The home side will feel cheated but I'd have hoped we could bat out the last day on that track. They definitely missed Kabir Ali and the bowling was fairly average when Jones and Mason were out of the attack.
We now move to a home game against Middlesex and I'll preview that one shortly
Saturday, 9 August 2008
Legendary match
So, its raining at Worcester, typical. Just when we were well set for a last day victory charge to knock off the required 404...
Never mind, we'll await developments as the day progresses and look forward - or more accurately back - at our next fixture, a home game against Middlesex. We had a good game against them at Lords and probably should have done better than we did, a poor last day bowling performance letting them win a fairly close game.
We'd all settle for a repeat of the game between the two sides that took place in July 1957, a year in which we finished fourth but at one point won six successive matches to surge to the top of the table. A feature of this run was the fact that the side was able to remain unchanged and although a defeat at Edgbaston ended it and signalled a slump in form, they were in good heart when the southern county visited Chesterfield on July 17th.
The first day was curtailed by the weather but Middlesex limped along to 74-4 by the end of the day in conditions that suited our attack. Headed by the legendary Cliif Gladwin and Les Jackson, all rounder Derek Morgan was a fine first change bowler while Edwin Smith's cannyoff spin offered variation. Middlesex had no Denis Compton, but Jack Robertson and Bill Edrich were still in a strong batting line up, as were future England players Fred Titmus and wicket keeper John Murray.
The following day (Thursday) the remaining batsmen had little offer against Gladwin and they were all out for just 102, Cliff bowling 25 overs and taking 6-23. There were also two wickets each for Smith and Morgan, Jackson unusually going wicket-less.
Derbyshire also struggled on a lively wicket that suffered the effects of rain. Charlie Lee and John Kelly added 41 for the second wicket and George Dawkes and Morgan a very valuable 50 stand for the seventh, but few batsmen got established and Lee's 33 was top score in a total of 153.
A deficit of 51 on first innings against the Derbyshire attack on that wicket would have worried Middlesex, but they could have had no idea what was to follow when they began their second innings just after 6pm. Jackson removed the prolific Jack Robertson leg before wicket in the first over before Gladwin took over. After a single had got the scoreboard moving, he bowled Baldry then had the dogged Edrich and Titmus held in his leg-trap without further score. Middlesex were 1-4...
Gale and Delisle battled to take the score up to 9 and hoped to make it through to stumps but the former was caught behind from Gladwin's bowling and then Cliff held a caught and bowled to remove Murray immediately to leave the score on 9-6 with his tally being five wickets. His first three overs had seen figures of 3-3-0-3. Even regulars, used to their bowling, had seen little like this. Extra time was claimed to claim a 2-day win but the rain returned and Middlesex went back to their hotel with a score of 11-6. Gladwin's figures at this stage were 5 wickets for 5 runs and 10-17 in the day.
The next morning Jackson removed Delisle, clean bowled and then had Tilly lbw to leave the score 13-8. Hurst came in and was promptly run out (probably trying to keep away from the bowling!) and Middesex were 13-9. Don Bennett, later a coach at Lords, battled his way to an unbeaten 14 and became the only Middlesex batsman to make double figures in each innings before Derek Morgan had last man Alan Moss caught by Arnold Hamer to leave the visitors all out for 29 and Derbyshire winners by an innings and 22.
Most good judges felt that had their innings continued on the Thursday evening they would not have made 20, but Gladwin had second innings figures of 14-8-18-5 and Jackson had 11-6-7-3.
Today with covered wickets such tracks are unknown, but so are the skills for both batting and bowling on them. When the wicket "flies" there is a tendency to bowl short, but Jackson and Gladwin knew the length alright.
An interesting aside to this is that the two innings for Middlesex lasted 97 overs, with the only extras being four first innings byes and two second innings leg byes. Not a no ball or wide in sight, in stark contrast to Worcester the other day. There's a lot to be learned from the old 'uns.
Friday, 8 August 2008
Worcester v Derbyshire day 3
Hands up if you think we can win this one...
Just 370 needed from the last day with ten wickets in hand. OK, if we get out of this with a draw it will be good going, but we need to bat well to do so and our track record doesn't inspire confidence.
Having said that Chris Rogers, batting at his very best, could bat all day and take us fairly close. Paul Borrington, batting all day will save us the game. To me, they're our best bet of getting out of this one unbeaten. The wicket doesn't seem to be too bad and the way that the two openers batted this evening suggested that Worcester will have to dig the wickets out.
We should not underestimate our potential for collapse, but I'd be disappointed if we lost this on a decent batting track. With Simon Jones suffering from a tight hamstring, they may not have his bowling for all of the last day and the rest of the attack, unless Matt Mason finds swing, isn't unduly scary in the absence of Kabir Ali.
Our bowlers have taken some serious hammer in this game but we should bear in mind that they have a fine batting line up playing on a good batting track. Opener Stephen Moore highlighted why seven counties (including us) are chasing him. I'd be very surprised if he left there for anywhere, but why an opening batsman would leave a good batting track on which he can register an impressive average for a slow track at Derby where he will undoubtedly find it harder is beyond me. I might be wrong, but I'm not getting my hopes up on that one.
We'll learn a lot about the team's spirit tomorrow. We hear about a good dressing room and competitive edge, but these situations are where this is either exemplified or made to look silly.
Roll on Saturday.
Just 370 needed from the last day with ten wickets in hand. OK, if we get out of this with a draw it will be good going, but we need to bat well to do so and our track record doesn't inspire confidence.
Having said that Chris Rogers, batting at his very best, could bat all day and take us fairly close. Paul Borrington, batting all day will save us the game. To me, they're our best bet of getting out of this one unbeaten. The wicket doesn't seem to be too bad and the way that the two openers batted this evening suggested that Worcester will have to dig the wickets out.
We should not underestimate our potential for collapse, but I'd be disappointed if we lost this on a decent batting track. With Simon Jones suffering from a tight hamstring, they may not have his bowling for all of the last day and the rest of the attack, unless Matt Mason finds swing, isn't unduly scary in the absence of Kabir Ali.
Our bowlers have taken some serious hammer in this game but we should bear in mind that they have a fine batting line up playing on a good batting track. Opener Stephen Moore highlighted why seven counties (including us) are chasing him. I'd be very surprised if he left there for anywhere, but why an opening batsman would leave a good batting track on which he can register an impressive average for a slow track at Derby where he will undoubtedly find it harder is beyond me. I might be wrong, but I'm not getting my hopes up on that one.
We'll learn a lot about the team's spirit tomorrow. We hear about a good dressing room and competitive edge, but these situations are where this is either exemplified or made to look silly.
Roll on Saturday.
Thursday, 7 August 2008
Rogers splits the vote
As it stands, the vote for retaining Chris Rogers is neck and neck. 50% think we should let him go, 50% think he should stay.
So if John Morris is using this blog as a sounding board - his "ask the audience" if you will, he's currently on a hiding to nothing.
Encourage your pals to pay a visit and vote. The more the merrier!
So if John Morris is using this blog as a sounding board - his "ask the audience" if you will, he's currently on a hiding to nothing.
Encourage your pals to pay a visit and vote. The more the merrier!
Player release begins...
Although there's over a month of the season to go, clubs are already releasing players.
Essex have told Alex Tudor he is free to find another team, Warwickshire have released several, including once highly rated batsman Michael Powell and Notts have apparently allowed Gareth Clough to leave.
If this was a football blog there'd be people suggesting we make him Derby County manager with a name like that. There was a time that he'd have been considered a possible target for Derbyshire, but I think we have moved on and this is a sign of the progress we are making.
There is always conjecture at this stage of the season about who may be released at different clubs and we are no different. Like pretty much everyone else, I don't know the contractual situation of the Derbyshire players but assuming they were in the last year of their contracts I would think that we have several waiting anxiously for news.
Ian Hunter, Kevin Dean, Steve Stubbings, Dan Birch, Wayne White and Fred Klokker must be vulnerable. Anyone else I would deem a surprise although John Sadler will be glad he has a 2-year deal, as must Dom Telo. Both have much to prove next season but are capable of doing so.
The two I see as most likely to go are Hunter and White. The former has had bad luck with injuries but suffers from inconsistency, while the latter seems a long way from the finished article and is behind a fairly strong pace line up. If Morris has another bowler in his sights, they could lose out.
Fred Klokker is not technically on the staff but I can't see him being taken on with Tom Poynton a young talent. Fred is a 100% player but not quite good enough as either batsman or wicket keeper and his chances are slim with James Pipe being such a good player. If Tom New does well in the next month it may be interesting to see if he is considered as he seems to be going nowhere at Leicester despite a good record as opening batsman. Poynton is one for the future without doubt, but his batting has to come on to match his excellent glovework as keepers really need to be all-rounders these days.
The other three I have mixed views on. Steve Stubbings is a top bloke and a great club man but he has a top score of 57 this year, albeit with the distractions of a benefit. He averages 29 while Dan Birch is around 32, neither of which are enough for specialist batsmen. Birch also suffers from being only an average fielder and has dropped some crucial (and relatively simple) catches this year. He has improved from last year though, which may be enough to see him offered one more year to see if he can kick on.
Kevin Dean is another thoroughly nice guy who has been a terrific professional. When conditions favour him he can still take wickets, but he has less nip these days and apart from a good spell against Bangladesh he has struggled to make an impact. In days of old he would have been worth another year and again it depends how confident Morris is of securing replacements.
On that subject, he has reputedly asked permission to speak to several players. Logic suggests that they will primarily be from the Midlands or North as few southern-based players venture up here - apart from Clarke and Doshi of course.
We now that Stephen Moore is one, but I suspect he'll stay with Worcester. I'd like to think one might be Jim Allenby of Leicestershire, a player I rate highly as batsman and bowler. Gidman was another I'd have liked but he's signed on with Gloucester now that Bracewell is returning. David Sales is another I'd love to see at Derby, but I'd realistically expect him to go to somewhere like Warwickshire - although some stories say he's re-signed with Northants.
We now know that a certain Mr D Cork will leave Lancashire this eason and has been approached by two counties - neither of which are (at this stage?) Derbyshire. I don't expect it to happen, but is he better than Hunter or White?
John Morris has proved himself a persuasive man in his signings last winter. Not all of them have come off, but we seem to be no longer a team that signs the cast-offs of other counties.
Now THAT is progress and we'll all be watching the comings and goings very closely in the weeks ahead.
Essex have told Alex Tudor he is free to find another team, Warwickshire have released several, including once highly rated batsman Michael Powell and Notts have apparently allowed Gareth Clough to leave.
If this was a football blog there'd be people suggesting we make him Derby County manager with a name like that. There was a time that he'd have been considered a possible target for Derbyshire, but I think we have moved on and this is a sign of the progress we are making.
There is always conjecture at this stage of the season about who may be released at different clubs and we are no different. Like pretty much everyone else, I don't know the contractual situation of the Derbyshire players but assuming they were in the last year of their contracts I would think that we have several waiting anxiously for news.
Ian Hunter, Kevin Dean, Steve Stubbings, Dan Birch, Wayne White and Fred Klokker must be vulnerable. Anyone else I would deem a surprise although John Sadler will be glad he has a 2-year deal, as must Dom Telo. Both have much to prove next season but are capable of doing so.
The two I see as most likely to go are Hunter and White. The former has had bad luck with injuries but suffers from inconsistency, while the latter seems a long way from the finished article and is behind a fairly strong pace line up. If Morris has another bowler in his sights, they could lose out.
Fred Klokker is not technically on the staff but I can't see him being taken on with Tom Poynton a young talent. Fred is a 100% player but not quite good enough as either batsman or wicket keeper and his chances are slim with James Pipe being such a good player. If Tom New does well in the next month it may be interesting to see if he is considered as he seems to be going nowhere at Leicester despite a good record as opening batsman. Poynton is one for the future without doubt, but his batting has to come on to match his excellent glovework as keepers really need to be all-rounders these days.
The other three I have mixed views on. Steve Stubbings is a top bloke and a great club man but he has a top score of 57 this year, albeit with the distractions of a benefit. He averages 29 while Dan Birch is around 32, neither of which are enough for specialist batsmen. Birch also suffers from being only an average fielder and has dropped some crucial (and relatively simple) catches this year. He has improved from last year though, which may be enough to see him offered one more year to see if he can kick on.
Kevin Dean is another thoroughly nice guy who has been a terrific professional. When conditions favour him he can still take wickets, but he has less nip these days and apart from a good spell against Bangladesh he has struggled to make an impact. In days of old he would have been worth another year and again it depends how confident Morris is of securing replacements.
On that subject, he has reputedly asked permission to speak to several players. Logic suggests that they will primarily be from the Midlands or North as few southern-based players venture up here - apart from Clarke and Doshi of course.
We now that Stephen Moore is one, but I suspect he'll stay with Worcester. I'd like to think one might be Jim Allenby of Leicestershire, a player I rate highly as batsman and bowler. Gidman was another I'd have liked but he's signed on with Gloucester now that Bracewell is returning. David Sales is another I'd love to see at Derby, but I'd realistically expect him to go to somewhere like Warwickshire - although some stories say he's re-signed with Northants.
We now know that a certain Mr D Cork will leave Lancashire this eason and has been approached by two counties - neither of which are (at this stage?) Derbyshire. I don't expect it to happen, but is he better than Hunter or White?
John Morris has proved himself a persuasive man in his signings last winter. Not all of them have come off, but we seem to be no longer a team that signs the cast-offs of other counties.
Now THAT is progress and we'll all be watching the comings and goings very closely in the weeks ahead.
Worcestershire v Derbyshire day 2
A good fightback today, led by two young batsman who should be a fixture in our side for some time to come.
Paul Borrington (20 and pictured) and Greg Smith (25) played beautifully to take Derbyshire within touching distance of avoiding the follow on, this after Rogers, Birch and Hinds had gone to leave us precariously placed at 123-3.
They took the score to 252 before both were dismissed by Simon Jones for 85 and 88 respectively. In between, skipper Rikki Clarke kept up his wretched run of Championship form with an ill-judged second ball hoik at Jones which resulted in a catch to the keeper.
Tom New, on his Championship debut and Jon Clare saw Derbyshire to stumps on 278-6. Tomorrow's immediate target is to avoid the follow on, which requires a further 23 runs. With a good forecast, we would hope for a few more than that, and it would be good to limit the first innings deficit to less than three figures.
There is still everything to play for in this game. There is also a degree of irony in that the three batsman I labelled our best last night (Rogers, Hinds and Clarke) mustered just 38 runs between them in this innings.
Wednesday, 6 August 2008
Worcestershire v Derbyshire day 1
Today we were carted around by a powerful Worcestershire batting line up, led by the imperious Graeme Hick, who hammered 450-8 in just 82 overs. Even the normally niggardly Charl Langeveldt got hammered, primarily at the start by Vikram Solanki but latterly by Hick en route to a run a ball 149.
That's the bad news. On the upside, we fought back well considering they were 392-4 and skipper Rikki Clarke bowled the best spell of the day, taking 2-37 in 12 overs despite an ankle problem that should have prevented him bowling. In addition, Chris Rogers and Paul Borrington batted steadily through to the close to finish 27-0 against an opening attack of Matt Mason and Simon Jones. The home side are also missing the prolific Kabir Ali in this game, so the rest of the attack looks less menacing, although Imran Arif has made a fair impression so far.
One would hope that our batting, with Jon Clare at eight and Graham Wagg at nine should be capable of getting to 301 and avoiding the follow-on with a decent batting strip. Their declaration to rob us of an extra bowling point presumably aimed at getting wickets tonight so we're still in this one.
On a different tack, there was a good article on the Derby Telegraph site today about Wavell Hinds. If you've not already seen it, you can do so at http://www.thisisderbyshire.co.uk/sport/County-waiting-Wavell-explode-fuse-burning/article-252774-detail/article.html
I'll admit that I'd not really noticed the consistency of his scores and there's a few recent contributors on the 606 board who must be feeling a little awkward after criticising him. Much the same as Chris Rogers, the main criticism is that he's not gone on to a big score. In a side of questionable batting consistency, the onus is on these hugely experienced players to make the big scores and the younger guys to pitch in here and there. With Rikki Clarke they are our big names and if one of these guys made a hundred each time we batted there'd be no holding us. Lower order contributions have been good all season but time and again they have had to be.
Dan Birch dropped another catch today and this is a weakness of the burly batsman. He dropped an easy one at Lords and while not a liability in the field, he's not the most natural of athletes either. Today's cost us 75 runs as Hick moved to 149 and he owes us when he bats.
The decision to go with an all-seam attack was well intentioned but there must have been times today when Clarke wished he had the control and change of pace afforded by Doshi or Needham. Greg Smith hasn't bowled enough this year to bowl with control and took some flak today.
Anyway, tomorrow is another day. Perhaps the day when Rogers and Hinds come to the table and feast on the Worcestershire bowling. This time tomorrow, we'll know if Derbyshire can still have a say in this game (and the promotion race) or if we're destined for another year of under-achievement.
While considering the possibilities tonight, think on one thing. Worcestershire must think we're still very much involved - why else would they deny us that extra bowling point?
That's the bad news. On the upside, we fought back well considering they were 392-4 and skipper Rikki Clarke bowled the best spell of the day, taking 2-37 in 12 overs despite an ankle problem that should have prevented him bowling. In addition, Chris Rogers and Paul Borrington batted steadily through to the close to finish 27-0 against an opening attack of Matt Mason and Simon Jones. The home side are also missing the prolific Kabir Ali in this game, so the rest of the attack looks less menacing, although Imran Arif has made a fair impression so far.
One would hope that our batting, with Jon Clare at eight and Graham Wagg at nine should be capable of getting to 301 and avoiding the follow-on with a decent batting strip. Their declaration to rob us of an extra bowling point presumably aimed at getting wickets tonight so we're still in this one.
On a different tack, there was a good article on the Derby Telegraph site today about Wavell Hinds. If you've not already seen it, you can do so at http://www.thisisderbyshire.co.uk/sport/County-waiting-Wavell-explode-fuse-burning/article-252774-detail/article.html
I'll admit that I'd not really noticed the consistency of his scores and there's a few recent contributors on the 606 board who must be feeling a little awkward after criticising him. Much the same as Chris Rogers, the main criticism is that he's not gone on to a big score. In a side of questionable batting consistency, the onus is on these hugely experienced players to make the big scores and the younger guys to pitch in here and there. With Rikki Clarke they are our big names and if one of these guys made a hundred each time we batted there'd be no holding us. Lower order contributions have been good all season but time and again they have had to be.
Dan Birch dropped another catch today and this is a weakness of the burly batsman. He dropped an easy one at Lords and while not a liability in the field, he's not the most natural of athletes either. Today's cost us 75 runs as Hick moved to 149 and he owes us when he bats.
The decision to go with an all-seam attack was well intentioned but there must have been times today when Clarke wished he had the control and change of pace afforded by Doshi or Needham. Greg Smith hasn't bowled enough this year to bowl with control and took some flak today.
Anyway, tomorrow is another day. Perhaps the day when Rogers and Hinds come to the table and feast on the Worcestershire bowling. This time tomorrow, we'll know if Derbyshire can still have a say in this game (and the promotion race) or if we're destined for another year of under-achievement.
While considering the possibilities tonight, think on one thing. Worcestershire must think we're still very much involved - why else would they deny us that extra bowling point?
Tuesday, 5 August 2008
Worcestershire v Derbyshire preview
There's a more solid look to the Derbyshire side tomorrow. The thirteen man squad announced by John Morris reads:
Rogers
Borrington
Birch
Hinds
Clarke
Smith
New
Clare
Wagg
Langeveldt
Doshi
White
Dean.
Morris has yet to decide on a recall for Rikki Clarke, but his recent batting form suggests he should play in a crucial game at Worcester, currently top of the league despite our thrashing them at Chesterfield. Logic suggests he will play, as Smith at 5 and New 6 looks too high for both. I know that the Leicestershire loanee opened the batting for them, but I like the look of him at seven with Clare and Wagg to follow. It looks more promising than the sight of Wayne White at 8 against Surrey, lets put it that way. I suspect he and Dean will miss out, unless the wicket suggests little prospect of spin in which case Greg Smith will be the sole spinning option.
Worcestershire are pretty much at full strength, with an impressive line up featuring the very in form Vikram Solanki and Stephen Moore. That's as maybe, but they've not batted against Charl lately...
Their side is:
D K H Mitchell
S C Moore
V S Solanki
B F Smith
G A Hick
S M Davies
G J Batty
K Ali
S P Jones
M S Mason
I Arif
G M Andrew
A very good seam attack with Mason fit again, a player who often does well against us. Their batting is also strong, but the key to success is getting Solanki in early against the new ball. I think he is a player ill-treated by national selectors and a very fine batsman, but a little cloud cover and Langeveldt in his normal vein of form and... well, who knows?
Maybe I was a little harsh on the team last night by writing off their chances this year, but we need a couple of wins in the Championship to stay in the race. That they are good enough is beyond doubt. Their performances against Worcestershire and Warwickshire suggest they can compete against better sides, but the inconsistency is what infuriates all of us. You couldn't say at the start of a day that we'd close at 350-3 or 152 all out. Mind you, we should be grateful for small mercies, as the team I grew up watching offered the option of 120 all out or 170 all out on a good day.
In closing tonight, I hope for a win, naturally, but think this could be a very good game. I'd also like to make an honourable mention for my club side, who beat an Australian Veterans XI on Sunday in a game to mark our 25th anniversary. We won by 42 runs against a side that boasted several former first grade players. Rumours that Peter Moores was watching from his car proved unfounded, but our services are available if the country requires next year!
Come on Derbyshire, let's prove the doubters wrong and win this one.
Rogers
Borrington
Birch
Hinds
Clarke
Smith
New
Clare
Wagg
Langeveldt
Doshi
White
Dean.
Morris has yet to decide on a recall for Rikki Clarke, but his recent batting form suggests he should play in a crucial game at Worcester, currently top of the league despite our thrashing them at Chesterfield. Logic suggests he will play, as Smith at 5 and New 6 looks too high for both. I know that the Leicestershire loanee opened the batting for them, but I like the look of him at seven with Clare and Wagg to follow. It looks more promising than the sight of Wayne White at 8 against Surrey, lets put it that way. I suspect he and Dean will miss out, unless the wicket suggests little prospect of spin in which case Greg Smith will be the sole spinning option.
Worcestershire are pretty much at full strength, with an impressive line up featuring the very in form Vikram Solanki and Stephen Moore. That's as maybe, but they've not batted against Charl lately...
Their side is:
D K H Mitchell
S C Moore
V S Solanki
B F Smith
G A Hick
S M Davies
G J Batty
K Ali
S P Jones
M S Mason
I Arif
G M Andrew
A very good seam attack with Mason fit again, a player who often does well against us. Their batting is also strong, but the key to success is getting Solanki in early against the new ball. I think he is a player ill-treated by national selectors and a very fine batsman, but a little cloud cover and Langeveldt in his normal vein of form and... well, who knows?
Maybe I was a little harsh on the team last night by writing off their chances this year, but we need a couple of wins in the Championship to stay in the race. That they are good enough is beyond doubt. Their performances against Worcestershire and Warwickshire suggest they can compete against better sides, but the inconsistency is what infuriates all of us. You couldn't say at the start of a day that we'd close at 350-3 or 152 all out. Mind you, we should be grateful for small mercies, as the team I grew up watching offered the option of 120 all out or 170 all out on a good day.
In closing tonight, I hope for a win, naturally, but think this could be a very good game. I'd also like to make an honourable mention for my club side, who beat an Australian Veterans XI on Sunday in a game to mark our 25th anniversary. We won by 42 runs against a side that boasted several former first grade players. Rumours that Peter Moores was watching from his car proved unfounded, but our services are available if the country requires next year!
Come on Derbyshire, let's prove the doubters wrong and win this one.
Monday, 4 August 2008
Missed opportunity for England
Kevin Pietersen England skipper.
Good luck to the bloke, he's great to watch at his best and perhaps it will be the making of him and he'll cut out the silly shots. Didn't we think that about our skipper...?
Anyway, for what its worth, I think they have missed the opportunity to blood Rob Key. As a batsman he is as good as Andrew Strauss but as a captain I firmly believe he is the best on the circuit.
I've watched him both in televised games and live and been impressed with his calm authority on the pitch and his ability to get the best out of players. He is in total control in the field and leads by example when he bats.
No captain could be expected to do more and I think he's been hard done by.
I saw him last year against us at Derby and all his bowling changes came off. He quickly worked out the areas where our batsmen were dangerous and placed his field in a way that made them play in areas they were less strong.
Smart guy, good batsman, excellent skipper. Unlucky for now, but if Pietersen fails, he's waiting in the wings.
Good luck to the bloke, he's great to watch at his best and perhaps it will be the making of him and he'll cut out the silly shots. Didn't we think that about our skipper...?
Anyway, for what its worth, I think they have missed the opportunity to blood Rob Key. As a batsman he is as good as Andrew Strauss but as a captain I firmly believe he is the best on the circuit.
I've watched him both in televised games and live and been impressed with his calm authority on the pitch and his ability to get the best out of players. He is in total control in the field and leads by example when he bats.
No captain could be expected to do more and I think he's been hard done by.
I saw him last year against us at Derby and all his bowling changes came off. He quickly worked out the areas where our batsmen were dangerous and placed his field in a way that made them play in areas they were less strong.
Smart guy, good batsman, excellent skipper. Unlucky for now, but if Pietersen fails, he's waiting in the wings.
Maybe next year?
At the risk of being accused as being a defeatist, I think we can kiss any hopes of success this year goodbye.
The Championship will need us to bad much better than we have done so far to get anywhere, while the Pro 40 will require wins in the rest of our games.
It ain't gonna happen people.
The message boards are awash with disgruntled and long-suffering fans unhappy with yesterday's loss and I fully agree with and sympathise with them all. The manner of the defeat was unacceptable and the capitulation at the end similar to the darkest days.
I just wish that our batsmen could approach a run chase professionally. Chris Rogers is a fine player who others can bat around at this level, but he is not a brilliant one day player, being too one-paced for that. It is why he has never been a regular one day player for Western Australia. If he batted the innings through, we would get close in more games than we do, but our young batting line up lacks enough savvy to come in and push the ball around when he gets out in full flight.
Rikki Clarke has shown signs of brilliance in his last two innings, but his strokeplay carries with it an element of risk which all aggressive players have. Chris Wilkins, Michael Slater, Travis Birt, Shahid Afridi - talented players all, but players who could infuriate with a loose shot when games were there to be won. Verinder Sehwag is another, so is Kevin Pietersen - you wouldn't put money on them scoring runs on a given day, but would hope you were there when they did.
I think we have done a bit of a cricket cha-cha this year. A step forward, one back and a few on the spot. There have been signs of genuine potential from young players but this winter and at the end of the season John Morris has tough decisions to make.
As things stand, I see the following as the certainties for next season and beyond for a first choice team:
1
2
3
4 Rikki Clarke
5 Dan Redfern
6 Greg Smith
7 James Pipe
8 Graham Wagg
9 Jon Clare
10 Charl Langeveldt
11
I think Steve Stubbings is a top pro, but we need to see if there are better openers on the market than both him and Dan Birch. Chris Rogers has done fairly well, but he's no Lehmann, Hussey or Jones. I'm not convinced we can find someone much better, but if we do, he'll cost a lot of money, possibly that earned by Wavell Hinds. The latter is a top bloke by all accounts, but he's yet to make a hundred and you need your top three to be turning fifties into them on a regular basis. Dom Telo is young enough to come again and John Sadler may turn around a poor start. Paul Borrington may be a longer term bet but I tell you what - I'd like to see us go for HD Ackerman.
Clarke is skipper and will hopefully come again. His recent batting form has given cause for optimism and a year's experience will stand him in good stead. Dan Redfern has to come in as he is a precocious talent. He saved England the game today and nearly won it. Like Kim Barnett nearly 30 years ago, he needs to be given his opportunity and persevered with.
Smith, Wagg and Clare are a talented trio of all rounders who can and will improve, while James Pipe is a very able wicket keeper batsman. Langeveldt is a giant of a bowler who has endeared himself to everyone with his appetite for work and his variety and skill. We must all hope that Tom Lungley comes back fit next season and rediscovers the form of 2007, but we don't yet know if our best spinner bowls left or right arm. Both Nayan Doshi and Jake Needham have bowled good spells but have yet to cement a place.
I'll do an end of season appraisal of all the players in due course, but for now I think we need to find three batsmen at the top of the order who can put big runs on the board. Chris Rogers may be one of them, but we need to get two more. Maybe a young player will make a Clare-sized step forward, but the successful filling of those roles will dictate how long we need to wait before this dawn becomes a beautiful morning.
The Championship will need us to bad much better than we have done so far to get anywhere, while the Pro 40 will require wins in the rest of our games.
It ain't gonna happen people.
The message boards are awash with disgruntled and long-suffering fans unhappy with yesterday's loss and I fully agree with and sympathise with them all. The manner of the defeat was unacceptable and the capitulation at the end similar to the darkest days.
I just wish that our batsmen could approach a run chase professionally. Chris Rogers is a fine player who others can bat around at this level, but he is not a brilliant one day player, being too one-paced for that. It is why he has never been a regular one day player for Western Australia. If he batted the innings through, we would get close in more games than we do, but our young batting line up lacks enough savvy to come in and push the ball around when he gets out in full flight.
Rikki Clarke has shown signs of brilliance in his last two innings, but his strokeplay carries with it an element of risk which all aggressive players have. Chris Wilkins, Michael Slater, Travis Birt, Shahid Afridi - talented players all, but players who could infuriate with a loose shot when games were there to be won. Verinder Sehwag is another, so is Kevin Pietersen - you wouldn't put money on them scoring runs on a given day, but would hope you were there when they did.
I think we have done a bit of a cricket cha-cha this year. A step forward, one back and a few on the spot. There have been signs of genuine potential from young players but this winter and at the end of the season John Morris has tough decisions to make.
As things stand, I see the following as the certainties for next season and beyond for a first choice team:
1
2
3
4 Rikki Clarke
5 Dan Redfern
6 Greg Smith
7 James Pipe
8 Graham Wagg
9 Jon Clare
10 Charl Langeveldt
11
I think Steve Stubbings is a top pro, but we need to see if there are better openers on the market than both him and Dan Birch. Chris Rogers has done fairly well, but he's no Lehmann, Hussey or Jones. I'm not convinced we can find someone much better, but if we do, he'll cost a lot of money, possibly that earned by Wavell Hinds. The latter is a top bloke by all accounts, but he's yet to make a hundred and you need your top three to be turning fifties into them on a regular basis. Dom Telo is young enough to come again and John Sadler may turn around a poor start. Paul Borrington may be a longer term bet but I tell you what - I'd like to see us go for HD Ackerman.
Clarke is skipper and will hopefully come again. His recent batting form has given cause for optimism and a year's experience will stand him in good stead. Dan Redfern has to come in as he is a precocious talent. He saved England the game today and nearly won it. Like Kim Barnett nearly 30 years ago, he needs to be given his opportunity and persevered with.
Smith, Wagg and Clare are a talented trio of all rounders who can and will improve, while James Pipe is a very able wicket keeper batsman. Langeveldt is a giant of a bowler who has endeared himself to everyone with his appetite for work and his variety and skill. We must all hope that Tom Lungley comes back fit next season and rediscovers the form of 2007, but we don't yet know if our best spinner bowls left or right arm. Both Nayan Doshi and Jake Needham have bowled good spells but have yet to cement a place.
I'll do an end of season appraisal of all the players in due course, but for now I think we need to find three batsmen at the top of the order who can put big runs on the board. Chris Rogers may be one of them, but we need to get two more. Maybe a young player will make a Clare-sized step forward, but the successful filling of those roles will dictate how long we need to wait before this dawn becomes a beautiful morning.
Sunday, 3 August 2008
Where will we finish?
Slightly more people feel we will be promoted this year than those who think we'll come fourth, improved but a little short.
My vote was for the latter, which I think sums up the team. I know they're young, I know we're building a side, but we throw away good situations too often in all forms of the game to be quite ready for division one.
Maybe next year eh? We'll see, meantime why not vote in this week's poll? Would you retain Chris Rogers for next season based on what he's done this year?
My vote was for the latter, which I think sums up the team. I know they're young, I know we're building a side, but we throw away good situations too often in all forms of the game to be quite ready for division one.
Maybe next year eh? We'll see, meantime why not vote in this week's poll? Would you retain Chris Rogers for next season based on what he's done this year?
That my friends was....
Rubbish.
No other word for it really. I could live with defeat on Monday as we gave it a good shot. Today was hard to take because we were playing a poor side and somehow snatched defeat from the jaws of victory.
Quite honestly, no one will take us seriously until we win this sort of game. At 136-2 it was a breeze, with 96 needed from around 17 overs. Then Rikki Clarke plays what by general consensus was a silly shot, Chris Rogers follows and we're 138-4. Geoff Boycott has always said that if you think you're doing well, picture the scorecard with two quick wickets added to it and see how it looks and he's dead right. Many times this season we've lost 2 or 3 quick wickets and tossed away a good situation.
We desperately need to find batsmen who can pace an innings. Six an over on a decent track and a short boundary should be a breeze and there was no need for the sort of shot played by the captain. While it is hard to criticise Chris Rogers, who almost always scores runs, one again questions his dismissal when well set. Oh for a Wright, a Kirsten, a Jones, a player who will push the ones and twos and take the boundaries when they're available.
Even at that, Tom New and Greg Smith took us back into the box seat and 48 from seven should still have been on. Somehow we went from 204-5 to 218 all out as the panic button wasn't so much pressed as smashed down by a 30 stone giant in Doc Marten boots.
When a bowler as limited as Usman Afzaal tears the heart from the batting it is really time to worry. This was a disappointing display from a team who really needed to win to keep the season alive. The weather has been against us in the Championship and the likelihood of promotion lessens with every game. To do anything in the Pro 40 we'd need to win every game from here. On this form, there's more chance of me finding pixies at the bottom of my garden.
A good game for Tom New, who batted well and seemed to keep wicket in a solid manner andalso for Nayan Doshi, who bowled very well against his former employers. While Wayne White had an absolute nightmare, with one over for 18 and just one run, Rikki Clarke should reflect on this as a game that got away. Unfair or not, it all started with his poor shot and we're all down tonight when we should have been celebrating.
No other word for it really. I could live with defeat on Monday as we gave it a good shot. Today was hard to take because we were playing a poor side and somehow snatched defeat from the jaws of victory.
Quite honestly, no one will take us seriously until we win this sort of game. At 136-2 it was a breeze, with 96 needed from around 17 overs. Then Rikki Clarke plays what by general consensus was a silly shot, Chris Rogers follows and we're 138-4. Geoff Boycott has always said that if you think you're doing well, picture the scorecard with two quick wickets added to it and see how it looks and he's dead right. Many times this season we've lost 2 or 3 quick wickets and tossed away a good situation.
We desperately need to find batsmen who can pace an innings. Six an over on a decent track and a short boundary should be a breeze and there was no need for the sort of shot played by the captain. While it is hard to criticise Chris Rogers, who almost always scores runs, one again questions his dismissal when well set. Oh for a Wright, a Kirsten, a Jones, a player who will push the ones and twos and take the boundaries when they're available.
Even at that, Tom New and Greg Smith took us back into the box seat and 48 from seven should still have been on. Somehow we went from 204-5 to 218 all out as the panic button wasn't so much pressed as smashed down by a 30 stone giant in Doc Marten boots.
When a bowler as limited as Usman Afzaal tears the heart from the batting it is really time to worry. This was a disappointing display from a team who really needed to win to keep the season alive. The weather has been against us in the Championship and the likelihood of promotion lessens with every game. To do anything in the Pro 40 we'd need to win every game from here. On this form, there's more chance of me finding pixies at the bottom of my garden.
A good game for Tom New, who batted well and seemed to keep wicket in a solid manner andalso for Nayan Doshi, who bowled very well against his former employers. While Wayne White had an absolute nightmare, with one over for 18 and just one run, Rikki Clarke should reflect on this as a game that got away. Unfair or not, it all started with his poor shot and we're all down tonight when we should have been celebrating.
Derbyshire v Surrey - Pro 40
At this stage Surrey look like they could score more than Essex did on Monday.
Mind you, as I type Langeveldt has just removed James Benning, the real dasher of the side. The reassurance is that their batting is not spectacularly deep and that the likes of Mark Butcher and Ally Brown aren't playing. After Ramprakash and Afzal they are a "bits and pieces" side.
Our bowling is a little bitty today though. I'm not yet sure about Wayne White. He bowls quite quickly but strikes me as an unlucky bowler who beats the bat without taking the edge. His radar also goes astray too often for my liking and after a pasting in the Championship I think that Surrey's big guns might just fancy his bowling. Ian Hunter is in there too and I suspect Clarke's best bet will be to rotate the bowlers and keep changing the pace of the ball.
Tom New is making his full debut on loan. It will be interesting to see where he bats, but I'd expect it to be something like:
Rogers
Birch
Hinds
Clarke
Smith
New
Wagg
White
Hunter
Langeveldt
Doshi
A long tail there. Let's hope the top order fires and we don't need late heroics. Don't see much batting here to provide it in the absence of Pipe and Clare.
66-1 in 10. Better than 40-0 in 4, which it was, but they're on course for 250-plus.
Mind you, as I type Langeveldt has just removed James Benning, the real dasher of the side. The reassurance is that their batting is not spectacularly deep and that the likes of Mark Butcher and Ally Brown aren't playing. After Ramprakash and Afzal they are a "bits and pieces" side.
Our bowling is a little bitty today though. I'm not yet sure about Wayne White. He bowls quite quickly but strikes me as an unlucky bowler who beats the bat without taking the edge. His radar also goes astray too often for my liking and after a pasting in the Championship I think that Surrey's big guns might just fancy his bowling. Ian Hunter is in there too and I suspect Clarke's best bet will be to rotate the bowlers and keep changing the pace of the ball.
Tom New is making his full debut on loan. It will be interesting to see where he bats, but I'd expect it to be something like:
Rogers
Birch
Hinds
Clarke
Smith
New
Wagg
White
Hunter
Langeveldt
Doshi
A long tail there. Let's hope the top order fires and we don't need late heroics. Don't see much batting here to provide it in the absence of Pipe and Clare.
66-1 in 10. Better than 40-0 in 4, which it was, but they're on course for 250-plus.
Dan Redfern
There's some silly stuff being written about Dan Redfern over the past week, with regard to him being in the first team now.
No one rates him higher than I do, but the fact remains that this year he has played little cricket with A levels being his main focus.
He has played some schools matches, a few for the Seconds and now for England Under 19s, who have first call on his services for now.
To throw him in against top bowlers with that background would be thoughtless and silly. I don't think John Morris is either of these. If we had no batsmen at all it would be a different matter, but Dan will be in contention next year without doubt. For this year, leave him be to score runs against the Kiwi tourists at Under 19s
No one rates him higher than I do, but the fact remains that this year he has played little cricket with A levels being his main focus.
He has played some schools matches, a few for the Seconds and now for England Under 19s, who have first call on his services for now.
To throw him in against top bowlers with that background would be thoughtless and silly. I don't think John Morris is either of these. If we had no batsmen at all it would be a different matter, but Dan will be in contention next year without doubt. For this year, leave him be to score runs against the Kiwi tourists at Under 19s
Fascinating cricket match...
Last week we went into Yorkshire to a place called, cunningly, Yorkshire Lavender.
It was as you'd expect from the name, a lavender growing place, but was quite stunning in its location and scenery.
Fine, but what has it got to do with cricket you say? Well, it also hosts a terrific metal set of sculptures called "Yorkshire's Pride" which shows, in giant form, a cricket match in progress and the fielders appealing for a wicket.
As you can see from the attached pictures, Peaky couldn't resist the temptation to bring in son and daughter to pose for potentially the least threatening short field in the history of the game. My son can catch most things, but my daughter - well, she was more interested in plaiting daisy chains and feeding deer to be honest, but kindly humoured me! My wife suggested that the slip cordon looked set to sing "YMCA", but I'm not convinced. We were panthers, poised and ready to pounce...
Cynics might suggest that these guys were more mobile than some fielders we have had at Derby, but if you're in that neck of the woods (near Malton) it is well worth a look.
I also called in at Scarborough, a ground that I find completely fascinating and rich with history. Many a great performance has been posted there, although in 1935 a defeat there probably cost us the championship a year before we finally won it.
After five successive wins we needed to beat a strong Yorkshire to overhaul them and we started well, removing five batsmen for 131. On a lively pitch, the tail wagged to good effect as they reached 304 and then hustled Derbyshire out twice. It was in this game that our best batsman, Stan Worthington, was hit in the face and sustained a broken jaw and his loss saw us finish the season in second place. Many say that we played better cricket that year than in 1936, but the Derbyshire side of that period played some wonderful aggressive cricket.
The Scarborough ground has changed little since that time and sitting there on a pleasant Tuesday morning, it was possible to imagine Copson and the Popes steaming in to bowl at the Yorkshire batsmen.
It wasn't Chesterfield, but it is a lovely ground. If we ever play Yorkshire there again, I will definitely be there.
A chance meeting
We were at breakfast at our hotel in Scarborough last Sunday morning. The day had dawned promisingly and our holidays were set to start well.
The hotel was great. If you're going there, I'd heartily recommend the Sunningdale Hotel. It is straight across from the gates of Peasholm Park, and a five minute walk from the beach and the cricket ground.
In between the conversation at the table, I was looking around at the other guests and thought I recognised a chap sat with his wife at the next table, but assumed he just looked a little like someone I knew.
After breakfast I started talking to David, the proprietor's husband, and it wasn't long before cricket came up in the conversation. In the course of it he said that the "chap at the next table played professional cricket - for Northampton I think".
Then it hit me who he was! It was Jim Griffiths of Northamptonshire, a man good enough to take nearly 450 first class wickets as a fast medium bowler but more importantly, who bowled the last over when we won the Nat West Trophy at Lords in 1981!
Over the next few days we got talking and he told me a lot about that final.
"To be honest, we thought we had it won at lunch when we were 133-1 off 39 overs. We felt that from there a score of 270-280 was on the cards. But when Geoff Miller ran out Allan Lamb soon after lunch, it changed the game a little."
The Derbyhire fielding was very impressive after lunch
"They caught everything, with Alan Hill holding a blinder at long-on to get rid of Richard Williams and there were three run outs as we panicked a little."
That catch by Alan Hill, when he threw himself to his left and held on to a full blooded hit is still in my memory, but Northants started the last ten overs at 183-3 and should have breezed 250 from there.
"Barry Wood handled his bowlers well and we were disappointed with a total of 235-9. We only scored a hundred from the last 20 overs, but still felt that we could win if we could get rid of Wright and Kirsten early."
Jim opened with Safraz and the ball was swinging.
"There was a lot of playing and missing by Hill and Wright but neither Sarfaz (Nawaz,the Pakistan opening bowler) nor I could get an edge. Neil Mallender bowled Hill when he came on but we'd hoped to get at Kirsten with the new ball and the openers did well."
Derbyshire needed to score at just four an over but batting wasn't straightforward.
"They were terrific players but we kept them quiet and Tim Lamb and Peter Willey kept things tight. We felt that if we could get one of them we could win the game."
After 47 overs, Derbyshire were 154-1. Just 82 were needed from 13 overs and although the rate had climbed, six an over with wickets in hand was gettable.
"Wright hit Neil Mallender into the Mound Stand for six and then there were four byes. I thought that was the start of the charge but Wright played a poor shot and as lbw to Neil, then Kirsten got one that moved back into him and went the same way and we'd got them both in the same over."
With experienced captain Barry Wood and the young Kim Barnett together, 62 from 10 should have been a breeze, but Wood was bowled by Sarfraz, Jim bowled David Steele ("it was satisfying to bowl my old mate") and Geoff Miller and Barnett were at the crease.
"They batted well but still couldn't keep up with the rate and when Barnett was run out we really thought we had them"
Derbyshire needed 23 from 17 balls which became 19 from 12 as Griffiths kept it tight.
"With Sarf to bowl one of them we fancied it, but he lost his line and Colin Tunnicliffe smacked him through the covers for four and then hit him straight back for another one. "
12 came from that penultimate over, leaving Jim to bowl the last knowing that he only had six runs to play with - a tie would give Derbyshire the game, having lost fewer wickets.
"I knew I had to keep it tight and not give any width" he said, "but Miller took two and then a single. The third ball I got right and there was no run, but they nicked a single off the fourth and then the fifth."
One ball left, the light was poor and the atmosphere electric.
"We spent a lot of time sorting the field and working out where it might go. I planned to fire it in on leg stump but couldn't afford a wide. You could tell everyone was on edge and it was a situation where everyone hopes the ball goes to someone else."
Griffiths ran in and the ball ran out into the legside.
"Lamby got it and threw in. Was he too deep? Hindsight says yes, but we thought it was OK. He threw in as fast as he could, but couldn't turn to get to the bowler, where Tunnicliffe might have been struggling."
Geoff Cook was at the stumps and took off the bails but too late. Geoff Miller had thrown himself in and had made his ground. Derbyshire had won!
"We couldnt believe it. We thought we had it at several points and were really down after the match. Derbyshire were ecstatic and you could understand that - they'd not won a trophy for years"(since 1936).
Had he replayed that over in his head since then?
"Yeah, hundreds of times"
And what would you have done differently?
"Bowled a maiden!"
Nice guy Jim Griffiths. Nearing 60 he still plays occasionally "but takes much longer to recover these days". He still sees his old team mates at reunions and they talk about that game on a regular basis.
"It was great fun and you're very lucky to get to play first class cricket. I loved playing at Scarborough and its nice to be back here for a few days."
From my point of view, it was fascinating to hear about the game I'd watched from a player's perspective. I've watched it times many on video and I'm just glad that Jim didn't bowl that maiden!
The hotel was great. If you're going there, I'd heartily recommend the Sunningdale Hotel. It is straight across from the gates of Peasholm Park, and a five minute walk from the beach and the cricket ground.
In between the conversation at the table, I was looking around at the other guests and thought I recognised a chap sat with his wife at the next table, but assumed he just looked a little like someone I knew.
After breakfast I started talking to David, the proprietor's husband, and it wasn't long before cricket came up in the conversation. In the course of it he said that the "chap at the next table played professional cricket - for Northampton I think".
Then it hit me who he was! It was Jim Griffiths of Northamptonshire, a man good enough to take nearly 450 first class wickets as a fast medium bowler but more importantly, who bowled the last over when we won the Nat West Trophy at Lords in 1981!
Over the next few days we got talking and he told me a lot about that final.
"To be honest, we thought we had it won at lunch when we were 133-1 off 39 overs. We felt that from there a score of 270-280 was on the cards. But when Geoff Miller ran out Allan Lamb soon after lunch, it changed the game a little."
The Derbyhire fielding was very impressive after lunch
"They caught everything, with Alan Hill holding a blinder at long-on to get rid of Richard Williams and there were three run outs as we panicked a little."
That catch by Alan Hill, when he threw himself to his left and held on to a full blooded hit is still in my memory, but Northants started the last ten overs at 183-3 and should have breezed 250 from there.
"Barry Wood handled his bowlers well and we were disappointed with a total of 235-9. We only scored a hundred from the last 20 overs, but still felt that we could win if we could get rid of Wright and Kirsten early."
Jim opened with Safraz and the ball was swinging.
"There was a lot of playing and missing by Hill and Wright but neither Sarfaz (Nawaz,the Pakistan opening bowler) nor I could get an edge. Neil Mallender bowled Hill when he came on but we'd hoped to get at Kirsten with the new ball and the openers did well."
Derbyshire needed to score at just four an over but batting wasn't straightforward.
"They were terrific players but we kept them quiet and Tim Lamb and Peter Willey kept things tight. We felt that if we could get one of them we could win the game."
After 47 overs, Derbyshire were 154-1. Just 82 were needed from 13 overs and although the rate had climbed, six an over with wickets in hand was gettable.
"Wright hit Neil Mallender into the Mound Stand for six and then there were four byes. I thought that was the start of the charge but Wright played a poor shot and as lbw to Neil, then Kirsten got one that moved back into him and went the same way and we'd got them both in the same over."
With experienced captain Barry Wood and the young Kim Barnett together, 62 from 10 should have been a breeze, but Wood was bowled by Sarfraz, Jim bowled David Steele ("it was satisfying to bowl my old mate") and Geoff Miller and Barnett were at the crease.
"They batted well but still couldn't keep up with the rate and when Barnett was run out we really thought we had them"
Derbyshire needed 23 from 17 balls which became 19 from 12 as Griffiths kept it tight.
"With Sarf to bowl one of them we fancied it, but he lost his line and Colin Tunnicliffe smacked him through the covers for four and then hit him straight back for another one. "
12 came from that penultimate over, leaving Jim to bowl the last knowing that he only had six runs to play with - a tie would give Derbyshire the game, having lost fewer wickets.
"I knew I had to keep it tight and not give any width" he said, "but Miller took two and then a single. The third ball I got right and there was no run, but they nicked a single off the fourth and then the fifth."
One ball left, the light was poor and the atmosphere electric.
"We spent a lot of time sorting the field and working out where it might go. I planned to fire it in on leg stump but couldn't afford a wide. You could tell everyone was on edge and it was a situation where everyone hopes the ball goes to someone else."
Griffiths ran in and the ball ran out into the legside.
"Lamby got it and threw in. Was he too deep? Hindsight says yes, but we thought it was OK. He threw in as fast as he could, but couldn't turn to get to the bowler, where Tunnicliffe might have been struggling."
Geoff Cook was at the stumps and took off the bails but too late. Geoff Miller had thrown himself in and had made his ground. Derbyshire had won!
"We couldnt believe it. We thought we had it at several points and were really down after the match. Derbyshire were ecstatic and you could understand that - they'd not won a trophy for years"(since 1936).
Had he replayed that over in his head since then?
"Yeah, hundreds of times"
And what would you have done differently?
"Bowled a maiden!"
Nice guy Jim Griffiths. Nearing 60 he still plays occasionally "but takes much longer to recover these days". He still sees his old team mates at reunions and they talk about that game on a regular basis.
"It was great fun and you're very lucky to get to play first class cricket. I loved playing at Scarborough and its nice to be back here for a few days."
From my point of view, it was fascinating to hear about the game I'd watched from a player's perspective. I've watched it times many on video and I'm just glad that Jim didn't bowl that maiden!
Saturday, 2 August 2008
Thoughts on the week...
Hello again everyone, here I am after a week in sunny (yes really) Scarborough.
Purely by accident (of course!) we found a pub with Sky TV and a table with an excellent view of the game for our evening meal.
The meal was pretty horrible, but the game gave cause for encouragement. OK, the bowling looked fairly toothless (Langeveldt apart) but it was a flat track and the difference at the end was Bopara's treatment of Graham Wagg in one fearful over.
Derbyshire batted well but sadly no one went on to a really big score. Chasing 300 someone has to post three figures to give you a shout, but Rogers, Hinds and Clarke, though batting well, didn't quite go on long enough.
As for the Championship match at Chesterfield, Langeveldt again appears to have bowled superbly. To be honest, I'd be more surprised if he didn't now as he has been a real gem. The batting again flattered to deceive before Jon Clare and Greg Smith turned things around. In the end the weather was the winner and the loss of James Pipe was the main talking point. His batting, together with that of Chris Rogers and Jon Clare, has been crucial this year and his loss will be felt beyond doubt.
Full credit to John Morris for quickly signing up Tom New from Leicestershire. The talented keeper-batsman averages over 30 in first class cricket but gets few opportunities to keep wicket with Paul Nixon the regular incumbent. Born in the next village to where my parents live in Nottinghamshire, he is a fine young player who can open the batting if required. At 23 he is midway between Fred Klokker (who is too expensive to play) and Tom Poynton who is a fine talent but too inexperienced at this stage.
It was also great to see Dan Redfern make a big century for England Under 19s. I've not been as excited by a young Derbyshire batsman since the early days of Kim Barnett and few of us will complain if he "only" does as well as he did. I fully expect him to play for England in time and only hope that he shows loyalty to the county that gave him his chance.
So to tomorrow and the Pro 40 v Surrey. One never knows which Surrey will turn up. On their day they bat brilliantly, but their bowling is very erratic and the batting is equally likely to fold. The Chesterfield track and short boundaries may appeal to their powerful batsmen so we will need to be at our best to beat them - as we must if we are to be seen as serious contenders in the competition.
More stories tomorrow, including a fluke meeting during the holiday that will interest you - I hope!
Purely by accident (of course!) we found a pub with Sky TV and a table with an excellent view of the game for our evening meal.
The meal was pretty horrible, but the game gave cause for encouragement. OK, the bowling looked fairly toothless (Langeveldt apart) but it was a flat track and the difference at the end was Bopara's treatment of Graham Wagg in one fearful over.
Derbyshire batted well but sadly no one went on to a really big score. Chasing 300 someone has to post three figures to give you a shout, but Rogers, Hinds and Clarke, though batting well, didn't quite go on long enough.
As for the Championship match at Chesterfield, Langeveldt again appears to have bowled superbly. To be honest, I'd be more surprised if he didn't now as he has been a real gem. The batting again flattered to deceive before Jon Clare and Greg Smith turned things around. In the end the weather was the winner and the loss of James Pipe was the main talking point. His batting, together with that of Chris Rogers and Jon Clare, has been crucial this year and his loss will be felt beyond doubt.
Full credit to John Morris for quickly signing up Tom New from Leicestershire. The talented keeper-batsman averages over 30 in first class cricket but gets few opportunities to keep wicket with Paul Nixon the regular incumbent. Born in the next village to where my parents live in Nottinghamshire, he is a fine young player who can open the batting if required. At 23 he is midway between Fred Klokker (who is too expensive to play) and Tom Poynton who is a fine talent but too inexperienced at this stage.
It was also great to see Dan Redfern make a big century for England Under 19s. I've not been as excited by a young Derbyshire batsman since the early days of Kim Barnett and few of us will complain if he "only" does as well as he did. I fully expect him to play for England in time and only hope that he shows loyalty to the county that gave him his chance.
So to tomorrow and the Pro 40 v Surrey. One never knows which Surrey will turn up. On their day they bat brilliantly, but their bowling is very erratic and the batting is equally likely to fold. The Chesterfield track and short boundaries may appeal to their powerful batsmen so we will need to be at our best to beat them - as we must if we are to be seen as serious contenders in the competition.
More stories tomorrow, including a fluke meeting during the holiday that will interest you - I hope!
Wednesday, 30 July 2008
Greetings from Scarborough!
Well, here I am down by the seaside in my Derbyshire cap and keeping in touch with fellow fans via an internet cafe in a Games shop looking over the bay.
Its been a great holiday and the weather excellent. When I get back I'll tell you all about my chance encounter with someone who looms large in Derbyshire cricket folklore - spooky one this!
I'll also tell you how I came to see our defeat the other night via a well-placed table in a pub/restaurant and how I outnumbered Yorkshire fans at their own ground.
Anyway, that's all for the weekend. I'll be back on Saturday evening and normal service will be resumed soon afterwards.
Not looking too good at lunch in the game at Chesterfield. My heart says we'll run through them as Langers and Waggy get the older ball to swing after lunch, my head says there may be some fearful leather-chasing ahead.
As for me, I'm off to the beach with the family. I'm sure I can hear the distant sound of the ice cream van...
Its been a great holiday and the weather excellent. When I get back I'll tell you all about my chance encounter with someone who looms large in Derbyshire cricket folklore - spooky one this!
I'll also tell you how I came to see our defeat the other night via a well-placed table in a pub/restaurant and how I outnumbered Yorkshire fans at their own ground.
Anyway, that's all for the weekend. I'll be back on Saturday evening and normal service will be resumed soon afterwards.
Not looking too good at lunch in the game at Chesterfield. My heart says we'll run through them as Langers and Waggy get the older ball to swing after lunch, my head says there may be some fearful leather-chasing ahead.
As for me, I'm off to the beach with the family. I'm sure I can hear the distant sound of the ice cream van...
Friday, 25 July 2008
Stubbo - number 200
When you reach a landmark it should be of something or someone a little special and I feel that it is quite apt that the subject for the 200th post of this blog is Steve Stubbings, currently having his benefit year.
He's just turned 30 and has been with the county since 1997. In itself that is worthy of note as cricketers change county as often as many change socks these days. Stubbo has seen captains and overseas players come and go and has overcome being written off as a county cricketer by his then captain Dominic Cork.
Over those eleven years he has rarely been the star of the show, but has been the engine room of the side, quietly building his innings and playing straight through the V between mid on and mid off. Like most left handers he is strong off his pads and in 20 years time, if I'm still around to think of such things, my abiding memory of Steve Stubbings will be his chassis down the track in one day matches, ending in his whipping the ball over or through the area between mid on and mid wicket.
The term "journeyman pro" may well have been invented for Steve Stubbings. An average of 32 through his career doesn't leave him among the all time greats but think on. It leaves him ahead on that average of club legends such as Denis Smith, Les Townsend and Stan Worthington. Donald Carr, who many would say was one of our best ever bats, finished with an average of 29.
Of course, it is impossible to compare eras and those named above played in times when wickets were uncovered once the game had begun. Nonetheless, Stubbo has usually played in a Derbyshire side of questionable batting ability and has more often than not been the one man you could rely on to sell his wicket dearly. Over the past few years I have often switched on teletext to see that Derbyshire were 45-3 or somesuch.
The first thought that went through my head was usually "I wonder if Diva/Katich/Birt/ Moss is still in".
The second, on seeing the scorecard was often "oh no, they're out".
The third, after a quick double check, has regularly been "thank goodness - Stubbo is still there"
That is the measure of the man, reliability. Over that period, openers have come and gone and with each has come a challenge to the 6'4" left hander. Without exception, they have all been seen off, rarely spectacularly, but always with a great professionalism and a good measure of common sense.
I remember a game against Scotland up here 2-3 years ago. A typical, moving Grange wicket and batsmen all day struggled to middle it. No one looked comfortable, apart from Steve Stubbings, who ground out a match winning unbeaten 70-odd that saw us to a win. Many players will make hay when the sun shines, the track is flat and the TV cameras are following their every move. Those that are really worth their salt are the ones who will score runs when conditions favour the bowlers and the crowd is sparse.
Above all, I will remember Steve Stubbings as perhaps one of the most genial of Derbyshire players. Only Pop Welch has surpassed him in my book and he'd have a ready smile for anyone in Derbyshire colours and a word for those who wanted one.
I've just realised that the last few paragraphs sound like an appreciation of one who has retired or been released. I sincerely hope that this is not the case, although this hasn't been a vintage summer for him. A shoulder injury was expected to clear up over the winter and didn't, so needed a Spring operation. This affected his fielding as he couldn't throw, but had to affect his batting too. The distractions of the benefit must also have taken their toll and many before him have had similar problems during a benefit or testimonial year. Nonetheless, Steve Stubbings has kept the smile on his face and irrespective of form or fitness has always given 100%.
I'd have to say that if every Derbyshire player in the last ten years had done that, we may well have had more to show for them. For what its worth, I think Stubbings and Rogers would be a good opening pair next season and the greater need is for more stability in the middle order.
Good luck with the benefit Steve. If events are held near you, go along and support them if you can and acknowledge one of the gutsiest professionals the county has had in its history.
So how good was he?
Diva, I mean.
I ask that question as many on the 606 board refer to him in almost hushed tones. He was undoubtedly one of the best blokes to play for the county and showed great loyalty to stay when there were other and better offers tabled over his time with us.
Having mentioned Chris Rogers last night, and his average currently sitting at around 47 with three centuries and five fifties, it shows great similarities to the performances of Michael Di Venuto. What a lot of people forget is that his first two seasons were nothing really special and indeed his first year with us was a disaster.
Here's his record season by season:
Year/Innings/Runs/Average
2000/ 25/725 /33
2001/ 25 /1082/ 45
2002/ 28/ 1538/ 62
2003/ 31/ 1520/ 49
2004 Injured
2005/ 24 /1133/ 51
2006/ 22/ 1110/ 52
So really,one could argue that Diva was lucky to retain his role in the side after his first year in particular and even after his second. His third and fourth seasons werevery prolific and saw him at his peak, but there was a substantial tail off in form after the back injury that ruled him out of 2004.
I've said before that I was unlucky with and for him, as I never saw him make more than 20 in fifteen attempts. Many who saw him in full flight confirm his talent, which is undeniable from his averages with us and with Durham. Yet critics will assert that he made his big scores in the second innings of games that were effectively a lost cause after the first.
Was Dave Houghton right to release him after 2006? Subsequent events - his form for Durham and then taking up of his Italian passport to play as a European player - suggest he was wrong. Looking at the stats (and he also had a poor 2006 in one day cricket) one can at least appreciate why Houghton let him go.
I'd have loved to see Diva still in Derbyshire colours and it is fascinating to imagine what he and Rogers would have been like together. The one sure thing is that in the Victorian batsman we have a worthy successor who has already surpassed the deeds of Di Venuto in their respective debut seasons. It is debatable whether he will stay as long as the latter but we should all cherish his batting talent while we have the opportunity to do so.
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