Sorry about the absence of a blog yesterday, but the combination of my son's birthday and being offered (and accepting) a new job combined to take up most of my time. As days go, yesterday was up there with the best of them.
Tonight Derbyshire must show that if they want to be up there with the best they can cut it when it matters. In any game of cricket there are key moments and how your side does at those times largely dictates results. When we played and beat Yorkshire in the Pro 40 earlier in the season we batted well, bowled sensibly and were brilliant in the field. Only by doing that can we expect to win matches. Two out of three ain't bad, to quote Meatloaf, but what he omitted to say is that you win very few cricket matches unless you do well in all of them.
No news as yet of the teams, although Yorkshire have announced that Tim Bresnan is unfit - bad news for them, good for us. Azeem Rafiq should play against us and they have some talented players. Having said that, so do we. I don't see any changes in the batting, as they have all done well and apart from a blip against Worcestershire can't really be faulted. What we need is the bowlers to step up to the mark again. There may well be consideration over whether Jon Clare stays in the side or is perhaps replaced by Tony Palladino, but I don't see many other changes.
We need a win here. Things are still tight and top four places are there for anyone to take, but if we lose this one and then go down to Warwickshire I will be prepared to announce the end of our T20 interest this season.
I hope that's not necessary though.
Congrats on your job Peakfan, are you our new bowling coach? (assuming Steff leaves)
ReplyDeleteLOL!
ReplyDeleteYes congratulations Peakfan!!!
ReplyDeleteA couple of quick questions:
1) Why did Derbyshire sign Matt Lineker for him not to play for the 1st team once as of yet, and how much do we guess he's being paid?
2) What's happened to Redfern at the moment? He can't get in the T20 reason for some reason and doesn't seem to be playing for the 2nds or club cricket at all. Is he injured, or some other reason? If not it seems stupid as any form he had will be evaporating away.
3) Who'll replace Smith for the next CC match if he's injured still, Borrington, Whiteley, Poynton, Lineker?
Cheers Washy!
ReplyDeleteAnswers to questions:
1 Lineker is on a summer deal, so not that much
2 Redfern is in the 2s in the game just finished. He's not really going to get in that top five in T20 just now
3 Whiteley for me. I rate the lad and he gives the all round balance. Bozza could play and Madsen drop to five, but Ross would be my pick.
Cheers mate!
Dan Redfearn is also carrying a knee injury at the moment.
ReplyDeleteNatwest 81
Well, after all I've said about the bowlers since the t20 started, it sounds as though they stepped up and did the job tonight. The churlish would say "if they can do it once, why can't they do it all of the time". Of course, the answer is that great teams tend to be those that do the right things most of the time, rather than great things some of the time. I don't think they can do this again on Friday, but I'm willing to be proved wrong.
ReplyDeleteHowever, not wishing to finish on too positive a note, was Charles Collins on Valium tonight or just more disinterested than usual? Apart from bringing his sure analytical insight - failing to identify the perpetrator of a Derbyshire dropped catch as he continued his interminable explanation to Roger in Colombia / Canada about the derivation of "thank your mother for the onions" - his monotone drawl drained any life or spirit from the occasion. If you can, contrast this with Radio Nottingham a few miles down the road, with two lively commentators and Paul Johnson (the Notts batting coach) providing some of the most incisive and insightful appraisals of the game on radio. And some of the best jokes - asked how Alex Hales was recovering from his broken jaw, he said" It didn't really bother him - he hasn't got much else between his ears to damage".
We probably can't do anything about BBC Derby's determination to use Collins, but surely the club could provide him with some company to enliven his tedious nonsense? He makes a shocking shop window for Derbyshire cricket, assuming anyone thinking about going to a t20 match ever listens to AM or online.
Radio Derby desperately need a commentator who knows the game and is able to give worthwhile and incisive comment, but I doubt they'll bother. I know they won the Radio Station of the year award, but I bet the judges never heard Charles Collins in their entry...
ReplyDeleteI used to think Ian Hall was as bad as you could get,but i was wrong there. All foreign commentators are crap for starters,especially aussies. There must be someone out there,surely.
ReplyDeleteOnly just noticed these comments. I'm a fan of Derbys who can't often get to games nowdays and I think CC does a great job.
ReplyDeleteWorth bearing in mind he suffers from serious medical probs, maybe the night he sounded monotone he wasn't well.
If you remember when he first started, CC was much more animated but apparently a few old codgers complained to the management about his use of nicknames etc and he must've been told to tone it down. Just proves some people will moan about anything!
Radio Derby should provide co-commentators, not DCCC. They pay 3 people to do a 90 min football match!
Anyone on their own can sound dull. CC is preferable to Dave "Mr Personality" Jepson any day. Hopefully they'll review that next year but I really hope CC continues.