First up, thanks to all of you for your continued support of the blog.
Visits are consistently over 20,000 a month and the past three months have been even busier than the end of last season when we gained promotion. Interest in Derbyshire cricket is alive and well and I'm grateful to you all for your time, comments and mails.
The site is now a featured blog on Sportskeeda and again, thanks to all of the readers coming to it from there.
On to cricket matters and for those who haven't seen today's scores elsewhere, Nottinghamshire are getting very close to being in the mix for relegation, after subsiding to 14-3 at the close against Warwickshire's 298. They crucially have a game in hand, but are playing some poor cricket at the moment.
Surrey did OK today, restricting Middlesex to 280-7, but we can only hope that the batting side can overcome the absence of Messrs Finn and Murtagh on international duty when it is their turn to bowl.
All we can do is play every session with the intensity and skill that was produced today.
You never know what might happen, but people are starting to look at us differently now, that's for sure.
Tuesday, 3 September 2013
Somerset v Derbyshire day 1
When I saw that Marcus Trescothick had won the toss and elected to bat under cloudless skies at Taunton today, the thought crossed my mind that they may well have batted us out of the game by stumps.Instead, after one of the most extraordinary days of cricket in my recollection, we close 117 runs ahead with five wickets in hand. By any standards you care to mention that was a remarkable effort by a set of players who are anything but predictable. Perhaps that's why I love the side so much, because you genuinely don't know what sort of display you will get. If we were to win all the time, like cricketing Harlem Globetrotters, it would be boring. Nice, mind, but boring..
This was real 'Derbyshire' cricket. Rekindling the spirits of Warren and Bestwick, Copson and Pope, Gladwin and Jackson, Ward and Rhodes, Tim Groenewald and Tony Palladino destroyed the home side after Mark Footitt had taken the wicket of their talisman, Marcus Trescothick. It was classic Derbyshire bowling...two runs an over, moving it around and making the batsmen play. Only a last wicket flourish by Chawla took the home side past a hundred, but this was a remarkable effort by our lads.
I'm thrilled for the two seamers. For Groenewald (left) a five-wicket haul is a fine way to celebrate the birth of his new baby, in the course of it taking his 200th wicket for the county. For Palladino (above) it was just reward for a lot of work to get fit after a couple of injuries this summer. Both men confirmed both their talent and that they will continue to be a wicket-taking force for us next summer, wherever we are playing our cricket.
It was all so astonishing after the run fests of our recent trips to Zumerzet and made me wonder how our reply would go. Rather well, was the answer, with youngsters Slater and Borrington leading off with a fifty stand that settled some nerves. Boz went to Chawla's first ball and he always looked the likely danger man, finishing the day with four wickets. Slater went on to a fine 45, but Madsen and Chanderpaul failed and the departure of Alex Hughes left us in no man's land at 127-5. It would have been feasible for us to have been bowled out for well under 200 at that point.
Which is of course when two keepers came together to take us to a fairly prosperous 220-5. There's been comments-a plenty on the merits of picking two glove men in the first eleven, but both can handle a bat and today the two good friends made hay while the sun shone and the shadows lengthened. Recent signs on Johnson as a specialist batsman are encouraging, while, as I wrote the other night, Poynton has steadily improved as the season has progressed and will always battle. His glove work continues to be of a very high standard and his vocal prowess undiminished.
I'll not get carried away yet. Somerset have good batsmen and they surely cannot do so badly the second time around. We won't want to chase 150 on a wearing pitch in the fourth innings against Chawla either. Yet the signs are good. If we could muster more runs and - crucially - bonus points tomorrow and get a lead of 200-250 we shouldn't have to score too many.
In my wildest dreams I couldn't have come up with today's scenario and it bodes well for this side, whatever happens in the rest of the match and the rest of the season. For the first half of the championship campaign we gave the impression of being new kids at High School. For most of the last month we've looked like the senior staff, playing as well as any side in the division. Progress, beyond doubt.
That was seriously, seriously impressive gentlemen. More of the same tomorrow will do very nicely.
PS The pitch inspectors will be there again tomorrow, concerned about extravagant turn and bounce on day one..but don't hold your breath on any points being docked for the hosts. If it did happen, it would really shake up the bottom of the table.
Now if it was at Derby....
Monday, 2 September 2013
Somerset v Derbyshire preview
It is a sobering thought at this time of year that there's only 12 days of first-class cricket to go before another summer ends. Then it will be back to dark nights, cold mornings and football. April will be a long way off and the cricket gear goes back in the loft for another six months.
If Derbyshire lose to Somerset over the next four days, the last eight will be largely irrelevant, as relegation will be all but a certainty. Our hosts will be a happy with a draw in this one, but a win, besides sounding our death knell, will come close to consigning Surrey to the drop too.
A thirteen-man squad has been selected for tomorrow's game at Taunton, which is as follows:
Paul Borrington
Ben Slater
Wayne Madsen
Shivnarine Chanderpaul
Richard Johnson
Alex Hughes
Tom Poynton
Peter Burgoyne
David Wainwright
Tony Palladino
Tim Groenewald
Matt Higginbottom
Mark Footitt
Hands up everyone who expects this track to turn for Piyush Chawla on the last couple of days? Me too and given that Somerset have brought one of the sub-continent's finest twirlers across the globe you wouldn't expect anything else.
I thought this game might see a return for Wes Durston on a ground he knows so well, but it was not to be. My guess would be that after doing well in the last three matches, Matt Higginbottom will be rested in favour of Tony Palladino, with the final place between Peter Burgoyne and Alex Hughes.
I think I did Tony a disservice in one of my pieces yesterday. He suffered more than most from dropped catches in the early season malaise that affected the side, but for which his season statistics would have been more impressive. I was also, having read it back later, perhaps unduly dismissive of his bowling efforts at Colchester, when he alone stemmed the tide of runs, conceding just 27 from his eight overs as nearly everyone else was hammered around the ground.
He's a very good bowler, as he showed last season and importantly is now fully fit for the run in. I think Higginbottom has done a good job in the past three games, but is less likely to bowl a side out at this stage in his development. On that basis - and also for the late order runs that he so often contributes - Tony gets my vote.
It is good to see Tim Groenewald back and with Mark Footitt the seam trio will be a handful against a Somerset side missing Jos Buttler, Peter Trego, Jamie Overton and George Dockrell. Their twelve:
Marcus Trescothick (capt)
Nick Compton
Alex Barrow
James Hildreth
Chris Jones
Craig Kieswetter
Jack Leach
Lewis Gregory
Craig Meschede
Piyush Chawla
Adam Dibble
Alfonso Thomas
If we could split that powerful opening pair early, it would expose a middle order that can easily go either way. Chawla's century at Lords is not indicative of a top batsman, rather a hitter who occasionally has a big day and our greater challenge will be in seeing off his leg spin through the match.
Can we win? Yes, if eleven players go out prepared to battle, as they have all season but especially in the last three games.
Will we win? I genuinely don't know, but Somerset will know they have been in a scrap and at this stage we can't ask for more than that.
Good luck lads. We're all behind you.
If Derbyshire lose to Somerset over the next four days, the last eight will be largely irrelevant, as relegation will be all but a certainty. Our hosts will be a happy with a draw in this one, but a win, besides sounding our death knell, will come close to consigning Surrey to the drop too.
A thirteen-man squad has been selected for tomorrow's game at Taunton, which is as follows:
Paul Borrington
Ben Slater
Wayne Madsen
Shivnarine Chanderpaul
Richard Johnson
Alex Hughes
Tom Poynton
Peter Burgoyne
David Wainwright
Tony Palladino
Tim Groenewald
Matt Higginbottom
Mark Footitt
Hands up everyone who expects this track to turn for Piyush Chawla on the last couple of days? Me too and given that Somerset have brought one of the sub-continent's finest twirlers across the globe you wouldn't expect anything else.
I thought this game might see a return for Wes Durston on a ground he knows so well, but it was not to be. My guess would be that after doing well in the last three matches, Matt Higginbottom will be rested in favour of Tony Palladino, with the final place between Peter Burgoyne and Alex Hughes.
I think I did Tony a disservice in one of my pieces yesterday. He suffered more than most from dropped catches in the early season malaise that affected the side, but for which his season statistics would have been more impressive. I was also, having read it back later, perhaps unduly dismissive of his bowling efforts at Colchester, when he alone stemmed the tide of runs, conceding just 27 from his eight overs as nearly everyone else was hammered around the ground.
He's a very good bowler, as he showed last season and importantly is now fully fit for the run in. I think Higginbottom has done a good job in the past three games, but is less likely to bowl a side out at this stage in his development. On that basis - and also for the late order runs that he so often contributes - Tony gets my vote.
It is good to see Tim Groenewald back and with Mark Footitt the seam trio will be a handful against a Somerset side missing Jos Buttler, Peter Trego, Jamie Overton and George Dockrell. Their twelve:
Marcus Trescothick (capt)
Nick Compton
Alex Barrow
James Hildreth
Chris Jones
Craig Kieswetter
Jack Leach
Lewis Gregory
Craig Meschede
Piyush Chawla
Adam Dibble
Alfonso Thomas
If we could split that powerful opening pair early, it would expose a middle order that can easily go either way. Chawla's century at Lords is not indicative of a top batsman, rather a hitter who occasionally has a big day and our greater challenge will be in seeing off his leg spin through the match.
Can we win? Yes, if eleven players go out prepared to battle, as they have all season but especially in the last three games.
Will we win? I genuinely don't know, but Somerset will know they have been in a scrap and at this stage we can't ask for more than that.
Good luck lads. We're all behind you.
Sunday, 1 September 2013
Surrey v Derbyshire day 4
At the end of it all, we fell short in this game, Surrey winning by four wickets with time to spare.
It didn't look that way at lunchtime, when two early wickets had them reeling, but two crucial moments probably turned this game. There was a confident call for leg before against Hasim Amla just after lunch, while a juggling attempt at a catch by Alex Hughes was grounded when he was in the twenties. Had either gone our way, the result could have been much different, as the South African did what world-class players are supposed to do in such situations and subsequently took his team to the edge of victory.
I don't blame the lad. We've all dropped chances and no one does it on purpose - it just happens. When the game is on a knife edge such things make a difference though and Hughes will no doubt appreciate that.
David Wainwright and Tom Poynton did well this morning to make the target a bigger one than seemed likely, but with every run came the feeling that perhaps the wicket wasn't quite as bad as reports had suggested. Maybe we didn't bowl as well as we could have done, maybe Surrey's middle-order had a greater collective talent than ours. I think it's a bit of everything, but the players will be disappointed tonight.
And so to Taunton. More about that tomorrow. For now, I have a family event to go to with less of a skip in my step than I hoped for, but c'est la vie. We regroup, talk it through and get ready to battle again.
The odds are looking longer now, but we have to believe we can still stay up.
Beating Somerset is a must.
It didn't look that way at lunchtime, when two early wickets had them reeling, but two crucial moments probably turned this game. There was a confident call for leg before against Hasim Amla just after lunch, while a juggling attempt at a catch by Alex Hughes was grounded when he was in the twenties. Had either gone our way, the result could have been much different, as the South African did what world-class players are supposed to do in such situations and subsequently took his team to the edge of victory.
I don't blame the lad. We've all dropped chances and no one does it on purpose - it just happens. When the game is on a knife edge such things make a difference though and Hughes will no doubt appreciate that.
David Wainwright and Tom Poynton did well this morning to make the target a bigger one than seemed likely, but with every run came the feeling that perhaps the wicket wasn't quite as bad as reports had suggested. Maybe we didn't bowl as well as we could have done, maybe Surrey's middle-order had a greater collective talent than ours. I think it's a bit of everything, but the players will be disappointed tonight.
And so to Taunton. More about that tomorrow. For now, I have a family event to go to with less of a skip in my step than I hoped for, but c'est la vie. We regroup, talk it through and get ready to battle again.
The odds are looking longer now, but we have to believe we can still stay up.
Beating Somerset is a must.
Book Review - Then Came Massacre: the story of Maurice Tate, Cricket's Smiling Destroyer by Justin Parkinson
Cricketing sons rarely live up to the reputation of their successful fathers. There are dozens of examples over the years and the struggles of such players have been well enough documented in cricket literature.Few have matched the feats of Maurice Tate. His father, Fred, was a journeyman professional who took over 1300 wickets for Sussex at 21 with right arm spin perhaps at the pace of Derek Underwood. He is unfairly remembered by most for his role in the 1902 Test at Old Trafford against Australia, when, after dropping a catch in the deep, he was bowled with only four runs needed for victory.
It doesn't tell the full story, as Tate was in unfamiliar territory and more often fielded at slip, while expectation of number eleven, a batsman of modest achievement, bailing you out when a much-vaunted batting lineup had failed was patently unfair. Such was Tate senior's lot, but his son, as he predicted after the match, did him proud. While Fred subsequently became county coach of Derbyshire for a period, Maurice did considerably better.
From 1922-25, Maurice Tate was perhaps the greatest player in the world. If he wasn't, there were few better, as he took 852 wickets in three calendar years, including an Australian tour. He added a thousand runs a summer and took at least 200 wickets in each of them, bowling 38,000 balls in that time. All this after switching from bowling spin at his father's pace to fast-medium at the suggestion of his county captain.
The workload was colossal, even for a man of Tate's strapping build and probably cost him some of his long-term effectiveness. Yet his bowling was a model of getting the most from a run up and action. He only ran in eight paces, yet scores of batsmen were beaten for pace by a quicker ball that 'fizzed'; great players too. Tate was responsible for five of Donald Bradman's first thirteen Test dismissals, this at a time when Tate was past his peak and Bradman very much at his.
Tate was a celebrity in an era when such status came less easily than today. His ready smile and big feet, as regularly utilised by Daily Mail cartoonist Tom Webster, ensured that this would be the case and he was endorsed several products, including an energy supplement, chocolate, washing powder and cigarettes.
All of which suggests that Tate was a wealthy man, at least for the period, but that was far from the case. A succession of poor business ventures dogged his personal life and he flitted from pub to pub as landlord after his career ended, without making a success of any of them.
To some extent, history has forgotten him, although Sussex fans voted him their greatest-ever player in 2003. Rightly so, as he took 2784 wickets for them at 18, adding in 21,000 runs at 25 with 23 centuries for good measure. The figures are staggering, but Maurice Tate was far from an ordinary player. His 155 Test wickets came at a time when there were no opportunities to 'boost the stats' against lesser opposition and he should be judged alongside the greats of the game by any standards one cares to mention.
Justin Parkinson has done an admirable job with this book, which is beautifully researched, well laid-out and engagingly written. Too many books recount the major events of a career without helping you to get close to and better understand the subject. By the end of this one, I felt I 'knew' Maurice Tate and felt the better for it.
Once again, Pitch Publishing have come up with a worthy, eminently readable book that deserves to do well.
It certainly gets a Peakfan thumbs-up.
Then Came Massacre: the Story of Maurice Tate, Cricket's Smiling Destroyer is written by Justin Parkinson and published by Pitch Publishing. It is currently available on Amazon priced £12.23 and from all good book shops.
The day ahead
This will be a close one...
The rich array of opinion that manifests itself in your comments is replicated in those of the media, as we head into the final day at The Oval.
Take a look at these comments:
"Surrey close in on first victory" (BBC)
"Patient Madsen boosts Derbyshire prospects" (England and Wales Cricket Board)
"Surrey still in control despite Madsen knock" (London 24)
I'm firmly of the conviction that the BBC staff writers work to a template and base their comments on it. A team needs under 200? It will be a breeze, irrespective of the conditions. Over 200? Tense. Over 300? Facing defeat.
I'm with Vithushan Ehantharajah of Cricinfo, who came up with two telling paragraphs last night.
"Both sides performed admirably, but Derbyshire will go into tomorrow as favourites by virtue of having runs on the board.
The rich array of opinion that manifests itself in your comments is replicated in those of the media, as we head into the final day at The Oval.
Take a look at these comments:
"Surrey close in on first victory" (BBC)
"Patient Madsen boosts Derbyshire prospects" (England and Wales Cricket Board)
"Surrey still in control despite Madsen knock" (London 24)
I'm firmly of the conviction that the BBC staff writers work to a template and base their comments on it. A team needs under 200? It will be a breeze, irrespective of the conditions. Over 200? Tense. Over 300? Facing defeat.
I'm with Vithushan Ehantharajah of Cricinfo, who came up with two telling paragraphs last night.
"Both sides performed admirably, but Derbyshire will go into tomorrow as favourites by virtue of having runs on the board.
As expected, the pitch has deteriorated sufficiently over the last two
days to shift the balance towards the bowlers. However, this assistance
is skewed towards the Pavilion End, which has displayed some drastic
variable bounce."
If we can nudge and nurdle another 30-40 runs this morning Surrey will not fancy it. If we don't, it will be touch and go and they could get there with the aid of a little luck and their greater experience. Yes, I agree with notoveryet that I would be happier if we had Tony Palladino to bowl today, but specifically last year's model. It should not be overlooked that Tony has eight wickets at 48 in an injury-hit summer and may or may not be fully fit. His replacement, Matt Higginbottom, has eight wickets at 32, taken in fifty overs less bowling and in recent matches.
Tony will work hard in the winter and will come back strong next summer, but his inclusion in the match was far from a foregone conclusion. Had he played AND been at his best, we would have breezed this match. He's not been though and it should not be overlooked that his two wickets at Colchester last weekend came courtesy of brilliant catches, one by him, one by Chesney Hughes. Maybe he's not getting the movement he did last year, as he's not sure his body could cope with putting everything into it. I don't know if that's true - but Krikk and AJ Harris will be aware of his current physical and technical condition. We're not and must defer to the greater knowledge of the experts.
The final place appeared to be between Palladino, Wainwright and Poynton. Wainwright took three wickets in the first innings and will be crucial today, while the runs under his belt have doubled his value. Poynton has 37 and 29 not out on a wicket that has been an issue for batsmen, so has totally vindicated his selection, even if having two wicket-keepers seems a tad on the generous side.
Would I have liked an in-form Palladino in the side? Yes, but I don't think he is near his best. Groenewald is, but I've covered my thoughts on his paternity absence and his entitlement to it elsewhere. These things happen and doubtless Karl Krikken's task this year would have been easier if Palladino and Clare had been fit for longer periods.
Would I have liked an in-form Palladino in the side? Yes, but I don't think he is near his best. Groenewald is, but I've covered my thoughts on his paternity absence and his entitlement to it elsewhere. These things happen and doubtless Karl Krikken's task this year would have been easier if Palladino and Clare had been fit for longer periods.
As always, he will be judged on results, like any coach in any sport. If we win this one, any criticism of his selection will be less valid; if we lose, then an array of contributors will deem him wrong and - perhaps unfairly - say that he cost us the game, when it's not always quite so clear-cut.
We will know in around eight hours - or less.
Saturday, 31 August 2013
Surrey v Derbyshire day 3
It might not have been pretty, but it was pretty effective...
Derbyshire batted all day to end it 161 runs ahead with three wickets in hand. All results are still possible, but in taking the game into the fourth day, Derbyshire have given themselves every chance of bowling on a wicket at its worst.
It may all be in vain, of course. We could still lose, with Surrey's experienced batting line up earning their money and taking the game from us on the last afternoon. However long we bat tomorrow, they need to go for the runs, as they are in danger of being cast adrift at the bottom with nowhere to go. A win for us leaves us only a point behind Somerset, our next opponents, in what becomes a game of monumental importance. A loss, I fear, leaves us with too much to do.
It was a good effort today on a pitch with variable bounce and offering help to the spinners. Neither Ansari nor Batty are close to front rank purveyors of twirlies, so it is hard to judge how well Wainwright and Burgoyne might do tomorrow.
I reckon that we need at least another forty runs and at that point Surrey may worry (nice rhyme, huh?). Chasing 200 in the last innings will be no picnic and will be a challenge psychologically, as well as technically. Amla, Solanki and de Bruyn will again be key and how we need Mark Footitt to have his radar locked on again and bowling at his fastest. If he could take a couple of early wickets, no matter how many they are chasing, it could set the alarm bells ringing.
I suspect David Wainwright will see early action with the ball and will be a tired man tomorrow night. He and Tom Poynton added a crucial 48 unbroken runs in the last session this evening, stretching the lead to 161 and suggesting, if no more, that we could still nick this one. I like Poynton and in his formative career he has suggested that he will be a valuable player for us in the years to come. He's prepared to get his head down, but can give it a smack if it is there to be hit. His batting average heads steadily northwards and has plenty of time to improve in the years ahead. Wainwright too has the right mentality and after a difficult season seems to be rediscovering form at a crucial time.
Once again Wayne Madsen was to the fore with a hard-earned fifty, before falling leg-before to one that kept low. While disappointed to be dismissed, he will have enjoyed seeing the ball misbehave and the Derbyshire players will be well aware that they have a chance tomorrow. Paul Borrington also battled hard and can be pleased with his efforts in the match on a difficult pitch.
So where's your money folks? If we could scrap to 200 in the morning I will fancy our chances, but less than that will be desperately close. Scoring hasn't been easy throughout the game and is unlikely to be tomorrow. Will Surrey be prepared to scrap as we have done, or will they stroll to victory on the back of some wild bowling as Derbyshire lose their mojo? Will they, conversely, collapse like a pack of cards?
I think a 200 target will win it, especially if we can make the runs/overs equation challenging tomorrow - and not give away as many extras as we did in the first innings, which was way too generous on such a track. Every run will count, that's for sure.
But whatever happens, this Derbyshire side have restored pride. The willingness to graft is heartening and will stand them in good stead for the future, whatever happens tomorrow.
My fingers are crossed though.
Derbyshire batted all day to end it 161 runs ahead with three wickets in hand. All results are still possible, but in taking the game into the fourth day, Derbyshire have given themselves every chance of bowling on a wicket at its worst.
It may all be in vain, of course. We could still lose, with Surrey's experienced batting line up earning their money and taking the game from us on the last afternoon. However long we bat tomorrow, they need to go for the runs, as they are in danger of being cast adrift at the bottom with nowhere to go. A win for us leaves us only a point behind Somerset, our next opponents, in what becomes a game of monumental importance. A loss, I fear, leaves us with too much to do.
It was a good effort today on a pitch with variable bounce and offering help to the spinners. Neither Ansari nor Batty are close to front rank purveyors of twirlies, so it is hard to judge how well Wainwright and Burgoyne might do tomorrow.
I reckon that we need at least another forty runs and at that point Surrey may worry (nice rhyme, huh?). Chasing 200 in the last innings will be no picnic and will be a challenge psychologically, as well as technically. Amla, Solanki and de Bruyn will again be key and how we need Mark Footitt to have his radar locked on again and bowling at his fastest. If he could take a couple of early wickets, no matter how many they are chasing, it could set the alarm bells ringing.
I suspect David Wainwright will see early action with the ball and will be a tired man tomorrow night. He and Tom Poynton added a crucial 48 unbroken runs in the last session this evening, stretching the lead to 161 and suggesting, if no more, that we could still nick this one. I like Poynton and in his formative career he has suggested that he will be a valuable player for us in the years to come. He's prepared to get his head down, but can give it a smack if it is there to be hit. His batting average heads steadily northwards and has plenty of time to improve in the years ahead. Wainwright too has the right mentality and after a difficult season seems to be rediscovering form at a crucial time.
Once again Wayne Madsen was to the fore with a hard-earned fifty, before falling leg-before to one that kept low. While disappointed to be dismissed, he will have enjoyed seeing the ball misbehave and the Derbyshire players will be well aware that they have a chance tomorrow. Paul Borrington also battled hard and can be pleased with his efforts in the match on a difficult pitch.
So where's your money folks? If we could scrap to 200 in the morning I will fancy our chances, but less than that will be desperately close. Scoring hasn't been easy throughout the game and is unlikely to be tomorrow. Will Surrey be prepared to scrap as we have done, or will they stroll to victory on the back of some wild bowling as Derbyshire lose their mojo? Will they, conversely, collapse like a pack of cards?
I think a 200 target will win it, especially if we can make the runs/overs equation challenging tomorrow - and not give away as many extras as we did in the first innings, which was way too generous on such a track. Every run will count, that's for sure.
But whatever happens, this Derbyshire side have restored pride. The willingness to graft is heartening and will stand them in good stead for the future, whatever happens tomorrow.
My fingers are crossed though.
Friday, 30 August 2013
Surrey v Derbyshire day 2
I'll say one thing about this Derbyshire side.
They can't half battle.
Ignoring any disagreement over team selection, the guys who have taken the field for this match have done just what they did in the two previous ones and taken the fight to the opposition. Just before tea today I thought we were looking at a deficit of 150, which would almost certainly have spelt the end of our ambitions in this match. Yet back they came again and the advent of the second new ball saw the last four Surrey wickets fall for just two runs.
I have nothing but admiration for Mark Footitt. The leader of the pack bowled with controlled aggression all day and returned the superb figures of 4-50 in 19 overs, neatly topping and tailing the Surrey innings with some hostile bowling that saw the key wicket of Hasim Amla go early, as it had to do if we were to stay in the game after an average day with the bat yesterday.
Yet he was followed by Solanki, de Bruyn and Davies, good, experienced players all and capable of taking Surrey out of reach of our young side. Solanki got his customary runs (his career average must be 50-plus against us) but the rest were cut off in their prime and a lead of seventy was probably a hundred less than Surrey would have wanted on a pitch increasingly taking spin.
Full marks to David Wainwright too for a long and canny spell at two an over that brought him three wickets, while youngsters Higginbottom, Burgoyne and Hughes toiled away for less reward. Mind you, it was somewhat ironic that Mark and Matt should so suddenly finish the Surrey innings, two players whose current contracts expire at the end of the season. Both are doing all they can to earn another deal and Footitt's championship scalps (30) are now down to a respectable thirty runs each. To give him credit where it is due, he has stood up to the challenge of cricket at a higher level and shown himself good enough - and, crucially, fit enough.
Ben Slater and Paul Borrington deserve pats on the back for reducing the deficit to 57 by the close, without being parted. The mental examination of opening the batting after a day in the field is considerable, but they got there and tomorrow is another huge day for their side. If they can put forty or fifty together, our opponents will start to get very edgy...
It is much easier to say than do on a deteriorating wicket, but if we could get up to 275-plus I don't think Surrey would fancy chasing 200 on the last day. You never can tell, as the big name batsmen at the top of their order should be capable of taking the game by the throat, but our first task is to get runs in the bank tomorrow. If every one of our batsmen played to their season average, we'd make 285, just so you know.
So much, again, depends on Wayne Madsen and Shivnarine Chanderpaul. One of the others has the opportunity to become a hero, but to get the runs that we need, someone has to get seventy or eighty-plus. You still cannot discount the side having a bad session, or day, but the demolition of Middlesex by Somerset today has put both sides under pressure and it will be fascinating to see which one copes with that the best.
Tim Tremlett didn't bowl tonight and his absence would give us a timely boost, yet we must prepare to face him and bat the day. It is a situation tailor-made for Shiv and if he or the skipper makes runs, we will win.
There you go. I've said it.
They can't half battle.
Ignoring any disagreement over team selection, the guys who have taken the field for this match have done just what they did in the two previous ones and taken the fight to the opposition. Just before tea today I thought we were looking at a deficit of 150, which would almost certainly have spelt the end of our ambitions in this match. Yet back they came again and the advent of the second new ball saw the last four Surrey wickets fall for just two runs.
I have nothing but admiration for Mark Footitt. The leader of the pack bowled with controlled aggression all day and returned the superb figures of 4-50 in 19 overs, neatly topping and tailing the Surrey innings with some hostile bowling that saw the key wicket of Hasim Amla go early, as it had to do if we were to stay in the game after an average day with the bat yesterday.
Yet he was followed by Solanki, de Bruyn and Davies, good, experienced players all and capable of taking Surrey out of reach of our young side. Solanki got his customary runs (his career average must be 50-plus against us) but the rest were cut off in their prime and a lead of seventy was probably a hundred less than Surrey would have wanted on a pitch increasingly taking spin.
Full marks to David Wainwright too for a long and canny spell at two an over that brought him three wickets, while youngsters Higginbottom, Burgoyne and Hughes toiled away for less reward. Mind you, it was somewhat ironic that Mark and Matt should so suddenly finish the Surrey innings, two players whose current contracts expire at the end of the season. Both are doing all they can to earn another deal and Footitt's championship scalps (30) are now down to a respectable thirty runs each. To give him credit where it is due, he has stood up to the challenge of cricket at a higher level and shown himself good enough - and, crucially, fit enough.
Ben Slater and Paul Borrington deserve pats on the back for reducing the deficit to 57 by the close, without being parted. The mental examination of opening the batting after a day in the field is considerable, but they got there and tomorrow is another huge day for their side. If they can put forty or fifty together, our opponents will start to get very edgy...
It is much easier to say than do on a deteriorating wicket, but if we could get up to 275-plus I don't think Surrey would fancy chasing 200 on the last day. You never can tell, as the big name batsmen at the top of their order should be capable of taking the game by the throat, but our first task is to get runs in the bank tomorrow. If every one of our batsmen played to their season average, we'd make 285, just so you know.
So much, again, depends on Wayne Madsen and Shivnarine Chanderpaul. One of the others has the opportunity to become a hero, but to get the runs that we need, someone has to get seventy or eighty-plus. You still cannot discount the side having a bad session, or day, but the demolition of Middlesex by Somerset today has put both sides under pressure and it will be fascinating to see which one copes with that the best.
Tim Tremlett didn't bowl tonight and his absence would give us a timely boost, yet we must prepare to face him and bat the day. It is a situation tailor-made for Shiv and if he or the skipper makes runs, we will win.
There you go. I've said it.
Thursday, 29 August 2013
Umpiring decisions
The recent Ashes series has been awash with contentious umpiring decisions, referrals et al, but if you thought you'd seen it all, spare a thought for old Peakfan, playing his final evening game of the season last night.
It was a grim game on a poor wicket and my flighted filth proved hard to get away. Indeed our opponents only made 48 all out in 15 overs (it was a T15 because of the shorter evenings at this time of year).
My final over saw three balls played quietly as I kept it tight. Two more went past the outside edge. The sixth took the edge and was gleefully pouched by Martin, our keeper, who has been responsible for a fair proportion of my wickets in the past twenty years.
He went up, I went up, slip went up. A wicket maiden was surely mine, as I turned to the umpire. The batsman hadn't moved, but his demeanour suggested he was resigned to his fate.
The umpire shook his head, then looked at me somewhat reluctantly.
"Sorry mate", he said.
"I wasn't watching..."
It was a grim game on a poor wicket and my flighted filth proved hard to get away. Indeed our opponents only made 48 all out in 15 overs (it was a T15 because of the shorter evenings at this time of year).
My final over saw three balls played quietly as I kept it tight. Two more went past the outside edge. The sixth took the edge and was gleefully pouched by Martin, our keeper, who has been responsible for a fair proportion of my wickets in the past twenty years.
He went up, I went up, slip went up. A wicket maiden was surely mine, as I turned to the umpire. The batsman hadn't moved, but his demeanour suggested he was resigned to his fate.
The umpire shook his head, then looked at me somewhat reluctantly.
"Sorry mate", he said.
"I wasn't watching..."
Surrey v Derbyshire day 1
It's hard to know what to make of day one.
On the face of it, we have under-achieved and 219 is at least a hundred short of where we would have hoped to be after winning the toss, especially on a wicket where batting last is expected to be fraught with problems from spin bowling.
We now need to bowl exceptionally well tomorrow to stay in this game, but the way that Derbyshire had to graft for runs today suggested that it wouldn't be getting easier as the game goes on. Surrey will, of course, hope that the experience of the likes of Solanki, de Bruyn, Davies and especially Amla will put them out of sight before the third innings and much has been made already of the omission of Tony Palladino.
It was a brave decision, for sure. Time will tell if other words are more apposite, but I thought last night that the final choice would be between a seamer and one of the keepers, and so it transpired. Yet Tom Poynton, perhaps the most vulnerable after Richard Johnson's crucial runs against Middlesex, got second top score and got us past a batting bonus point.
No one would suggest the batting looks full of runs with four young players in the top six and we realistically needed either Madsen or Chanderpaul to make a big score. For once the skipper failed, while Shiv battled to top score before falling lbw to one that reportedly pitched outside leg stump.
Can we pull it back? We'll need early inroads tomorrow and the prompt removal of Amla is essential. Surrey's batting this season, for all its big names, has been no more reliable than ours and we must aim to apply pressure and take wickets regularly. It isn't over yet, by a long chalk and the one sure thing about this Derbyshire side is that they will battle.
It wasn't an especially good day all round. Middlesex seem traumatised by their demise at Derby and have had a horrid experience against Somerset, looking nothing like title challengers. Defeat is almost certain tomorrow and the battle to avoid relegation will run and run.
Let's just hope that Derbyshire manage to pull away at the finish, like a cricketing Mo Farah.
Finally tonight, there's been a few comments and e mails about the absence of Tim Groenewald and Chesney Hughes on paternity leave. As a Derbyshire fan, who wants to see our strongest side out as we approach a crucial point of the season, I can fully sympathise with the view of fans.
Yet as a father who attended the birth of both of his children (and wouldn't have missed it for anything) I can see the other side quite clearly too. Derbyshire as a club are an enlightened employer and employee rights - especially those of cricketers - are much different to a few years back.
I would welcome the thoughts of a regular correspondent who is a top employment lawyer though...
On the face of it, we have under-achieved and 219 is at least a hundred short of where we would have hoped to be after winning the toss, especially on a wicket where batting last is expected to be fraught with problems from spin bowling.
We now need to bowl exceptionally well tomorrow to stay in this game, but the way that Derbyshire had to graft for runs today suggested that it wouldn't be getting easier as the game goes on. Surrey will, of course, hope that the experience of the likes of Solanki, de Bruyn, Davies and especially Amla will put them out of sight before the third innings and much has been made already of the omission of Tony Palladino.
It was a brave decision, for sure. Time will tell if other words are more apposite, but I thought last night that the final choice would be between a seamer and one of the keepers, and so it transpired. Yet Tom Poynton, perhaps the most vulnerable after Richard Johnson's crucial runs against Middlesex, got second top score and got us past a batting bonus point.
No one would suggest the batting looks full of runs with four young players in the top six and we realistically needed either Madsen or Chanderpaul to make a big score. For once the skipper failed, while Shiv battled to top score before falling lbw to one that reportedly pitched outside leg stump.
Can we pull it back? We'll need early inroads tomorrow and the prompt removal of Amla is essential. Surrey's batting this season, for all its big names, has been no more reliable than ours and we must aim to apply pressure and take wickets regularly. It isn't over yet, by a long chalk and the one sure thing about this Derbyshire side is that they will battle.
It wasn't an especially good day all round. Middlesex seem traumatised by their demise at Derby and have had a horrid experience against Somerset, looking nothing like title challengers. Defeat is almost certain tomorrow and the battle to avoid relegation will run and run.
Let's just hope that Derbyshire manage to pull away at the finish, like a cricketing Mo Farah.
Finally tonight, there's been a few comments and e mails about the absence of Tim Groenewald and Chesney Hughes on paternity leave. As a Derbyshire fan, who wants to see our strongest side out as we approach a crucial point of the season, I can fully sympathise with the view of fans.
Yet as a father who attended the birth of both of his children (and wouldn't have missed it for anything) I can see the other side quite clearly too. Derbyshire as a club are an enlightened employer and employee rights - especially those of cricketers - are much different to a few years back.
I would welcome the thoughts of a regular correspondent who is a top employment lawyer though...
Wednesday, 28 August 2013
News on Surrey
Good to see that I called the twelve for the Surrey game correctly last night and, while we're a fair bit below full strength, our hosts are too. They have lost Jade Dernbach to England duty (I'm still not convinced he's that good, but...) and Gary Wilson to Ireland commitments. So their squad lines up as follows:
Batty, Amla, Ansari, Burns, Curran, Davies, De Bruyn, Edwards, Harinath, Linley, Sibley, Solanki, Tremlett
There are some fine players in there, with Amla an obvious danger man, Solanki a frequent thorn in our sides and De Bruyn and Davies very good batsmen. Tremlett is also a fine bowler, but they have under-achieved this summer and we are the team on a roll at present.
Whisper it quietly, but I think we have the ability and the team spirit to win this and take a massive stride towards safety. We will need a massive effort from everyone and the absence of Tim Groenewald will be important, but we have the self-belief that is so important at this stage of the summer.
We now know that we can win games at this level and have beaten two of the best three sides in the country in our past two games. If we approach this game with the same attitude and don't take a statistically inferior side for granted, we could get to Sunday with a smile on our faces.
Somerset had a decent day today at Lords (how did Chawla get 50?) and we'll need to hope that we didn't knock too much confidence out of Middlesex in the last game. Time for 'Buck' Rogers to do us a favour, I think...
Like all of you, I will be keeping a very close eye on this one tomorrow.
Go and do us proud, lads. You know you can do it...
Batty, Amla, Ansari, Burns, Curran, Davies, De Bruyn, Edwards, Harinath, Linley, Sibley, Solanki, Tremlett
There are some fine players in there, with Amla an obvious danger man, Solanki a frequent thorn in our sides and De Bruyn and Davies very good batsmen. Tremlett is also a fine bowler, but they have under-achieved this summer and we are the team on a roll at present.
Whisper it quietly, but I think we have the ability and the team spirit to win this and take a massive stride towards safety. We will need a massive effort from everyone and the absence of Tim Groenewald will be important, but we have the self-belief that is so important at this stage of the summer.
We now know that we can win games at this level and have beaten two of the best three sides in the country in our past two games. If we approach this game with the same attitude and don't take a statistically inferior side for granted, we could get to Sunday with a smile on our faces.
Somerset had a decent day today at Lords (how did Chawla get 50?) and we'll need to hope that we didn't knock too much confidence out of Middlesex in the last game. Time for 'Buck' Rogers to do us a favour, I think...
Like all of you, I will be keeping a very close eye on this one tomorrow.
Go and do us proud, lads. You know you can do it...
Tuesday, 27 August 2013
Midweek musings
It's been a busy old weekend and early week, so apologies for the lack of blogging. The last two YB40 matches caught the attention of few people, as evidenced by the lack of comments and e mails about them. People have been understanding about the fielding of a weaker team and appreciate that the next two weeks are massive.
It's funny though. Week by week we all think through our team selections and none of us are privy to the things going on in the background that can dictate one player's involvement and the exclusion of others. I once had a chat with John Morris, who told me that if fans knew half of what went on in the background they would never query a team selection.
This week is a classic case. There will be no Chesney Hughes, now heading back to the Caribbean for the birth of his first child (hope all goes well, Ches) and quite possibly no Tim Groenewald either, who has become a proud father today. Warm congratulations go to Tim and his lovely wife on their new arrival!
Lovely, exciting times for both of them, but a challenge for Karl Krikken. He has to find a replacement for his leading wicket-taker, as well as an opening batsman for the game against Surrey, which if it isn't conclusive to the season's destiny will go some way towards it.
I think that Paul Borrington will rightly get the nod as Ben Slater's opening partner, based on his good form in one-day cricket this summer and his recent century in the second team. Importantly, he has a good record at The Oval, making runs there in the recent YB40 game, while in 2011 he made a technically excellent 87 there, on what was effectively a beach on which no one else got more than 32.
I know Billy Godleman made a few runs down at Colchester, but it has been a painful time following his fortunes this summer. It is also perhaps telling that his highest scores have come against his former counties and his form in the second team has not suggested that his struggle for form is yet fully resolved.
We're going to see Madsen, Chanderpaul and Hughes minor in the middle order, but the wicket will dictate whether Wes Durston returns, or Richard Johnson plays as a specialist batsman once again. Conversely, Johnson could take the gloves from Tom Poynton, which might allow for the inclusion of a specialist spinner.
My best guess towards the finished side, assuming that Groenewald will be unavailable, is:
Borrington
Slater
Madsen
Chanderpaul
Johnson
Hughes
Wainwright
Burgoyne
Palladino
Higginbottom
Footitt
Yes, I'd love to see Jon Clare in there, but have seen nothing to suggest he is close to fitness. Tom Knight has been bowling well, but a season championship debut at such a stage would be a brave move. The above team has seven bowlers and sufficient variety to make the most of any conditions. Surrey are low on confidence but have some handy and experienced players, not least Hashim Amla, one of the world's best.
We could win the game, but need big contributions from senior players and the timing would be perfect for a Chanderpaul special. Having said that, a draw wouldn't be the end of the world, as long as Somerset don't do as well at Lords against Middlesex.
Finally tonight, Derbyshire target Matt Coles has joined Hampshire on loan for the remainder of the summer. I haven't a clue if it will affect our chances of signing him on a permanent basis, but his new county have a chance to see him up close. There is an interesting appraisal of the player in the latest Cricinfo Supporters Network post from Ben Howarth, which is well worth a read, as are all of the contributor posts.
Enjoy your Wednesday, for battle commences on Thursday...
It's funny though. Week by week we all think through our team selections and none of us are privy to the things going on in the background that can dictate one player's involvement and the exclusion of others. I once had a chat with John Morris, who told me that if fans knew half of what went on in the background they would never query a team selection.
This week is a classic case. There will be no Chesney Hughes, now heading back to the Caribbean for the birth of his first child (hope all goes well, Ches) and quite possibly no Tim Groenewald either, who has become a proud father today. Warm congratulations go to Tim and his lovely wife on their new arrival!
Lovely, exciting times for both of them, but a challenge for Karl Krikken. He has to find a replacement for his leading wicket-taker, as well as an opening batsman for the game against Surrey, which if it isn't conclusive to the season's destiny will go some way towards it.
I think that Paul Borrington will rightly get the nod as Ben Slater's opening partner, based on his good form in one-day cricket this summer and his recent century in the second team. Importantly, he has a good record at The Oval, making runs there in the recent YB40 game, while in 2011 he made a technically excellent 87 there, on what was effectively a beach on which no one else got more than 32.
I know Billy Godleman made a few runs down at Colchester, but it has been a painful time following his fortunes this summer. It is also perhaps telling that his highest scores have come against his former counties and his form in the second team has not suggested that his struggle for form is yet fully resolved.
We're going to see Madsen, Chanderpaul and Hughes minor in the middle order, but the wicket will dictate whether Wes Durston returns, or Richard Johnson plays as a specialist batsman once again. Conversely, Johnson could take the gloves from Tom Poynton, which might allow for the inclusion of a specialist spinner.
My best guess towards the finished side, assuming that Groenewald will be unavailable, is:
Borrington
Slater
Madsen
Chanderpaul
Johnson
Hughes
Wainwright
Burgoyne
Palladino
Higginbottom
Footitt
Yes, I'd love to see Jon Clare in there, but have seen nothing to suggest he is close to fitness. Tom Knight has been bowling well, but a season championship debut at such a stage would be a brave move. The above team has seven bowlers and sufficient variety to make the most of any conditions. Surrey are low on confidence but have some handy and experienced players, not least Hashim Amla, one of the world's best.
We could win the game, but need big contributions from senior players and the timing would be perfect for a Chanderpaul special. Having said that, a draw wouldn't be the end of the world, as long as Somerset don't do as well at Lords against Middlesex.
Finally tonight, Derbyshire target Matt Coles has joined Hampshire on loan for the remainder of the summer. I haven't a clue if it will affect our chances of signing him on a permanent basis, but his new county have a chance to see him up close. There is an interesting appraisal of the player in the latest Cricinfo Supporters Network post from Ben Howarth, which is well worth a read, as are all of the contributor posts.
Enjoy your Wednesday, for battle commences on Thursday...
Monday, 26 August 2013
Derbyshire v Hampshire YB40
Tight for time again tonight, but back to normal tomorrow.
Today's game again went as expected with an inexperienced side. A fine effort by Chesney took us closer than might have been the case and there were a couple of decent bowling performances, but defeat was neither a surprise nor a disaster
Indeed it all seemed like the largely irrelevant warm-up act for a major event, which comes later this week, of course.
I'll be looking at that tomorrow night.
Today's game again went as expected with an inexperienced side. A fine effort by Chesney took us closer than might have been the case and there were a couple of decent bowling performances, but defeat was neither a surprise nor a disaster
Indeed it all seemed like the largely irrelevant warm-up act for a major event, which comes later this week, of course.
I'll be looking at that tomorrow night.
Sunday, 25 August 2013
Essex v Derbyshire YB40
Not much to say about today's game, except that a very inexperienced (for understandable reasons) Derbyshire side was always going to be up against it and so it transpired.
Good to see Billy Godleman get a few, while a shame that Scott Elstone apparently got a good one early. Perhaps more importantly, Tony Palladino turned in a good spell that bodes well for the coming games.
And so to Derby tomorrow, where I suspect we will see a similar side and result.
By the same token, the circumstances of the season dictate the course of action and if we can stay in the top tier as a consequence there will be few complaints.
More tomorrow!
Good to see Billy Godleman get a few, while a shame that Scott Elstone apparently got a good one early. Perhaps more importantly, Tony Palladino turned in a good spell that bodes well for the coming games.
And so to Derby tomorrow, where I suspect we will see a similar side and result.
By the same token, the circumstances of the season dictate the course of action and if we can stay in the top tier as a consequence there will be few complaints.
More tomorrow!
Something for the weekend
It was a lavish occasion, attended by 230 people and it was lovely to see some (old) familiar faces and talk over the many good times. I was a right back or sweeper in the side and we had a lot of fun over the ten years or so that I played. I organised a cricket team for a few years and we played a few games, though our club's greatest contribution to the summer sport, Scotland and former Warwickshire all-rounder Calum MacLeod, came too late for it.
Calum was there last night though and the celebrations went on long into the night, resulting in bed around 3am. Which makes me wonder why I was bright-eyed and bushy-tailed this morning at 8...
Back to cricket and I was delighted to see the name of Scott Elstone (pictured) in Derbyshire's squad for today's trip to Colchester and the largely academic game against Essex. Regulars will know I have been suggesting a winter move for the lad for several weeks and I am pleased to see that Karl Krikken wants a look at him at a senior level. His stunning century last week for the seconds, with 20 fours and a six, was indicative of a player in prime form, while his unbeaten thirty in the second innings from 17 balls with seven fours suggests a player for who timing is not an issue.
I hope he does well, but I would think his inclusion in this and probably the Monday squad was as much to assess his manner in the top level of the game. Everything about his season so far for the Second XI and Dunstall looks positive, but as we have seen in the final Test match with Simon Kerrigan, some players can look awkward outside their comfort zone. I'd be surprised if the potential offer of a contract was dependent on his scoring fifty or more here, but more on how he looks. Given that he offers a useful off-spin option and brilliant fielding, he has much to bring to the table and I wish him well.
It is a strange-looking side. No Madsen, Chanderpaul, Groenewald, or Footitt, all of them rested ahead of this week's massive game at The Oval. No Poynton either, so Richard Johnson takes the gloves and presumably gets a chance to show his skills and potentially take over and allow an extra batsman or bowler for the championship game.
The squad in full:
Chesney Hughes
Wes Durston
Paul Borrington
Scott Elstone
Richard Johnson
Alex Hughes
Ben Slater
Billy Godleman
David Wainwright
Tony Palladino
Tom Knight
Alasdair Evans
Matt Higginbottom
The final eleven is tough to call and will depend on the pitch, but there is a big opportunity for several players. Wes Durston's eight wickets for the seconds could well bring him a recall for The Oval, but he will want to get runs under his belt. David Wainwright or Tom Knight could also feature there, so both will hope to get an opportunity, while Paul Borrington will hope to reinforce some impressive one-day batting displays in the last two games.
More later.
Friday, 23 August 2013
Derbyshire v Middlesex day 3 - what relegation?
With a few ever so slightly nervy spells along the way, Derbyshire duly wrapped up a second remarkable victory on the trot at the County Ground today, beating Middlesex by 56 runs.That's the current second and third teams in the country that we have beaten in consecutive matches and I'd suggest that only Yorkshire are playing such purposeful cricket as we are at present. It is an extraordinary turnaround for a young side, robbed of several senior players by injury but getting through on effort, willpower and no little talent.
We may yet go down, but those who a few short weeks ago were decrying the team as rubbish, the worst side ever to represent the county, a rabble and much more are now wiping considerable quantities of egg off their faces. We're still not the best team in the country by a distance, but we're playing the brand of cricket that characterised the early period of last summer. We're not a great batting side, but we're getting enough runs together collectively to win. We're not a great bowling side, but there's enough variety and novelty value in the attack to keep people guessing. We're not the best fielding side, but we're catching more than we were and again can draw on that magical team spirit that does so much for any side.
Full credit to Middlesex, who, as I suggested last night, fought all the way. Ollie Rayner had perhaps his greatest-ever game, yet ended up on the losing side, while Gareth Berg got them to the point where most of us started to wonder if things might not go the way we planned.
Yet they did. Judging from the number of overs bowled I don't think Tim Groenewald was fully fit after yesterday's injury, so a greater burden was placed on Mark Footitt (pictured), who responded magnificently. Mark has had his critics, especially with regard to his one-day bowling, but this must surely go down as his best season. He has bowled with consistent pace and has the ability to bowl over and round the wicket with no diminution of pace, further testimony to his improved fitness levels.
Matt Higginbottom was less effective today, but took the key wicket of Berg, while Peter Burgoyne bowled a long and controlled spell and took the last, among three wickets. Add in the sparingly used Alex Hughes and the attack had a very youthful look that ended up doing the business.
A couple of contributors have made the point that we cannot rely on them throughout the run in and they are right. I take my hat off to Karl Krikken for a team selection that he got spot on, even if a second spinner might have been useful today. He will need to look carefully - and he will - at the team on a match by match basis. Palladino, Clare, Wainwright and Knight could all come into the mix over the next few games, while the Poynton v Johnson battle will merit regular scrutiny. We could accomodate another bowler or batsman if Johnson kept, but that might be to the detriment of his batting, while Poynton's keeping remains a very high standard.
There's time for all that though. For now let us celebrate a team that has gone from being unlikely to see a win all summer in some eyes to sitting outside the relegation places. Somerset got lucky today and would have lost to Warwickshire bar for bad light, while Surrey look like getting little from their game against Durham. We can rest a few legs for the coming YB40 games if need be, ensuring that key personnel are fit and well for The Oval next Thursday.
Oh, and the Second XI beat Durham by ten wickets too, Borrington and Elstone knocking off the fifty-odd runs required in jig time and keeping Steve Stubbings' side atop the table. Good times huh?
Well, yes, apart from the pitch for last week's YB40 against Durham causing us to be docked two points from next year's fifty-over competition. Those nice people at Lords listened to the commentators and saw fit to punish us for a sub-standard pitch. To be fair, it wasn't great, but Durham did win the toss and opt to bowl, which was hardly indicative of them expecting it to be like North Pier at Blackpool in the second innings either.
So we take it on the chin, while raising a mental two fingers in the direction of Lords. Maybe that's just me...
Maybe we shouldn't have beaten them today.
Postscript - on the subject of pitches, top marks to Neil Godrich and his team for an outstanding four-day track in this game. You could make runs if you worked at it. You could take wickets if you bowled in the right areas.
You cannot ask for more.
And while handing out accolades, there have been excellent photographs through the season, but especially in recent weeks, on the club's Twitter feed. Full marks again to David Griffin, for capturing key moments so well for those of us unable to get to matches.
Matt Coles
Matt Coles potentially a Derbyshire player?
Yes please.
Late piece from me tonight as I was late back from my work team's first fixture, which ended in an exciting tie (four off the last ball) and am still buzzing from it all.
I won't count this as a done deal at this stage though, because a player of his talent is likely to raise interest from elsewhere. As Jeff says below another piece tonight though, he would be a fairly close replacement for Ross Whiteley, although a far better bowler at this stage and a batsman who isn't yet close to his capabilities as a very powerful left-hander, capable of hitting the ball a long way.
At 23 he is the right age but has had a tough summer with niggling injuries. Nor do rumours suggest Kent to be the happiest of ships, so Coles has made it clear that he wants to build a career elsewhere.In comparison, Derbyshire's reputation as a club that looks after its players is growing and that should do them no harm.
The Kent forum suggests that Nottinghamshire are also interested (there's a surprise...) while another says that he wants to play division one cricket, which he may not yet do with either, depending on coming results.
You pays your money and takes your choice, but a fit and firing Matt Coles could bring a lot to Derbyshire, for one thing offering the balance that Ross Whiteley did when he was at his best.
I suspect there's some way to go on this one, but the fact that the club site says we have met with his agent is indicative of planning for next summer and reassurance that the powers that be have their fingers on the pulse in so far as team improvements are concerned.
Yeah, like the idea of this one and can see the rationale quite clearly.
Let's just hope it all comes together in time.
Yes please.
Late piece from me tonight as I was late back from my work team's first fixture, which ended in an exciting tie (four off the last ball) and am still buzzing from it all.
I won't count this as a done deal at this stage though, because a player of his talent is likely to raise interest from elsewhere. As Jeff says below another piece tonight though, he would be a fairly close replacement for Ross Whiteley, although a far better bowler at this stage and a batsman who isn't yet close to his capabilities as a very powerful left-hander, capable of hitting the ball a long way.
At 23 he is the right age but has had a tough summer with niggling injuries. Nor do rumours suggest Kent to be the happiest of ships, so Coles has made it clear that he wants to build a career elsewhere.In comparison, Derbyshire's reputation as a club that looks after its players is growing and that should do them no harm.
The Kent forum suggests that Nottinghamshire are also interested (there's a surprise...) while another says that he wants to play division one cricket, which he may not yet do with either, depending on coming results.
You pays your money and takes your choice, but a fit and firing Matt Coles could bring a lot to Derbyshire, for one thing offering the balance that Ross Whiteley did when he was at his best.
I suspect there's some way to go on this one, but the fact that the club site says we have met with his agent is indicative of planning for next summer and reassurance that the powers that be have their fingers on the pulse in so far as team improvements are concerned.
Yeah, like the idea of this one and can see the rationale quite clearly.
Let's just hope it all comes together in time.
Thursday, 22 August 2013
Derbyshire v Middlesex day 3
If ever a game is set up for a thrilling finale, this is it. Middlesex need what appears a daunting 272 more runs to win, while we need eight wickets on what seems set fair from a weather perspective.
For a third successive day, this was a marvelous effort by Derbyshire. They didn't prevent Middlesex from passing the follow-on target, but they weren't likely to enforce it anyway, with the wicket starting to offer variations in bounce that will be welcome on the last day. That all three seamers had three wickets each speaks volumes for the team approach and ethic that has been evident in the last two matches. The return of the positive, fearless cricket of 2012 is welcome and might just have come at the right time.
Batting wasn't easy and wickets went at regular intervals. The two stands were between Shiv Chanderpaul and Richard Johnson, then Johnson and Alex Hughes. All three contributions in the context of the game were priceless and I am more than happy to confirm that Johnson thoroughly vindicated his selection in the middle order with a an innings of grit and skill. It was a top effort and may just be the innings that wins the match.
There's some work to do before then, though. Robson and Voges are players of the highest class and Morgan, Dexter, Berg and Simpson will fight all the way. The game could go either way, but for Middlesex to win one of those players has to play brilliantly and Derbyshire bowl much worse than they did in the first innings. Disciplined bowling - control of line and length with no freebies from extras - will be key to Derbyshire achieving a second successive win.
We could have lived without a late injury scare for Tim Groenewald, but evening tweets suggest he will be fine tomorrow.
We're off the bottom of the table tonight. Tomorrow we could even - if only fleetingly - be out of the bottom two.
There were long odds on that, two games ago.
For a third successive day, this was a marvelous effort by Derbyshire. They didn't prevent Middlesex from passing the follow-on target, but they weren't likely to enforce it anyway, with the wicket starting to offer variations in bounce that will be welcome on the last day. That all three seamers had three wickets each speaks volumes for the team approach and ethic that has been evident in the last two matches. The return of the positive, fearless cricket of 2012 is welcome and might just have come at the right time.
Batting wasn't easy and wickets went at regular intervals. The two stands were between Shiv Chanderpaul and Richard Johnson, then Johnson and Alex Hughes. All three contributions in the context of the game were priceless and I am more than happy to confirm that Johnson thoroughly vindicated his selection in the middle order with a an innings of grit and skill. It was a top effort and may just be the innings that wins the match.
There's some work to do before then, though. Robson and Voges are players of the highest class and Morgan, Dexter, Berg and Simpson will fight all the way. The game could go either way, but for Middlesex to win one of those players has to play brilliantly and Derbyshire bowl much worse than they did in the first innings. Disciplined bowling - control of line and length with no freebies from extras - will be key to Derbyshire achieving a second successive win.
We could have lived without a late injury scare for Tim Groenewald, but evening tweets suggest he will be fine tomorrow.
We're off the bottom of the table tonight. Tomorrow we could even - if only fleetingly - be out of the bottom two.
There were long odds on that, two games ago.
Comment catch-up
A day off for me today, in lieu of working on Saturday, so a chance to catch up on some recent comments (and follow more closely the goings-on at the County Ground today...)
Tim from Chesterfield doubted that at 29 Wayne Madsen might not get an England Lions call. Maybe not, but there's plenty of recent examples of similar or older call ups. Nick Compton was the same age when he got his full England cap, while Michael Carberry is 33 and is in the recently announced T20 squad. Age isn't and shouldn't be a barrier to selection, as I've said many times that players develop at different paces.
In a similar vein, Marc asked why more players haven't stepped up in a similar way to Wayne Madsen. The simple answer is that they're not as good. That's being honest, rather than cruel, but again I've said a time or two that some players have gone out of their comfort zone this year and for a few the sad truth is that they might never be quite the requisite standard. Others have realised that they need to do more and are slowly but surely improving.
This, of course, means that winter recruitment will have to be canny and, in all likelihood, on a budget. For example, recent innings by Matt Lineker led me to suggest he was prematurely released. I still think he was, as ten innings is hardly enough in which to make an informed decision, especially when he'd already made the leap from league to second eleven in the same season. As you know yourselves, getting a promotion at work brings a challenge that takes some time to adjust to and you don't feel at home in that role for some time. It's not fair to expect sportsmen to do so and make immediate impacts, yet we do and it is an additional pressure.
I think Matt will get another opportunity and I think it more likely to be at Grace Road, although I am sure his form this summer will lead to some discussion behind the scenes. Yet with the progress being shown by the much younger Ben Slater, I think it unlikely we would 'gamble' - which is what it would be - on two unproven players next summer. With Paul Borrington still in the mix, having played some good one-day knocks this summer, we probably need an experienced batsman of proven quality if we are going to go down the route of another opener - assuming we have the money to do so.
We are now starting to see players names being mentioned in the end of season clear out mix though. Steffan Piolet has said that he is likely to be leaving Warwickshire and, perhaps as a precursor to a permanent deal, he has gone to Sussex, from whence he came, on loan. The imbalance in cricketing finances meanwhile reveals itself with the news that Warwickshire have served 28-day notice of a move for both Nick Compton AND Jos Butler. When one considers the strength of their batting now, it opens your eyes a little, though one or two players of talent may not fancy being in their second team for long periods.
Kent are also looking at a clear out, but I don't see wholesale changes at Derbyshire. Given most players are contracted already, the only decisions would appear to be new deals for Footitt and Evans and on whether Slater and Higginbottom should be offered permanent, as opposed to summer contracts.
So what's your thoughts on that, folks?
Tim from Chesterfield doubted that at 29 Wayne Madsen might not get an England Lions call. Maybe not, but there's plenty of recent examples of similar or older call ups. Nick Compton was the same age when he got his full England cap, while Michael Carberry is 33 and is in the recently announced T20 squad. Age isn't and shouldn't be a barrier to selection, as I've said many times that players develop at different paces.
In a similar vein, Marc asked why more players haven't stepped up in a similar way to Wayne Madsen. The simple answer is that they're not as good. That's being honest, rather than cruel, but again I've said a time or two that some players have gone out of their comfort zone this year and for a few the sad truth is that they might never be quite the requisite standard. Others have realised that they need to do more and are slowly but surely improving.
This, of course, means that winter recruitment will have to be canny and, in all likelihood, on a budget. For example, recent innings by Matt Lineker led me to suggest he was prematurely released. I still think he was, as ten innings is hardly enough in which to make an informed decision, especially when he'd already made the leap from league to second eleven in the same season. As you know yourselves, getting a promotion at work brings a challenge that takes some time to adjust to and you don't feel at home in that role for some time. It's not fair to expect sportsmen to do so and make immediate impacts, yet we do and it is an additional pressure.
I think Matt will get another opportunity and I think it more likely to be at Grace Road, although I am sure his form this summer will lead to some discussion behind the scenes. Yet with the progress being shown by the much younger Ben Slater, I think it unlikely we would 'gamble' - which is what it would be - on two unproven players next summer. With Paul Borrington still in the mix, having played some good one-day knocks this summer, we probably need an experienced batsman of proven quality if we are going to go down the route of another opener - assuming we have the money to do so.
We are now starting to see players names being mentioned in the end of season clear out mix though. Steffan Piolet has said that he is likely to be leaving Warwickshire and, perhaps as a precursor to a permanent deal, he has gone to Sussex, from whence he came, on loan. The imbalance in cricketing finances meanwhile reveals itself with the news that Warwickshire have served 28-day notice of a move for both Nick Compton AND Jos Butler. When one considers the strength of their batting now, it opens your eyes a little, though one or two players of talent may not fancy being in their second team for long periods.
Kent are also looking at a clear out, but I don't see wholesale changes at Derbyshire. Given most players are contracted already, the only decisions would appear to be new deals for Footitt and Evans and on whether Slater and Higginbottom should be offered permanent, as opposed to summer contracts.
So what's your thoughts on that, folks?
Terrific effort by Seconds
Another fine performance from the Seconds yesterday as they beat Durham at Middlesborough.
Batting first the Derbyshire top order put together
some solid batting with the top three posting half centuries.
Spinner Ryan Pringle finally claimed the
breakthrough wickets of the two openers Godleman (50, caught and bowled)
and skipper Borrington (51). Chase then took the wicket of Derbyshire top scorer Scott Elstone, bowling him after a cavalier 58 from 35 balls including 9 fours.
Pringle then claimed a third wicket after he dismissed Hopkinson without troubling the scoreboard.
Knight (22no) and Turner (10no) added the final runs to the Derbyshire innings to reach 226-6 off their 40 overs.
The Durham innings got off to a good start with
Clark and Singh putting on 75 for the first wicket before Wainwright
claimed the wicket of Singh for 35 in the 16th over. Clark went four overs later, after making 34
and an over after Pringle was trapped lbw leaving Durham
91-3 just past the half way mark.
The experienced Gordon Muchall (35) and Paul
Coughlin (34) were the hope for Durham as the pair put together a
partnership before Muchall was dismissed in the 34th over and Couglin in the 35th as Durham fell behind the run rate at 182-6.
Unfortunately the tail failed to wag for Durham
with none of the last five in making double figures as Turner (3-39) and
Wainwright (3-43) ripped through the lower order to bowl them out for
203 in the 39th over, 23 runs short of a victory.
Today the two sides began a 3-day match and Durham were dismissed for 208 (Wainwright 4-43) before Derbyshire piled on the runs, finishing on 133-1 with Elstone making a remarkable unbeaten 102 from just 65 balls.
Quite a player, that lad. With useful off-spin to add to the mix, as well as brilliant fielding, he has to be worth a contract for next summer. At 23, time is very much on his side and talent is not in short supply...
Quite a player, that lad. With useful off-spin to add to the mix, as well as brilliant fielding, he has to be worth a contract for next summer. At 23, time is very much on his side and talent is not in short supply...
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