At 80-3 Derbyshire are rebuilding after early disasters but still face an uphill task to take this game into a final day.
I know a few people who have had bad weekends in London but this has been pretty poor thus far. I have to say it gives me no pleasure to see my earlier expressed fears about Madsen and Guptill confirmed. I'd have loved to see them put on 150 to make me eat my words but it doesn't really look like happening for either at present in four-day cricket.
For what its worth, I'm getting to the point where bringing in both Lineker and Borrington to open, giving them valuable experience, begins to look a good idea. Madsen will come again, but maybe Guptill should play the CB40 matches and let two young players with a potential role in our long term future open for the rest of the season? Lineker scored 142 for Ockbrook yesterday, adding to his recent run glut.
Certainly it can be little fun for the genial Guptill to look at averages where only our number eleven is lower than him. Maybe he relishes the challenge of improving, and there's obvious awkwardness in omitting your overseas player, but surely there comes a point where that is in everyone interests? If we lose this, as looks likely, promotion is surely something for another year - which realistically it was always likely to be.
I'd welcome your comments, as always.
You beat me to it Peakfan! (see comment under Middlesex day 2 post.
ReplyDeleteOnce more the problem with the batting is the top order being fragile. Wayne Madsen is a fantastic player, but its time for him to go away have a break and score some runs.
ReplyDeleteGuptill's position is also in doubt and he's hanging on on reputation rather than form.
Do we know if Knight will be back for our next cc match, and if Redfern will be fit? And is it time to give Poynton a go, if Sutton wasn't captain he'd have probably been dropped by now.
Our batting fragility has been evident for some time. I suggested a couple of weeks ago that Madsen should be dropped. Guptill can now be added to that list.
ReplyDeleteOur insistence on playing people who are clearly failing to produce the goods has cost us dearly. Guptill may be the overseas player,but he has largely been a failure. Two or three decent one day performances is well short of what might reasonably be expected.
With the possible exception of Durston and the emerging Whiteley,most of our batsmen have failed to show any consistency. A sizeable innings has too often been followed by a succession of low scores. Equally annoying is when batsmen have got themselves in and a few runs on the board,they proceed to throw their wickets away,when a substatial scores should,in most cases,be the outcome. Times many we see batsmen getting to 30 or 40 and then fail to go on and inflict real damage,having apparently done what should have been the hard work.
Hughes and Smith are particularly guilty of this apparent lack of concentration. In the formers case,he,s still young and learning and has proved before he has got the mental capacity to make big scores. With Hughes i thinks he,s suffering a bit of second season blues. Most will know by now i don,t rate Smith as anything more than an average bowler and a late middle order batsman. For me,if anybody want,s him,they can have him. I don,t think he would take much replacing anyway.
It was disappointing to see Turner disappearing over the horizon again. I can only conclude the last game he played and bowled well was a fluke. Five to six runs per over has,unfortunatly,been the norm for him this season. He,s just too expensive and unless he improves very quickly,we simply cannot afford to play him.
It,s now time for some major changes. Let,s have a look at some of the younger players and give them a chance. We have persevered too long with some of the senior players. They have had their chance,now it,s time for the others.
Madsen: Excellent player, not performing at moment, in need of a rest.
ReplyDeleteGuptill: Poor, to put it kindly.
Hughes: Fantastic potential, lacks that bit of consistency but having a good season.
Durston: Good and relatively consistent contributor.
Smith: Talented player but his heart doesn't seem to lie with Derbyshire.
Whiteley: Fantastic at the moment, can he keep it up?
Sutton: Solid but not spectacular and probably only keeping Poynton out of side as he's captain.
Clare: Great talent, and good to see him fit and firing.
Groeneweld: Excellent player, good that he's signed new deal.
Palladino: A revelation this year.
Turner: Erratic, expensive and at times a liability. Talents there, but uncovering it is a mystery.
The others
Redfern: Most consistent batsmen this season, being missed sorely at the moment.
Borrington: Maybe next year will be his chance to break through, like to see him get a game this year.
Lineker: Deserves a chance.
Knight: Super talent
Burgoyne: Real Promise
Poynton: Give im a go
Needham: Who knows?
Can,t argue with that Washy. You,ve got it spot on.
ReplyDelete