The more cynical among our support might well have expected Derbyshire to lose today. After all, most important matches in the last couple of seasons have gone the way of the opposition as Derbyshire have either frozen, played below par or been pretty dreadful. Quite often the latter.
We lost today, but there was encouragement in the performance. Peter Burgoyne bowled a good spell at the death, while Tom Poynton played a lovely innings that hinted at things to come. With respect to a range of incumbents over the past couple of years, Derbyshire have struggled to replace James Pipe's pugnacious batting. Poynton, following on from a series of aggressive innings for the second string, may just be the man to do it.
While the bowlers did well to pull Middlesex back to "just" 253, the feeling remained that any challenge was going to require a Guptill special. Once that failed to materialise, there was to some extent an air of inevitability about proceedings. Having said that, it was good to once again see the side battle, with both Chesney Hughes and Wayne Madsen making runs and playing themselves back into the reckoning for Chelmsford this week in the process.
By the same token, Greg Smith departed for a second ball duck and must now be marginally behind me in the list of those likely to play Essex. Whatever is going on behind the scenes with Smith's contract and future career, he is simply not performing for Derbyshire just now and would not be in my first choice side.
I've had a change of mind about the composition of that side and would probably bring in some more experience. Given that Matt Lineker has outperformed Paul Borrington at Second Eleven level, he would get my nod in this team:
Guptill
Lineker
Hughes/Madsen
Durston
Redfern
Whiteley
Clare
Sutton/Poynton
Groenewald
Palladino
Turner
There may be a need for a specialist spinner, presumably Knight, which would be another big decision for Karl Krikken. Peter Burgoyne did well with the ball on debut today, but his time will come and he is not yet ready for senior action on a regular basis at 17. Conversely, Mark Footitt bowled two dreadful overs today and the jury is still out on the left armer. That he has talent and pace is undeniable, but producing it once or twice a season is neither here nor there.
After the disappointments of Chesterfield week, I just hope that the team can pull together for one last effort at Chelmsford and ensure that our Championship finish befits a season in which we have played some pretty good cricket.
We'll see.
Derbyshire 1st XI Batting Statistics since 1st July 2011
ReplyDeleteNOT INCLUDING TODAY
Wayne Madsen
CC: 4, 0, 0, 48, 0, 2, 10, 1, = 65 @ 8.13
CB40: 1, 20, 45, 28, = 94 @ 23.5
T20: 14, 10, 12, 30, 1, 29, = 96 @ 16
Chesney Hughes
CC: 38, 167, 7, 10, 9, 44, 0, 5, 14, 20, = 314 @ 31.4
CB40: 33, 7, 4, 38, = 82 @ 20.5
T20: 4, 16, 18, 5, 2, = 45 @ 9
Wes Durston:
CC: 13, 2, 8, 62, 61, 8, 151, 14, 18, 26, = 363 @ 36.3
CB40: 0, 45, 39, 20, = 104 @ 26
T20: 1, 5, 64, 1, 0, 10, = 81 @ 13.5
Greg Smith:
CC: 3, 38, 10, 57*, 57, 45, 0, 14*, 10, 6, = 240 @ 30
CB40: 68, 16, 11, 1, = 96 @ 24
T20: 1, 36, 0, 3, = 40 @ 10
Dan Redfern:
CC: 99, 63, 21, 58, = 241 @ 60.25
Martin Guptill:
CC: 1, 15, 7, 20, 0, 4, 143, 66*, 55, 46, = 357 @ 39.66
CB40: 102, 9, 64, 103*, = 278 @ 69.5
T20: 79, 8, 38, 7, 37, 46, =215 @ 35.83
Ross Whiteley:
CC: 8, 26, 103, 52*, 56, 41, 11, 0, 23, = 320 @ 40
CB40: 16, 9, 1, 31*, = 57 @ 19
T20: 40*, 14, 15*, 29, 39*, 12, = 137 @ 45.66
Luke Sutton:
CC: 0, 45, 26, 16, 27, 3, 17, 14, = 148 @ 18.5
CB40: 1, 16*, = 17 @ 8.5
T20: 0, 1, = 1 @ 0.5
Jonathon Clare:
CC: 130, 29*, 82, 22, 37, 34, 13, 50* = 397 @ 66.16
CB40: 0, 0, = 0 @ 0
T20: 1*, 15, 5, 0, = 21 @ 7
Tom Poynton:
CB40: 1, = 1 @ 1
Garry Park
CB40: 0, 25, = 25 @ 12.5
T20: 22, 0, 14, 5, 50*, = 91 @ 22.75
Dont be silly peakfan smith is not marginally behind you for the chelmsford game he is a country mile behind you!
ReplyDeleteFalcon_Ram
The turning point today came when Madsen dropped Stirling on 52. It was an absolute dolly and we paid a heavy price. Had that been taken i think Middlesex would have struggled to get much above 200.He put one down against Yorkshire that was only marginally more difficult. By contrast,Middlesex fielded excellently and held some good catches. The old saying certainly applied today.
ReplyDeleteOn the plus side,Burgoyne and Knight bowled quite well as did Palladino. Young Poynton kept very tidily and looked like he knows how to use a bat. Plenty of promise from these three.They certainly didn,t let us down in any way,shape or form.
Guptill,s departure was a big blow but Hughes batted very well and played some nice shots. Madsen is too slow and whilst it wasn,t such a problem with Hughes at the crease, when the baton came his way he was unable to accelerate. It might sound a bit harsh on someone who scored 50,but four boundaries in 56 balls is not enough when chasing a large total.It was a scratchy innings that did little to suggest his troubles may be behind him. Hughes has more of a case for future selection and on today,s evidence should probably play at Chelmsford.
We should have learned from last week that Footitt is a liability in this form of cricket. Why he took Durston off to put him on in the first place was inexplicable. We had plenty of bowlers without Footitt and would have been much better served with an additional batsman,such as Redfern.
Then we come to the hopeless Smith. It,s a brave man who would even consider him a bowler these days,but his batting is beyond a joke. Talking of jokes,a bloke near me shouted "One lump or two Smith",when he came out to bat. Poor bloke never even had chance to switch the kettle on. I can only assume Smith,s agent is a Derbyshire fan and we should all be grateful for that.
A disappointing week really,but at least some signs of young players ready to be given their chance.
would agree with much Marc although i thought Wayne was doing ok - we basically ran out of wickets. agree re Middlesex fielding and the catches to get Chesney and Wayne were stunning. Enjoyed the week though and some good cricket - at a loss as to why we dont play more there as another good crowd today including some noisy Panthers fans.
ReplyDeleteCreweblade.
Excellent comments guys - thanks to all of you!
ReplyDeleteGood weeks cricket, did well off the field, Must Say it was our Past Chairman Mr Amott, who got us back to Chesterfield and last year, said that one weeks cricket was enough, he was proved right,,
ReplyDeleteThank you Don
A great weeks cricket in Queens Park. Good crowds and according to Durston the players love playing there. Surely, there must be more than 6 days squeezed in at the end of the season at Chesterfield next season.
ReplyDeleteTo play the Yorkshire in the 20/20 any where else other than Chesterfield is a no brainer! Hopefully we can play Yorkshire there in the Championship too!
Ben
Have to agree about Chesterfield. It costs me more to go there than Derby but it,s second to none as a ground. Ive never cared much for Derby,it,s still a racecourse to me and no amount of spending will change that. Two festival weeks would be ok by me. The wicket at Chesterfield is also much better than Derby. Just a pity we didn,t do it more justice.
ReplyDeleteGood to see some of the young lads getting a chance today, but disappointing that Lineker or Borrington still haven't been given a crack. Surely this week one or both has to get a game. To my knowledge Lineker was only given a one year deal so it points to him not being retained as they haven't seen how he can cope with the step up. Slightly different with Borrington, as he's been given the 3 year deal and will probably start as opener next season.
ReplyDeleteOne interesting point is that the 5 of the players playing today represent clubs in division one of the county league and not the much vaunted feeder Premier League. Those being Knight, Poynton, Whiteley (Swarkestone), Burgoyne (Denby) and Footit (Stainsby). Whereas the lads playing Premier cricket (Lineker, Borrington, Needham) keep missing out.
Here's hoping for a win this week, would be sad see the team slide down both tables in the closing games after a largely decent season.
By the way Peakfan,what,s happened to Jones. Is he still at the club and if so why is he no longer considered for selection?.
ReplyDeleteAgain good comments! Msrc, Steff had a minor injury but since then has not played to give others a chance I suppose. By the same token, should Smith be playing? Unless he's not going after all...
ReplyDeleteBob
ReplyDeleteI wont be happy if Lineker is released at the end of the season, how can they judge if he cant handle the step up if they don't play him?
Its sending the wrong signal to me, score runs in the 2s and you still wont get picked for the first XI even though we have out of form players.
He,ll be going if i have to drive him down south myself. I doubt if even his own mother would offer him a contract.
ReplyDeleteAccording to reports Dominic Cork may be leaving Hampshire! If this is true then Mr. Grant needs to get in fast and secure Cork as our new Head of Cricket with Karl Krikken continuing as Head Coach. That sounds good to me!
ReplyDeleteBen
Two more points Peakfan;
ReplyDeleteLineker has to play tomorrow and we must have more matches at Queens Park next season. If money is the problem there then what are the club doing to seek sponsorship from companies in and around Chesterfield?
Ben
Not sure i agree with that anon. Support at Chesterfield has always been very strong. Many,s the time at Derby you can count the crowd (i use that term loosly) in about ten minutes. Two weeks cricket say in May and August would easily pay it,s way. Surely one could counter by saying there is too much cricket at Derby. I know where i prefer to watch it.
ReplyDelete