Monday musings

There was an extraordinary innings by Loots Bosman for the Dolphins in the MTN40 competition in South Africa yesterday.


Bosman scored 150 from 86 balls before being first man out in the 31st over with the score on 253. His innings included 12 fours and 9 sixes against an attack that included Makhaya Ntini and Nick Boje. It must have been something special, and Loots has been in impressive touch this winter – which is all down to us of course…

Despite such an onslaught, his side ‘only’ ended up with 311 and won the match by just 22 runs after a spirited reply by the Warriors.

It is just a pity that we didn’t see more of Loots in that vein at Derbyshire. His opening knock at Headingley was spectacular, but a knee injury hampered him latterly and the pitches at Derby were far from conducive to someone trying to hit through the ball with any confidence. In some ways it mirrored our signing of Shahid Afridi. The latter had a terrific spell at Leicestershire before we signed him but profited with bat and ball on the mid/late summer pitches. We then picked him up for April and May, when he looked as comfortable as a balloon man on a bed of nails. The Afridi experiment never looked likely to work, though Bosman’s average (29) was far from a disgrace. It just didn’t live up to our expectations, nor requirements.

Changing tack, I was interested to read the Derby Telegraph’s report of Chris Grant joining the committee.
“I hope to be able to assist in the club's development, on and off the field, in any way I can" were the words used. This might suggest that he is prepared to support bringing in the right players financially. I still don’t think that the advent of Mr Grant will see us signing overpriced players for the sake of it, but his input may make the difference between signing an up and coming overseas player and an established name.

Of course, the other way of reading that statement is that he’s now part of the committee and will support the Head of Cricket like any committee man worth his salt would do. We’ll just have to wait and see what happens.

Speaking of the committee, there have been comments on IMWT about the people on it and that it needs ‘shaken up.’ I’m not sure why, to be honest, as I’m unaware of any shortcomings in that area. I’ve been a committee man for years in both cricket and hockey clubs and the reality is that most people think they can do it better than the current incumbents but very few actually want to. Over the years I have experienced such ‘delights’ as delivering leaflets door to door for gala days, bar and DJ duties at events and lining pitches, many done when there were no other takers outside the committee. I’m not sure who has what responsibilities in the existing setup at Derbyshire, but the tasks are probably the sort that don’t get noticed until no one does them.

I once had an encounter with a talented young player who made his usual 50 then berated a lesser talent for dropping a catch, the latter having made his usual negligible contribution to the batting.

“Why’s that useless blank playing?” he yelled at anyone prepared to listen, before I took him to one side and explained, politely but firmly, that if it wasn’t for that ‘useless blank’ we would have neither the fixture, which he’d arranged, nor the pitch, which he’d prepared. Truth be told, I continued, given the choice between the ‘useless blank’ and a youngster of talent but little consideration for others I would back the former every time. Without the latter we would have been a lesser side; without the former we would not have had a club.

I’m not sure of the motivation in such criticism. First the players, then the Head of Cricket and finally the committee. It’s as if we must have some blood-letting somewhere to satisfy a latent blood-lust. I’ve heard the story that is being alluded to on IMWT, but cannot account for its veracity nor do I intend to. It needs to be remembered, however, that while a shake-up can sometimes be productive, it can also make things go horribly wrong. Look how Somerset fans demanded change after a poor season, and ended up losing Joel Garner, Viv Richards and Ian Botham.

Both 606 and IMWT refer to a player who has an impressive record of wickets for Little Stoke Cricket Club in the last couple of seasons. Various contributors suggest he would be a good signing, but perhaps fail to take into account the fact that the player, who is 21, may not want to play professional cricket, much as Matt Lineker didn’t want to for several seasons. If he has a decent job, the chances are that it would be more rewarding than a county deal at that age or in the long term. League cricket across the country is littered with talented players who choose to play recreational, as opposed to professional cricket for that very reason.

To suggest Derbyshire are unaware of him, or are slow in acting, is unfair, especially when his club are one of only two Staffordshire League clubs to get Pro Coach Sponsorship. This sees current and former first-class players visit the club to coach, a scheme that includes the like of Graeme Welch and Steve Stubbings. If there was anything really special about the lad, surely they would have alerted the club, even if he wasn’t already on the radar? According to the local press in that area, he is a medium pace bowler, not the fast bowler being portrayed in some quarters. Nothing wrong with being a bit slower, but we might as well be as accurate as he obviously is…

It also needs to be remembered that finances are tight, we have a number of seam bowlers already on the staff and that even a summer contract would cost money we may not have. Nor am I sure about the standard in that league, which could also be a factor. Maybe he’s a big fish who enjoys being in a smaller pond? Again, I played cricket against a chap who averaged 70 every season but didn’t want to step up in standard ‘because I enjoy averaging 70.’

Good luck to the guy, I could see his point. Our club gained promotion three seasons running a few years back and went from involvement in competitive matches that were fun to something quite unpleasant. Batting became less a case of scoring runs than escaping with life and limbs intact, sledging was de rigeur and it became increasingly difficult to get an eleven. In short, the fun went out of it.

Finally tonight, have you noticed how slowly things are happening around the country regarding signings? I think this is indicative of the tight finances around the game. There are a lot of players out of contract who will all, understandably, be getting touted around the clubs by agents looking for the best deal for their clients. The clubs will, if at all interested, be holding off for more sensible terms as time passes. While Laurie Evans has now joined Warwickshire, I would see this as a ‘plan B’ in case Younis Khan pulls out of his contract with them to play for Pakistan again.

Until the next time. Thanks for dropping in.