With due respect to all involved, I have never been so disillusioned as I was this year in watching Derbyshire. While there were green shoots of promise and it ended with a win, for the most part it was depressing fare. The early 1970s were bad, but we still had Lawrence Rowe, Venkat, Ward, Hendrick and Taylor, even when results weren't there.
The main problem was a batting line up that struggled all summer. I am discounting the run fest down at Hove in the final match, as the opposition bowling was inexperienced to a man, but too many times the batting collapsed like a pack of cards, leaving our own young attack little to work with.
Billy Godleman looked jaded for much of the summer, endured an awful Blast which did no favours for the coach who kept picking him and returned to an approximation of his best only in the season's closing weeks. I would see him as a wily senior pro next year and hope that a change of captaincy will allow him to focus on his batting in four-day and 50-over cricket.
Luis Reece struggled manfully with injuries to his shoulder and knee, both requiring winter surgery, but his game was badly affected. Only in the Vitality Blast did he show his real class and we must hope that he returns to his best form next year. I would love to see the new Head of Cricket be fair with a move down the order in four-day cricket, as the current work load is colossal and may shorten his career.
Leus du Plooy was another who kept his best for the Vitality Blast. He plays on a different level to most at his peak, but too often this summer lapsed to a level of mediocrity that was hard to fathom. Capable of destroying the best of attacks, his hesitant starts in the longer form were painful to watch and eight ducks show where he needs to improve.
Wayne Madsen missed too much of the season for comfort, after tearing his hamstring at the start of the Blast. His absence stymied any chance of our success in that competition, as even in the later years of his career he remains the side's best player, the wicket most wanted by opponents. He remained a safe slip, though his bowling was rarely seen. Again, we must hope he returns to something closer to his best under a new coach, as the thought of Derbyshire sans Madsen is hard to think about.
Matt Critchley had a terrific season. He started the summer in sparkling form, tailed off mid-season but came back to form to reach his thousand runs in the last match. His bowling, in the time honoured method of leg spin, could be devastating or expensive, but his potential loss this winter would be a huge blow. The appointment of a good coach could yet kick him on to another level, but Critch may see his future elsewhere. I hope not, as his languid style and infectious enthusiasm are a joy to watch.
Tom Wood at last had his chance after years in the wings. A brilliant century against Nottinghamshire in the RLODC showed what he could do, while his belated introduction to the Blast side saw him finish top of the averages. Yet in the longer form he looked ponderous in footwork and loose in defence. Worth a one-day contract, perhaps, but that may not be enough for him and the jury remains out on his four-day future. An average under ten isn't a strong argument.
Harry Came was signed after a couple of second team innings and can certainly hit a ball. The question is whether his propensity to play across his front pad and away from his body will allow him to do it for long enough against good bowlers and red balls. He has two years to show what he can do and if he can temper his aggression with a little more nous might prove a handy player.
Alex Hughes had a tough year, missing matches with injury and seemingly deemed a bloke to run around the outfield at other times. I don't think his being used as a night watchman at Chelmsford did him any favours and was an insult to a player who has batted his best at number three. He remains an early pick in my one - day side and should have been skipper before now. Will there be a new contract? I hope so, but sadly the figures don't stack up this year for a committed and gutsy cricketer.
Anuj Dal was written off by many by the time August arrived, myself included. It is to his great credit that he was the side's most reliable player in the closing weeks, suddenly realising he could both score runs and take wickets at this level. We all know he is a wonderful fielder but if he can carry that form through, we may just have found a good all-rounder in a time of adversity. He is a joy to watch, has a ready smile and an obvious enjoyment of what he does. A new contract seems certain and deservedly so.
Brooke Guest made a positive impression on most. While the weight of runs to fully back the claim wasn't there, he looked an organised player with plenty of time. His century against Leicestershire will do him good, while his wicket keeping was generally tidy and improved with a guaranteed slot. He looks a good bet for a long county career.
Harvey Hosein batted very well in early season and seemed to have sorted his early innings foot movement issue, one that used to see him a prime candidate for lbw. I would prefer to see him up the order a little, as he isn't a player who can cut loose when batting with the tail. I just hope two late season concussions haven't impaired his confidence. Steady, if not spectacular with the gloves, the battle for the wicket - keeper role will be fascinating.
Ben Aitchison finished top of the bowling averages, took the most wickets and deservedly so. He looks set for a long county career, though is a greater force in four-day cricket at this stage. A good work horse, he forms a nice pairing with Sam Conners and they offer considerable potential to the new HOC. He bowls with good rhythm and is also a safe slip fielder, while I suspect the batting could develop too.
Sam Conners is always a threat with a new ball but needs to build himself up so he can stay fit throughout the season. I had the feeling that he was less of a threat in his later spells and will need to prove he can bowl three or four spells a day of equal menace. If he can, he will be a fine bowler, as the basics are all in place. He and Aitchison could be very special together.
Mikey Cohen was also improved, before the latest back injury of his career ended his season early. He might need to modify his action, as he seems to come down hard on his right side, which is likely where he has the problem. If that doesn't make him less effective he is another with long-term potential, because he has genuine pace which was better directed than before.
Dusty Melton was badly affected by injury and will need a big, fit season next year to convince the new HOC of his long term merit. When he does play, his pace and aggression are great to see, but that will need to be seen more often than we have so far. Filling one of the crucial overseas berths, he has to step up on a regular basis. The talent and pace are there to do so.
I like Mattie McKiernan as a player, but I am not convinced he is more than a bits and pieces man at this level. Tidy with bat and ball, excellent in the field, but is that enough? He lacked opportunity, but didn't really grasp the limited ones that he got.
Alex Thomson arrived mid-season and is similar to McKiernan. I am not currently sure if he has what it takes to bowl sides out, while his batting looks useful, but no more than that. He has two years to prove me wrong and I hope he does, because we have long needed a decent off spinner. I am just not sure how much cricket he will get, to be honest and like Harry Came, two years to show what he could do seemed excessive to many supporters.
I don't expect to see George Scrimshaw again in our colours. He had some good Vitality Blast matches, but turned down a deal in favour of one elsewhere. Good luck to him, but Derbyshire gave him a chance to get back into county cricket and one would hope that counted for something.
Fynn Hudson-Prentice will be missed and made a big impression on supporters. Very much an impact player and capable of impressing with bat and ball, he was the sort of player we really need to retain to progress. I wish a whole-hearted player and lovely lad the very best.
Overseas players? I might as well put them together as they barely featured. Billy Stanlake was a huge mistake, an accident waiting to happen, while Ben McDermott didn't look to have the technique for wickets that do anything. Dusty Melton barely played, while Logan van Beek took wickets but was simply too expensive in the Blast. Ravi Rampaul returned for the RLODC but looked to be past his best days.
The failure of those selections was a major contribution to the departure of Dave Houghton. Good overseas input can mask deficiencies elsewhere, but we had next to none this year.
The Head of Cricket made poor and questionable selections, showed limited ability to motivate and frustrated supporters with anodyne post match comments which blamed all but Uncle Tom Cobbly.
After all, he recruited most of the players he was slating. He insulted Alex Hughes at Chelmsford and Harvey Hosein to a members forum. As Head of Cricket it was his job to know what the issue was with a batting line up that never functioned, his comments of 'I can't put my finger on it' being of no value to anyone and rather an embarrassment.
Furthermore, he released Tony Palladino. There was one more summer at least in the loyal seamer, whose input on challenging days would have made a difference. Look around the circuit to the clubs that had that experienced bowler and the difference that it made.
Like every other supporter, I am aware of the financial challenges at the county. That means that recruitment has to be especially canny and with a handful of exceptions, his wasn't. It also means that you work with and strive to get the best from what you have - and he didn't.
His replacement is worth waiting for and spending money on. We previously took an easy option and appointed a man 'on the doorstep' who wouldn't cost relocation expenses and could start immediately.
We cannot do that again.
Whoever comes through the recruitment process this time has to come through a robust and thorough one that finds the best man for the job. I have said before that the dream appointment would be Grant Bradburn, who has made his reputation on developing players and teams where money was an issue. Mark Alleyne would be another good option, a strong strategist like Bradburn and also capable of getting the best from people.
2022 can be better, even if we don't have much money to spend. That Dave Houghton was bizarrely allowed to recruit for the year still puzzles me.
There are good players at the club who the right coach could mould into a competitive team. But in my message to the board, PLEASE don't pick a guy who used to play for Derbyshire simply because you know them.
If he turns out to be the best option, so be it, but let's be ambitious, brave and innovative in our appointment.
2021 was a summer to forget.
2022 can be one when the club starts to rise again.
