batting, while South African Lonwabo Tsotsobe leads the attack with the evergreen David Masters. Their 12 is:
James Foster, Alistair Cook, Mark Pettini, Jack Mickleburgh, Ravi Bopara, Matt Walker, Adam Wheater, Tim Phillips, David Masters, Lonwabo Tsotsobe, Maurice Chambers and Chris Wright.
Derbyshire recall Ross Whiteley to the 12, while Mark Footitt and Tony Palladino are fit, the latter presumably very keen to impress against his former employers. My guess is that Azeem Rafiq and Whiteley will compete for the last place, much depending on the look of the wicket. The Derbyshire 12 is:
Wayne Madsen, Wes Durston, Usman Khawaja, Chesney Hughes, Dan Redfern, Greg Smith, Luke Sutton, Ross Whiteley, Azeem Rafiq, Tim Groenewald, Tony Palladino and Mark Footitt.
It should be a good game and a win to take us up the Championship table would reinforce the feel good factor around the County Ground at present.
More later.
England men Alistair Cook and Ravi Bopara lead the Essex batting, while South African Lonwabo Tsotsobe leads the attack with the evergreen David Masters. Their 12 is:
James Foster, Alistair Cook, Mark Pettini, Jack Mickleburgh, Ravi Bopara, Matt Walker, Adam Wheater, Tim Phillips, David Masters, Lonwabo Tsotsobe, Maurice Chambers and Chris Wright.
Derbyshire recall Ross Whiteley to the 12, while Mark Footitt and Tony Palladino are fit, the latter presumably very keen to impress against his former employers. My guess is that Azeem Rafiq and Whiteley will compete for the last place, much depending on the look of the wicket. The Derbyshire 12 is:
Wayne Madsen, Wes Durston, Usman Khawaja, Chesney Hughes, Dan Redfern, Greg Smith, Luke Sutton, Ross Whiteley, Azeem Rafiq, Tim Groenewald, Tony Palladino and Mark Footitt.
It should be a good game and a win to take us up the Championship table would reinforce the feel good factor around the County Ground at present.
More later.
Monday, 3 May 2010
Derbyshire v Essex CB40
On the up side, we scored 299 runs in 40 overs today, with several players getting runs and Chesney Hughes showing what a talent he is and is going to be.
On the down side, despite Duckworth Lewis decreeing that our visitors needed 248 in 30 overs, they breezed it for the loss of five wickets, despite being 64-4 at one stage. For some reason, Ryan ten Doeschate becomes Garry Sobers when he plays against us and hit an unbeaten 109 from just 62 balls as Essex won with 16 balls to spare.
I could understand it more if we were undone again by a special player, but the Dutchman has now annihilated us twice in a short period of time without our appearing to learn what and how to bowl at him. He is a clean hitter with a good eye, but not, by any stretch of the imagination, a brilliant player.
Last week I wrote in the blog that I would have liked to transplant Harold Rhodes and Alan Ward from the 1960's team to the present day eleven. That team would have laughed at the concept of scoring 299 in 40 overs, but with batsmen slower on their feet and less innovation with strokeplay, conceding 248 in 27 overs would have been totally unrealistic.
So was today an extraordinary innings, or some very average bowling? I don't know, maybe a bit of both, but what I do know is that unless we find someone or some method of bowling in one day cricket we are not going to win many matches.
When I happily received a text this afternoon to say that Essex had slipped to 64-4, I sent one back to say that we needed to get ten Doeschate. It was more a reflection of his batting in the last match of last season than any genuine fear that lightning would strike twice. Surely, surely, we wouldn't fail to defend that sort of total?
Well, we did. I'm reminded of a story about Brian Clough, who once scored five for Middlesborough yet saw his team lose the game 6-5. After the game, Clough, ever the man for the quick comment, said that "maybe if I score six next week we'll get a draw," a comment aimed squarely at his team mates in the defence.
Maybe Chris Rogers and his batsmen need to get 375 next time. Or we need to see if Harold Rhodes and Alan Ward can make the next one day fixture.
It might go to the last over.
On the down side, despite Duckworth Lewis decreeing that our visitors needed 248 in 30 overs, they breezed it for the loss of five wickets, despite being 64-4 at one stage. For some reason, Ryan ten Doeschate becomes Garry Sobers when he plays against us and hit an unbeaten 109 from just 62 balls as Essex won with 16 balls to spare.
I could understand it more if we were undone again by a special player, but the Dutchman has now annihilated us twice in a short period of time without our appearing to learn what and how to bowl at him. He is a clean hitter with a good eye, but not, by any stretch of the imagination, a brilliant player.
Last week I wrote in the blog that I would have liked to transplant Harold Rhodes and Alan Ward from the 1960's team to the present day eleven. That team would have laughed at the concept of scoring 299 in 40 overs, but with batsmen slower on their feet and less innovation with strokeplay, conceding 248 in 27 overs would have been totally unrealistic.
So was today an extraordinary innings, or some very average bowling? I don't know, maybe a bit of both, but what I do know is that unless we find someone or some method of bowling in one day cricket we are not going to win many matches.
When I happily received a text this afternoon to say that Essex had slipped to 64-4, I sent one back to say that we needed to get ten Doeschate. It was more a reflection of his batting in the last match of last season than any genuine fear that lightning would strike twice. Surely, surely, we wouldn't fail to defend that sort of total?
Well, we did. I'm reminded of a story about Brian Clough, who once scored five for Middlesborough yet saw his team lose the game 6-5. After the game, Clough, ever the man for the quick comment, said that "maybe if I score six next week we'll get a draw," a comment aimed squarely at his team mates in the defence.
Maybe Chris Rogers and his batsmen need to get 375 next time. Or we need to see if Harold Rhodes and Alan Ward can make the next one day fixture.
It might go to the last over.
Sunday, 2 May 2010
Derbyshire v Essex CB 40 preview
Evening everyone.
There was no blog yesterday as there was little to report, but tomorrow Derbyshire are back in action at Leek in a Clydesdale Bank 40 match (weather permitting) against Essex.
John Morris has named a squad of thirteen for the game, but there is no place for local boy Dan Redfern, who hasn't yet hit form. It is far from unusual with young players, and although Redfern will be disappointed, his time will come. He is far too good a player for this to be anything other than a temporary blip.
The Derbyshire squad for the game is:
Chris Rogers
Chesney Hughes
Wayne Madsen
Garry Park
Greg Smith
Robin Peterson
John Sadler
Lee Goddard
Tim Groenewald
Tom Lungley
Steffan Jones
Jake Needham
Mark Footitt
My thoughts are that Needham and Footitt will miss out, though again the track will decide that. Peterson, Smith and Hughes can provide spin options, while Madsen bowled well in a Sunday game at the end of last season and is a useful bowler. It was interesting to see how well the Indian slow bowlers tied down South Africa this afternoon in the 20 over World Cup, and our new opening batsman Loots Bosman didn't seem to like facing spin at the start of the innings. Of course, he's not alone, as Adam Gilchrist and Matt Hayden were also tied down by slow bowling in the IPL this year. In Bosman's defence, he will face no spinners in Harbhajan's class in the T20.
As for our visitors, their scheduled game against Middlesex at Lords today was abandoned without a ball being bowled, so they will be keen to get some points from tomorrow. There will be no Ravi Bopara, who is in the West Indies with England, but they have a decent side in one day cricket, with Ryan ten Doeschate a danger man in the middle order, as we remember all too well from the end of last season.
IF Derbyshire play as we know they can in four day cricket, they can give anyone a game. The same players take the field and it just needs them to believe in themselves as they obviously do in the Championship. While the weather may legislate against a full match tomorrow, I genuinely feel that this team can do much better in one day cricket this season.
They just need to go and prove it now. With both sides losing last week, they will be keen for a first win and it should be an excellent game for the well appointed ground at Leek.
I hope that the crowds turn out and do it justice.
There was no blog yesterday as there was little to report, but tomorrow Derbyshire are back in action at Leek in a Clydesdale Bank 40 match (weather permitting) against Essex.
John Morris has named a squad of thirteen for the game, but there is no place for local boy Dan Redfern, who hasn't yet hit form. It is far from unusual with young players, and although Redfern will be disappointed, his time will come. He is far too good a player for this to be anything other than a temporary blip.
The Derbyshire squad for the game is:
Chris Rogers
Chesney Hughes
Wayne Madsen
Garry Park
Greg Smith
Robin Peterson
John Sadler
Lee Goddard
Tim Groenewald
Tom Lungley
Steffan Jones
Jake Needham
Mark Footitt
My thoughts are that Needham and Footitt will miss out, though again the track will decide that. Peterson, Smith and Hughes can provide spin options, while Madsen bowled well in a Sunday game at the end of last season and is a useful bowler. It was interesting to see how well the Indian slow bowlers tied down South Africa this afternoon in the 20 over World Cup, and our new opening batsman Loots Bosman didn't seem to like facing spin at the start of the innings. Of course, he's not alone, as Adam Gilchrist and Matt Hayden were also tied down by slow bowling in the IPL this year. In Bosman's defence, he will face no spinners in Harbhajan's class in the T20.
As for our visitors, their scheduled game against Middlesex at Lords today was abandoned without a ball being bowled, so they will be keen to get some points from tomorrow. There will be no Ravi Bopara, who is in the West Indies with England, but they have a decent side in one day cricket, with Ryan ten Doeschate a danger man in the middle order, as we remember all too well from the end of last season.
IF Derbyshire play as we know they can in four day cricket, they can give anyone a game. The same players take the field and it just needs them to believe in themselves as they obviously do in the Championship. While the weather may legislate against a full match tomorrow, I genuinely feel that this team can do much better in one day cricket this season.
They just need to go and prove it now. With both sides losing last week, they will be keen for a first win and it should be an excellent game for the well appointed ground at Leek.
I hope that the crowds turn out and do it justice.
Saturday, 26 September 2009
Cobblers...
Its as well that they're known as a town of cobblers as there's an awful lot of it on the 606 boards tonight, especially the Northamptonshire one.
Steelbacks? Wusses more like. I'd like to think, if the situation was reversed, that I and fellow Derbyshire fans might be a little more sensible and not come out with such nonsense.
I think I'd be wrong though.
At the risk of offending a regular reader or two, why are Derbyshire fans "apologising on behalf of the club"? That is pathetic and you can leave me out of any such apology.
We set a perfectly fair total of 359 in 63 overs. Not overly demanding for a long batting order, but taxing on a track that offered help throughout. Certainly not a breeze. We were missing bowlers but still had four men out for 160 and looked favourites at that point. Then ten Doeschate took control with an astonishing innings with support from his skipper and it was game over.
What happened was that a good player had a great day and he played for our opponents. They are allowed to do that you know. We didn't bowl especially well by all accounts, but to suggest, as some do that "we gave them the game" is nonsense.
So are the spurious and libellous claims of some of the "correspondents" that it was fixed and there were bribes. Absolute, total, unmitigated cobblers.
Whatever happened today there was going to be a set of fans peeved at the end. We could have batted until tea time and set them 450 in 45 overs or even 500 off 32 overs. Some say they'd still have gone for them. Really? They'd have been brassed off, batted out a draw, the fans would have had a wasted day and the spirit of the game would have been tarnished.
As it was, we set them a challenging total. And they got them. It is a day's cricket that will live long in the memory of the Essex fans and rightly so. It is how promotions should be won and has made ten Doeschate a living legend.
Chris Rogers is a thoroughly professional, decent man, a fantastic cricketer and a good captain. I'm sure he was confident of winning when he made his declaration today and but for some erratic bowling and some wonderful, clean hitting from an Essex player he would have ended the season on a high. As it is, he is being accused of everything from crimes against humanity to responsibility for global warming, and it is patently unfair.
For a man who allegedly "wanted Essex to win" he scored a lot of runs in that match, 264 the last time I looked.
There are people out there who should be ashamed and some of them are sadly supposed to be our fans.
Hang your heads in shame guys. No one died, the world didn't end and civilisation as we know it hasn't ended.
After tomorrow's end of season game, Derbyshire will be back in business next April. I hope some of these people are over it by then.
Steelbacks? Wusses more like. I'd like to think, if the situation was reversed, that I and fellow Derbyshire fans might be a little more sensible and not come out with such nonsense.
I think I'd be wrong though.
At the risk of offending a regular reader or two, why are Derbyshire fans "apologising on behalf of the club"? That is pathetic and you can leave me out of any such apology.
We set a perfectly fair total of 359 in 63 overs. Not overly demanding for a long batting order, but taxing on a track that offered help throughout. Certainly not a breeze. We were missing bowlers but still had four men out for 160 and looked favourites at that point. Then ten Doeschate took control with an astonishing innings with support from his skipper and it was game over.
What happened was that a good player had a great day and he played for our opponents. They are allowed to do that you know. We didn't bowl especially well by all accounts, but to suggest, as some do that "we gave them the game" is nonsense.
So are the spurious and libellous claims of some of the "correspondents" that it was fixed and there were bribes. Absolute, total, unmitigated cobblers.
Whatever happened today there was going to be a set of fans peeved at the end. We could have batted until tea time and set them 450 in 45 overs or even 500 off 32 overs. Some say they'd still have gone for them. Really? They'd have been brassed off, batted out a draw, the fans would have had a wasted day and the spirit of the game would have been tarnished.
As it was, we set them a challenging total. And they got them. It is a day's cricket that will live long in the memory of the Essex fans and rightly so. It is how promotions should be won and has made ten Doeschate a living legend.
Chris Rogers is a thoroughly professional, decent man, a fantastic cricketer and a good captain. I'm sure he was confident of winning when he made his declaration today and but for some erratic bowling and some wonderful, clean hitting from an Essex player he would have ended the season on a high. As it is, he is being accused of everything from crimes against humanity to responsibility for global warming, and it is patently unfair.
For a man who allegedly "wanted Essex to win" he scored a lot of runs in that match, 264 the last time I looked.
There are people out there who should be ashamed and some of them are sadly supposed to be our fans.
Hang your heads in shame guys. No one died, the world didn't end and civilisation as we know it hasn't ended.
After tomorrow's end of season game, Derbyshire will be back in business next April. I hope some of these people are over it by then.
Wednesday, 23 September 2009
Derbyshire v Essex Day 1
Superb.
No other word for Chris Rogers tonight, as he made a second double century in four innings to see us to 368-3 at the close.
Only Peter Kirsten has made two double centuries in a season for us and Rogers today played an innings that entered the top two in my Derbyshire watching experience. With centuries in three successive matches he equalled Rob Weston (remember him?) and it was a sublime display.
Considering that the conditions were very much in favour of the bowlers all day, Buck's double century was an astonishing effort and has put Derbyshire in the driving seat in this match.
I have commented on several occasions on this blog about the brilliance of Mohammad Azharuddin's innings on a turner at Chesterfield when he scored a double century and no one else scored much at all, yet Rogers today looked like a batsman on a different plane.
He had a little luck on occasion, which was understandable with ball moving around, but his innings was composed, stylish, elegant, measured - just name the word and it was that and then some.
He was well supported by all of his partners. Wayne Madsen got us off to a good start, Garry Park also batted well and played handsome strokes and the returning Dan Redfern came through a sticky patch to play some elegant strokes of his own.
At the end Wavell came in for some stick for batting slowly and many perhaps thought that he was playing and missing, but Wave was playing for the close and, with the ball whizzing around, played inside the line and protected his wicket. Late on he clumped a couple of trademark drives off Kaneria and all in all, that was a wonderful effort by Rogers and the boys, especially when there's a bug around the place.
Northants also had a good day, however and must fancy their chances of going up at this stage. If we can get the final batting point tomorrow then push on to 500 and hope for better bowling in the conditions, we can win our game.
The rest is down to fate.
Well played guys. Today was one of the best days I've ever spent watching Derbyshire bat. After 40 years that is quite an achievement.
No other word for Chris Rogers tonight, as he made a second double century in four innings to see us to 368-3 at the close.
Only Peter Kirsten has made two double centuries in a season for us and Rogers today played an innings that entered the top two in my Derbyshire watching experience. With centuries in three successive matches he equalled Rob Weston (remember him?) and it was a sublime display.
Considering that the conditions were very much in favour of the bowlers all day, Buck's double century was an astonishing effort and has put Derbyshire in the driving seat in this match.
I have commented on several occasions on this blog about the brilliance of Mohammad Azharuddin's innings on a turner at Chesterfield when he scored a double century and no one else scored much at all, yet Rogers today looked like a batsman on a different plane.
He had a little luck on occasion, which was understandable with ball moving around, but his innings was composed, stylish, elegant, measured - just name the word and it was that and then some.
He was well supported by all of his partners. Wayne Madsen got us off to a good start, Garry Park also batted well and played handsome strokes and the returning Dan Redfern came through a sticky patch to play some elegant strokes of his own.
At the end Wavell came in for some stick for batting slowly and many perhaps thought that he was playing and missing, but Wave was playing for the close and, with the ball whizzing around, played inside the line and protected his wicket. Late on he clumped a couple of trademark drives off Kaneria and all in all, that was a wonderful effort by Rogers and the boys, especially when there's a bug around the place.
Northants also had a good day, however and must fancy their chances of going up at this stage. If we can get the final batting point tomorrow then push on to 500 and hope for better bowling in the conditions, we can win our game.
The rest is down to fate.
Well played guys. Today was one of the best days I've ever spent watching Derbyshire bat. After 40 years that is quite an achievement.
Tuesday, 22 September 2009
Derbyshire v Essex preview
One of the great things (and there's many) about having some time on holiday from work is that you've time to do things, like this blog for instance.
With my son starting University, I'm off to ferry him around to places and so can do the blog more easily than normal. I'd hoped to get down south this week, but it was not to be.
So, to paraphrase and pluralise the great Cliff Gladwin, cometh the hour, cometh the men.
Can we beat Essex over the next four days? Can the results of the other games go our way? The situation is pretty complex but neatly summed up in this morning's Derby Telegraph by Mark Eklid, who I quote:
"What Derbyshire ideally need is a victory with full bonus points.
That will put them ahead of Essex as long as they don't take four fewer bonus points than their opponents. If the clubs finish level on points, Essex will take the higher league standing because they have won more matches this season.
However, if Northants beat Leicestershire and take one or more bonus points, which they surely would, Derbyshire cannot finish above them.
If Northants draw, Derbyshire can finish above them with a win as long as they don't take three fewer bonus points.
They also need to take more points than Glamorgan, who are away at Surrey, to finish above them because if those two clubs are level, the Welsh will have the higher position having taken more points from their two clashes this season.
Even Gloucestershire can sneak up on the rails for second place if they beat Kent taking two more points than Derbyshire and Glamorgan. They would also, of course, need Essex to lose and Northants to draw."
Have you got that? Don't forget to pack your calculators as you head to the County Ground tomorrow!
Essex are a strong side and have the following 13 travelling:
Alastair Cook
John Maunders
Tom Westley
Matt Walker
Mark Pettini
James Foster
Ryan ten Doeschate
Graham Napier
Chris Wright
David Masters,
Danish Kaneria
Tim Phillips
Mervyn Westfield
I would expect the top eleven to play and for me their strength is in the engine room, with Foster ten Doeschate and Napier often bailing out a batting line up tha blows hot and cold. Masters is a canny bowler while Kaneria has been the Division's stand out bowler this year. Mark Pettini has done a good job as skipper and with Alastair Cook in the side he has some ballast at the top of the order.
As for Derbyshire, there's no news on the squad as yet, although Tim Groenewald is out after picking up swine flu. It's a sad end to the season for a man who has made a very good impression in his first season. Most of the side picks itself, as it has for a good part of the season, but John Morris has to decide who replaces Groenewald and if he goes with a spinner. My guess is that Greg Smith and Graham Wagg can handle the spin as well, if not better than Jake Needham or Mark Lawson, both of whom have had difficult seasons. Here's my side for this make or break match:
Chris Rogers
Wayne Madsen
Garry Park
Greg Smith
Wavell Hinds
John Sadler
James Pipe
Graham Wagg
Tom Lungley
Steffan Jones
Ian Hunter
Jon Clare could also be pressing for a place, but I'd see the more experienced men in the side for this one. It'll be an emotional occasion for James Pipe, in his last game before retirement, while Smith, Park and Madsen all have good or outside chances of reaching their thousand runs.
It would be fantastic if we won this game, but I feel that the game is more likely to end a draw. I hope there's more help for bowlers than of late at Derby, but knowing our luck the ECB would dock us points for a sub-standard track if two balls running moved off the straight and narrow. There are a lot of things need to fall into place for us to gain promotion at the end of this game and I'd be astonished if it happens.
Whatever the result, I've thoroughly enjoyed this season, with the Twenty/20 (bowling) the only downside. The boys deserve a little luck in this game and I'll be watching as often as my taxi commitments allow!
C'mon Derbyshire!
With my son starting University, I'm off to ferry him around to places and so can do the blog more easily than normal. I'd hoped to get down south this week, but it was not to be.
So, to paraphrase and pluralise the great Cliff Gladwin, cometh the hour, cometh the men.
Can we beat Essex over the next four days? Can the results of the other games go our way? The situation is pretty complex but neatly summed up in this morning's Derby Telegraph by Mark Eklid, who I quote:
"What Derbyshire ideally need is a victory with full bonus points.
That will put them ahead of Essex as long as they don't take four fewer bonus points than their opponents. If the clubs finish level on points, Essex will take the higher league standing because they have won more matches this season.
However, if Northants beat Leicestershire and take one or more bonus points, which they surely would, Derbyshire cannot finish above them.
If Northants draw, Derbyshire can finish above them with a win as long as they don't take three fewer bonus points.
They also need to take more points than Glamorgan, who are away at Surrey, to finish above them because if those two clubs are level, the Welsh will have the higher position having taken more points from their two clashes this season.
Even Gloucestershire can sneak up on the rails for second place if they beat Kent taking two more points than Derbyshire and Glamorgan. They would also, of course, need Essex to lose and Northants to draw."
Have you got that? Don't forget to pack your calculators as you head to the County Ground tomorrow!
Essex are a strong side and have the following 13 travelling:
Alastair Cook
John Maunders
Tom Westley
Matt Walker
Mark Pettini
James Foster
Ryan ten Doeschate
Graham Napier
Chris Wright
David Masters,
Danish Kaneria
Tim Phillips
Mervyn Westfield
I would expect the top eleven to play and for me their strength is in the engine room, with Foster ten Doeschate and Napier often bailing out a batting line up tha blows hot and cold. Masters is a canny bowler while Kaneria has been the Division's stand out bowler this year. Mark Pettini has done a good job as skipper and with Alastair Cook in the side he has some ballast at the top of the order.
As for Derbyshire, there's no news on the squad as yet, although Tim Groenewald is out after picking up swine flu. It's a sad end to the season for a man who has made a very good impression in his first season. Most of the side picks itself, as it has for a good part of the season, but John Morris has to decide who replaces Groenewald and if he goes with a spinner. My guess is that Greg Smith and Graham Wagg can handle the spin as well, if not better than Jake Needham or Mark Lawson, both of whom have had difficult seasons. Here's my side for this make or break match:
Chris Rogers
Wayne Madsen
Garry Park
Greg Smith
Wavell Hinds
John Sadler
James Pipe
Graham Wagg
Tom Lungley
Steffan Jones
Ian Hunter
Jon Clare could also be pressing for a place, but I'd see the more experienced men in the side for this one. It'll be an emotional occasion for James Pipe, in his last game before retirement, while Smith, Park and Madsen all have good or outside chances of reaching their thousand runs.
It would be fantastic if we won this game, but I feel that the game is more likely to end a draw. I hope there's more help for bowlers than of late at Derby, but knowing our luck the ECB would dock us points for a sub-standard track if two balls running moved off the straight and narrow. There are a lot of things need to fall into place for us to gain promotion at the end of this game and I'd be astonished if it happens.
Whatever the result, I've thoroughly enjoyed this season, with the Twenty/20 (bowling) the only downside. The boys deserve a little luck in this game and I'll be watching as often as my taxi commitments allow!
C'mon Derbyshire!
Monday, 18 May 2009
Essex v Derbyshire
In a game that again ebbed and flowed, Derbyshire won an excellent victory tonight over Essex.
The win means that everything now hinges on the last games in the group. If Lancashire beat Essex at Old Trafford, while we win on our trip to Wales to play Glamorgan, while at the same time improving our net run rate, we could yet qualify for the quarter finals.
The win came after a competent bowling performance, with all of the bowlers getting at least one wicket. Chris Rogers dropped a straightforward catch that allowed the Essex last pair to add a potentially crucial 29, but 193 always looked gettable.
Even when the skipper was adjudged lbw there appeared no cause for alarm, although the elevation of James Pipe in the order, ostensibly to raise the run rate, seemed strange as the keeper rarely scores runs when pushed up the order.
Greg Smith and Garry Park appeared to have restored the equilibrium before both and Wavell Hinds all went to Danish Kaneria in quick succession. This brought together the talented Mr Redfern and the consummate pro in Stuart Law (pictured)who took us to the brink of victory. Such a partnership must be worth its weight in gold to Redfern and although he was dismissed before the end, together with Graham Wagg, Law stayed until the end for an unbeaten 62 that must have given him a great deal of pleasure against his former employers.
So to Wednesday and a big game (or couple of games). It would be nice if Lancashire could do us a favour and also beat Essex, but we must do our bit and win in Wales, where a certain Mr Croft will doubtless be waiting for us...
More on that tomorrow, but for tonight - well done lads. Essex are a good one day side and we beat them on their own patch!
Monday, 4 May 2009
Derbyshire v Essex FP Trophy
Another day, another defeat and one that, like yesterday, was pretty much decided by the toss.
Derbyshire limped along for the first half of their innings and barely exceeded 2.5 runs per over for that time. It was only through the sterling efforts of Wavell Hinds, again playing an excellent and, until the advent of Greg Smith, lone hand, that we eventually set a reasonable target.
Although Essex were strangled in the middle of the innings by some excellent bowling by Garry Park and Jon Clare, the truth is that the conditions had eased . The wicket was never conducive to expansive stroke play, but Essex are a side that bats deep and are one of the best one day sides in the country. They never looked like losing after Park and Clare were surprisingly removed from the attack and the runs came at a canter towards the end.
Again though, we should not be too harsh on Derbyshire. The competitive element was there, but what they now need to do is win a few tosses, as all too often matches are decided by the coin in the early part of the season. They also need to score more quickly at the start of the innings. In a 50 over match, three an over in the first half and six an over in the second half will get you 225, a target that always seems attainable. We need to score more quickly and perhaps the imminent arrival of Chris Rogers may help in this quest.
Two defeats then. The group always looked as though Lancashire and Essex were the teams to beat. With a full team and the luck of the toss things may have been different. We now have a few days to regroup before playing Northamptonshire. All things being equal, Buck Rogers should be here for that one and will probably take the place of Steve Stubbings, who has seemed stuck in second gear in the last couple of matches.
Are we despondent? A little bit, but we can feel a whole lot better with a return to winning ways soon.
Derbyshire limped along for the first half of their innings and barely exceeded 2.5 runs per over for that time. It was only through the sterling efforts of Wavell Hinds, again playing an excellent and, until the advent of Greg Smith, lone hand, that we eventually set a reasonable target.
Although Essex were strangled in the middle of the innings by some excellent bowling by Garry Park and Jon Clare, the truth is that the conditions had eased . The wicket was never conducive to expansive stroke play, but Essex are a side that bats deep and are one of the best one day sides in the country. They never looked like losing after Park and Clare were surprisingly removed from the attack and the runs came at a canter towards the end.
Again though, we should not be too harsh on Derbyshire. The competitive element was there, but what they now need to do is win a few tosses, as all too often matches are decided by the coin in the early part of the season. They also need to score more quickly at the start of the innings. In a 50 over match, three an over in the first half and six an over in the second half will get you 225, a target that always seems attainable. We need to score more quickly and perhaps the imminent arrival of Chris Rogers may help in this quest.
Two defeats then. The group always looked as though Lancashire and Essex were the teams to beat. With a full team and the luck of the toss things may have been different. We now have a few days to regroup before playing Northamptonshire. All things being equal, Buck Rogers should be here for that one and will probably take the place of Steve Stubbings, who has seemed stuck in second gear in the last couple of matches.
Are we despondent? A little bit, but we can feel a whole lot better with a return to winning ways soon.
Friday, 17 April 2009
Essex v Derbyshire day three
While the weather may well turn out to be the winner in this game, Derbyshire's performance has been highly impressive and professional.
Having bowled out Essex for 194 and a first innings lead of 132, they extended that by a further six runs before the close for the loss of Steve Stubbings.
It is hard to see where a result can come from in this match as runs have not been easy to come by and there appears to have been help for the seam bowlers throughout, so full marks to John Morris for reading the track correctly.
Serious kudos tonight go to Ian Hunter (pictured). When I mentioned our seam bowling strength pre-season I highlighted the abilities of Langeveldt, Wagg and Clare, mentioned the return to fitness of Tom Lungley and the support available from Greg Smith. Yet I neglected Hunter, which did the man a disservice and I apologise for that.
Earlier in his Derbyshire career he looked quick but tended to be erratic. Then he went through a spell where he struggled with injury and looked to be on his way out. Last season he was far from a regular but I saw him bowl a beautiful spell against Glamorgan in the Pro 40 last year and he looked to have a better control over his line and length than I remember.
Today's figures - 5-46 from 23 overs would have had Cliff and Les purring at the parsimony and the penetration. Praise is also due to Jon Clare for what is becoming his customary tight spell and it was good to see Greg Smith pitch in with wickets, including the important one of Matt Walker just before lunch.
At one point it looked like we could enforce the follow on, but Foster and Masters took them out of immediate danger. The former is an unlucky player and has been as good a wicket keeper batsman as any on the circuit over recent years, yet seems to be penalised for a premature and unimpressive England call up before he was ready. Masters is a canny bowler and has been a good County pro for some seasons now.
Only Tom Lungley struggled for us, going for 5 an over, but he will benefit from the overs and will come back again. He may have to, as there was no sign of Graham Wagg in the field. Presumably he picked up a knock when batting, or pulled a muscle, but there's been no reference to it in the usual sources. If he has a slight niggle it makes sense at this stage to let him take it easy, as there's sure to be a lot of bowling to do before September.
Elsewhere in our division Leicestershire made heavy weather of replying to Northants total of 387 and were 147-8 at the close, with only Jim Allenby (another player I like) keeping them afloat with a battling unbeaten 49. Meanwhile Surrey and Gloucestershire look set for a draw as rain hasn't allowed more than eleven overs in the game's second innings. Looking at the Surrey line-up, I won't be losing sleep
over their visit to the County ground on Wednesday.
As for us, a draw seems likely. I suspect we may declare mid-afternoon tomorrow, perhaps setting a notional 300 or so, but with a bowler short Morris won't want to risk their batting making a better fist of things in the second dig. Still, good work guys - all in all a promising day's cricket.
Saturday, 28 June 2008
Essex v Derbyshire
Hey, old Peakie called it right!
The 13 has been announced for the Essex game and it is as I suggested the other night, with Jake Needham and Wayne White also travelling.
So expect the side to line-up, barring late mishaps:
Rogers
Stubbings
Birch
Hinds
Clarke
Smith
Pipe
Wagg
Clare
Langeveldt
Doshi
Essex have a 12 man squad, namely:
Jason Gallian
Alastair Cook
Neil Dexter
Ravinder Bopara
Mark Pettini
James Foster
Ryan ten Doeschate
James Middlebrook
Alex Tudor
Danish Kaneria
Maurice Chambers
Chris Wright
Dexter is on loan from Kent and Chambers makes his Championship debut for this season. Their bowling doesn't look too scary, although the batting might be tough work for our attack. I'm confident in that part of the team though, if we can mount a score.
My prediction? Expect no last afternoon declaration from the home side setting us a target... once bitten, twice shy.
See you next week!
The 13 has been announced for the Essex game and it is as I suggested the other night, with Jake Needham and Wayne White also travelling.
So expect the side to line-up, barring late mishaps:
Rogers
Stubbings
Birch
Hinds
Clarke
Smith
Pipe
Wagg
Clare
Langeveldt
Doshi
Essex have a 12 man squad, namely:
Jason Gallian
Alastair Cook
Neil Dexter
Ravinder Bopara
Mark Pettini
James Foster
Ryan ten Doeschate
James Middlebrook
Alex Tudor
Danish Kaneria
Maurice Chambers
Chris Wright
Dexter is on loan from Kent and Chambers makes his Championship debut for this season. Their bowling doesn't look too scary, although the batting might be tough work for our attack. I'm confident in that part of the team though, if we can mount a score.
My prediction? Expect no last afternoon declaration from the home side setting us a target... once bitten, twice shy.
See you next week!
Saturday, 7 June 2008
Chesterfield's greatest match
Although I would love to persuade myself otherwise, it was not the Gillette Cup semi-final of 1969.
The honour has to go to the game played from July 18-20 in 1904, between Derbyshire and Essex. It was played from a Monday to Wednesday, so fixture planners made their mistakes at that time too...
Nonetheless, around 2,000 people were present at Chesterfield to see the first day against a strong batting side. None of them could have predicted what was about to unfold.
On a very hot and sunny day, Essex reached 179-3 at lunch. Remember, this was at a time when a six had to be hit out of the ground rather than just over the ropes. The prolific P.A. Perrin, a tall, elegant batsman was unbeaten on 79. In the afternoon he reached his century then cut loose until he was badly dropped by Bill Bestwick (a poor fielder) at mid-on. The unlucky bowler was Arnold Warren, but he then took two wickets in two balls to leave the visitors on 314-6. That was as good as it got though, as Perrin moved on from his good fortune and finished the first day unbeaten on 295 from a total of 524-8, having hit 58 boundaries. I'd like to see someone beat that today against Worcestershire...
Next morning the last two wickets added 73 as Essex were all out for 597, Perrin unbeaten on 343 with 68 fours. Avoiding the follow on was to be a huge task, with 448 required, but Derbyshire openers Levi Wright and Charles Ollivierre (pictured) put on a century stand in 55 minutes and at lunch were on 144 without being parted. The West Indian Ollivierre reached his century in 95 minutes and although Wright was out at 191, Bill Storer came in and added a further 128 in 75 minutes. Ollivierre reached his double century in 190 minute with a five and 33 fours, only the third Derbyshire batsman to do so, and a celebratory drink was taken out to him. he had originally come to England with the West Indies touring side of 1900, playing for his native St Vincent. Staying in England, he qualified for Derbyshire and played for Glossop until he qualified in 1902. His approach to the game brought more failures than success, but this was his greatest day.
He was eventually dismissed for 229 and had frequently hit fours from balls pulled round from off stump through mid-wicket, but he was what we would now call a typical, front of the wicket West Indian player. At the close Derbyshire had almost saved the follow on at 446-4, the day having been watched by around 3,000 fans who had their moneys worth!
The final day was cooler after the blistering heat of the earlier days and we were all out for 548. The game seemed a certain draw, but before lunch Essex collapsed against opening bowlers Bill Bestwick and Arnold Warren and were in disarray at 27-6, each having taken three wickets.
The crowd grew in the afternoon as word spread of a possible result, but Essex recovered to 80-6 before a double bowling change brought a breakthrough, the innings then subsiding to 97 all out with one player unable to bat. Warren was a tall and wiry bowler (see a future profile) reckoned to be one of the quickest in the country, and finished with 4-42.
Play was to continue until 6.15pm so Derbyshire had 125 minutes to score 147. It looked a tricky challenge in the light of the Essex collapse and when Wright went with 11 on the board Essex must have fancied their chances. The West Indian was again in prime form and reached a run-a-minute 50 with eight fours, the hundred coming up in an hour. Remember, this was an era before slow over rates and the spirit of the game was held in high esteem. When the last hour began, Derbyshire were 108-1 and needed only 39 to win, Ollivierre on 74.
Both the West Indian and Storer were keen to reach their milestones of a century and fifty respectively, the latter because he would then, as a professional, be entitled to a bonus. The remaining runs came in 15 minutes, with Ollivierre on 92 (15 fours) and Storer on 48 as the game ended with 45 minutes in hand.
Even at this distance the game was extraordinary, the run scoring aided by quick over rates and lightning fast outfield on a small ground. There have been many Derbyshire successes in the ensuing years, but none that were quite as spectacular as this.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)