Glamorgan 518 and 200-6 (Madsen 2-24)
Derbyshire 177 and 536 (Godleman 106, Critchley 70 not)
Glamorgan won by four wickets
To be fair, which is something I try to be, Derbyshire put up a terrific fight on the last two days of this game.
Another sixty runs would have been a challenge but Jacques Rudolph played the decisive innings for the Welsh side and Derbyshire's fight lasted into the final session. That seemed unlikely after a first innings of some ineptitude and full credit is due to those who battled on.
Today, Billy Godleman recorded another century and set a captain's example, while Matt Critchley confirmed his potential with an unbeaten seventy. The under-use of his leg spin in the game has raised some comment, though the other side of things is why you might expose him to stick when Donald was hitting the ball into the nearest town on the first day.
The beauty of the game was fully exposed today, when Aneurin Donald was out fifth ball after his first innings double century, but Rudolph did what you want your overseas hired hands to do and won them the game with a composed fifty.
Such a player is gold dust to any side, especially from that precious overseas role.
Yet what guarantee is there? I raised a Roger Moore-style quizzical eyebrow today when I saw Imran Tahir had bowled four overs for forty against Somerset for Nottinghamshire. There are few better spinners in the world game, but it is proof, as we found last year with Hashim Amla and Tillakaratne Dilshan, that there are no guarantees in this game. Everyone will have their good days and their bad, the only hope being that in that crucial role you see a lot more of the former.
Next up for Derbyshire is the final home T20 game against Worcestershire. Looking at the table tonight, it would need an unlikely sequence of events for us to qualify, even if we won the last two, but win them we must.
It keeps momentum going ahead of the RLODC game against Nottinghamshire, which is of massive importance to our season. Two wins out of four should see us qualify for the knock out stage.
As far as four-day cricket is concerned, we have a long way to go, but the efforts of the past two days confirmed that we can get there.
IF we cut out the careless efforts of day two, there is something to work on.
Wednesday, 20 July 2016
Tuesday, 19 July 2016
FREE Tickets available for Nottinghamshire v Derbyshire
Adam has kindly got in touch to say that he has two tickets for the Nottinghamshire v Derbyshire game at Welbeck Colliery going free to a good home.
He is unable to attend himself and so the first person to drop me an email to the usual address, giving your name and address details can get them.
I will pass those details to Adam who will post them out to you.
Ready, steady, GO!
And thanks Adam.
He is unable to attend himself and so the first person to drop me an email to the usual address, giving your name and address details can get them.
I will pass those details to Adam who will post them out to you.
Ready, steady, GO!
And thanks Adam.
Glamorgan v Derbyshire day 3
Glamorgan 518
Derbyshire 177 and 413-6 (Hughes 122, Madsen 90, Godleman 66 not)
Derbyshire lead by 72 runs
There was a much better effort by Derbyshire in the second innings today, but one that will almost certainly, barring a miracle of biblical proportions tomorrow, result in another four-day defeat.
While there's Billy there is hope, but we have a long way to get to a total that would worry the home side too much on a wicket that has been largely blameless throughout. That, of course, makes our first innings collapse all the more lamentable.
There was another fine century from Chesney Hughes that took him within 200 runs of a thousand in the season for the first time, while Wayne Madsen moved to within 140 of that target before being dismissed on 90. While they were together, hopes of a draw were briefly entertained, but after the partnership ended the procession began.
Billy Godleman had recovered from yesterday's indisposition to bat solidly through to the close, but the departure of Shiv Thakor before the close left Derbyshire with a mountain to climb on the last day.
Disappointingly, both Hamish Rutherford and Neil Broom failed to put on a score of any size and their continued poor returns must be a concern to both. It certainly is for supporters, as we have two players in who the club invested faith and no little money averaging only 27 runs each with the bat.It isn't enough, something that they will be aware of and they need to take us through to to RLODC knock outs now to be deemed anything approximating a success.
Were a four-day side being picked tomorrow night, one of them would almost certainly miss out in favour of Ben Slater. As it stands, the Chesterfield batsman should be given serious consideration for the fifty-over competition, simply based on his stunning form in that format of late.
More from me tomorrow, but I could quite possibly write the report tonight...
Derbyshire 177 and 413-6 (Hughes 122, Madsen 90, Godleman 66 not)
Derbyshire lead by 72 runs
There was a much better effort by Derbyshire in the second innings today, but one that will almost certainly, barring a miracle of biblical proportions tomorrow, result in another four-day defeat.
While there's Billy there is hope, but we have a long way to get to a total that would worry the home side too much on a wicket that has been largely blameless throughout. That, of course, makes our first innings collapse all the more lamentable.
There was another fine century from Chesney Hughes that took him within 200 runs of a thousand in the season for the first time, while Wayne Madsen moved to within 140 of that target before being dismissed on 90. While they were together, hopes of a draw were briefly entertained, but after the partnership ended the procession began.
Billy Godleman had recovered from yesterday's indisposition to bat solidly through to the close, but the departure of Shiv Thakor before the close left Derbyshire with a mountain to climb on the last day.
Disappointingly, both Hamish Rutherford and Neil Broom failed to put on a score of any size and their continued poor returns must be a concern to both. It certainly is for supporters, as we have two players in who the club invested faith and no little money averaging only 27 runs each with the bat.It isn't enough, something that they will be aware of and they need to take us through to to RLODC knock outs now to be deemed anything approximating a success.
Were a four-day side being picked tomorrow night, one of them would almost certainly miss out in favour of Ben Slater. As it stands, the Chesterfield batsman should be given serious consideration for the fifty-over competition, simply based on his stunning form in that format of late.
More from me tomorrow, but I could quite possibly write the report tonight...
Monday, 18 July 2016
Poynton retirement a sad day
Tom Poynton has announced his retirement from first-class cricket after a recurrence of the ankle problem he sustained in the car crash that killed his father, Keith, back in 2014. It will require further surgery and Tom has called time on his cricket career to pursue other interests.
That he returned to the first-class game at all was a major triumph. Doing so to little detriment of his wicket-keeping was most definitely so and Tom, a product of the club's Academy, maintained a consistently high standard behind the stumps, missing little enough to make it newsworthy when one did go down.
He was a wicket-keeper in the best of county traditions and, while consistently steady, was occasionally brilliant, especially standing up. He was my kind of 'keeper, undemonstrative and going about his work with the minimum of fuss. He was also loud and if he sees 'town crier' as a potential future career, there is little doubt that he has the pipes to make a good fist of the job. He was a good pupil to Karl Krikken's teacher and they were similar in vocal prowess, keeping the field on its toes and the bowler's going.
As a batsman he could be a doughty fighter, but was also capable of hitting a long ball and played some good cameos for his club. These were perhaps not frequent enough to confirm him as untouchable in the side, but he played for the team and has always been appreciated by his team mates throughout a ten-year association with the club.
Few will forget that wonderful century he made in partnership with Wayne Madsen at Northampton, when he recorded what was his only career century. Had it not been for the injury, which inevitably set him back and caused him to miss a season, who knows how his batting might have developed?
Most assuredly he will be remembered as one of the game's nice guys. There was always a ready smile, a firm, offered handshake and the steady gaze of a man as interested in you as you were in him. He was as fit as the proverbial butcher's dog and looked that way from first ball to last each day.
That he will make a success of whatever career path he chooses is assured. He will be as meticulous in his preparation for that career as he was about his cricket and I am sure that there will be plenty of options available to him.
What Derbyshire do to replace him is open to conjecture, but is a piece for another day.
For now, all that remains is to wish Tom Poynton the very best for that future career, where I am sure he will continue to pay great attention to the fortunes of his beloved county.
Without doubt, he will make his family proud, just as he always has done.
I wish him the very best in those new ventures, as I am sure you all do.
Thanks for everything, TP.
Glamorgan v Derbyshire day 2
Glamorgan 518 (Davis 7-146)
Derbyshire 177 (Hosein 27 not) and 78-1 (Rutherford 32 not)
Derbyshire trail by 263 runs
Following events as they unfolded at Colwyn Bay today, this was, I think, the lowest point of the season for me. There's one every year - Surrey at home last year was 'it' for 2015 - but this was worse than Leicestershire in the T20, or Nottinghamshire in the same competition.
I can just about handle our getting smacked around at five an over, especially on a small ground with a largely inexperienced attack. What is harder to take is seeing a batting line up that really should have matched that, against an attack no better than ordinary, being dismantled in less than two sessions.
There was more fight in the evening session but by then the damage was done. To have an entire side bowled out for much less than a teenage lad managed for them was a very poor effort indeed.
There are no excuses for such batting, as the line up has the requisite experience. There was at least one dodgy decision, but, with the exception of Harvey Hosein, no one lasted for more than 40 balls. In the absence of Billy Godleman through illness, he went out to open having got his eye in and did a steady job in the second innings, before being caught behind down the leg side.
At this stage, only three men come out of the game with any credit. Hosein does, both for his batting and for only allowing five byes in a total of over 500. It was a good effort by the keeper, who did his long-term credentials no harm.
Tony Palladino bowled steadily, while Will Davis, if a little expensively, showed that we may have discovered a strike bowler with seven wickets in the innings in only his fourth first-class match. Better control will come, but he is quick and gets wickets, a handy combination.
As for the rest? Very disappointing.
Derbyshire 177 (Hosein 27 not) and 78-1 (Rutherford 32 not)
Derbyshire trail by 263 runs
Following events as they unfolded at Colwyn Bay today, this was, I think, the lowest point of the season for me. There's one every year - Surrey at home last year was 'it' for 2015 - but this was worse than Leicestershire in the T20, or Nottinghamshire in the same competition.
I can just about handle our getting smacked around at five an over, especially on a small ground with a largely inexperienced attack. What is harder to take is seeing a batting line up that really should have matched that, against an attack no better than ordinary, being dismantled in less than two sessions.
There was more fight in the evening session but by then the damage was done. To have an entire side bowled out for much less than a teenage lad managed for them was a very poor effort indeed.
There are no excuses for such batting, as the line up has the requisite experience. There was at least one dodgy decision, but, with the exception of Harvey Hosein, no one lasted for more than 40 balls. In the absence of Billy Godleman through illness, he went out to open having got his eye in and did a steady job in the second innings, before being caught behind down the leg side.
At this stage, only three men come out of the game with any credit. Hosein does, both for his batting and for only allowing five byes in a total of over 500. It was a good effort by the keeper, who did his long-term credentials no harm.
Tony Palladino bowled steadily, while Will Davis, if a little expensively, showed that we may have discovered a strike bowler with seven wickets in the innings in only his fourth first-class match. Better control will come, but he is quick and gets wickets, a handy combination.
As for the rest? Very disappointing.
Sunday, 17 July 2016
Glamorgan v Derbyshire day 1
Glamorgan 481-8 (Donald 234, Davis 5-123)
v Derbyshire
It was a busy day for me today so I only ducked in and out of the action from Colwyn Bay.
That was pretty much what spectators were doing, as the home side amassed almost 500 runs in the day and the highly talented Aneurin Donald amassed fifteen sixes on his way to a career-best 234.
Warm congratulations go to Will Davis, in completing a first five-wicket haul in the county game, while Tony Palladino bowled with great accuracy in taking 3-65.
The rest won't remember the day with great fondness, but the two young players - and the supporters - will certainly do so.
More from me tomorrow.
v Derbyshire
It was a busy day for me today so I only ducked in and out of the action from Colwyn Bay.
That was pretty much what spectators were doing, as the home side amassed almost 500 runs in the day and the highly talented Aneurin Donald amassed fifteen sixes on his way to a career-best 234.
Warm congratulations go to Will Davis, in completing a first five-wicket haul in the county game, while Tony Palladino bowled with great accuracy in taking 3-65.
The rest won't remember the day with great fondness, but the two young players - and the supporters - will certainly do so.
More from me tomorrow.
Tea with Walter Goodyear
I took advantage of the home T20 against Lancashire last week to drop in and say hello again to the legend that is Walter Goodyear. For the uninitiated, he was groundsman at Chesterfield between 1932 and 1938, before taking over at Derby, where he remained until 1982.
We speak regularly and have done since the first chat we had that produced a lot of the interview with him in my new book. Walter is now half way down the track for the quick single that will take him to a well-crafted hundred, though I hope he gets there without the need to dive for his crease at the end.
It was, as always, a captivating hour or so. We chatted the weather, his health (not too bad for a man of 99 and counting) and the fact that he had outlived all of his contemporaries. The latter, he admitted is the worst thing about getting old and I fully understood that. The conversation moved easily around his favourite players and best friends in the game, all of them gone now - Stan Worthington, Les Jackson, Denis Smith; Walter has outlived them all, including his only son, David.
It was during our chat that he told me a story that was new to me. One that, despite many conversations over the past two years, he'd never brought up.
We had started to talking about Chesterfield, and the water issue that wrecked the festival week this year.
'It were never like that you know', said Walter. 'When I was there the ground drained well. It always used to run away to the right of the pavilion as you stand in front of it. They need to look at the drainage there, get it sorted.'
He still retains a soft spot for Chesterfield and Queens Park, having been born at nearby Hasland.
'I played for Derbyshire once there, you know?'
I sat up. Presumably in a charity or friendly match?
'No, it were against Yorkshire in 1933 or 1934, I forget which. Len Hutton was twelfth man for them and spent most of the game with me as I was nearest to him in age. He were only sixteen or seventeen at the time.' [A subsequent check by me showed that to be the case. His memory remains astonishing]
I asked for more. This was new. Nor was it something I could see Neil Godrich being asked to do any time soon.
It turned out that one of the Derbyshire players pulled a muscle and was unable to field for a sizeable part of the game. They were not sufficiently organised to have a twelfth man on the ground, so Walter was quickly found some whites by the other players and fielded at mid on and mid off for a lengthy period. No catches came his way, but he fielded gamely.
'Ah could allus throw' he said. 'I kidded them on that I wasn't paying attention, but if the ball came to me, I was quick to it and got it in flat to Harry Elliott behind the stumps.'
He sat back on his sofa and looked into the middle distance, perhaps seeing again that Chesterfield turf of eighty years before and the legends that played upon it. Then he sat up once more and looked at me.
'Mind you, I still had to do the ground. When the players went off for tea, I had to stay out there, brush and mark it. Aye, they were busy times. They all were.'
I left for the evening game after time that passed far too quickly. Visits with Walter always do, a sure indication of enjoyment and we shook hands and said goodbye for now.
I look forward to my next. When I think back to the many impressive people I have met in my life, Walter Goodyear, legendary groundsman and decorated war hero, is up there near the the top. I don't get fazed nor intimidated by celebrity status, but by any standards he is a very special man.
Long may he remain among us.
We speak regularly and have done since the first chat we had that produced a lot of the interview with him in my new book. Walter is now half way down the track for the quick single that will take him to a well-crafted hundred, though I hope he gets there without the need to dive for his crease at the end.
It was, as always, a captivating hour or so. We chatted the weather, his health (not too bad for a man of 99 and counting) and the fact that he had outlived all of his contemporaries. The latter, he admitted is the worst thing about getting old and I fully understood that. The conversation moved easily around his favourite players and best friends in the game, all of them gone now - Stan Worthington, Les Jackson, Denis Smith; Walter has outlived them all, including his only son, David.
It was during our chat that he told me a story that was new to me. One that, despite many conversations over the past two years, he'd never brought up.
We had started to talking about Chesterfield, and the water issue that wrecked the festival week this year.
'It were never like that you know', said Walter. 'When I was there the ground drained well. It always used to run away to the right of the pavilion as you stand in front of it. They need to look at the drainage there, get it sorted.'
He still retains a soft spot for Chesterfield and Queens Park, having been born at nearby Hasland.
'I played for Derbyshire once there, you know?'
I sat up. Presumably in a charity or friendly match?
'No, it were against Yorkshire in 1933 or 1934, I forget which. Len Hutton was twelfth man for them and spent most of the game with me as I was nearest to him in age. He were only sixteen or seventeen at the time.' [A subsequent check by me showed that to be the case. His memory remains astonishing]
I asked for more. This was new. Nor was it something I could see Neil Godrich being asked to do any time soon.
It turned out that one of the Derbyshire players pulled a muscle and was unable to field for a sizeable part of the game. They were not sufficiently organised to have a twelfth man on the ground, so Walter was quickly found some whites by the other players and fielded at mid on and mid off for a lengthy period. No catches came his way, but he fielded gamely.
'Ah could allus throw' he said. 'I kidded them on that I wasn't paying attention, but if the ball came to me, I was quick to it and got it in flat to Harry Elliott behind the stumps.'
He sat back on his sofa and looked into the middle distance, perhaps seeing again that Chesterfield turf of eighty years before and the legends that played upon it. Then he sat up once more and looked at me.
'Mind you, I still had to do the ground. When the players went off for tea, I had to stay out there, brush and mark it. Aye, they were busy times. They all were.'
I left for the evening game after time that passed far too quickly. Visits with Walter always do, a sure indication of enjoyment and we shook hands and said goodbye for now.
I look forward to my next. When I think back to the many impressive people I have met in my life, Walter Goodyear, legendary groundsman and decorated war hero, is up there near the the top. I don't get fazed nor intimidated by celebrity status, but by any standards he is a very special man.
Long may he remain among us.
Worthy of interest
Browsing idly across t'internet last night, I came across a news article that, for the first time, made me sit up and think 'He'd do us a good job'.
Phil Mustard is being released by Durham.
At 33, Mustard isn't young, but he is still a very good player and the first victim of a very necessary cost-cutting by that county. He has only been playing one-day cricket for his county, but averages in the mid-thirties in List A and T20, scoring his runs at an impressive 137 per hundred balls.
You will all know him, a player capable of giving an innings a lightning-fast start and keeping wicket very well over a number of seasons. Good enough to gain national selection a few times and with two or three good years left in him at least.
If we are perhaps looking at an overseas bowler for another year, strengthening that role with someone who offers runs would more easily enable us to do so. I remain convinced that Harvey Hosein will be a medium to long-term first choice for Derbyshire, but am equally so that at nineteen he is not yet ready for the mental demands of playing all cricket as first choice. Tom Poynton is a good keeper - there is little to choose between them - but perhaps without the scope for developing his batting that Hosein has, once he fills out a little more.
Mustard might just be perfect. Giving us an established, proven player of quality for a few seasons and affording Hosein the opportunity to develop at his own rate. It will all come down to finance and the article suggested that he was not short of offers, but it would work.
Another that I spotted was an excellent player at Northamptonshire, Adam Rossington.
He is out of contract at the end of the season and doesn't always get to keep wicket because of the excellent form of Ben Duckett. At 23, Rossington, who started out at Middlesex, is very good at both disciplines and would be a wonderful addition to our squad; a powerful, hard-hitting batsman who already has four centuries to his name.
By the same token, the vultures of the county circuit are circling around the talented Duckett and were he to leave, his county would doubtless do all they can to keep Rossington. Their parlous financial situation may make competing with better offers elsewhere problematic though.
Of the two, my preference would be Rossington, but the interest in both would be high. I have no doubt, however, that we could sell the club to either and relocation wouldn't be the major issue that it might be elsewhere.
Any thoughts?
Phil Mustard is being released by Durham.
At 33, Mustard isn't young, but he is still a very good player and the first victim of a very necessary cost-cutting by that county. He has only been playing one-day cricket for his county, but averages in the mid-thirties in List A and T20, scoring his runs at an impressive 137 per hundred balls.
You will all know him, a player capable of giving an innings a lightning-fast start and keeping wicket very well over a number of seasons. Good enough to gain national selection a few times and with two or three good years left in him at least.
If we are perhaps looking at an overseas bowler for another year, strengthening that role with someone who offers runs would more easily enable us to do so. I remain convinced that Harvey Hosein will be a medium to long-term first choice for Derbyshire, but am equally so that at nineteen he is not yet ready for the mental demands of playing all cricket as first choice. Tom Poynton is a good keeper - there is little to choose between them - but perhaps without the scope for developing his batting that Hosein has, once he fills out a little more.
Mustard might just be perfect. Giving us an established, proven player of quality for a few seasons and affording Hosein the opportunity to develop at his own rate. It will all come down to finance and the article suggested that he was not short of offers, but it would work.
Another that I spotted was an excellent player at Northamptonshire, Adam Rossington.
He is out of contract at the end of the season and doesn't always get to keep wicket because of the excellent form of Ben Duckett. At 23, Rossington, who started out at Middlesex, is very good at both disciplines and would be a wonderful addition to our squad; a powerful, hard-hitting batsman who already has four centuries to his name.
By the same token, the vultures of the county circuit are circling around the talented Duckett and were he to leave, his county would doubtless do all they can to keep Rossington. Their parlous financial situation may make competing with better offers elsewhere problematic though.
Of the two, my preference would be Rossington, but the interest in both would be high. I have no doubt, however, that we could sell the club to either and relocation wouldn't be the major issue that it might be elsewhere.
Any thoughts?
Saturday, 16 July 2016
Glamorgan v Derbyshire preview
The next game for Derbyshire is one of those that occasionally make me pine for the county of my birth and the greater flexibility it affords to travel to away games were I still down there.
Don't get me wrong, I love Scotland and the fact that I live in a quiet village, surrounded by fields yet within five minutes of a motorway network to most places you would care to go. Having said that, Wales isn't on the doorstep...
So we head to the splendours of Colwyn Bay, for the first time since 1966. It was in that game that Edwin Smith took his 800th county wicket for Derbyshire and Derek Morgan scored reached one thousand runs for the season. He also took seven wickets in the first innings, but we still lost...
Thankfully both Derek and Edwin are still with us and their talents wouldn't have gone amiss in this game. A squad of thirteen has been announced, which is:
Godleman, Rutherford, C Hughes, Madsen, Broom, Slater, Thakor, Hemmings, Critchley, Hosein, Palladino, Davis, Cotton
I couldn't call a final eleven, if I am honest, though Rob Hemmings would appear the most likely to miss out. After his excellent century yesterday, Ben Slater would be most unlucky to do so, with the other person dependent on what the wicket looks like tomorrow.
They face a Glamorgan side who have had a similar season to us - disappointing in four-day cricket but good in the one-day competitions. They have the injured Chris Cooke and Dean Cosker missing, while Tim van der Gugten and Colin Ingram are rested after one-day heroics in recent weeks. Graham Wagg has been in sparkling form for them and will again enjoy playing against his former county.
Their squad:
Mark Wallace, Nick Selman, Will Bragg, Jacques Rudolph (capt.), Aneurin Donald, David Lloyd, Graham Wagg, Craig Meschede, Andrew Salter, Owen Morgan, Michael Hogan, Jack Murphy.
It should make for an enjoyable festival week and would appear to be blessed with a good weather forecast, which wasn't Chesterfield's lot this year.
I think Derbyshire have the firepower to win this one and hope that they mark the change in format with an encouraging performance.
What do you reckon?
Don't get me wrong, I love Scotland and the fact that I live in a quiet village, surrounded by fields yet within five minutes of a motorway network to most places you would care to go. Having said that, Wales isn't on the doorstep...
So we head to the splendours of Colwyn Bay, for the first time since 1966. It was in that game that Edwin Smith took his 800th county wicket for Derbyshire and Derek Morgan scored reached one thousand runs for the season. He also took seven wickets in the first innings, but we still lost...
Thankfully both Derek and Edwin are still with us and their talents wouldn't have gone amiss in this game. A squad of thirteen has been announced, which is:
Godleman, Rutherford, C Hughes, Madsen, Broom, Slater, Thakor, Hemmings, Critchley, Hosein, Palladino, Davis, Cotton
I couldn't call a final eleven, if I am honest, though Rob Hemmings would appear the most likely to miss out. After his excellent century yesterday, Ben Slater would be most unlucky to do so, with the other person dependent on what the wicket looks like tomorrow.
They face a Glamorgan side who have had a similar season to us - disappointing in four-day cricket but good in the one-day competitions. They have the injured Chris Cooke and Dean Cosker missing, while Tim van der Gugten and Colin Ingram are rested after one-day heroics in recent weeks. Graham Wagg has been in sparkling form for them and will again enjoy playing against his former county.
Their squad:
Mark Wallace, Nick Selman, Will Bragg, Jacques Rudolph (capt.), Aneurin Donald, David Lloyd, Graham Wagg, Craig Meschede, Andrew Salter, Owen Morgan, Michael Hogan, Jack Murphy.
It should make for an enjoyable festival week and would appear to be blessed with a good weather forecast, which wasn't Chesterfield's lot this year.
I think Derbyshire have the firepower to win this one and hope that they mark the change in format with an encouraging performance.
Friday, 15 July 2016
Derbyshire v Sri Lanka A
Derbyshire 281 (Slater 124, Wood 44)
Sri Lanka A 284-3 (de Silva 119)
Sri Lanka A won by 7 wickets with 10 overs to spare.
I can't say too much about this one, as I missed most of it with other commitments.
There was another good century from Ben Slater, who is making as strong a case as he can for inclusion in the one-day game another year. It isn't all about hitting sixes and Ben's beautifully-paced innings gave us a competitive total in a 43-over match.
Tom Wood also gave a good account of himself on his senior debut, before holing out on the boundary in the quest for late runs, while Rob Hemmings late cameo, in which he hit boundaries from the last four balls of the innings, showed that his all round credentials will come to need consideration down the line.
That was as good as it got, though, as the free-scoring Sri Lankan side, several of them with international experience, scored at almost ten an over to win at a canter. The young bowlers all took stick, Milnes, Cork and Critchley going for ten an over and realising, no doubt, in the process, that they have a long way to go to become the finished article.
A good run out for all concerned, though and far better to have such an overseas fixture than some of the anodyne draws of recent vintage.
More from me over the weekend.
Sri Lanka A 284-3 (de Silva 119)
Sri Lanka A won by 7 wickets with 10 overs to spare.
I can't say too much about this one, as I missed most of it with other commitments.
There was another good century from Ben Slater, who is making as strong a case as he can for inclusion in the one-day game another year. It isn't all about hitting sixes and Ben's beautifully-paced innings gave us a competitive total in a 43-over match.
Tom Wood also gave a good account of himself on his senior debut, before holing out on the boundary in the quest for late runs, while Rob Hemmings late cameo, in which he hit boundaries from the last four balls of the innings, showed that his all round credentials will come to need consideration down the line.
That was as good as it got, though, as the free-scoring Sri Lankan side, several of them with international experience, scored at almost ten an over to win at a canter. The young bowlers all took stick, Milnes, Cork and Critchley going for ten an over and realising, no doubt, in the process, that they have a long way to go to become the finished article.
A good run out for all concerned, though and far better to have such an overseas fixture than some of the anodyne draws of recent vintage.
More from me over the weekend.
Thursday, 14 July 2016
Derbyshire v Sri Lanka A
It was a good night last night for Derbyshire.
A professional chase of a target, some good bowling, impressive fielding (Matt Critchley took a good catch, Andy Carter a sharp one, Jimmy Neesham almost a stunning one) and a good vibe around the team and the ground.
There was plenty to see and do in a format which has seen us, broadly speaking, show plenty of improvements this year, in both the overall level of performance and that of key individuals. Credit to all, including the coaching staff, for that.
Yet I have to say, for all that I enjoyed the performance, I drove away from the ground feeling there was something missing, for me. I know it's the future, we need to embrace it, need to be good at it. I watch it on the TV and enjoy it sometimes. That last word is key.
Whether it is the music, the sideshows, the distractions - maybe a combination of them all. I am a traditionalist, but on the ground it is just too 'in your face'. I don't need all the distractions, because the game itself is enough. I don't need batsmen standing like Babe Ruth when the bowler approaches, legs spread wide at the crease, as if awaiting a giant wave on a surf board. Nor do I need to sit behind someone who shouts, though no one listened 'You're bloody rubbish' every time a Derbyshire bowler got hit for four. It's obviously not allowed in his little world.
Truth be told, I don't see myself back. My last T20 was with my Dad, several years ago. It was us against Yorkshire and the hackles were going up on his back as 'gobby' (his words) Yorkshire supporters started mouthing off around us. As soon as the music started he was done, though he might have handled a bit of Tommy Dorsey coming from the speakers. There was none of the raucous stuff last night, but after a break of several seasons, I realised that the format was not for me.
Part of it is down to economics. Why would I drive five hours each way for three hours of cricket? It makes no sense on that level and even less so when the 'vibe' isn't my bag, baby. Sorry for the Austin Powers moment there...
I'll follow from afar, as one perforce has to do when 300 miles from the ground - but wish them well, as always.
Tomorrow sees a largely second team play Sri Lanka A, who must be fairly average if their national side is much to go by. The squad is:
Wes Durston
Ben Slater
Alex Hughes
Charlie MacDonnell
Tom Wood
Matt Critchley
Rob Hemmings
Harvey Hosein
Greg Cork
Tom Milnes
Ben Cotton
Andy Carter
For me, the main interest in the game is the performance of young batsmen Charlie MacDonnell and Tom Wood. Both have been scoring heavily in the second team and indeed all summer, for Durham MCCU and the Unicorns respectively.
I suspect that one, perhaps both of them may have a chance of a contract for next year, though much will depend on how we use our limited resources for squad strengthening. Both seem talented enough to make it at top level and have the crucial ability to play the long innings in four-day cricket, as well as the ability to hit it hard and often in the T20 format.
Which takes me neatly back to where I started.
Good luck to all of them. I hope they do well
A professional chase of a target, some good bowling, impressive fielding (Matt Critchley took a good catch, Andy Carter a sharp one, Jimmy Neesham almost a stunning one) and a good vibe around the team and the ground.
There was plenty to see and do in a format which has seen us, broadly speaking, show plenty of improvements this year, in both the overall level of performance and that of key individuals. Credit to all, including the coaching staff, for that.
Yet I have to say, for all that I enjoyed the performance, I drove away from the ground feeling there was something missing, for me. I know it's the future, we need to embrace it, need to be good at it. I watch it on the TV and enjoy it sometimes. That last word is key.
Whether it is the music, the sideshows, the distractions - maybe a combination of them all. I am a traditionalist, but on the ground it is just too 'in your face'. I don't need all the distractions, because the game itself is enough. I don't need batsmen standing like Babe Ruth when the bowler approaches, legs spread wide at the crease, as if awaiting a giant wave on a surf board. Nor do I need to sit behind someone who shouts, though no one listened 'You're bloody rubbish' every time a Derbyshire bowler got hit for four. It's obviously not allowed in his little world.
Truth be told, I don't see myself back. My last T20 was with my Dad, several years ago. It was us against Yorkshire and the hackles were going up on his back as 'gobby' (his words) Yorkshire supporters started mouthing off around us. As soon as the music started he was done, though he might have handled a bit of Tommy Dorsey coming from the speakers. There was none of the raucous stuff last night, but after a break of several seasons, I realised that the format was not for me.
Part of it is down to economics. Why would I drive five hours each way for three hours of cricket? It makes no sense on that level and even less so when the 'vibe' isn't my bag, baby. Sorry for the Austin Powers moment there...
I'll follow from afar, as one perforce has to do when 300 miles from the ground - but wish them well, as always.
Tomorrow sees a largely second team play Sri Lanka A, who must be fairly average if their national side is much to go by. The squad is:
Wes Durston
Ben Slater
Alex Hughes
Charlie MacDonnell
Tom Wood
Matt Critchley
Rob Hemmings
Harvey Hosein
Greg Cork
Tom Milnes
Ben Cotton
Andy Carter
For me, the main interest in the game is the performance of young batsmen Charlie MacDonnell and Tom Wood. Both have been scoring heavily in the second team and indeed all summer, for Durham MCCU and the Unicorns respectively.
I suspect that one, perhaps both of them may have a chance of a contract for next year, though much will depend on how we use our limited resources for squad strengthening. Both seem talented enough to make it at top level and have the crucial ability to play the long innings in four-day cricket, as well as the ability to hit it hard and often in the T20 format.
Which takes me neatly back to where I started.
Good luck to all of them. I hope they do well
Wednesday, 13 July 2016
Derbyshire v Lancashire T20
Lancashire 167-9 (Neesham 4-35, Petersen 79)
Derbyshire 170-4 (Rutherford 47, Durston 51)
Derbyshire won by six wickets
Tonight saw a good all round performance by Derbyshire in front of a good crowd and on a pleasant evening when the beer sales and those for fish and chips must have made for many smiling faces.
There was plenty going on and Derbyshire looked up for completing the double over the reigning champions as they went on the field. The early overs suggested a tough night, the cause not being helped by one horrendous fielding mix up between Harvey Hosein and Andy Carter, which let of Alviro Petersen before he really got going. The ball was skied towards Carter who barely had to move, but Harvey called, Carter moved and the keeper didn't get there. It was an easier catch for the fielder and could have been costly.
The flying start was slowed by a fine spell, yet again, from Matt Critchley. Again he didn't bowl a full allocation, yet only one soaring six from Petersen suggested confidence and two of his colleagues perished on the sweep, misjudging the turn. He is quite a talent, Mr Critchley...
Alex Hughes bowled a tidy spell too, but the visitors came unstuck in the last two overs, the first beautifully bowled by Andy Carter, the second by Jimmy Neesham.
Ten an over would have taken them to 180. They got seven from the two and Neesham kept getting them out in the sort of display one hopes for from an overseas import. I think him the best of the three Kiwis and expect him to be a real player for his country in the years ahead.
Rutherford hit the first ball of the reply for four and then he and Durston outpaced Lancashire on the powerplay. When Hamish sliced a drive, Chesney kept up the pace and there were regular boundaries to keep Derbyshire on track.
Though Wes and Ches departed from successive balls, and Neil Broom failed, Neesham completed a fine all-round game with a composed knock, aided by Wayne Madsen, a very good number six...
After that win, which came with eight balls to spare, we are fifth in the section, with Worcestershire and Durham still to play.
The group is wide open, the dream very much alive, if dependent on other results.
Good effort lads.
Derbyshire 170-4 (Rutherford 47, Durston 51)
Derbyshire won by six wickets
Tonight saw a good all round performance by Derbyshire in front of a good crowd and on a pleasant evening when the beer sales and those for fish and chips must have made for many smiling faces.
There was plenty going on and Derbyshire looked up for completing the double over the reigning champions as they went on the field. The early overs suggested a tough night, the cause not being helped by one horrendous fielding mix up between Harvey Hosein and Andy Carter, which let of Alviro Petersen before he really got going. The ball was skied towards Carter who barely had to move, but Harvey called, Carter moved and the keeper didn't get there. It was an easier catch for the fielder and could have been costly.
The flying start was slowed by a fine spell, yet again, from Matt Critchley. Again he didn't bowl a full allocation, yet only one soaring six from Petersen suggested confidence and two of his colleagues perished on the sweep, misjudging the turn. He is quite a talent, Mr Critchley...
Alex Hughes bowled a tidy spell too, but the visitors came unstuck in the last two overs, the first beautifully bowled by Andy Carter, the second by Jimmy Neesham.
Ten an over would have taken them to 180. They got seven from the two and Neesham kept getting them out in the sort of display one hopes for from an overseas import. I think him the best of the three Kiwis and expect him to be a real player for his country in the years ahead.
Rutherford hit the first ball of the reply for four and then he and Durston outpaced Lancashire on the powerplay. When Hamish sliced a drive, Chesney kept up the pace and there were regular boundaries to keep Derbyshire on track.
Though Wes and Ches departed from successive balls, and Neil Broom failed, Neesham completed a fine all-round game with a composed knock, aided by Wayne Madsen, a very good number six...
After that win, which came with eight balls to spare, we are fifth in the section, with Worcestershire and Durham still to play.
The group is wide open, the dream very much alive, if dependent on other results.
Good effort lads.
Tuesday, 12 July 2016
Derbyshire v Lancashire T20
There was a cracking night at Chesterfield Library last night for the launch of my book on Derbyshire 'In Their Own Words'. My sincere thanks to everyone who came along and I hope you enjoyed the cricket chat. The impromptu panel of Edwin Smith, Harold Rhodes, Alan Hill and Keith Mohan raised a lot of laughs with their reminiscences and also made some pointed and worthy comments on the modern game and that of their times. I am grateful to them all.
Golden memories and a terrific evening for the Peakfan mental scrapbook.
The recent rain has put paid to seeing the second team at Denby, though I hope for a little one-day action tomorrow. Tomorrow evening I will be down at Derby for the T20 against Lancashire, the first of three games that John Sadler has admitted we have to win. Without doubt that is the case and even that may not be enough now.
Lack of nous cost us on Sunday. Irrespective of who is bowling, most batting sides would fancy 16 off two overs and naivety cost us. Experienced men will go for an early over boundary to ease the pressure, then take singles to coast it. That we lost four wickets in those two overs and only finished one short with a last ball six was disappointing and on such small margins are success and failure judged.
Tomorrow's side is unlikely to show too many changes, as it is the best that we have available. Greater experience will aid that and we have run good teams closer this summer than before. The next step, with the addition of the right personnel over the winter, is to start to edge these last ball and last over finishes. Five per cent more, perhaps not even that, is what is required and where we need to work over the winter.
The game is unlikely to go like the one at Old Trafford, where we annhilated them pre-Guptill. Although he has come and gone, in Jos Buttler and Alviro Petersen they have had a dynamic and dangerous opening pair who can put them out of sight in the opening overs. Buttler misses out with a broken thumb, however and they name the following squad:
Steven Croft (Captain), Karl Brown, Nathan Buck, Jordan Clark, George Edwards, Arron Lilley, Liam Livingstone, Saqib Mahmood, Tom Moores (W), Stephen Parry, Alviro Petersen, Luke Procter, Luis Reece.
We need to dig deep on those winter disciplines, use a bit more common sense at times and hope for our share of luck. Then we might, just might, beat Lancashire.
Oh...and we need to win the toss and bowl. Improves our chances considerably, but you know that...
Golden memories and a terrific evening for the Peakfan mental scrapbook.
The recent rain has put paid to seeing the second team at Denby, though I hope for a little one-day action tomorrow. Tomorrow evening I will be down at Derby for the T20 against Lancashire, the first of three games that John Sadler has admitted we have to win. Without doubt that is the case and even that may not be enough now.
Lack of nous cost us on Sunday. Irrespective of who is bowling, most batting sides would fancy 16 off two overs and naivety cost us. Experienced men will go for an early over boundary to ease the pressure, then take singles to coast it. That we lost four wickets in those two overs and only finished one short with a last ball six was disappointing and on such small margins are success and failure judged.
Tomorrow's side is unlikely to show too many changes, as it is the best that we have available. Greater experience will aid that and we have run good teams closer this summer than before. The next step, with the addition of the right personnel over the winter, is to start to edge these last ball and last over finishes. Five per cent more, perhaps not even that, is what is required and where we need to work over the winter.
The game is unlikely to go like the one at Old Trafford, where we annhilated them pre-Guptill. Although he has come and gone, in Jos Buttler and Alviro Petersen they have had a dynamic and dangerous opening pair who can put them out of sight in the opening overs. Buttler misses out with a broken thumb, however and they name the following squad:
Steven Croft (Captain), Karl Brown, Nathan Buck, Jordan Clark, George Edwards, Arron Lilley, Liam Livingstone, Saqib Mahmood, Tom Moores (W), Stephen Parry, Alviro Petersen, Luke Procter, Luis Reece.
We need to dig deep on those winter disciplines, use a bit more common sense at times and hope for our share of luck. Then we might, just might, beat Lancashire.
Oh...and we need to win the toss and bowl. Improves our chances considerably, but you know that...
Sunday, 10 July 2016
Derbyshire v Yorkshire T20
Yorkshire 166-6 (Williamson 65, Durston 2-17)
Derbyshire 165-8 (Rutherford 44, Broom 37, Hughes 35)
Yorkshire won by one run
I can't say too much about today's game, as I was following the game on Twitter as I stopped en route down here. When I saw the result of the toss, I thought we had a chance and after Yorkshire got off to a flier I was pleased to see we had kept them to 166 - one we had a chance with.
The early loss of Wes seems to knock us back and although the Kiwis did OK again, we never seemed to be ahead of the game and we needed someone to play the match-winning innings that didn't materialise.
Two sixes for Chesney that took us past 150 with two overs to go should have seen us win. Seventeen off two overs with six wickets in hand really should see a batting side win, but Willey and Rafiq bowled tight overs and we ended one short, despite Matt Critchley's last-ball six.
One small criticism from a distant supporter perspective - the end of the game wasn't well covered on Twitter. We knew it was 13 off the over, and that we lost a wicket to the third and fifth balls from the tweets, but the score wasn't given until the end of the innings and Critchley's six wasn't mentioned.
Room for improvement there. Same as with the team, really. We ran a very good side as close as you can get - but at the end of it all, it counted for nothing, points-wise.
Lancashire on Wednesday is last-chance saloon now - and there is no margin for error now.
I look forward to your observations on the game and hope to see a few people on Wednesday.
Postscript - please do try and come along to Chesterfield Library tomorrow night for the launch of my book 'In Their Own Words.' Tickets are still available and can be reserved by calling 01629 533400.
Some fine names are in attendance and a good night should be had by all.
Derbyshire 165-8 (Rutherford 44, Broom 37, Hughes 35)
Yorkshire won by one run
I can't say too much about today's game, as I was following the game on Twitter as I stopped en route down here. When I saw the result of the toss, I thought we had a chance and after Yorkshire got off to a flier I was pleased to see we had kept them to 166 - one we had a chance with.
The early loss of Wes seems to knock us back and although the Kiwis did OK again, we never seemed to be ahead of the game and we needed someone to play the match-winning innings that didn't materialise.
Two sixes for Chesney that took us past 150 with two overs to go should have seen us win. Seventeen off two overs with six wickets in hand really should see a batting side win, but Willey and Rafiq bowled tight overs and we ended one short, despite Matt Critchley's last-ball six.
One small criticism from a distant supporter perspective - the end of the game wasn't well covered on Twitter. We knew it was 13 off the over, and that we lost a wicket to the third and fifth balls from the tweets, but the score wasn't given until the end of the innings and Critchley's six wasn't mentioned.
Room for improvement there. Same as with the team, really. We ran a very good side as close as you can get - but at the end of it all, it counted for nothing, points-wise.
Lancashire on Wednesday is last-chance saloon now - and there is no margin for error now.
I look forward to your observations on the game and hope to see a few people on Wednesday.
Postscript - please do try and come along to Chesterfield Library tomorrow night for the launch of my book 'In Their Own Words.' Tickets are still available and can be reserved by calling 01629 533400.
Some fine names are in attendance and a good night should be had by all.
Saturday, 9 July 2016
Derbyshire v Yorkshire T20 preview and...
Once again, it is telling that a poor display brings forth more comments and mails than any encouraging one ever can.
We have had two bad displays in the T20 now, sadly both against local rivals. We have to expect that, with a young side, but on each display it was the greater experience of the batting that let us down. If you lose three or four wickets in the Powerplay it is always tough to catch up later in the innings, as rebuilding is necessary. Batting second we have paced some good innings, but if I was skippering any side against us at present I would ask us to bat, stand back and await results.
We shouldn't ignore that it is such a tough group though. The irony of having our stronger suit in the one day game is that the section hosts big, successful clubs like Lancashire, Yorkshire, Warwickshire, Nottinghamshire and Durham, an exciting young side in Worcestershire, a proven one-day side in Northamptonshire and a very experienced one in Leicestershire.
Clint McKay at Leicestershire is exactly the sort of bowler we need for next year. An experienced man you can toss the ball to and know he will deliver, like Charl Langeveldt and Michael Holding once did for us. Where we find such a bowler I don't know, but Paul's comments, below last night's piece, are in tune with my thoughts.
For another year we need an overseas who wins matches, as only at Old Trafford so far has one of our Kiwis really delivered. They have done OK, but with respect, you don't need to go to New Zealand for 'OK'.
I still maintain that the season has seen progress in a young squad, but it will, perforce, be slow, as young players rarely burst like meteors. Or if they do, they get signed by Nottinghamshire...
I was amused by Doug's last post, which reminded me a little of Monty Python's Life of Brian and the 'What have the Romans done for us' scene.
'The only improvements I can see is more consistent scoring at the top of the order. How much has the placid wickets got to do with that? Improvement in Thakor's performance, Cotton showing a little bit of improvement and early promise from Davis . Just about everything else is going backwards.'
I don't think that's too bad! Nor have Palladino or Madsen gone backwards, Chesney has improved, Billy has been solid, Critchley and Alex Hughes have offered some fine one-day efforts. We'll agree to disagree, but that's not a bad season's work and we are still top of the RLODC section and two more wins, as Paul says, would see us qualify.
I agree with Paul that we need a good batsman (for T20) a spinner and an experienced seamer for next year. I'd add in a good wicket-keeper batsman, as I personally think asking Harvey Hosein to be first choice keeper at 19 is too big a question. Tom Poynton is a good cricketer, but we need more runs from the position.
I have ideas for some of them, but that's for another piece....
Yorkshire tomorrow will be tough. My short prediction is that we can give them a game if we win the toss and chase, but will otherwise be beaten unless someone produces something special.
Their squad:
Tim Bresnan, Ben Coad, Andrew Hodd (wicketkeeper), Jack Leaning, Alex Lees (Captain), Adam Lyth, Steven Patterson, Liam Plunkett, Azeem Rafiq, Adil Rashid, Will Rhodes, David Willey, Kane Williamson.
No Ballance, Root and Bairstow, so things are looking up!
Ours? Much the same, I would reckon, unless Ben Cotton or Andy Carter are fit to play. IF Nottinghamshire do us a favour this afternoon and beat Worcestershire, it makes our next four games against Yorkshire, Lancashire, Worcestershire and Durham huge. Our destiny still lies in our own hands and fourth place in the group is still a possibility against teams around us in the table and jostling for position.
It will come down to net run rate in the end.
Right Wes...dig out that two-headed coin and hope the opposition call tails...
We have had two bad displays in the T20 now, sadly both against local rivals. We have to expect that, with a young side, but on each display it was the greater experience of the batting that let us down. If you lose three or four wickets in the Powerplay it is always tough to catch up later in the innings, as rebuilding is necessary. Batting second we have paced some good innings, but if I was skippering any side against us at present I would ask us to bat, stand back and await results.
We shouldn't ignore that it is such a tough group though. The irony of having our stronger suit in the one day game is that the section hosts big, successful clubs like Lancashire, Yorkshire, Warwickshire, Nottinghamshire and Durham, an exciting young side in Worcestershire, a proven one-day side in Northamptonshire and a very experienced one in Leicestershire.
Clint McKay at Leicestershire is exactly the sort of bowler we need for next year. An experienced man you can toss the ball to and know he will deliver, like Charl Langeveldt and Michael Holding once did for us. Where we find such a bowler I don't know, but Paul's comments, below last night's piece, are in tune with my thoughts.
For another year we need an overseas who wins matches, as only at Old Trafford so far has one of our Kiwis really delivered. They have done OK, but with respect, you don't need to go to New Zealand for 'OK'.
I still maintain that the season has seen progress in a young squad, but it will, perforce, be slow, as young players rarely burst like meteors. Or if they do, they get signed by Nottinghamshire...
I was amused by Doug's last post, which reminded me a little of Monty Python's Life of Brian and the 'What have the Romans done for us' scene.
'The only improvements I can see is more consistent scoring at the top of the order. How much has the placid wickets got to do with that? Improvement in Thakor's performance, Cotton showing a little bit of improvement and early promise from Davis . Just about everything else is going backwards.'
I don't think that's too bad! Nor have Palladino or Madsen gone backwards, Chesney has improved, Billy has been solid, Critchley and Alex Hughes have offered some fine one-day efforts. We'll agree to disagree, but that's not a bad season's work and we are still top of the RLODC section and two more wins, as Paul says, would see us qualify.
I agree with Paul that we need a good batsman (for T20) a spinner and an experienced seamer for next year. I'd add in a good wicket-keeper batsman, as I personally think asking Harvey Hosein to be first choice keeper at 19 is too big a question. Tom Poynton is a good cricketer, but we need more runs from the position.
I have ideas for some of them, but that's for another piece....
Yorkshire tomorrow will be tough. My short prediction is that we can give them a game if we win the toss and chase, but will otherwise be beaten unless someone produces something special.
Their squad:
Tim Bresnan, Ben Coad, Andrew Hodd (wicketkeeper), Jack Leaning, Alex Lees (Captain), Adam Lyth, Steven Patterson, Liam Plunkett, Azeem Rafiq, Adil Rashid, Will Rhodes, David Willey, Kane Williamson.
No Ballance, Root and Bairstow, so things are looking up!
Ours? Much the same, I would reckon, unless Ben Cotton or Andy Carter are fit to play. IF Nottinghamshire do us a favour this afternoon and beat Worcestershire, it makes our next four games against Yorkshire, Lancashire, Worcestershire and Durham huge. Our destiny still lies in our own hands and fourth place in the group is still a possibility against teams around us in the table and jostling for position.
It will come down to net run rate in the end.
Right Wes...dig out that two-headed coin and hope the opposition call tails...
Friday, 8 July 2016
Leicestershire v Derbyshire T20
Derbyshire 158 all out (Broom 59, Neesham 45)
Leicestershire 164-1 (Pettini 71 not, Cosgrove 52, Delport 38 not)
Leicestershire won by nine wickets
A somewhat limp effort from Derbyshire tonight threw their hopes of T20 qualification into the bin marked 'unlikely', with tough games against Yorkshire (aka England B) and a much-improved Lancashire in the next five days.
While we have played a better quality of cricket this year in the competition, it is beyond doubt that we chase a total a heck of a lot better than we set one. We don't handle the Powerplay well batting first and the mentality, with a long batting order, seems to be 'if I get out, someone will get the runs'.
Except it hasn't worked that way. While Neil Broom and Jimmy Neesham played good knocks tonight, neither was sufficient to suggest that we were anywhere close to a total that we could defend. Partnerships win these games and there simply wasn't one of sufficient longevity.
Fair play to the home side. They bowled cannily and their batsmen simply destroyed our young attack on the night, in a total reversal of the game at the 3aaa County Ground.
It makes Sunday against Yorkshire a huge game and one where we need to do much better to win.
The frustrating thing is that we can - but most likely only if we bat second...
Leicestershire 164-1 (Pettini 71 not, Cosgrove 52, Delport 38 not)
Leicestershire won by nine wickets
A somewhat limp effort from Derbyshire tonight threw their hopes of T20 qualification into the bin marked 'unlikely', with tough games against Yorkshire (aka England B) and a much-improved Lancashire in the next five days.
While we have played a better quality of cricket this year in the competition, it is beyond doubt that we chase a total a heck of a lot better than we set one. We don't handle the Powerplay well batting first and the mentality, with a long batting order, seems to be 'if I get out, someone will get the runs'.
Except it hasn't worked that way. While Neil Broom and Jimmy Neesham played good knocks tonight, neither was sufficient to suggest that we were anywhere close to a total that we could defend. Partnerships win these games and there simply wasn't one of sufficient longevity.
Fair play to the home side. They bowled cannily and their batsmen simply destroyed our young attack on the night, in a total reversal of the game at the 3aaa County Ground.
It makes Sunday against Yorkshire a huge game and one where we need to do much better to win.
The frustrating thing is that we can - but most likely only if we bat second...
Thursday, 7 July 2016
Leicestershire v Derbyshire T20 preview
Fingers crossed, tomorrow will see a return to cricket and an end to as odd a week as I have had to write on in my time doing the blog. We should call it Watergate...nah, that's been used before...
There is a strong thirteen for the Falcons tomorrow at Leicester, where I expect a tougher level of opposition than we had at Derby for the first game between the two sides. I don't see a change to the team from Worcester, because we have really only had one bad display in this competition, sadly against you-know-who.
The squad:
Hamish Rutherford
Wes Durston
Chesney Hughes
Neil Broom
Wayne Madsen
Ben Slater
Shiv Thakor
Jimmy Neesham
Alex Hughes
Matt Critchley
Harvey Hosein
Tom Milnes
Andy Carter
Leicestershire welcome Farhaan Behardien to their squad, the South African a player of proven ability and experience.
Their side is the opposite of ours - packed with players of experience, though less mobile in the fied because of that. Nonetheless, it is a game we need to win, especially as Sunday sees an international-laden Yorkshire side visit the 3aaa County Ground.
Their squad:
Mark Pettini, Mark Cosgrove, Cameron Delport, Farhaan Behardien, Kevin O’Brien, Paul Horton, Lewis Hill, Michael Burgess, Luke Wells, Neil Dexter, Ben Raine, Clint McKay, Rob Taylor, Jigar Naik
If we produce the intensity of the majority of our performances, we will win. It will be tough and McKay is always a dangerous bowler, but I feel that this Derbyshire side is more than the sum of its parts, thanks to an excellent team spirit that ensures the players roll up their sleeves and battle.
Let's see if I am right tomorrow - meantime, what are your thoughts?
Postscript - a draw for the seconds in a good game against Worcestershire today, with Wes taking five wickets in the second innings.
Warm congratulations to Tom Wood, who recorded a double century and must have made a few people sit up and think. A 22-year old local lad who can play aggressively or with more restraint.
There's a lot to like about that sort of player...
There is a strong thirteen for the Falcons tomorrow at Leicester, where I expect a tougher level of opposition than we had at Derby for the first game between the two sides. I don't see a change to the team from Worcester, because we have really only had one bad display in this competition, sadly against you-know-who.
The squad:
Hamish Rutherford
Wes Durston
Chesney Hughes
Neil Broom
Wayne Madsen
Ben Slater
Shiv Thakor
Jimmy Neesham
Alex Hughes
Matt Critchley
Harvey Hosein
Tom Milnes
Andy Carter
Leicestershire welcome Farhaan Behardien to their squad, the South African a player of proven ability and experience.
Their side is the opposite of ours - packed with players of experience, though less mobile in the fied because of that. Nonetheless, it is a game we need to win, especially as Sunday sees an international-laden Yorkshire side visit the 3aaa County Ground.
Their squad:
Mark Pettini, Mark Cosgrove, Cameron Delport, Farhaan Behardien, Kevin O’Brien, Paul Horton, Lewis Hill, Michael Burgess, Luke Wells, Neil Dexter, Ben Raine, Clint McKay, Rob Taylor, Jigar Naik
If we produce the intensity of the majority of our performances, we will win. It will be tough and McKay is always a dangerous bowler, but I feel that this Derbyshire side is more than the sum of its parts, thanks to an excellent team spirit that ensures the players roll up their sleeves and battle.
Let's see if I am right tomorrow - meantime, what are your thoughts?
Postscript - a draw for the seconds in a good game against Worcestershire today, with Wes taking five wickets in the second innings.
Warm congratulations to Tom Wood, who recorded a double century and must have made a few people sit up and think. A 22-year old local lad who can play aggressively or with more restraint.
There's a lot to like about that sort of player...
Wednesday, 6 July 2016
Match abandoned and time to move on
I think we have now exhausted the comments on the rain-ruined week at Chesterfield, folks.
At the end of the day, this wasn't an error by anyone. No one decided to water the outfield on Saturday, then went away home and left a hose pipe running overnight. No one drove a tractor across a good length and left big ruts in the wicket. No one wanted a day of serious, torrential rain on Saturday.
That's what happened.
This isn't the first game of cricket to be washed out, nor will it be the last. Frustrating? Of course it is. Dozens, hundreds of people look forward to Chesterfield Festival, just as they have over the years, just as they have done around the country, at places like Cheltenham, Arundel, Guildford, Scarborough and Horsham.
Watching cricket at these grounds is one of life's great pleasures, with the players close, the facilities quaint and charming, the surroundings a visual treat. An international ground, or developed ground, can never capture that, but offers a greater guarantee if things go wrong and of things not going wrong.
Food preparation is easier, toilet facilities are better, parking is more readily available, congestion is less of a problem, the ground is better protected - the list goes on. The last one, of course, is key here.
Cricket, as we all know, is wholly dependent on the weather. There is little more depressing than a wet cricket ground, nothing more uplifting than a pretty one, with the action unfolding in front of you. Yet there is nothing can be done when the elements conspire against you. Nothing at all.
That it has been sunny at Chesterfield is largely irrelevant. The damage was done on Saturday, when the rain came down in torrents, leaving the outfield with no tolerance to further rain. It happens and I know as well as anyone. The club where I played for the last twenty years had a high water table near the River Forth. So high, that we didn't - more to the point couldn't - arrange a home game before June and sometimes didn't get on until July...
From Creweblade's report from the member meeting, there are an agreed further four years on the festival anyway and I am pleased about that. There is always a risk with such a venture, but in my opinion, one that is worth taking. It was also confirmed that the game last Sunday and the first two days of this game were insured, common sense and good management. That is also evident in switching the Yorkshire game on Sunday to Derby. You still can't guarantee the weather, but you give yourself a fighting chance.
What we need now is for people to allow it to pass. The spleen has been vented, but neither the cricket club nor council control the climate. Another year may well be blessed, like many in the past, by glorious sunshine and the whole week pass in a blaze of glory.
I hope so, because Derbyshire cricket needs the Chesterfield Festival.
So does the wider game of cricket.
At the end of the day, this wasn't an error by anyone. No one decided to water the outfield on Saturday, then went away home and left a hose pipe running overnight. No one drove a tractor across a good length and left big ruts in the wicket. No one wanted a day of serious, torrential rain on Saturday.
That's what happened.
This isn't the first game of cricket to be washed out, nor will it be the last. Frustrating? Of course it is. Dozens, hundreds of people look forward to Chesterfield Festival, just as they have over the years, just as they have done around the country, at places like Cheltenham, Arundel, Guildford, Scarborough and Horsham.
Watching cricket at these grounds is one of life's great pleasures, with the players close, the facilities quaint and charming, the surroundings a visual treat. An international ground, or developed ground, can never capture that, but offers a greater guarantee if things go wrong and of things not going wrong.
Food preparation is easier, toilet facilities are better, parking is more readily available, congestion is less of a problem, the ground is better protected - the list goes on. The last one, of course, is key here.
Cricket, as we all know, is wholly dependent on the weather. There is little more depressing than a wet cricket ground, nothing more uplifting than a pretty one, with the action unfolding in front of you. Yet there is nothing can be done when the elements conspire against you. Nothing at all.
That it has been sunny at Chesterfield is largely irrelevant. The damage was done on Saturday, when the rain came down in torrents, leaving the outfield with no tolerance to further rain. It happens and I know as well as anyone. The club where I played for the last twenty years had a high water table near the River Forth. So high, that we didn't - more to the point couldn't - arrange a home game before June and sometimes didn't get on until July...
From Creweblade's report from the member meeting, there are an agreed further four years on the festival anyway and I am pleased about that. There is always a risk with such a venture, but in my opinion, one that is worth taking. It was also confirmed that the game last Sunday and the first two days of this game were insured, common sense and good management. That is also evident in switching the Yorkshire game on Sunday to Derby. You still can't guarantee the weather, but you give yourself a fighting chance.
What we need now is for people to allow it to pass. The spleen has been vented, but neither the cricket club nor council control the climate. Another year may well be blessed, like many in the past, by glorious sunshine and the whole week pass in a blaze of glory.
I hope so, because Derbyshire cricket needs the Chesterfield Festival.
So does the wider game of cricket.
Tuesday, 5 July 2016
Busy old week next week...
On Monday I will be heading to Denby to watch the second team for a while, before the launch event at Chesterfield Library in the evening. It starts at 7.30pm and the evening comprises a short talk from me, a chance to ask questions of me and special guests who will be appearing, then a chance to buy the book and get it signed if you wish. No clues on the guests at this stage, as it is not yet finalised, but there will be some club legends involved...
Tickets are £3 and are available from Chesterfield Library by calling 01629 533400. Alternatively, you can pop in and pick one up from the library if you live locally.
Tuesday sees me back at Denby on a quieter day, then looking forward to a game of snooker against the legend (cricket and snooker) that is Edwin Smith in the evening. Perhaps I should rephrase that - looking forward to losing a game of snooker! I am also doing a radio interview in the morning, with High Peak Radio.
Wednesday might see a final mosey down to Denby, but I will be at the 3aaa County Ground later for the T20 against Lancashire. Should be a good night, a big crowd and let's pray for sunshine!
Thursday is another busy day, pretty much from morning till night, with a range of things that I look forward to and a chance to relax for a while too.
Friday? I'm down at Elvaston Cricket Club for an evening with the wonderful Edwin Smith.
I will be talking about the new book, then Edwin and I will chat about his career and answer questions from the audience. It will also be the last chance to pick up a copy of Edwin's biography, with final copies on sale on the night.
It is hoped that the evening will see the only two living men to take a thousand wickets for Derbyshire together again, which will be really special if it happens.
Elvaston Cricket Club is on Stable Drive, Elvaston, DE72 3EP and
tickets for the event are £3, with proceeds going to the club's
Defibrillator Appeal Fund. There will be a bar and food available, with
the evening starting at 7.30pm.
Tickets are available from the club, or by calling Andy on 07722 485213.
It would be great to see you at some point during the week and if you see me down at one of the grounds, please come and say hello! It's always nice to meet folk and if you can support one of the book launches, so much the better...
Derbyshire v Northamptonshire day 2
No play
No need to go over old ground here, but it looks increasingly likely that the festival will be a wash out, which is such a shame for all concerned.
The club is looking at switching the Sunday T20 against Yorkshire to Derby, which would be a shame but hardly setting a precedent. It makes sense on most levels, unless it rains, of course..
One point on the ground staff and Saturday - there is only so much that they can do on a day when it is raining. Once the ground is as covered as it can be, they have to wait until it relents to get to work. On the Sunday, as Creweblade points out, when you see the water table so high experienced personnel know that it is a limitation exercise only - and when you have sodden turf, the last thing it needs is people tramping all over it and turning it to mud.
They are experienced, talented people and to suggest that we know better than them is disrespectful. No matter how talented the surgeon, sometimes the patient dies; no matter how good the ground personnel, there's times the show can't go on.
Later tonight I will tell you about my week next week, but for now, a cricket, as opposed to weather observation for you.
At Derby today, Derbyshire seconds started a three-day game against Worcestershire, who have a decent side out with several bowlers of first team experience.
At the close, we are 418-3, Alex Hughes making 118 and Tom Wood, who regulars will know I have been suggesting for a trial, 186 not out.
Jon Tattersall, Charles MacDonell and TomWood. Three very good young batsmen trialing with us and all doing well. MacDonell has had a century and two not outs so far and appears to be a young player of serious potential.
Yet Wood, who has already shown for the Unicorns this summer that he can biff it around against good bowlers, has now proven that he's not just a slogger and might be the best of them all.
I look forward to seeing all of them, hopefully, next Monday and Tuesday at Denby. My book launch week hasn't much first team cricket, but there's much to enjoy in the cricket of the younger lads and I will pop along for a while on at least a part of the first two days.
I'm looking forward to it!
Please let the sun shine...
No need to go over old ground here, but it looks increasingly likely that the festival will be a wash out, which is such a shame for all concerned.
The club is looking at switching the Sunday T20 against Yorkshire to Derby, which would be a shame but hardly setting a precedent. It makes sense on most levels, unless it rains, of course..
One point on the ground staff and Saturday - there is only so much that they can do on a day when it is raining. Once the ground is as covered as it can be, they have to wait until it relents to get to work. On the Sunday, as Creweblade points out, when you see the water table so high experienced personnel know that it is a limitation exercise only - and when you have sodden turf, the last thing it needs is people tramping all over it and turning it to mud.
They are experienced, talented people and to suggest that we know better than them is disrespectful. No matter how talented the surgeon, sometimes the patient dies; no matter how good the ground personnel, there's times the show can't go on.
Later tonight I will tell you about my week next week, but for now, a cricket, as opposed to weather observation for you.
At Derby today, Derbyshire seconds started a three-day game against Worcestershire, who have a decent side out with several bowlers of first team experience.
At the close, we are 418-3, Alex Hughes making 118 and Tom Wood, who regulars will know I have been suggesting for a trial, 186 not out.
Jon Tattersall, Charles MacDonell and TomWood. Three very good young batsmen trialing with us and all doing well. MacDonell has had a century and two not outs so far and appears to be a young player of serious potential.
Yet Wood, who has already shown for the Unicorns this summer that he can biff it around against good bowlers, has now proven that he's not just a slogger and might be the best of them all.
I look forward to seeing all of them, hopefully, next Monday and Tuesday at Denby. My book launch week hasn't much first team cricket, but there's much to enjoy in the cricket of the younger lads and I will pop along for a while on at least a part of the first two days.
I'm looking forward to it!
Please let the sun shine...
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