Guptill's glory

Breaking news...two of the World Cup's top five batsmen will be plying their trade at Derbyshire this summer, together with a very good bowler whose ability to use a new ball and 'close' an innings should make us a much better T20 side than in recent years.

Martin Guptill's innings against the West Indies last night was extraordinary. Launched with a textbook straight drive which he replicated twice more in the following over, just about the only error in his innings was a clip off his legs that was juggled, then dropped by Marlon Samuels when he had made only four. 233 runs later, Marlon must have felt a tad sheepish.

Truth be told, he did the world of cricket a favour, because it was a masterclass  of  Guptill's best bits - the perfectly vertical bat as he played his straight drives; the inside out drive that sends the ball soaring over mid off (and the boundary there); the slog sweep that generally sends the ball fifteen rows back - in such a vein he is a wonderful sight. That he did it in a World Cup quarter final was special, but he did it with such panache, such extraordinary acceleration, that it was breathtaking. I read earlier that his last 137 came from 52 balls and by the end he was treating the bowlers with complete disdain and hitting them into the middle distance and onto the roof of the stadium.

Equally striking was his humility afterwards. 'I realised I needed to start hitting boundaries once I got a hundred' he said, seemingly oblivious to the fact that he'd hit some pretty impressive ones already and was scoring at a rate that an English batsman would have been quite content with. It was just another day at the office for a modest man of high talent who is a pleasure to watch.

As it will be this summer at Derbyshire. It speaks volumes for the off-field team at the club that we could identify the availability of and negotiate successfully with two batsmen of the status of Guptill and Tillakaratne Dilshan, then bring them to the 3aaa County Ground.

It speaks equally well of the players that they have bought into what is happening at the club and they want to be a part of what they see as a success. I expect to see Derbyshire play some vibrant, aggressive, attractive cricket this summer in all formats. I'll reserve judgement on T20 success, given our track record in the format is akin to Sammy the Snail's success rate in the 100 metres, but by crikey, we should be worth watching in that format, as well as the others this summer.

The opening overs of our innings should be driven by world-class batsmen, while those of the opposition should see their batsmen trying to do something with yorkers that home in on their toes. We've not had a bowler like Nathan Rimmington since Charl Langeveldt; we've not had a batsman like Dilshan and Guptill since the latter's previous stint with the club in 2012.

Last weekend I looked at our squad, after an impressive pre-season tour and thought we could do pretty well this summer. In the past seven days we have signed a world-class opening batsman and a top-class opening bowler to go along with a man who has just made the highest-ever score in a cricket World Cup.

Seriously. Aren't you excited?

Because I know I am...

Guptill signing lays down a marker

If such action was required, the signing of Martin Guptill for the start of the 2015 county season has emphasised that Derbyshire mean business.

The tall Kiwi was one of the most popular of overseas players in his previous stint in county colours. He was one of the boys, friendly, approachable and very aware of the responsibility of his role. He took it seriously and set standards in the field, off the field and in his attitude with the bat.

The bottom line is simple. Guptill has swagger, in the nicest sense of the word. He goes out to dominate and to impose himself on the opposition. That self-confidence and self-belief rubs off on his colleagues.

It did in 2012. For all that we have enjoyed some fine overseas players over the years, I don't recall many who announced their credentials by smacking the overseas professional of the opposition into the middle distance, as Guptill did to Chaminda Vaaas in that season's opening fixture. It was a stroke that belied the cold and the fact that it was the first arctic game of the summer; one that said 'Here I am and this is what I can do'.

Which was pretty much what he kept on doing. His approach to the art of batting was such that failures were always likely. Occasionally the desire to dominate cost him when he went for his shots too early, but when it came off, as it frequently did, it was magnificent. His approach was diametrically opposed to that of Shivnarine Chanderpaul, for who occupation of the crease was of paramount importance, but the averages didn't lie. Guptill averaged a shade under 50 in the first-class game in 2012 and an impressive 70 in one-day cricket, when his assaults  - no other word will do - on the bowling made for some memorable cricket.

His effect on the side was considerable, though not just in his batting. There was the 'chirpiness' in the field, the voice heard encouraging his team mates on to greater efforts, to concentrate, to get the batsman out. There was also a wonderful pair of hands anywhere, speed over the ground and an example set. This wasn't an overseas player here to score a few runs on easier tracks and coast. He wanted to dominate and to contribute to success. He did that in spades.

Therein lies the issue. No one who has watched Martin Guptill in full flow will doubt his talent, but his Test average has slipped below thirty, his first-class average below that of the one-day game. He is 29 this year and has slipped out of the reckoning for Test cricket in a country that is getting together a formidable side. A good stint for Derbyshire would make all the difference ahead of a Test series in this country in mid-summer and that is a fine incentive if ever there was one.

Guptill carries on a lineage of opening 'dashers' that began with Arnold Hamer and continued equally memorably with Kim Barnett.  Both gave early impetus to an innings and there was an audible sigh of disappointment, of truncated enjoyment, when they went early. It is the same with Martin Guptill. It will be interesting to see who gets the nod as his opening partner, but both Ben Slater and Billy Godleman will enjoy batting with a player who always keeps the scoreboard moving. Guptill's early season partnerships with Paul Borrington were a major factor in the success of 2012 and the top order looks all the more impressive with him at its head.

His winter suggests that he is back into prime form after a period of injury and he has averaged just under 75 for Auckland, as well as producing some fine innings in the one day game.  Anything close to that sort of form will do us nicely and I am sure I'm not alone in anticipating that trademark drive back over the bowler's head, the follow through held nicely as the ball disappears over yonder sightscreen. Or the slog sweep that may well endanger those sat in front of the marquee, or walking behind it, for that matter. Batting from the other end, it might be an idea to check the insurance on the Lund Pavilion...there's a lot of glass there, well within his range.

All is well in the world, my friends. The Gup is back and things are boiling up nicely with a squad of rich potential.

Welcome home, Martin. It will be a delight to watch you once again.

Guptill's brilliance

If you've not already seen these, here's a chance to see the brilliant run out of Hashim Amla by Martin Guptill the other day, together with a link to the massive six he hit from Tsotsobe.

Enjoy!

Something for the weekend

Thanks for your comments and e mails about last night's piece, which were largely appreciated. Apart from the one that I deleted from - surprise, surprise - "Anon" which said it was "absolute rubbish". I'll happily allow comments if they are constructive and will do if they are critical as long as they fulfil two criteria. One is that you put your name to it and the other that you can justify it. Tell me why it's rubbish and I will reply, but random negativity, too long part of the psyche at Derbyshire, is simply not on.

The best comment I've seen on the Falcons Forum came from Chris, the moderator. "Why is everything always an argument? Couldn't it be that Don did well and Chris Grant will do well?" Quite. Friends and supporters will always have a preference, but Don Amott did his best - a very good best - for the club, as did such people as Will Taylor and Douglas Carr in the past. They all did their utmost to keep the club going through difficult times, but they are part of our club's past. Mr Grant is the present and, I hope, future for years to come.

Anyway, it's the weekend so no more petty squabbles please. Was there ever a more obvious man of the match than Martin Guptill for New Zealand today? A brilliant run out of Amla, a fine catch to remove de Villiers and then an unbeaten innings to see his side home, including a six measured at 127 metres among the four he hit.

I was looking at the current schedule of New Zealand's tour of the West Indies this summer and it is currently scheduled to start on June 28th. I just wonder if John Wright might consider Martin Guptill joining the squad a little later than the rest?  As I understand it, Guptill's last game will be the CB40 match against Sussex on June 10th, but if we could get him to stay on an extra fortnight he could play in the first five T20 matches, leaving Khawaja to play the second half. of the ten-match programme. That would still leave him five or six days to get to the Caribbean, leaving after our game against Leicestershire on 22nd June.

In his current form, Guptill is the main man in the Kiwi side and I would have thought a little competitive cricket would be of more benefit to him than a few net sessions.

Put it another way, it would be of immense value to Derbyshire...

Finally tonight, there's another good article on Cricinfo about our finances, which is well worth a read. I never knew we did weddings at the club... might see if Mrs P fancies re-stating our vows...

More soon - enjoy your weekend!

Guptill the run machine

Martin Guptill has been in such a purple patch this winter that I'm aurprised he's not had a visit from Prince. Or Alice Walker, for those of a more literary bent...

For Auckland and New Zealand his last sequence of innings runs like this:

65, 49*, 18, 68*, 18, 70  - all T20 for Auckland
51 (Test Match)
70, 77, 85, 91*

Aside from the fact that Zimbabwe are his country's current opposition and more demanding tasks face him against South Africa shortly, Guptill's batting has been little short of remarkable. You still need to make them, whoever is bowling at the other end and human error or relaxation can cause an early dismissal against anyone. Yet Guptill has had a wonderfully prolific winter that augurs well for his arrival in these climes for the start of the domestic season here.

Yes, as I wrote earlier in the week, he could do with turning more of those 60s, 70s and 80s into tons for both his side and the record book, but at 25 Guptill has become one of the most destructive opening batsmen in the world game. There were another six sixes today and in his present nick one has the impression that Guptill could get runs with the proverbial "stick o' rhubarb". Or at least a balsa wood bat...

It augurs well. His List A and one-day international averages now sit over 40. His next task is to get the others up there too, a benchmark of a player of the highest class.

Which he undoubtedly is.

Guptill again shows class

The mark of a batsman of true quality is one who can adapt his game to the match situation. That being the case, Martin Guptill again showed his class over the weekend for Auckland as they won two more matches to stay top of the table in the domestic 20-over HRV Cup.

On Saturday against Otago - and following on from his brutal unbeaten 120 at two-a-ball last week - Guptill clubbed six sixes and two fours in 65 from 45 balls as his side mounted an impressive 187-2 in 20 overs and easily won by 30 runs.

Last night the conditions were less favourable for batting against Northern Districts and Auckland were chasing a more moderate target of 112 to win. It still needed someone to show a little common sense and bat through and Guptill did just that, ending on an unbeaten 49 from 48 balls, his side winning by six wickets with 20 balls to spare.

Derbyshire will miss Guptill's class in the T20 this season, though we will enjoy his talent from April through to June. Who replaces him in that competition is still anyone's guess, but I maintain we need someone who can play the big shots and clear the ropes. A fast bowler would be good too, of course, though one of each would be wonderful - or should that read unrealistic?

I watched the Big Bash this weekend and it was a frantic mix of some impressive clean hitting (Herschelle Gibbs a standout), quality spin bowling (veteran Brad Hogg still having what it takes) and variable fast bowling. In the matches I saw, Brett Lee and Dirk Nannes both looked fast bowlers of genuine pace and class, while Shaun Tait bowled both the fastest and most erratic overs I have seen in one spell.

Tait's first over to Sussex's Luke Wright was blisteringly fast, the ball shaving stumps and the outside edge with remarkable regularity. In his second he was more expensive, though unlucky, then he was given a third on the trot. Whether his action takes too much out of him for such a spell I don't know, but that third over was awful, a mix of fours and sixes accompanied by two of the widest balls on either side of the stumps I have seen. The wicket-keeper performed heroics in stopping them, both being taken around a second slip/leg slip position. Any Derbyshire fan who has bemoaned the occasional  lines of Messrs Turner and Footitt would perhaps consider them the new Gladwin and Jackson if they had seen it...

Today also saw some of the worst umpiring I've seen in a while, with a Sydney Thunder batsman given not out when he clearly edged it, then out a few balls later when he patently didn't. Herschelle Gibbs was given out in the other game when the ball hit his pad, chest and helmet and was caught behind, but was at least recalled. With 30,000 people shouting it must be difficult, but the decisions all looked wrong before the slow motion replays.

I'm increasingly of the opinion that Usman Khawaja and Chris Gayle are the only players in the Sydney Thunder side. One could almost see them shouting "DON'T PANIC!" like Corporal Jones of Dad's Army when Gayle, for once, failed today. By the time the rain came they had subsided to 29-4, with Khawaja  unbeaten on 11 from 16 balls, defeat inevitable.

That's it for now - enjoy the rest of the weekend!

Guptill class to be seen once more

On any level, the announcement of Martin Guptill's return to Derbyshire next season is excellent news.

Without doubt, the player is a class act and, in my humble opinion, will be seen as one of the game's premier batsmen in the next couple of years, if he isn't already. There are not many international sides that he wouldn't get into at present, certainly not on his form of the past few months.

The runs flowed from his bat over the last few weeks of the English season, he toyed with Zimbabwe's attack and, since his return home to New Zealand, he has maintained his sparkling form. They are clear signs of a player who has come to terms with the demands of the international game and has worked out his own. Encouragingly, he is only going to get better.

His averages don't yet fully reflect his ability, but that will come. Guptill is like a few others who find themselves elevated through their precocious raw talent to a senior level before their mental and physical development fully justifies it. In such cases, as we have seen on a more local basis with Dan Redfern and Paul Borrington, there are more early troughs than peaks, as players struggle to adjust. Yet class will always see through.

What is impressive is that Guptill has forsaken the obvious greater rewards of IPL in favour of playing with his mates at Derbyshire, something that sets him apart from many of his contemporaries. I'm not privy to the niceties of his contract, but would guess that he could have earned more from a few weeks in India than he will do in England. The reality is that his game will improve more from the additional responsibility of a county stint, while the lure of playing in a positive, enjoyable environment was presumably a major factor in his return to the County Ground.

For that, of course, tribute needs to be paid to Karl Krikken and Luke Sutton. As the men at the helm, they have set the standard and have dictated the way the game is played and the environment that enables it to flourish. Such an environment, reported back by Azeem Rafiq, was a factor in David Wainwright choosing Derbyshire over other suitors and will doubtless help with the recruitment of others for overseas positions during the winter.

What we now know, rather than suspect, of course,  is that there will be a second overseas player from June onwards. My guess would still be Usman Khawaja, currently involved in the second Test against South Africa, but there may be others in the frame. There is also the question of the T20 to resolve. Guptill's June 12th departure will almost certainly be before the commencement of that competition. Whether that means one, or two players we'll have to wait and see.

A batsman and bowler, or two players who can do a bit of both, would do very nicely and would make Derbyshire a side to be reckoned with.

Guptill returns

Martin Guptill has opted to return to Derbyshire for a second stint as overseas player, rather than go for an IPL berth.

The hugely talented opener will return to the County Ground from the start of the season through to June 12, a signing that will surely be welcomed by everyone connected to the club.

More later, but on a cold day that ranks as a winter warmer!

You may not have noticed...

a brilliant innings by Martin Guptill in New Zealand for Auckland.

Replying to  the Canterbury innings of 491, Auckland quickly slipped to 42-4, then 72-5 before Guptill and Zimbabwean Colin de Grandhomme (now THAT's a name...) added 211 for the sixth wicket. After Grandhomme's dismissal for 117, Guptill steered the tail to an all out total of 381, ending up on a magnificent career-best unbeaten 195, with 22 fours and 2 sixes after seven and a quarter hours of batting.

The next highest score, astonishingly, was 15....

Guptill goes with reputation enhanced

There is always a gamble when choosing an overseas player with minimal experience of English conditions. When Derbyshire ended up with Usman Khawaja and Martin Guptill for 2011, there was a combination of pleasure coupled with uncertainty as to how they would fare.

I've previously covered Khawaja's stint but Martin Guptill, despite early struggles in the County Championship, heads back to New Zealand with his reputation firmly enhanced. Not just as a player, which I'll come to in a minute, but as a man and most importantly a team man. One has only to look at the various Twitter messages from his Derbyshire colleagues to know how much they valued having him around, as well as how much he enjoyed himself. I can think of few other overseas players who would have willingly carried the drinks and been happy to be one of the boys as Guptill was at Chelmsford last week. Certainly Essex' players, who experienced something nearly diametrically opposed in "Lotsie" Tsotsobe this season, must have been surprised...

Guptill had his problems in the Championship at the start, but it is fair to say that he had his share of unplayable balls too, in common with a lot of batsmen in division two. Many put it down to the Tiflex ball, which had a habit of offering early help then doing nothing, as evidenced by the number of tailenders this year with somewhat inflated averages.

An average of 39 in the Championship was not overly impressive, but 70 in the 40-over league and 34 in the T20 certainly was. I suggested a few months ago, before the twenty over stuff started, that Guptill would score more heavily than Loots Bosman the year before and that was the case. Guptill is a batsman, Bosman a slogger and there's a crucial difference.

It was the way he scored his runs that was special. Quick footwork got him down the track and he was unafraid to loft the ball over the infield, as those who saw him at Leek will testify. He favoured the area between mid-off and extra cover but could score easily all around the wicket. Yet for me his trademark shot was the on drive, played with the straightest of blades and with the pose held as the ball heads for the boundary ropes. It is a shot that only players of high quality can play with regularity and Guptill is a high quality player.

I suspect that the stint may prove of even greater value to him in the long term and he will go back to New Zealand with a tighter technique as a result of his stay. I fully expect to see his averages rise in the years ahead and will watch his progress with great interest.

We never saw his occasional off spin at Derbyshire, but as a fielder Guptill is up there with the best. His athleticism was remarkable, while his ability to pull off catches that some might not actually consider chances was extraordinary. With Guptill, Ross Whiteley and Garry Park in the same team, Derbyshire were largely a superb fielding side in the one day game.

I hope that we see him back at Derbyshire. Next year may be problematic with his country's international commitments and Derbyshire's preference (I think) for a quality spinner from overseas, but if he had the time Guptill would be a fine signing for the early stages of the T20.

I doubt few people would disagree. Thanks Martin - your efforts were appreciated and we enjoyed watching you.

Guptill interview

This is a worthwhile read, if you've not already come across it:

http://blog.thecricketer.com/?p=29606

Enjoy!

Derbyshire v Yorkshire

As days go, that must have been close to a 'Carlsberg' one. Cricket against Yorkshire at Chesterfield and beating them with over six overs in hand having chased 235, the pro scoring a hundred and contributions down the order. Oh, and our young spinner bowls a canny spell, removing their overseas player in the process and we did all that while resting three of our main bowlers.

Yup, that was a goodie. Having grown up on Derbyshire usually failing to chase 160 against Yorkshire in one day games, I would have loved to have seen that one, the latest in a long line of impressive displays this season. It just makes you wonder what could have been had we not played poorly twice against the Netherlands. One point from two games against them and the losses against Worcestershire shows what we need to address - keeping that level of intensity going against everyone.

There was no Dan Redfern today - hopefully being kept back for Wednesday - and while Hughes and Madsen scored a few, neither got quite the score they might have wished for. Nor did Greg Smith, although his bowling did a good job today, alongside Knight, while it was good to see Garry Park turning his arm over again after a shoulder injury for much of the campaign. Good discipline from Derbyshire too, with only ten extras, something that will please Karl Krikken and also Tom Poynton, who apparently kept well.

Of course, I have to close with mention of Martin Guptill, who seems to have gone from winter to high summer in form. I've been critical of Guptill's Championship form and while I accept he's had his share of awkward deliveries that have seen him go early, he will have been disappointed with his four-day campaign as an established Test player.

Now, however, he seems to have sussed the tracks. Having averaged around 40 in the T20 (no mean achievement) he now averages 93 in the CB40 with two centuries and a fifty in four knocks. Such is the way he goes for his shots that a lengthy Guptill knock should usually result in a win if others bat around him. Ross Whiteley gave the final impetus today with five fours and a six in his unbeaten 31 on a ground he knows well and has enjoyed considerable success. In full flight he is a player of obvious class and for me his on drive, the pose held as the ball speeds to the boundary, is his trademark shot. Not an easy one to play well either, but Guptill does it beautifully.

As I wrote earlier in the week, Martin Guptill for the first half of next season and Usman Khawaja for the second half could yet be the answer to Derbyshire's overseas needs for 2012. A few more innings like today and I might not be alone in that assertion either.

Derbyshire v Surrey preview

If the weather allows it, Derbyshire have an opportunity tomorrow to improve a league position that in no way reflects the quality of cricket that they have been playing. Surrey, a side who haven't really got going are the opponents but we cannot afford to underestimate a side with some good players.

The big names are, of course, Mark Ramprakash and Steven Davies, but Chris Adams has been bringing young players through and they have plenty of them. Jason Roy has been in good form, as has skipper Rory Hamilton-Brown. The toss, as it has been so far at the County Ground, is likely to be crucial.

I don't see many changes in the Derbyshire side, unless one of the seamers is rested to allow Steffan Jones or Mark Turner an outing. Martin Guptill will replace Usman Khawaja and make his debut and  I think we'll see the following Derbyshire side tomorrow:

Guptill, Madsen, Hughes, Durston, Redfern, Smith, Sutton, Clare, Rafiq, Groenewald, Palladino

Guptill and Madsen promises to be an excellent opening pairing and I look forward to seeing their understanding develop as the season progresses.

A good result in this one will see us into the T20 with a spring in our step. If the weather keeps out of it we'll have every chance.

Kent v Derbyshire day 3

The way that Wayne Madsen and Usman Khawaja were batting at tea today, they could both have been lining up centuries in each innings by the end of the day

They could yet get there, but rain has taken a lot out of this game and there must surely be a contrived finish to get any positive result. Kent's long and fairly illustrious batting line-up eased them past the follow on but Derbyshire's bowlers stuck to their task well and  by the day end there was a useful lead of 185.

If the weather allows it, Derbyshire will be wanting to set something like 340-350 in around seventy overs tomorrow. To win they must, of course risk defeat and Luke Sutton will be wary of their stuttering batting suddenly firing on all cylinders. 150 in around 30 overs is do-able and then it will be game on, if both skippers are willing to make a game of it.

In other news today, Tim Groenewald is going to speak to other counties, which is his right as he nears the end of a contract. He says, encouragingly, that he wants to stay and much will depend on how realistic his demands are. I would hope that we can retain a man who is a very good cricketer, but the club has a limited budget and, as we saw with Graham Wagg and may do with Greg Smith, it can only stretch so far.

Finally tonight, Martin Guptill (pictured) should be arriving sometime early tomorrow and will be a very welcome addition to our batting strength. If he lives up to the performances of his mentor, John Wright, none of us will have any complaints by the time September comes.

Welcome Martin - and good luck!

Tune in tonight

First terrestrial opportunity to see Martin Guptill put bat to ball on BBC2 tonight on the World Cup highlights.

Our new overseas player scored an unbeaten 39 from 32 balls as New Zealand cruised to victory over Kenya, with two sixes and five fours. Brief it may be, certainly of the cameo category, but I'd hope the thought of this chap and Usman Khawaja combining in the T20 should whet some appetites.

My recorder is already set...

Cracking!

There was a very promising innings of 130 from Martin Guptill today as New Zealand posted a score of 311-6 against Ireland in a World Cup warm up match.

The Irish have a decent attack, including former Derbyshire bowler Boyd Rankin, but Guptill batted until two overs from the end of the innings and hit 12 fours and 3 sixes in a fine display that should win them the match.

I'm feeling good about that lad. I think he is going to be next 'big' Kiwi batsman and I'm delighted that we'll see him at Derbyshire for the second half of the season.

Martin Guptill signs

Amid all the conjecture regarding overseas players this winter I have seen Martin Guptill’s name mentioned once or twice. Such has been the focus of supporters on so-called ‘big names’, however, that he has perhaps slipped under the radar.

That should not detract from the fact that he is a very good player, one who has been compared by some good judges to the legendary Kiwi Martin Crowe in his style and poise at the crease. At 24 he shares his birthday with me (sadly 28 years apart…) and comes to England with a point to prove.

Guptill has faced accusations of giving it away when well set and against him stands the evidence of just one century in his Test career so far. Yet his county stint could well be the making of the player, as it was for his fellow country man John Wright thirty years ago. Being the ‘hired gun’ may well see Guptill translate delightful cameos into innings of genuine substance. To be fair there have been signs that this is coming, with telling contributions in the recent series against Pakistan. Some of these came in trying conditions and Guptill’s technique showed itself up to the task.

Where he should prove especially successful is in the T20, where his ability to clear the ropes should be handy in the powerplays. Last season I suggested that Derbyshire needed to find a couple of batsman of ability to draw in the crowds in the shortest form of the game, as well as providing pitches to allow them to play their shots.

We’re now halfway there. A likely top six of Guptill, Khawaja, Durston, Madsen, Hughes and Smith offers rich potential for some exciting strokeplay. If an attack of promise, but relative inexperience, can back them up there are the makings of an exciting campaign.

Martin Guptill is known among collectors of cricket curiosity for having only two toes on his left foot, the result of a fork lift accident when he was young. By the end of the season he could have cemented his reputation as a player of brilliance and proved to be an astute capture.

Put it another way. He can hardly be as bad as Chris Harris, while if he turns out to be another John Wright we will have few complaints.

Welcome to Derbyshire Martin. We’re looking forward to seeing you.