Farewell Sads

So John Sadler has become the latest to leave Derbyshire as John Morris reshapes his staff for 2011. I suggested that this should happen earlier in the week but claim neither credit nor pleasure in his departure. Sadler is a nice bloke who, for a variety of reasons, never translated his talent into weight of runs. There were cameos in the T20, but when finances are tight a player needs more than brisk thirties to earn a reputation. Unless you’re Keiron Pollard of course…

That Sadler has followed Lee Goddard out of the door suggests a couple of things to me. One is that John Morris has the backing of the committee to carry on with his reshaping of the club, something that I hope will mean the ‘cyber bullies’ shut up and let him get on with it. The other is that he is looking to reshape the coaching staff, as well as the playing side. Again, I suggested that this might/should happen as we have a missing link between the Academy and First Eleven that requires, at the very least, a coach and preferably a player/coach. I still think this might be a role for Steffan Jones, leaving him available for one-day matches.

I never understood the concept of Sadler opening for the seconds or going in at number three. I know he was on call for first team duty, but a captain at that level, unless it is a young talent being given experience in the role, should be batting down the order, as Alan Hill used to do. While runs they score could make a game competitive, surely the focus of such games is greater experience for youngsters? I’d sooner see a triallist, an Academy player or someone like Siddique or Slater batting at the top of the innings, even if they fail. Sooner or later they’ll either get better or you’ll realise, perhaps more quickly, that they’re not up to the required standard.

Over the coming weeks there will be a number of players released around the country and I fully expect the message boards to be awash with comments suggesting that player X is just the man we need. We need to keep in mind the fact that for any big name, Derbyshire has neither the resources nor the immediate prospects of success to be attractive. Everyone is aware that we could do with a couple of seam bowlers, a batsman, an all-rounder, a spinner and a wicket-keeper. We’re not, however, going to sort that by signing Plunkett, Onions, Shah, Allenby, Croft and Sutton, gratifying as it would be.

Players of that calibre cost serious money and signing them would mean we carried a staff of thirteen next season, all we could afford. At this stage we don’t know who else will be released and until we do can only guess at areas John Morris wants, and more crucially is able to strengthen.

It appears that Graham Wagg is going and that Chris Rogers may be. Robin Peterson is unlikely to qualify as a Kolpak as it will be over two years since his last international appearance, while Greg Smith is supposedly a target for another county. We may see a seamer, maybe two leave, but that depends on different factors, not the least if there are people out there who are better, younger and fitter, available and prepared to come for what we have to offer.

It’s a far from easy job, but I’ll give you a suggestion and – who knows – maybe boost book sales at the same time. Have a look at the ‘Cricketers’ Who’s Who’ for this year. A number of entries have detail of players and when they signed contracts, highlighting that they’re up this year. There’s a few in there would be an improvement and would, I’d guess, be affordable. No names, no setting hares across a park, but interesting.

Twelve quid from Amazon, if you’re interested…

As for today’s game, it followed pretty much the same pattern as the rest of it, with a little resistance but nothing to get excited about. There was an air of inevitability about the end of it and the only thing I can find to say that is at all positive is that it must be easier to bat against our bowling than theirs. I wish we had anything approaching four international bowlers in our attack...

In closing, the only other thing I would say is that we will retain memory, or more accurately nightmares about this game for some time to come. It has probably engraved two words as a nadir of our fortunes on the minds of all Derbyshire fans.

Remember Horsham.