I've enjoyed the series of interviews on the club site with Kim Barnett.
Say what you like about Kim, he knows the game and appears to be as passionate about Derbyshire success as he was in his playing days.
Nor is he anyone's fool, so when he says 'I am expecting an improvement in results next season' there must be good reason for him to do so. I'd suggest that our winter target is not merely the type of player released by another county, but one or two who are considerably better than that.
'We also need to make sure that our batsmen will be able to cope with the
type of pitches that we will be asking our ground staff to prepare in
order to win four-day matches. There is a lot to do during the winter in
general'. said Barnett.
Sounds to me like a spinner is on his way, or very much in their sights. Derby wickets have seamed enough over the years for playing on them to be de rigeur for the players, so one can only assume that there will be a sea change down Derby way.
The club Director of Cricket continued: 'I think we are close to getting some of the players and skills that we need to add to this squad.
Those skills have been selected specifically to enhance what we have
and not to have a detrimental effect on the development of our younger
players. Everyone will say that we have been short of at least a bowler in
four-day cricket so that is what we have been looking for.'
Well, we don't have a quality spinner, nor a strike bowler, as plenty of correspondents on here in recent months will vouch for. Nor do we yet, despite the strong claims of Alex Hughes and Luis Reece, have an obvious and nailed on number three. I'm not sure if these are the same staffing shortfalls that Kim has identified, but I'm keeping my eyes peeled, as it would appear that some sort of announcement may be forthcoming sooner, rather than later.
The big comment to catch my eye? 'We are also looking at specific skills to bring from overseas to enhance what we have got.'
Does that refer to the overseas star, or is it a reference to our shopping in that market for a Kolpak too?
I don't know, but it makes for exciting stuff.
Which is nice, I am sure you will agree.
I am glad you have picked out and noticed all of the interesting bits of the article that I also spotted when reading.
ReplyDeleteIf you combine this talk with the interview Barnett did with Ed Dawes on Radio Derby, it probably adds some more evidence to your argument - when asked about Parkinson leaving, Barnett included in his reply that Callum may not have liked some of the plans that were being put into place and worked on by the Club.
If you haven't listened to it Peakfan I can try to find you the link to it. It's a good 12 minute interview.
Fingers crossed for a no. 3, and two decent bowlers signing soon then!! :)
Gareth
I'm less sure of the number three Gareth because with five batting places (and assuming we have Hosein and Thakor at 6/7) we have Billy, Ben, Alex, Luis, Wayne,Gary and Neil...possibly Tom Wood too for 5 places. Thats three good players already outside the eleven though you would never turn down a proven bat if you could identify and afford him, of course!
ReplyDeleteSorry..did catch that interview but thanks for the offer Gareth!
Deletehttp://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p049ty4n
Delete7 minutes in is where ED first asks about Parkinson and then 8.48 minutes onwards is the bit I was referring to where they say Parkinson may have got wind of a different strategy.
Gareth
I'm less sure of the number three Gareth because with five batting places (and assuming we have Hosein and Thakor at 6/7) we have Billy, Ben, Alex, Luis, Wayne,Gary and Neil...possibly Tom Wood too for 5 places. Thats three good players already outside the eleven though you would never turn down a proven bat if you could identify and afford him, of course!
ReplyDeleteI agree. It's the position I hope we fill but the one I am least confident about having the financial resources for.
DeleteJust based on the interviews so far, I am not sure if Harvey is going to start as first choice WK. His late season form has certainly helped his case, maybe just me reading too much into it.
From Barnett's interesting interviews I read that we are trying to sign at least 3 players (not counting the T20 lot).
My current, wildest hopes XI within the Derbyshire budget:
OP - B.Godleman
OP - B.Slater / L.Reece
MD - **New established signing**
MD - W.Madsen
MD - N.Broom
WK - G.Wilson
AR - S.Thakor
BW - **New strike bowler signing**
BW - **New spinner**
BW - A.Palladino
BW - W.Davis
Gareth
They were slow, low rubbish this year, maybe we are going back to pace and bounce.
DeleteHarvey averaged over 100 in the county championship, surely he would start as wicket keeper or batsman , I can see both wicket keepers playing in a number of the matches.
ReplyDeleteThink we should be looking for at least 2 quicks/pacemen as you need to rotate them a bit and if we just get one and then he breaks down ,we are pretty much back to square one again.
I still think letting Chesney go was a mistake (as we now seem to be short of a number 3) , but I have no idea , how much he wanted etc, so it might have been inevitable.
I think more pace in the wicket would be enjoyed by bowlers and batsmen alike, Knack.
ReplyDeleteAnd by supporters as a consequence...
I will be amazed and annoyed if Harvey doesn't start as first choice keeper in the championship. Broom will need to earn a place in the team and would not be in my first choice XI Wilson can play as a batsman. I suspect Wilson will keep in the one dayers particularly t20 which will give Harvey a break.
ReplyDeleteI'll throw a name into the mx - Cameron White - still only 33' never going to play for Australia again so available for a full seat and still churning out the runs. Natural leader and experience of English conditions...granted would like to see a top class spinner or fast bowler but are like hens teeth in terms of availability for a full season
ReplyDeleteVery fine player Stevie and can only assume has hasnt spent more time here because he didnt want to.
ReplyDeleteHe has long since been out of national side reckoning. There was a time I would have said yes without question, but unless he played on a UK passport, or we were signing 2 Kolpak bowlers, I think we have greater needs now.
A jobshare overseas spinner/seamer or combo is where I think we will go.
We HAVE to.
Very fine player Stevie and can only assume has hasnt spent more time here because he didnt want to.
ReplyDeleteHe has long since been out of national side reckoning. There was a time I would have said yes without question, but unless he played on a UK passport, or we were signing 2 Kolpak bowlers, I think we have greater needs now.
A jobshare overseas spinner/seamer or combo is where I think we will go.
We HAVE to.