After writing around a week ago that Luis Reece was the one released player who I would take a punt on at the club, today's announcement that he has signed a two-year deal comes as a very pleasant and welcome surprise.
What's not to like? Here is a young cricketer in his mid-twenties, who has proven ability to open the batting or bat high in the order, as well as offering more than useful variety with left arm seam. As I have written before, his cameo when opening with Alviro Petersen in this year's T20 Blast convinced me that he was a player of talent, just as he suggested with an average north of 50 in 2013.
He had earlier played alongside Ben Slater for Leeds/Bradford MCCU and made headlines by taking 7-21 for them against Sussex. His bowling had struggled in the past two seasons, however, a knee injury holding him back.
Perhaps his trial at Derbyshire in late summer was as much to prove his fitness for bowling as anything else and he took four cheap wickets in the first innings, quite likely sealing the deal in the process.
Reece is a long way from the finished article as a cricketer. If he was, Lancashire wouldn't have let him go, but Derbyshire have obviously seen something in him that suggested he is worth two years on the staff, at the very least.
The rest is very much down to the player. First, to fight for a place in the first team amid a talented group of young players, then to develop his game with the assistance of the senior cricketers and coaches with who he will be working.
If he comes off, he will be well worth watching.
A good cricketer, a shrewd signing. Not one of the established players of proven credentials we are all expecting in due course, but one with the potential to do some very good things in Derbyshire colours.
Gets my vote, for sure.
As commented before I think the Reece signing isn't a signing to enliven the winter recruitment spirits. But hopefully turns out to be solid.
ReplyDeleteI see Reece as a replacement for Chesney. But one who is a little older, with a little worse batting average and a little more injury prone.
His bowling does looks like it has the potential to be a bit more threatening than Chesney's.
He seems to be in the mould of Ross Whiteley and hopefully Reece will kick on, be over injury problems and similarly hit the winning runs for another promotion charge. We will see!
GH
I think players come through 'injury prone' and Reece may do the same as Mark Footitt did before him. As young bodies develop it stresses different joints and muscles for bowlers.
ReplyDeleteWhiteley is a fair comparison..probably a better bowler than Ross and higher average with bat.
And lets not forget Ches didnt bowl for a year and rarely has since recovering from that injury!
I think players come through 'injury prone' and Reece may do the same as Mark Footitt did before him. As young bodies develop it stresses different joints and muscles for bowlers.
ReplyDeleteWhiteley is a fair comparison..probably a better bowler than Ross and higher average with bat.
And lets not forget Ches didnt bowl for a year and rarely has since recovering from that injury!
Let's hope we get the 2013 batting version of Reece and not the version of the last two seasons.
ReplyDeleteNot particularly overjoyed with the signing but worth a gamble. This signing looks better if the recent conjecture and rumblings by the club about exciting, experienced Senior players comes to fruition, especially in the background bowling department. We need a match winning strike bowler and a spinner.
Would still have liked Smit to have signed to add competition and experience to our batting ranks plus being the option of a back up spinner. Hoping the Club still go back to him.
Keep up the good work and I hope you are kept busy with the addition of more signings soon.
Gareth