That was a bit special, wasn't it?
The Yorkshire fans were as self-righteous and patronising as only Yorkshire fans can be last night, attributing their loss to 'Kolpakshire' as 'ridiculous' and 'embarrassing'. To be fair, one did have the grace to say that they had been outplayed by a better side. I felt obliged to go on and point out a few things in a dignified and proper manner...
Which is 100% the case. It was great to see it last night on the live stream, even though the score seemed to run a ball or two behind the pictures. No doubt a work in progress.
The difference last night was that a club with some stellar talents failed to live up to its billing. Ours, less regarded in many circles, delivered everything we could have asked for, with chocolate sprinkles on top. It was magnificent.
It was the first of three big games this week. Next, we head to Trent Bridge on Thursday, then entertain Birmingham on Friday. If we win one of these games, qualification is certainly on and in current form I don't think anyone would bet against that.
It is now imperative that Derbyshire secure the services of someone to replace the excellent Wahab Riaz for the last four games. Riaz has delivered all we hoped for as an aggressive bowler, but last night showed an untapped talent in his role of pinch hitter. It was the thought process behind this that I liked, thinking outside the box and perhaps throwing Yorkshire, just as Hampshire did to us last year when they opened with Shahid Afridi. The fluid batting order, with Viljoen also moving up and down to good effect is very pleasing.
Yet without the four overs of control from Riaz for the closing games, we need to have a replacement coming in.There must be a few players out there who could do a good job for us and it is imperative that the club's CEO and board back the coaches and players, even if it is to the detriment of the budget for one season.
I'd far sooner maximise the possibility of T20 progress than announce a small profit next Spring. There is time to make up the outlay anyway, with another sell out concert on the way, the fireworks show and a no doubt busy Christmas season.
I wouldn't be averse to someone like Jimmy Neesham coming in for a few games. He is not a like for like with Riaz, but is a lively character, a hard-hitting left hand bat and a very useful seam bowler. He wouldn't be my choice of death bowler, but I think he would be a very useful asset to this side in that final period, his fielding being top drawer too.
I'm not a fan of 'revolving door' professionals and have said so before, but we will see much about our board's ambition in the next few days.
The players have done everything they can to haul us back into contention in this competition, with some wonderful displays. John Wright has travelled across the world to take charge and he, with Grant Bradburn and Dominic Cork, have done really well.
Now is the time to back them to the hilt.
Tuesday, 31 July 2018
Monday, 30 July 2018
Yorkshire v Derbyshire Vitality Blast
Derbyshire 179-7 in 17 overs (Madsen 66, Riaz 42, MacLeod 28)
Yorkshire 102 all out (Hughes 3-12, Ferguson 3-21, Viljoen 3-32, Riaz 1-17)
Derbyshire won by 77 runs
THAT was magnificent.
Derbyshire stormed fortress Headingley, one of the chosen grounds for the 'future of English cricket' and didn't just beat division one Yorkshire for the second time in three days.
They slaughtered them. They outclassed, outfought and out thought Yorkshire from start to finish.
Yesterday I spent some time reading twelve pages of Yorkshire fans on the White Rose Forum, bemoaning their display at Chesterfield, with nary a positive word to be said about our lads. Tonight I hope that a Yorkshire fan or two come on here to praise our display and acknowledge that they were completely outclassed on their own turf, where they are acknowledged as tough to beat.
Despite the loss of Billy Godleman to the game's first ball (let's face it, he was due a failure) we threw in a curve ball with Wahab Riaz entering the fray at number three. He did extremely well in a pinch-hitting role and with Calum MacLeod ensured that we were ten an over from the Powerplay. He registered a personal best for T20 cricket tonight with his 42 and with his latest tight bowling display logged a fine all round match.
Then came Madsen and from his first ball Wayne looked in magnificent touch. He produced all of his extensive range of shots and each seemed better than the one that preceded it. 66 from 28 balls gave the middle of the innings the requisite 'oomph' and even the vocal locals must have offered grudging applause to a top effort from a wonderful batsman. I have seen some outstanding knocks from Wayne over the years but that was up there with the very best.
Sometimes an innings can tail off after bursting so spectacularly into life, but there were enough strokes of quality from Gary Wilson and Alex Hughes for Derbyshire to set the white rose in excess of ten an over to win the game. Psychologically that was a big ask, even for a side packed with internationals and as the innings drew to a close they looked ragged in the field.
John Wright and Dominic Cork must have been very pleased, though if they were to be at all critical will point to more dot balls than they might have wanted. To be critical of such a display is churlish however and ten an over takes some doing.
When Yorkshire's turn came to bat they never got close, and never looked like doing so.
Derbyshire were aggressive and mobile in the field. I thought Gary Wilson excellent behind the stumps and he held a fine catch from the bowling of Alex Hughes, standing up. In addition, he marshalled his bowling resources very well and can be rightly proud of his side.
Riaz set a standard and it was good to see his positivity in the field and willingness to have words with bowlers and captain alike. He has been an excellent recruit this summer and without doubt has given very good value for money. Replacing him for the closing four games is now crucial, but someone will have big shoes to step into.
Then there's Lockie Ferguson. Game after game he comes on and takes early wickets, with no opponent so far getting to grips with his pace and variations. He is a huge asset to the side and, with Riaz, makes up what I think is our best overseas pairing in T20 cricket. Each has made crucial contributions and delivered 'go to' performances that a captain needs from his overseas stars,
Hardus Viljoen? He looks a world apart from the bowler who could barely land it on the cut strip at Durham. He looks smooth as he runs in and combines fast, in at the body bowling with yorkers. It was another excellent effort from the big man, and he seems to be enjoying his cricket too, which helps. His demolition of the stumps for the last two wickets pretty much symbolised the match, a hapless batsman attempting to 'ramp' him and losing middle peg summing it up for the hosts.
But again a star turn was Alex Hughes. I think that opponents look at Derbyshire, see four international pace bowlers and think they will target bowler five. It is a big mistake, because the work that Alex did on his bowling over the winter is evident with every match. The slower, looping delivery that dismissed Kane Williamson (aided by a terrific catch by MacLeod) was the match winner, but to bowl his three overs for just twelve in a seventeen-over match is quite special. He fully deserved his three wickets and is hugely important in this format.
Four times running we have beaten Yorkshire in the T20. They have only lost three home games since 2016 and two of them have been to us. We now have four straight wins in the competition and five running in all cricket. We are fifth in the strong northern group and in this form need fear no one for the remaining games. It was another match where people queued up to make vital contributions and one where they all, whether in the field, with bat or ball did so.
It looks a different side to the unbalanced one that lost four straight matches at the start and the confidence running through the side was evident tonight. Riaz, Ferguson and Viljoen seem to be feeding off one another and although it wasn't Rampaul's night tonight, there will be no one fancying scoring quickly off that attack. There is a swagger about them that is good and healthy to see.
I have rarely felt prouder of Derbyshire than tonight. They were innovative and clinical with the bat, sharp and alert in the field, incisive and hostile with the ball.
We are very much in the mix and it is simply magnificent to watch. I just wish it had been on Sky.
Thank you, gentlemen. You were outrageously good tonight.
Yorkshire 102 all out (Hughes 3-12, Ferguson 3-21, Viljoen 3-32, Riaz 1-17)
Derbyshire won by 77 runs
THAT was magnificent.
Derbyshire stormed fortress Headingley, one of the chosen grounds for the 'future of English cricket' and didn't just beat division one Yorkshire for the second time in three days.
They slaughtered them. They outclassed, outfought and out thought Yorkshire from start to finish.
Yesterday I spent some time reading twelve pages of Yorkshire fans on the White Rose Forum, bemoaning their display at Chesterfield, with nary a positive word to be said about our lads. Tonight I hope that a Yorkshire fan or two come on here to praise our display and acknowledge that they were completely outclassed on their own turf, where they are acknowledged as tough to beat.
Despite the loss of Billy Godleman to the game's first ball (let's face it, he was due a failure) we threw in a curve ball with Wahab Riaz entering the fray at number three. He did extremely well in a pinch-hitting role and with Calum MacLeod ensured that we were ten an over from the Powerplay. He registered a personal best for T20 cricket tonight with his 42 and with his latest tight bowling display logged a fine all round match.
Then came Madsen and from his first ball Wayne looked in magnificent touch. He produced all of his extensive range of shots and each seemed better than the one that preceded it. 66 from 28 balls gave the middle of the innings the requisite 'oomph' and even the vocal locals must have offered grudging applause to a top effort from a wonderful batsman. I have seen some outstanding knocks from Wayne over the years but that was up there with the very best.
Sometimes an innings can tail off after bursting so spectacularly into life, but there were enough strokes of quality from Gary Wilson and Alex Hughes for Derbyshire to set the white rose in excess of ten an over to win the game. Psychologically that was a big ask, even for a side packed with internationals and as the innings drew to a close they looked ragged in the field.
John Wright and Dominic Cork must have been very pleased, though if they were to be at all critical will point to more dot balls than they might have wanted. To be critical of such a display is churlish however and ten an over takes some doing.
When Yorkshire's turn came to bat they never got close, and never looked like doing so.
Derbyshire were aggressive and mobile in the field. I thought Gary Wilson excellent behind the stumps and he held a fine catch from the bowling of Alex Hughes, standing up. In addition, he marshalled his bowling resources very well and can be rightly proud of his side.
Riaz set a standard and it was good to see his positivity in the field and willingness to have words with bowlers and captain alike. He has been an excellent recruit this summer and without doubt has given very good value for money. Replacing him for the closing four games is now crucial, but someone will have big shoes to step into.
Then there's Lockie Ferguson. Game after game he comes on and takes early wickets, with no opponent so far getting to grips with his pace and variations. He is a huge asset to the side and, with Riaz, makes up what I think is our best overseas pairing in T20 cricket. Each has made crucial contributions and delivered 'go to' performances that a captain needs from his overseas stars,
Hardus Viljoen? He looks a world apart from the bowler who could barely land it on the cut strip at Durham. He looks smooth as he runs in and combines fast, in at the body bowling with yorkers. It was another excellent effort from the big man, and he seems to be enjoying his cricket too, which helps. His demolition of the stumps for the last two wickets pretty much symbolised the match, a hapless batsman attempting to 'ramp' him and losing middle peg summing it up for the hosts.
But again a star turn was Alex Hughes. I think that opponents look at Derbyshire, see four international pace bowlers and think they will target bowler five. It is a big mistake, because the work that Alex did on his bowling over the winter is evident with every match. The slower, looping delivery that dismissed Kane Williamson (aided by a terrific catch by MacLeod) was the match winner, but to bowl his three overs for just twelve in a seventeen-over match is quite special. He fully deserved his three wickets and is hugely important in this format.
Four times running we have beaten Yorkshire in the T20. They have only lost three home games since 2016 and two of them have been to us. We now have four straight wins in the competition and five running in all cricket. We are fifth in the strong northern group and in this form need fear no one for the remaining games. It was another match where people queued up to make vital contributions and one where they all, whether in the field, with bat or ball did so.
It looks a different side to the unbalanced one that lost four straight matches at the start and the confidence running through the side was evident tonight. Riaz, Ferguson and Viljoen seem to be feeding off one another and although it wasn't Rampaul's night tonight, there will be no one fancying scoring quickly off that attack. There is a swagger about them that is good and healthy to see.
I have rarely felt prouder of Derbyshire than tonight. They were innovative and clinical with the bat, sharp and alert in the field, incisive and hostile with the ball.
We are very much in the mix and it is simply magnificent to watch. I just wish it had been on Sky.
Thank you, gentlemen. You were outrageously good tonight.
Sunday, 29 July 2018
A day off and then we go again...
I switched on my phone this morning and the first messages were from Groupon, offering me a heart rate and blood pressure monitor. Now that is what I call targeted marketing, after the events at Chesterfield yesterday.
It was funny to see reactions to the Derbyshire win from the Yorkshire perspective. There were many savage comments about Tim Bresnan underneath a local newspaper report and barely one of them gave any credit to Matt Critchley. The consensus was that the Yorkshire bowler must have bowled badly, even though the video footage showed that he didn't bowl a bad ball. What he did do was give Critchley the room to free his arms and get under the ball, but anyone who has played cricket knows there are fine margins between a good and bad delivery.
'I could have bowled five yorkers and haven't played for a few years' said one. Then, sir, you should be in the England side, because that is a heck of a feat by any bowler. And the way batsmen use the crease these days even that is no guarantee you won't get ramped or hit.
It is quite sad that so many prefer to pour criticism on their own, rather than give even grudging credit to an opponent. As I have said before, there are times when you need to do that, when a batsman or bowler has the momentum and fortune and it all goes their way.
Mind you, Bresnan didn't help himself with a comment that referred to 'the lad at the other end'. It came across a little patronising, which I don't think was intended, but when 'the lad' has played for England Lions with success and has played a blinder, a name check would have been appropriate.
I doubt Queens Park will be among Bresnan's favourite grounds, as last year he was batting and nearly took them to a last over win with some big hitting, interrupted only by Luis Reece clinging on to a catch at extra cover from the bowling of Matt Henry.
Amidst the euphoria, it should be noted that Billy Godleman has now twice carried his bat in successive innings, a feat that has only once been done before. Thanks to David Griffin, the club's Heritage Officer, I can confirm that Michael Di Venuto carried has bat for 35 not out then 52 not out as Derbyshire beat Nottinghamshire, then Lancashire in 2003. Billy sits atop the averages at present with a 'piffling' 157, consigning once and for all my suggestion that he doesn't suit the format to the dustbin.
There is a good balance to this side and it remains a shame that Luis Reece isn't fit to add to batting and bowling strength. Since we made a decision on playing only one wicket-keeper, which was always common sense, there have been options to the bowling and depth in batting.
Fair play to Gary Wilson too, who has been solid behind the stumps, handled his attack well and rotated them cleverly. Meanwhile the five seamers have bowled with aggression AND discipline, which is a potent combination. While the spotlight has been on the main four, Alex Hughes has bowled some very canny overs and done well once again. They have been well supported in the field too and the introduction of Anuj Dal has been positive in that respect.
The one 'cloud' on the horizon is that Wahib Riaz is only contracted for ten games of the Vitality Blast before heading to the Caribbean Premier League. I have heard no suggestion of his being replaced, but I hope that this is a work in progress.
If we lose the next two games, against Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire, the chances of reaching the quarter-finals will be slim, but winning even one of them would leave the last four games as winnable and a place in the knockout stage as within our compass.
It would be very disappointing if we were to go into those games with only one overseas player. Ferguson, Rampaul and Riaz have all gone for less than eight an over so far, which is quite an achievement, especially when two of them do the 'death' bowling.
Still, that is for another day.
Enjoy your Sunday, for tomorrow we go again...
It was funny to see reactions to the Derbyshire win from the Yorkshire perspective. There were many savage comments about Tim Bresnan underneath a local newspaper report and barely one of them gave any credit to Matt Critchley. The consensus was that the Yorkshire bowler must have bowled badly, even though the video footage showed that he didn't bowl a bad ball. What he did do was give Critchley the room to free his arms and get under the ball, but anyone who has played cricket knows there are fine margins between a good and bad delivery.
'I could have bowled five yorkers and haven't played for a few years' said one. Then, sir, you should be in the England side, because that is a heck of a feat by any bowler. And the way batsmen use the crease these days even that is no guarantee you won't get ramped or hit.
It is quite sad that so many prefer to pour criticism on their own, rather than give even grudging credit to an opponent. As I have said before, there are times when you need to do that, when a batsman or bowler has the momentum and fortune and it all goes their way.
Mind you, Bresnan didn't help himself with a comment that referred to 'the lad at the other end'. It came across a little patronising, which I don't think was intended, but when 'the lad' has played for England Lions with success and has played a blinder, a name check would have been appropriate.
I doubt Queens Park will be among Bresnan's favourite grounds, as last year he was batting and nearly took them to a last over win with some big hitting, interrupted only by Luis Reece clinging on to a catch at extra cover from the bowling of Matt Henry.
Amidst the euphoria, it should be noted that Billy Godleman has now twice carried his bat in successive innings, a feat that has only once been done before. Thanks to David Griffin, the club's Heritage Officer, I can confirm that Michael Di Venuto carried has bat for 35 not out then 52 not out as Derbyshire beat Nottinghamshire, then Lancashire in 2003. Billy sits atop the averages at present with a 'piffling' 157, consigning once and for all my suggestion that he doesn't suit the format to the dustbin.
There is a good balance to this side and it remains a shame that Luis Reece isn't fit to add to batting and bowling strength. Since we made a decision on playing only one wicket-keeper, which was always common sense, there have been options to the bowling and depth in batting.
Fair play to Gary Wilson too, who has been solid behind the stumps, handled his attack well and rotated them cleverly. Meanwhile the five seamers have bowled with aggression AND discipline, which is a potent combination. While the spotlight has been on the main four, Alex Hughes has bowled some very canny overs and done well once again. They have been well supported in the field too and the introduction of Anuj Dal has been positive in that respect.
The one 'cloud' on the horizon is that Wahib Riaz is only contracted for ten games of the Vitality Blast before heading to the Caribbean Premier League. I have heard no suggestion of his being replaced, but I hope that this is a work in progress.
If we lose the next two games, against Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire, the chances of reaching the quarter-finals will be slim, but winning even one of them would leave the last four games as winnable and a place in the knockout stage as within our compass.
It would be very disappointing if we were to go into those games with only one overseas player. Ferguson, Rampaul and Riaz have all gone for less than eight an over so far, which is quite an achievement, especially when two of them do the 'death' bowling.
Still, that is for another day.
Enjoy your Sunday, for tomorrow we go again...
Saturday, 28 July 2018
Derbyshire v Yorkshire Vitality Blast
There are days in a cricket fan's life that live long in the memory.
I still recall Chesterfield 1969, when we beat Sussex against all the odds to reach the Gillette Cup Final. I recall it again when Mohammad Azharuddin hit an astonishing double century against Durham and also when I saw Ian Blackwell score a sizzling century for the second team, an early indicator of his talents.
There too when Colin Tunnicliffe took 17 off the last over against Surrey in 1977, to win a game that was lost. These memories have stayed with me vividly over the intervening period, often 'dipped into' on cold winter evenings when cricket seems a long way away.
Those who were at Chesterfield today witnessed a game and an over that will live in their memory forever. It was a performance that deserved a win, but it looked unlikely until Matt Critchley took strike against the Yorkshire stalwart and former England all-rounder, Tim Bresnan. Nineteen to win. Surely we couldn't do it?
2 6 4 6 4
In five balls the young Derbyshire all-rounder completed a week he will never forget with an over that confirmed his precocious talent. As if we needed reminding of that after a week in which he played a brief cameo at Northampton, took ten wickets and scored a fifty in the four-day game here and then scored TWENTY-TWO off the final over here to beat Yaaarksheer. It was the joint highest number of runs scored in the final over of a successful T20 run chase and sealed an astonishing win, with a ball to spare.
Watching the video of that final over, I was astonished how 'in the zone' he was. There was no fist-pumping with Billy Godleman after each blow, Just a consciousness that more were required until, eventually, after he cleared the infield for the winning boundary, he took off on a route that looked like the start of a lap of honour. If it wasn't, it deserved to be.
I will be as happy as a sand boy in this coming winter when I see confirmation that Derbyshire has renewed and extended his contract, because the lad is touched by genius. Flawed at times, because he is young enough to be making mistakes, but what a talent he is - and what a player he will be when it all comes together consistently.
It wasn't a one-man show, of course, and for the second successive night we owe a huge debt to Billy Godleman. The two wins were straight out of the John Wright T20 formula book: bowl with discipline to limit the run chase, then ensure that someone bats through the innings to get you to the finishing line. Derbyshire wouldn't have won without Critchley today, but he will be the first to say that without the canny hand played by the four-day skipper, we wouldn't have been in the position to do so.
It all looked tight with rain stoppages and regular wickets, but there is a good, balanced look to this Derbyshire side. A third successive win has maintained an interest in the competition, especially if we can produce something special at fortress Headingley on Monday evening.
The bowlers were again excellent and I think it is apposite to acknowledge the work being done with Dominic Cork. The 'million dollar quartet' all bowled steadily and to go for around and less than eight an over on a small ground like Chesterfield is a fine effort. Only six extras too, compared to the thirteen in our innings. By such margins are games won and lost.
Ravi Rampaul was the main man today, though and produced his best bowling figures in T20 in England with his 4-19 in four overs. Just like Viljoen, I have been critical of Ravi at times this season, but in recent weeks he has appeared to be back to his best. Maybe in four-day cricket his best days are behind him, but his variations in T20 make him a hard man to hit. He did so well today.
What a week that was. More to the point, what a day that was. We pulled Yorkshire back from a point where they looked like cutting loose to one where they were running out of batting. We bowled - again - professionally and we batted with enough nous to be within range.
Then the fabulous Mr Critchley cut loose and you know the rest.
It is a grand night to be a Derbyshire fan.
I'll doubtless still be buzzing tomorrow...
I still recall Chesterfield 1969, when we beat Sussex against all the odds to reach the Gillette Cup Final. I recall it again when Mohammad Azharuddin hit an astonishing double century against Durham and also when I saw Ian Blackwell score a sizzling century for the second team, an early indicator of his talents.
There too when Colin Tunnicliffe took 17 off the last over against Surrey in 1977, to win a game that was lost. These memories have stayed with me vividly over the intervening period, often 'dipped into' on cold winter evenings when cricket seems a long way away.
Those who were at Chesterfield today witnessed a game and an over that will live in their memory forever. It was a performance that deserved a win, but it looked unlikely until Matt Critchley took strike against the Yorkshire stalwart and former England all-rounder, Tim Bresnan. Nineteen to win. Surely we couldn't do it?
2 6 4 6 4
In five balls the young Derbyshire all-rounder completed a week he will never forget with an over that confirmed his precocious talent. As if we needed reminding of that after a week in which he played a brief cameo at Northampton, took ten wickets and scored a fifty in the four-day game here and then scored TWENTY-TWO off the final over here to beat Yaaarksheer. It was the joint highest number of runs scored in the final over of a successful T20 run chase and sealed an astonishing win, with a ball to spare.
Watching the video of that final over, I was astonished how 'in the zone' he was. There was no fist-pumping with Billy Godleman after each blow, Just a consciousness that more were required until, eventually, after he cleared the infield for the winning boundary, he took off on a route that looked like the start of a lap of honour. If it wasn't, it deserved to be.
I will be as happy as a sand boy in this coming winter when I see confirmation that Derbyshire has renewed and extended his contract, because the lad is touched by genius. Flawed at times, because he is young enough to be making mistakes, but what a talent he is - and what a player he will be when it all comes together consistently.
It wasn't a one-man show, of course, and for the second successive night we owe a huge debt to Billy Godleman. The two wins were straight out of the John Wright T20 formula book: bowl with discipline to limit the run chase, then ensure that someone bats through the innings to get you to the finishing line. Derbyshire wouldn't have won without Critchley today, but he will be the first to say that without the canny hand played by the four-day skipper, we wouldn't have been in the position to do so.
It all looked tight with rain stoppages and regular wickets, but there is a good, balanced look to this Derbyshire side. A third successive win has maintained an interest in the competition, especially if we can produce something special at fortress Headingley on Monday evening.
The bowlers were again excellent and I think it is apposite to acknowledge the work being done with Dominic Cork. The 'million dollar quartet' all bowled steadily and to go for around and less than eight an over on a small ground like Chesterfield is a fine effort. Only six extras too, compared to the thirteen in our innings. By such margins are games won and lost.
Ravi Rampaul was the main man today, though and produced his best bowling figures in T20 in England with his 4-19 in four overs. Just like Viljoen, I have been critical of Ravi at times this season, but in recent weeks he has appeared to be back to his best. Maybe in four-day cricket his best days are behind him, but his variations in T20 make him a hard man to hit. He did so well today.
What a week that was. More to the point, what a day that was. We pulled Yorkshire back from a point where they looked like cutting loose to one where they were running out of batting. We bowled - again - professionally and we batted with enough nous to be within range.
Then the fabulous Mr Critchley cut loose and you know the rest.
It is a grand night to be a Derbyshire fan.
I'll doubtless still be buzzing tomorrow...
Friday, 27 July 2018
Record month for the Blog
A big thank you tonight to all of you.
With four days to go, this is a record month for blog usage, with over 53,000 views already in the month of July.
I remain incredibly flattered and humbled by your interest, and the many emails that I receive from inside and outside Derbyshire, as well as across the world.
Your continued support means my work on the blog is worthwhile and a little project that I started eleven years ago has developed into something that I am proud of.
Without your interest and comments I might have stopped some time ago.
So a sincere thank you to each and every one.
Fingers crossed the good times will keep rolling...
With four days to go, this is a record month for blog usage, with over 53,000 views already in the month of July.
I remain incredibly flattered and humbled by your interest, and the many emails that I receive from inside and outside Derbyshire, as well as across the world.
Your continued support means my work on the blog is worthwhile and a little project that I started eleven years ago has developed into something that I am proud of.
Without your interest and comments I might have stopped some time ago.
So a sincere thank you to each and every one.
Fingers crossed the good times will keep rolling...
Leicestershire v Derbyshire Vitality Blast
Leicestershire 149-5 (Cosgrove 65, Riaz 2-26, Rampaul 2-32)
Derbyshire 150-4 (Godleman 57 not, Viljoen 32, Dal 25, Wilson 21 not)
Derbyshire won by six wickets
Consummate professionalism.
That's what Derbyshire produced in their display this evening, as they went along to neighbours Leicestershire and came home with the win points.
It was professional, and that is the greatest tribute I can pay to any side. They bowled with great discipline and batted with common sense, a fluid batting order reaping dividends as first Anuj Dal and then Hardus Viljoen gave the innings the necessary injection of pace after the loss of Calum MacLeod without facing a ball and then Wayne Madsen.
I was quite pleased when I saw the home side opting to bat, because it meant we could then pace our run chase. Having said that, I didn't expect the target to be as low as 150. After Wayne's early wicket, the seam bowling quartet bowled splendidly. Riaz and Rampaul did a fine job in the powerplays, while Lockie Ferguson just bowled superbly, as he has all season so far. His command of line and length is such that there were FOURTEEN dot balls in his four overs for just twenty-one runs. Riaz bowled twelve too, and their professionalism was well backed up by the others.
Once again Alex Hughes bowled important and tidy overs and is a key component of the side in this format of the game, yet the player who perhaps made the biggest overall contribution was Hardus Viljoen.
Regulars will know that I have been critical of Hardus this summer. By normal standards he has done OK, but we have not paid him for 'normal' and he has too often failed to deliver. Tonight was different, his three overs going for just 22 runs and then, elevated in the order to number five, he hammered 32 from 20 balls to effectively win the game for his side. I will be quick to praise as well as criticise whenever it is justified and Viljoen did very well tonight.
So too did Anuj Dal. I have seen him a few times and been impressed by the wristiness of his strokes and the speed of his running between the wickets. He is a huge asset in the field too and his 25 runs combined shots of class and inventiveness.
Yet in closing, there has to be a collective doffing of caps to Billy Godleman. He got off the mark first ball with a four again, then hesitation saw MacLeod run out without facing. Yet afterwards he played what you can describe affectionately as a Godleman innings, which the situation was ripe for. He took few risks and quickly realised that as long as he batted through the innings and let others blaze away at the other end, the victory would be ours. There is nowt flashy about Billy and I have previously expressed concerns about his aptitude for the format. Yet for the second game running he played a good hand for the side and is proving me wrong.
When Viljoen was dismissed, after some towering blows, Gary Wilson came in and produced some lusty shots around the wicket, strokes that ensured that the victory would be ours. Yet it was fitting that an unassuming nudge off the hip for one by a most unassuming man in Billy took us to the win with seven balls to spare.
57 not out from 46 balls isn't the most T20 of innings, especially when Martin Guptill scored a century from 35 balls tonight. But in the context of this game it was perfect. Mark Cosgrove played a similar knock for the home side, but lacked the important injection of pace at the other end that Billy enjoyed tonight.
Yorkshire await tomorrow, and they scored 226 in twenty overs tonight. It will be a good battle between their high power batting and our seamers, at a small ground where there will be little margin for error.
But Queens Park will be full and we go into it after three straight wins.
The Falcons are flying - and it is good to see.
Postscript - there has been another issue with Google which has seen some comments posted 'lost' in the ether, according to an email I received today.
If yours hasn't made it to publication, that's why. I'm sorry, but it is out of my control. I'm assured that all is well now, so let your praise be effusive tonight...
Derbyshire 150-4 (Godleman 57 not, Viljoen 32, Dal 25, Wilson 21 not)
Derbyshire won by six wickets
Consummate professionalism.
That's what Derbyshire produced in their display this evening, as they went along to neighbours Leicestershire and came home with the win points.
It was professional, and that is the greatest tribute I can pay to any side. They bowled with great discipline and batted with common sense, a fluid batting order reaping dividends as first Anuj Dal and then Hardus Viljoen gave the innings the necessary injection of pace after the loss of Calum MacLeod without facing a ball and then Wayne Madsen.
I was quite pleased when I saw the home side opting to bat, because it meant we could then pace our run chase. Having said that, I didn't expect the target to be as low as 150. After Wayne's early wicket, the seam bowling quartet bowled splendidly. Riaz and Rampaul did a fine job in the powerplays, while Lockie Ferguson just bowled superbly, as he has all season so far. His command of line and length is such that there were FOURTEEN dot balls in his four overs for just twenty-one runs. Riaz bowled twelve too, and their professionalism was well backed up by the others.
Once again Alex Hughes bowled important and tidy overs and is a key component of the side in this format of the game, yet the player who perhaps made the biggest overall contribution was Hardus Viljoen.
Regulars will know that I have been critical of Hardus this summer. By normal standards he has done OK, but we have not paid him for 'normal' and he has too often failed to deliver. Tonight was different, his three overs going for just 22 runs and then, elevated in the order to number five, he hammered 32 from 20 balls to effectively win the game for his side. I will be quick to praise as well as criticise whenever it is justified and Viljoen did very well tonight.
So too did Anuj Dal. I have seen him a few times and been impressed by the wristiness of his strokes and the speed of his running between the wickets. He is a huge asset in the field too and his 25 runs combined shots of class and inventiveness.
Yet in closing, there has to be a collective doffing of caps to Billy Godleman. He got off the mark first ball with a four again, then hesitation saw MacLeod run out without facing. Yet afterwards he played what you can describe affectionately as a Godleman innings, which the situation was ripe for. He took few risks and quickly realised that as long as he batted through the innings and let others blaze away at the other end, the victory would be ours. There is nowt flashy about Billy and I have previously expressed concerns about his aptitude for the format. Yet for the second game running he played a good hand for the side and is proving me wrong.
When Viljoen was dismissed, after some towering blows, Gary Wilson came in and produced some lusty shots around the wicket, strokes that ensured that the victory would be ours. Yet it was fitting that an unassuming nudge off the hip for one by a most unassuming man in Billy took us to the win with seven balls to spare.
57 not out from 46 balls isn't the most T20 of innings, especially when Martin Guptill scored a century from 35 balls tonight. But in the context of this game it was perfect. Mark Cosgrove played a similar knock for the home side, but lacked the important injection of pace at the other end that Billy enjoyed tonight.
Yorkshire await tomorrow, and they scored 226 in twenty overs tonight. It will be a good battle between their high power batting and our seamers, at a small ground where there will be little margin for error.
But Queens Park will be full and we go into it after three straight wins.
The Falcons are flying - and it is good to see.
Postscript - there has been another issue with Google which has seen some comments posted 'lost' in the ether, according to an email I received today.
If yours hasn't made it to publication, that's why. I'm sorry, but it is out of my control. I'm assured that all is well now, so let your praise be effusive tonight...
Thursday, 26 July 2018
Leicestershire v Derbyshire T20 preview
What a difference a week makes.
I have to give great credit to Billy Godleman and his senior players for the way in which they have lifted themselves from a poor run to record excellent back to back wins in both T20 and four-day cricket.
That's the thing with this team and what frustrates us all at times. We KNOW that talent is there and the job of the new Head of Cricket is in tapping into what makes them tick and getting the top level performance produced more frequently. Every team has a bad day, no matter how good, but the best sides are able to keep such displays to a minimum.
Tomorrow night we travel the short distance to Leicester to play against a side whose coach, Paul Nixon, has managed to do just that. They started the season poorly, but week by week have improved until now they are doing very nicely indeed. They sit very much in contention in the Vitality Blast, with three wins from six games, and are fourth and in the promotion shake up in the County Championship.
Mind you, as notoveryet pointed out in his excellent post below the last article, had we not blown what looked strong winning positions against Durham and Glamorgan, we would have been in that promotion pack ourselves. It has not been a bad summer, by any means; more one in which we have too frequently failed to press home a hard earned advantage.
I don't see too many changes from the side that did well at Northampton for tomorrow night, though if the recent dry weather suggests turn we might see Matt McKiernan back in the side.
As for our hosts, they have not yet announced their squad but will be high on confidence having beaten promotion-chasing Kent in two days this week. In Mohammad Abbas and Mohammad Nabi they have two canny bowlers, Nabi also capable of quick runs. He quite often opens the bowling in this form of the game, so that might present a different kind of challenge for the Derbyshire batsmen.
Prediction? When two in-form sides meet it should be a classic. Home advantage may be key but if Derbyshire's fast and furious attack find their collective mojo there will be few sides look forward to playing them. In Lockie Ferguson we have a fast bowler in fine form and in Calum MacLeod a batsman who is in very good nick.
My head tells me the home side might nick it, but if we can take early wickets, especially the dangerous Cameron Delport and Colin Ackermann, we can come home with the points.
What do you think?
I have to give great credit to Billy Godleman and his senior players for the way in which they have lifted themselves from a poor run to record excellent back to back wins in both T20 and four-day cricket.
That's the thing with this team and what frustrates us all at times. We KNOW that talent is there and the job of the new Head of Cricket is in tapping into what makes them tick and getting the top level performance produced more frequently. Every team has a bad day, no matter how good, but the best sides are able to keep such displays to a minimum.
Tomorrow night we travel the short distance to Leicester to play against a side whose coach, Paul Nixon, has managed to do just that. They started the season poorly, but week by week have improved until now they are doing very nicely indeed. They sit very much in contention in the Vitality Blast, with three wins from six games, and are fourth and in the promotion shake up in the County Championship.
Mind you, as notoveryet pointed out in his excellent post below the last article, had we not blown what looked strong winning positions against Durham and Glamorgan, we would have been in that promotion pack ourselves. It has not been a bad summer, by any means; more one in which we have too frequently failed to press home a hard earned advantage.
I don't see too many changes from the side that did well at Northampton for tomorrow night, though if the recent dry weather suggests turn we might see Matt McKiernan back in the side.
As for our hosts, they have not yet announced their squad but will be high on confidence having beaten promotion-chasing Kent in two days this week. In Mohammad Abbas and Mohammad Nabi they have two canny bowlers, Nabi also capable of quick runs. He quite often opens the bowling in this form of the game, so that might present a different kind of challenge for the Derbyshire batsmen.
Prediction? When two in-form sides meet it should be a classic. Home advantage may be key but if Derbyshire's fast and furious attack find their collective mojo there will be few sides look forward to playing them. In Lockie Ferguson we have a fast bowler in fine form and in Calum MacLeod a batsman who is in very good nick.
My head tells me the home side might nick it, but if we can take early wickets, especially the dangerous Cameron Delport and Colin Ackermann, we can come home with the points.
What do you think?
Wednesday, 25 July 2018
Close season pointers in recent events
This has been an exciting week for Derbyshire supporters.
The thrilling T20 win at Northampton was followed by an equally exciting one against the same opposition at Chesterfield today. The performances in both matches were excellent, the commitment of the players exemplary and the results exactly what we wanted.
There is talent at the club and people within it who are making strong cases for contracts and/or improved deals. The club administration's response to these will largely determine whether members, supporters and I can continue to take them seriously.
Ben Slater, as we all know, is being courted by Nottinghamshire. That was always likely to be so, given their scouting network runs all the way to Leicester and Derby. I still maintain that Ben won't walk into their first eleven and would be better served by staying at Derbyshire for at least one more contract. He isn't yet the finished article and needs to convert more of these fine fifties into terrific tons, but the talent is there. He has passed a thousand runs in all forms this summer and is fully deserving of an enhanced deal. My understanding is that such a deal is on the table and I sincerely hope that is the case.
The same goes for Matt Critchley. He signed a contract with the club that gave him the security of a four-year deal, which was great for a lad of his age. Yet performances like the one in this match will make potential suitors look at him and wonder whether it might be worth making an offer to buy out the remainder of his contract. It was signed and agreed before his leg spin developed this year and before he became an England Lion. I know we are a club that has to live within tight budgets, but we simply MUST fight off the predators and retain the talents of a young man who will be in the England side before he is 25. Remember, you read it here first...
Then there's Harvey Hosein. Now I have written before that I don't think him an outstanding wicket-keeper, but I do consider him a technically gifted batsman. He played two key innings in this match and should have a run in the middle order now. It is deserved and it is the only way to see if a longer, deal should be offered.
Let's not forget Luis Reece, desperately missed. He has been absent for a fair chunk of the season but had shown before the stress fracture that he had developed into a real deal all-rounder. Everyone and their kid brother wants such a player and the club needs to be proactive in retaining his services.
Then we look at other players. Based on his performances in the T20, most would want us to look at signing Calum MacLeod for next summer. Not so much the runs, but the way that he has made them have made me think that he would be worth a contract. It's not all been bucolic hoiks and slogs, there's been sound defence, classy cover drives and deft glances, things that make you think there is potential in him.
There's also the case for Chesney Hughes. I understood the reasoning behind letting him go, because he hadn't kicked on and was getting out cheaply far too often. But he has gone away, thought things through, looks as if he has lost a bit of weight and looks more sprightly as a result.
He has made three scores of over 150 for the second team now. The case for re-engagement grows strong and it is one being made by actions, not words.
Lastly there's the case for Charlie Hartley. I have seen him two or three times this summer and liked what I saw. He is a strapping big lad, bowls at a lively lick and nips it around. While accepting that the level is lower, I haven't seen many batsmen play him with ease and his record for Kent suggested that he can do it at senior level. Being perfectly honest, as I try to be, I would prefer to see him in the eleven next year to Hardus Viljoen, on this season's form.
I've not mentioned Anuj Dal and I haven't mentioned Matt McKiernan. Not all of these second team players can get deals but we need to ensure that top performance is rewarded and encouraged.
Ah, but this all costs money, I hear you say. Well, of course it does, which is why my ears pricked up rather more than might otherwise be the case when I saw that the Little Mix concert had sold out, just as the forthcoming ABBA night at the 3aaa County Ground has done.
I don't think my pretty good grasp of arithmetic has let me down, and my appreciation of the costings of such events in the past has not eluded me, so I would estimate that each of these nights should be generating a ballpark six-figure sum for the club. That's £200K-plus, to you and me. If they aren't, you would question why we are doing them and why we are employing thirteen off-field managers when cricketers aren't being signed or retained.
Unless we have staff who are taking inappropriately large, top-line bonuses from this figure - and we would need to know why, were that the case, at a club that is always in a state of near penury - that is a sum of money that could be reinvested in the playing side. That was the entire rationale of the development of the off-field activity at the club and should be its raison d'etre.
That being the case, a lot of people will be looking at the announced figures with a realistic expectation that we will see player retentions and signings this winter.
I know I will.
The thrilling T20 win at Northampton was followed by an equally exciting one against the same opposition at Chesterfield today. The performances in both matches were excellent, the commitment of the players exemplary and the results exactly what we wanted.
There is talent at the club and people within it who are making strong cases for contracts and/or improved deals. The club administration's response to these will largely determine whether members, supporters and I can continue to take them seriously.
Ben Slater, as we all know, is being courted by Nottinghamshire. That was always likely to be so, given their scouting network runs all the way to Leicester and Derby. I still maintain that Ben won't walk into their first eleven and would be better served by staying at Derbyshire for at least one more contract. He isn't yet the finished article and needs to convert more of these fine fifties into terrific tons, but the talent is there. He has passed a thousand runs in all forms this summer and is fully deserving of an enhanced deal. My understanding is that such a deal is on the table and I sincerely hope that is the case.
The same goes for Matt Critchley. He signed a contract with the club that gave him the security of a four-year deal, which was great for a lad of his age. Yet performances like the one in this match will make potential suitors look at him and wonder whether it might be worth making an offer to buy out the remainder of his contract. It was signed and agreed before his leg spin developed this year and before he became an England Lion. I know we are a club that has to live within tight budgets, but we simply MUST fight off the predators and retain the talents of a young man who will be in the England side before he is 25. Remember, you read it here first...
Then there's Harvey Hosein. Now I have written before that I don't think him an outstanding wicket-keeper, but I do consider him a technically gifted batsman. He played two key innings in this match and should have a run in the middle order now. It is deserved and it is the only way to see if a longer, deal should be offered.
Let's not forget Luis Reece, desperately missed. He has been absent for a fair chunk of the season but had shown before the stress fracture that he had developed into a real deal all-rounder. Everyone and their kid brother wants such a player and the club needs to be proactive in retaining his services.
Then we look at other players. Based on his performances in the T20, most would want us to look at signing Calum MacLeod for next summer. Not so much the runs, but the way that he has made them have made me think that he would be worth a contract. It's not all been bucolic hoiks and slogs, there's been sound defence, classy cover drives and deft glances, things that make you think there is potential in him.
There's also the case for Chesney Hughes. I understood the reasoning behind letting him go, because he hadn't kicked on and was getting out cheaply far too often. But he has gone away, thought things through, looks as if he has lost a bit of weight and looks more sprightly as a result.
He has made three scores of over 150 for the second team now. The case for re-engagement grows strong and it is one being made by actions, not words.
Lastly there's the case for Charlie Hartley. I have seen him two or three times this summer and liked what I saw. He is a strapping big lad, bowls at a lively lick and nips it around. While accepting that the level is lower, I haven't seen many batsmen play him with ease and his record for Kent suggested that he can do it at senior level. Being perfectly honest, as I try to be, I would prefer to see him in the eleven next year to Hardus Viljoen, on this season's form.
I've not mentioned Anuj Dal and I haven't mentioned Matt McKiernan. Not all of these second team players can get deals but we need to ensure that top performance is rewarded and encouraged.
Ah, but this all costs money, I hear you say. Well, of course it does, which is why my ears pricked up rather more than might otherwise be the case when I saw that the Little Mix concert had sold out, just as the forthcoming ABBA night at the 3aaa County Ground has done.
I don't think my pretty good grasp of arithmetic has let me down, and my appreciation of the costings of such events in the past has not eluded me, so I would estimate that each of these nights should be generating a ballpark six-figure sum for the club. That's £200K-plus, to you and me. If they aren't, you would question why we are doing them and why we are employing thirteen off-field managers when cricketers aren't being signed or retained.
Unless we have staff who are taking inappropriately large, top-line bonuses from this figure - and we would need to know why, were that the case, at a club that is always in a state of near penury - that is a sum of money that could be reinvested in the playing side. That was the entire rationale of the development of the off-field activity at the club and should be its raison d'etre.
That being the case, a lot of people will be looking at the announced figures with a realistic expectation that we will see player retentions and signings this winter.
I know I will.
Derbyshire v Northamptonshire day 4
Northamptonshire 289 and 274 (Critchley 6-106, Qadri 3-66)
Derbyshire won by 39 runs
It took Billy Godleman and Derbyshire a while to get the right combination at the right end, but we eventually got Hamidullah Qadri and Matt Critchley on at Queens Park today and reaped the benefits. This was a quite stunning win that came at the end of a terrific game of cricket.
Is it me, or is it just that we are appreciating them more, but this season seems to have produced an extraordinary range of four-day matches. Games across the country that have gone down to the last session, or were still in the balance until the last wicket fell. All of them showing that protestations of four-day cricket being 'dull' are quite simply nonsense.
You don't need Fred Karno's circus, ten overs, one hundred balls or ten-ball overs when the traditional game, in its less thought of form, can produce such games of cricket. Warm congratulations to Chesterfield Cricket Club, whose ability to produce quality wickets that offer help to bat and ball really deserves more matches. We all know about the drainage issues, but there can be little better than seeing a tense finish in such a picturesque setting. And all the time the sun shone on parched grass.
Peakfan's pat on the back goes to Matt Critchley, who today became the first Derbyshire leg-spinner since 'Dusty' Rhodes in 1950 to take ten wickets in a match at Chesterfield. I think he may have been the youngest leggie to take ten in a match for Derbyshire, as Rhodes and Tommy Mitchell were older when they first did it. He was quite possibly the youngest spinner too. Club President Edwin Smith took fourteen wickets in a first-class match against Scotland in 1955, when he was also 21 - there's a nice photograph waiting to be taken!
That is a tremendous feat for Matt. The pressure on young bowlers to deliver when conditions are in their favour is considerable, yet Critchley and seventeen-year old Hamidullah Qadri did a sterling job today. Each took a little stick, which a young spinner can expect on a small ground against a good batting side and with an outfield like lightning. Yet they persevered and came out on top.
Qadri could even be said to have taken the match-turning wicket, a beauty turning to bowl the visiting captain Alex Wakely and open the gates to the lower order. When those watching from the pavilion see a man who is well set castled while playing a defensive shot, doubt can be sown in minds. So it was today.
Whatever Derbyshire do in appointing a new Head of Cricket and whoever is calling the shots at the club - one assumes the Chief Executive - it is IMPERATIVE that the long-term futures of these young players are secured on an appropriate rate for their talents. There are players within any club whose presence is transient and who may or may not make a major contribution in that time.
The likes of Critchley, Qadri, Ben Slater and Harvey Hosein (who also did well here) must be secured for a longer-term future. If they aren't, there will be major questions asked and rightly so.
Of course it is exciting when Derbyshire win a hard-fought game of cricket. It is especially so when the major contributions in that win come from your own. And I'm including Wayne Madsen in that, because he is assuredly an adopted son of the peak, from Durban to Derby.
It was all very nervous this morning and at 227-4, with less than a hundred to win, there looked only one winner. Yet the ball gripped, the catches were held and we emerged victorious, in good time to enjoy the afternoon sunshine ahead of a busy weekend of T20 action.
Grand, isn't it?
Top effort lads, well done!
Tuesday, 24 July 2018
Derbyshire v Northamptonshire day 3
Derbyshire 260 and 342 (Madsen 116, Crtichley 51, Hosein 38)
Northamptonshire 289 and 174-3 (Crook 68, Wakely 48 not)
Northamptonshire require 140 runs to win
Northamptonshire were left to chase 314 to win this game at Chesterfield, the highest score that an opponent will have made on the ground in the fourth innings, to win the game or otherwise.
Such was the size of the task facing our visitors when they embarked on the chase after tea today, yet by the close, at 174-3, you would have to say they were favourites.
That the target got to such a scale was primarily down to Wayne Madsen, who scored his twenty-seventh first-class century for the county and his fourth at Chesterfield. It took him just under four and three quarter hours and was an outstanding effort on a wicket where runs are still possible, but the ball is misbehaving at times.
He received excellent support from Harvey Hosein, who has had a good match here, before Matt Critchley completed a fine all round performance with 51. He was then cruelly run out when Prasanna deflected a Viljoen straight drive onto the stumps at the non-striker's end.
Thereafter only a few lusty blows from Viljoen took the lead over 300, but the visitors scored runs freely, suggesting that they were indeed set to make a new entry in the history books.There was a good first wicket for Dan Wheeldon, getting Ben Duckett leg before wicket, but Crook batted well and though Vasconcelos fell quickly, he and Wakely chugged along at a merry old rate, before Critchley got one to turn to have him caught at short leg.
Wakely has had his challenges this year but batted well for a second time and, in company with the dangerous Richard Levi, has given them an excellent chance of winning a fine advert for county cricket.
For Derbyshire? Someone has to do something special tomorrow.
If ever there was a time for Hardus Viljoen to channel his 'Hove 2017' mojo, this is it.
Northamptonshire 289 and 174-3 (Crook 68, Wakely 48 not)
Northamptonshire require 140 runs to win
Northamptonshire were left to chase 314 to win this game at Chesterfield, the highest score that an opponent will have made on the ground in the fourth innings, to win the game or otherwise.
Such was the size of the task facing our visitors when they embarked on the chase after tea today, yet by the close, at 174-3, you would have to say they were favourites.
That the target got to such a scale was primarily down to Wayne Madsen, who scored his twenty-seventh first-class century for the county and his fourth at Chesterfield. It took him just under four and three quarter hours and was an outstanding effort on a wicket where runs are still possible, but the ball is misbehaving at times.
He received excellent support from Harvey Hosein, who has had a good match here, before Matt Critchley completed a fine all round performance with 51. He was then cruelly run out when Prasanna deflected a Viljoen straight drive onto the stumps at the non-striker's end.
Thereafter only a few lusty blows from Viljoen took the lead over 300, but the visitors scored runs freely, suggesting that they were indeed set to make a new entry in the history books.There was a good first wicket for Dan Wheeldon, getting Ben Duckett leg before wicket, but Crook batted well and though Vasconcelos fell quickly, he and Wakely chugged along at a merry old rate, before Critchley got one to turn to have him caught at short leg.
Wakely has had his challenges this year but batted well for a second time and, in company with the dangerous Richard Levi, has given them an excellent chance of winning a fine advert for county cricket.
For Derbyshire? Someone has to do something special tomorrow.
If ever there was a time for Hardus Viljoen to channel his 'Hove 2017' mojo, this is it.
Jones a 'maybe' for Derbyshire role
The cricket writer Huw Turbervill did a piece in the latest issue of The Cricketer, on Dean Jones wanting to return to Derbyshire to settle 'unfinished business'
According to the article, the then Derbyshire chairman, Mike Horton, a year after the Australian had led us to second place in the County Championship, told him that he had to inform half-a-dozen players that they were no longer required at the end of 1997, the year after that fine achievement. The plan was for Dominic Cork to succeed him, as Jones was also deemed surplus to requirements.and he left early, in June.
Having gone from 14th in 1995 to second in 1996, Derbyshire slid to 16th in 1997.
The 'Deano effect' was astonishing and for one golden season he made watching Derbyshire a constant thrill. My Dad and I still talk about some of the games that summer, when a fine batting side seemed capable of chasing down most targets, something not seen since the heyday of John Wright and Peter Kirsten.
Jones remains the best pacer of a one-day innings I have seen. Michael Bevan ran him close, but Dean Jones timed a ball so well and ran so hard that when the field was out there were easy twos. When they came in, he hit over them and placed the ball to perfection. Without seeming to hit a ball in anger he would have reached thirty and the fielders were scurrying everywhere to try and stop the inevitable. He was a hard task master but demanded nothing of anyone that he wasn't prepared to do himself.
Since retirement as a player he has been prominent in the media and fell foul of it in 2006, when referring to Hashim Amla as a 'terrorist' during what he thought was an advertising break. It was a flip, but undeniably silly and unnecessary comment for which he apologised, but he lost his role with Ten Sports as a result.
We all make mistakes, of course and Jones steered Islamabad United to the Pakistan Super League in 2016 and 2018.
'Maybe' he said on Twitter yesterday, in response to the article. No doubt he would need assurances for the role and that would be understandable. Life would not be dull and his coaching and management style would likely not be to all tastes. It wasn't to that Derbyshire side and having spoken to a few of the players from that time he was the quintessential Marmite player and captain.
And yet...maybe, to use his word, he is what we need at the club. Someone to galvanise and improve the best of the players and weed out those who are not performing. The bottom line is that Dean Jones got results.
We have been through too many good people in too short a time. John Morris was a great spotter of talent and brought some fine players to the club, but was dispensed with mid-match in a move that did little for our reputation or image. Karl Krikken took over, a different management style and one that took us to a championship in 2012 and relegation the next year. To my mind he should have had longer, but Graeme Welch was brought in and seemed to struggle in the move from bowling coach to overall supremo.
Then came Barnett, and you know the rest. There will be some good candidates applying and I am sure they will come from around the globe. I hope that we have had the nous to put feelers out among umpires and Cricket Liaison Officers to get recommendations, because this is a key role and a key time for Derbyshire.
Whoever comes in needs to be given the complete control that the job description suggests and given the time to do the job properly. This will be a tumultuous winter and I expect departures, but the right person appointed might just make a few people think 'this could be interesting' and stay.
Could that be Dean Jones?
Yeah. Maybe.
According to the article, the then Derbyshire chairman, Mike Horton, a year after the Australian had led us to second place in the County Championship, told him that he had to inform half-a-dozen players that they were no longer required at the end of 1997, the year after that fine achievement. The plan was for Dominic Cork to succeed him, as Jones was also deemed surplus to requirements.and he left early, in June.
Having gone from 14th in 1995 to second in 1996, Derbyshire slid to 16th in 1997.
The 'Deano effect' was astonishing and for one golden season he made watching Derbyshire a constant thrill. My Dad and I still talk about some of the games that summer, when a fine batting side seemed capable of chasing down most targets, something not seen since the heyday of John Wright and Peter Kirsten.
Jones remains the best pacer of a one-day innings I have seen. Michael Bevan ran him close, but Dean Jones timed a ball so well and ran so hard that when the field was out there were easy twos. When they came in, he hit over them and placed the ball to perfection. Without seeming to hit a ball in anger he would have reached thirty and the fielders were scurrying everywhere to try and stop the inevitable. He was a hard task master but demanded nothing of anyone that he wasn't prepared to do himself.
Since retirement as a player he has been prominent in the media and fell foul of it in 2006, when referring to Hashim Amla as a 'terrorist' during what he thought was an advertising break. It was a flip, but undeniably silly and unnecessary comment for which he apologised, but he lost his role with Ten Sports as a result.
We all make mistakes, of course and Jones steered Islamabad United to the Pakistan Super League in 2016 and 2018.
'Maybe' he said on Twitter yesterday, in response to the article. No doubt he would need assurances for the role and that would be understandable. Life would not be dull and his coaching and management style would likely not be to all tastes. It wasn't to that Derbyshire side and having spoken to a few of the players from that time he was the quintessential Marmite player and captain.
And yet...maybe, to use his word, he is what we need at the club. Someone to galvanise and improve the best of the players and weed out those who are not performing. The bottom line is that Dean Jones got results.
We have been through too many good people in too short a time. John Morris was a great spotter of talent and brought some fine players to the club, but was dispensed with mid-match in a move that did little for our reputation or image. Karl Krikken took over, a different management style and one that took us to a championship in 2012 and relegation the next year. To my mind he should have had longer, but Graeme Welch was brought in and seemed to struggle in the move from bowling coach to overall supremo.
Then came Barnett, and you know the rest. There will be some good candidates applying and I am sure they will come from around the globe. I hope that we have had the nous to put feelers out among umpires and Cricket Liaison Officers to get recommendations, because this is a key role and a key time for Derbyshire.
Whoever comes in needs to be given the complete control that the job description suggests and given the time to do the job properly. This will be a tumultuous winter and I expect departures, but the right person appointed might just make a few people think 'this could be interesting' and stay.
Could that be Dean Jones?
Yeah. Maybe.
Monday, 23 July 2018
Derbyshire v Northamptonshire day 2
Derbyshire 260 and 147-4 (Slater 53, Madsen 52 not)
Northamptonshire 289 (Wakely 106, Palladino 4-33, Critchley 4-88)
Derbyshire lead by 118 runs
Well, we have quite a game on our hands at Chesterfield.
Derbyshire did well today to limit Northamptonshire to a lead of just 29 runs. That came largely through a fine innings from their skipper, Alex Wakely, with good support from Stephen Crook, but superb bowling from Tony Palladino, who took 4-33 from fifteen overs, kept us very much in the game.
There were wickets too for Matt Critchley, who also took four but for 88 runs in 17 overs, with the other two going, expensively, to Hardus Viljoen, with 2-94.
The score fitted my 'Chesterfield stereotype' of last night and Derbyshire will want to be setting a winning target somewhere north of 250.
That looked very likely when, after Billy Godleman had been caught behind, Wayne Madsen and Ben Slater added 86 for the second wicket. But Slater's dismissal for a fine 53 was followed by that of Alex Hughes and night watchman Dan Wheeldon.
If the tail can wag as healthily as it did in the first innings, we have a good chance of a win here. With Madsen still in, Hosein alongside him and Critchley and Wilson still to come, there is a chance we could do it.
It has to be a team effort though.
With a couple of stand out individual performances in there too.
I look forward to your comments, especially if you were along there today.
Northamptonshire 289 (Wakely 106, Palladino 4-33, Critchley 4-88)
Derbyshire lead by 118 runs
Well, we have quite a game on our hands at Chesterfield.
Derbyshire did well today to limit Northamptonshire to a lead of just 29 runs. That came largely through a fine innings from their skipper, Alex Wakely, with good support from Stephen Crook, but superb bowling from Tony Palladino, who took 4-33 from fifteen overs, kept us very much in the game.
There were wickets too for Matt Critchley, who also took four but for 88 runs in 17 overs, with the other two going, expensively, to Hardus Viljoen, with 2-94.
The score fitted my 'Chesterfield stereotype' of last night and Derbyshire will want to be setting a winning target somewhere north of 250.
That looked very likely when, after Billy Godleman had been caught behind, Wayne Madsen and Ben Slater added 86 for the second wicket. But Slater's dismissal for a fine 53 was followed by that of Alex Hughes and night watchman Dan Wheeldon.
If the tail can wag as healthily as it did in the first innings, we have a good chance of a win here. With Madsen still in, Hosein alongside him and Critchley and Wilson still to come, there is a chance we could do it.
It has to be a team effort though.
With a couple of stand out individual performances in there too.
I look forward to your comments, especially if you were along there today.
Sunday, 22 July 2018
Derbyshire v Northamptonshire day 1
Derbyshire 260 (Wilson 66, Hosein 58, Wheeldon 33 not)
Northamptonshire 74-3 (Palladino 2-12)
Derbyshire lead by 186 runs
There's always a good game of cricket at Chesterfield, when the weather allows it.
Usually the scores are between 250 and 350 and that shows an even battle between bat and ball. You can get wickets if you put your back into it; you can get runs if your technique is sufficiently robust and everything in your game is in fine order.
Thus the opening day of our game against Northamptonshire followed time honoured fashion . There were early alarms when we batted, having won the toss, presumably in the hope of posting 350-400 and bringing the spinners into play later in the game. They may yet do so, but it was mainly the seamers who enjoyed the conditions today.
It was good to see the Slater/Godleman axis restored up top, even if it lasted only two balls this time, and when we slid to 53-4 with our main batsmen back in the pavilion, the portents were not good for a challenging first innings score.
Yet Harvey Hosein, in his first knock of note in the first team this season, showed technique and mental strength to take the score past the hundred mark at lunch, in company with Matt Critchley. The latter left straight after lunch, but Gary Wilson came in to play a key innings at number seven, eventually making top score of 66. It was a plucky and important knock by the vice-captain.
Hosein left to a fine catch for an equally important 58 and there were key late runs from debutant Dan Wheeldon, who made an unbeaten 33 to take the final score to 260, considerably more than looked likely at one stage.
The Sandiacre all-rounder played a more circumspect innings than he is usually known for and also opened the bowling, having taken the place of Ravi Rampaul, who I understand had turned an ankle. The visitors got off to a rollicking start, before the introduction of Tony Palladino, as it so often does, slowed the scoring.
It was he who made the breakthrough, getting the dangerous Ben Duckett caught behind and then bowling the South African wicket-keeper Vasconcelos. When Hardus Viljoen pinned Procter in front for 30, the scales had just about evened up over the day's play.
It leaves the game intriguingly poised. Northamptonshire bat long and it is fair to say that the Derbyshire attack is some way removed from the most experienced they could put out. By the same token, Viljoen could have one of those spells tomorrow (or one of THOSE spells tomorrow), while Palladino could find early morning help and tip things the Derbyshire way.
It sets the game up nicely and, with fine weather forecast, there should be a result in this game.
Which way it goes - your guess is as good as mine.
Northamptonshire 74-3 (Palladino 2-12)
Derbyshire lead by 186 runs
There's always a good game of cricket at Chesterfield, when the weather allows it.
Usually the scores are between 250 and 350 and that shows an even battle between bat and ball. You can get wickets if you put your back into it; you can get runs if your technique is sufficiently robust and everything in your game is in fine order.
Thus the opening day of our game against Northamptonshire followed time honoured fashion . There were early alarms when we batted, having won the toss, presumably in the hope of posting 350-400 and bringing the spinners into play later in the game. They may yet do so, but it was mainly the seamers who enjoyed the conditions today.
It was good to see the Slater/Godleman axis restored up top, even if it lasted only two balls this time, and when we slid to 53-4 with our main batsmen back in the pavilion, the portents were not good for a challenging first innings score.
Yet Harvey Hosein, in his first knock of note in the first team this season, showed technique and mental strength to take the score past the hundred mark at lunch, in company with Matt Critchley. The latter left straight after lunch, but Gary Wilson came in to play a key innings at number seven, eventually making top score of 66. It was a plucky and important knock by the vice-captain.
Hosein left to a fine catch for an equally important 58 and there were key late runs from debutant Dan Wheeldon, who made an unbeaten 33 to take the final score to 260, considerably more than looked likely at one stage.
The Sandiacre all-rounder played a more circumspect innings than he is usually known for and also opened the bowling, having taken the place of Ravi Rampaul, who I understand had turned an ankle. The visitors got off to a rollicking start, before the introduction of Tony Palladino, as it so often does, slowed the scoring.
It was he who made the breakthrough, getting the dangerous Ben Duckett caught behind and then bowling the South African wicket-keeper Vasconcelos. When Hardus Viljoen pinned Procter in front for 30, the scales had just about evened up over the day's play.
It leaves the game intriguingly poised. Northamptonshire bat long and it is fair to say that the Derbyshire attack is some way removed from the most experienced they could put out. By the same token, Viljoen could have one of those spells tomorrow (or one of THOSE spells tomorrow), while Palladino could find early morning help and tip things the Derbyshire way.
It sets the game up nicely and, with fine weather forecast, there should be a result in this game.
Which way it goes - your guess is as good as mine.
Saturday, 21 July 2018
Derbyshire v Northamptonshire County Championship preview
Ah, Chesterfield! How do I love thee? Let me count the ways...
I would have considered body part donation to be down for the start of the Chesterfield Cricket Week, but circumstances alas dictate otherwise. I will be following closely from afar though and look forward to seeing if we can carry on the euphoria of the win against Northamptonshire against the same opponents tomorrow.
We have a fourteen-man squad and its make up suggests that Billy Godleman will take his place at the top of the order. I won't be alone in being pleased about that, because it is where he is seen to best advantage.
There is no Lockie Ferguson, who is being protected from over-bowling for Cricket New Zealand, but there is a place in the squad for both Anuj Dal and Matt McKiernan. In the absence of the overseas player, this is the fourteen:
Godleman
Slater
Madsen
Hughes
Wilson
Critchley
Hosein
Dal
McKiernan
Palladino
Viljoen
Qadri
Wheeldon
Rampaul
The wicket will dictate the final eleven, of course and with Chesterfield often offering help to spin, especially after fairly dry spell, McKiernan could get the nod for a senior four-day debut. Unless Wilson opts not to keep wicket, my guess would be that Hosein, Dal and Wheeldon will miss out, leaving an attack of three seamers plus Alex Hughes and three spinners.
Plenty of options for the skipper in the field!
Northamptonshire's squad has still to be announced, but with a small squad that is somewhat injury-ravaged, it won't be too different to the one that we put to the sword the other night.
If we go with my side, there is an onus laid on the top six to score runs. Both Matt Critchley and Ben Slater will want a good performance on a ground they know well and I hope that we put together another performance to match that of Thursday night.
The weather looks set fair for the match, which is nice, so there should be four days of cricket played at the most scenic of settings.
I'm going for a home win here, even though the visitors big hitters will eye up the short boundaries at Queens Park.
We'll see soon enough.
I would have considered body part donation to be down for the start of the Chesterfield Cricket Week, but circumstances alas dictate otherwise. I will be following closely from afar though and look forward to seeing if we can carry on the euphoria of the win against Northamptonshire against the same opponents tomorrow.
We have a fourteen-man squad and its make up suggests that Billy Godleman will take his place at the top of the order. I won't be alone in being pleased about that, because it is where he is seen to best advantage.
There is no Lockie Ferguson, who is being protected from over-bowling for Cricket New Zealand, but there is a place in the squad for both Anuj Dal and Matt McKiernan. In the absence of the overseas player, this is the fourteen:
Godleman
Slater
Madsen
Hughes
Wilson
Critchley
Hosein
Dal
McKiernan
Palladino
Viljoen
Qadri
Wheeldon
Rampaul
The wicket will dictate the final eleven, of course and with Chesterfield often offering help to spin, especially after fairly dry spell, McKiernan could get the nod for a senior four-day debut. Unless Wilson opts not to keep wicket, my guess would be that Hosein, Dal and Wheeldon will miss out, leaving an attack of three seamers plus Alex Hughes and three spinners.
Plenty of options for the skipper in the field!
Northamptonshire's squad has still to be announced, but with a small squad that is somewhat injury-ravaged, it won't be too different to the one that we put to the sword the other night.
If we go with my side, there is an onus laid on the top six to score runs. Both Matt Critchley and Ben Slater will want a good performance on a ground they know well and I hope that we put together another performance to match that of Thursday night.
The weather looks set fair for the match, which is nice, so there should be four days of cricket played at the most scenic of settings.
I'm going for a home win here, even though the visitors big hitters will eye up the short boundaries at Queens Park.
We'll see soon enough.
Friday, 20 July 2018
About last night...and the Head of Cricket role
It was nice to see a lot of comments after last night's fine performance, for a change. Too often in the past it has been a rush to get in first with criticism and I like it when people are even-handed in the praise and criticism. Thank you for that.
Was it a perfect performance? Is there such a thing? It was very impressive and fully justified the signings of Calum MacLeod and Lockie Ferguson, that is for sure. Every catch that went up in the air was held, some of them far from easy, though they were made to look so. Derbyshire looked up for it in the field, where fast, keen bowling was backed up well.
I thought our hosts looked dreadful. I know there are plenty of examples in cricket history of players not conforming to the athlete stereotype, but I smiled when the commentator said that Ben Duckett looked like he had lost a bit of weight. In that side I would do and they looked less fit than my erstwhile cricket club. Immobile and leaden-footed in the field, they were no match for a Derbyshire side that fielded very well.
I agree with some of you that we should even now be looking at a full-time contract for MacLeod from 2019. He has a sound technique and plays the ball late, his tremendous form coming from how closely he watches the ball. An excellent hockey player, it is no surprise that he and Wayne are the best two sweepers in the club, but it was the range of shots that caught my eye. He's not a 'six over cow corner' hitter, but a proper batsman, who can late cut and glide with the best of them. His fine catch at slip set the tone for the innings too, when Duckett was quickly despatched by the excellent Ferguson.
And irrespective of results before last night, he has been a stellar pick up by John Wright. I would go as far as to say he is the best one-day bowler we have had since the days of Charl Langeveldt. His nigh-metronomic ability to drop the yorker in on target is testimony to a lot of work and to do so while nudging or passing 90mph needs real talent. With Duanne Olivier for the first half of the summer, we have been well-served by our overseas players this year.
It was good to see Hardus Viljoen bowling better last night too. I have been critical of him in recent weeks, simply because he has bowled badly. When you are well paid, the tolerance of supporters to poor performance is less and expectations higher. He did well last night and with Ferguson and Wahab Riaz he made up an impressive pace trio.
Any watching cricket coach with ideas of applying for the Head of Cricket role must have ended the evening well aware that there is talent to work with at the club. Since I have had the question asked a few times, I will tell you who I would want in the role.
In short, ideally, someone new to the club, but my first choice would be John Wright, because I think his calm and genial manner might bring stability at a time when it is needed. He also has the gravitas and CV nonpareil. My second would be Grant Bradburn, because he has made a reputation of doing well with limited resources around the globe, again an asset for this role, while having a useful insight to the club through this T20 stint.
I have no idea if either will apply, but they would be my first two choices.
After that, someone new to Derbyshire. That would exclude Chris Adams and Dean Jones for starters. Both will have their followers and both are extremely able men. They were terrific cricketers too and have had coaching success, but in each case I am just not sure. I think the blunt style of Jones might get a positive early reaction, but could see his abrasive manner being counter-productive over time, just as it was the first time around. One thing he would do would be to get the maximum from players, but I am not sure about him at this time.
With Adams, he had success at Sussex, when the club had decent money to play with, but did less well at Surrey where they had even greater resources. Could he manage on a shoestring budget? I am not sure. He will have his supporters, but I am trying to distance romance from reality
Going back didn't work for John Morris. It didn't work with Karl Krikken either (2012 notwithstanding), while Graeme Welch struggled with the demands of the job as opposed to being a bowling coach. Kim Barnett wasn't given the control he needed to make it work, nor the time.
All these men, good men, can point to success stories, but ultimately all were dismissed. Maybe our expectations for Derbyshire cricket are set too high, but for me we need fresh eyes looking at the club, from top to bottom and back again. An overseas coach would be fine, or a suitably-qualified professional from the county game.
Your thoughts, as always, are appreciated.
Was it a perfect performance? Is there such a thing? It was very impressive and fully justified the signings of Calum MacLeod and Lockie Ferguson, that is for sure. Every catch that went up in the air was held, some of them far from easy, though they were made to look so. Derbyshire looked up for it in the field, where fast, keen bowling was backed up well.
I thought our hosts looked dreadful. I know there are plenty of examples in cricket history of players not conforming to the athlete stereotype, but I smiled when the commentator said that Ben Duckett looked like he had lost a bit of weight. In that side I would do and they looked less fit than my erstwhile cricket club. Immobile and leaden-footed in the field, they were no match for a Derbyshire side that fielded very well.
I agree with some of you that we should even now be looking at a full-time contract for MacLeod from 2019. He has a sound technique and plays the ball late, his tremendous form coming from how closely he watches the ball. An excellent hockey player, it is no surprise that he and Wayne are the best two sweepers in the club, but it was the range of shots that caught my eye. He's not a 'six over cow corner' hitter, but a proper batsman, who can late cut and glide with the best of them. His fine catch at slip set the tone for the innings too, when Duckett was quickly despatched by the excellent Ferguson.
And irrespective of results before last night, he has been a stellar pick up by John Wright. I would go as far as to say he is the best one-day bowler we have had since the days of Charl Langeveldt. His nigh-metronomic ability to drop the yorker in on target is testimony to a lot of work and to do so while nudging or passing 90mph needs real talent. With Duanne Olivier for the first half of the summer, we have been well-served by our overseas players this year.
It was good to see Hardus Viljoen bowling better last night too. I have been critical of him in recent weeks, simply because he has bowled badly. When you are well paid, the tolerance of supporters to poor performance is less and expectations higher. He did well last night and with Ferguson and Wahab Riaz he made up an impressive pace trio.
Any watching cricket coach with ideas of applying for the Head of Cricket role must have ended the evening well aware that there is talent to work with at the club. Since I have had the question asked a few times, I will tell you who I would want in the role.
In short, ideally, someone new to the club, but my first choice would be John Wright, because I think his calm and genial manner might bring stability at a time when it is needed. He also has the gravitas and CV nonpareil. My second would be Grant Bradburn, because he has made a reputation of doing well with limited resources around the globe, again an asset for this role, while having a useful insight to the club through this T20 stint.
I have no idea if either will apply, but they would be my first two choices.
After that, someone new to Derbyshire. That would exclude Chris Adams and Dean Jones for starters. Both will have their followers and both are extremely able men. They were terrific cricketers too and have had coaching success, but in each case I am just not sure. I think the blunt style of Jones might get a positive early reaction, but could see his abrasive manner being counter-productive over time, just as it was the first time around. One thing he would do would be to get the maximum from players, but I am not sure about him at this time.
With Adams, he had success at Sussex, when the club had decent money to play with, but did less well at Surrey where they had even greater resources. Could he manage on a shoestring budget? I am not sure. He will have his supporters, but I am trying to distance romance from reality
Going back didn't work for John Morris. It didn't work with Karl Krikken either (2012 notwithstanding), while Graeme Welch struggled with the demands of the job as opposed to being a bowling coach. Kim Barnett wasn't given the control he needed to make it work, nor the time.
All these men, good men, can point to success stories, but ultimately all were dismissed. Maybe our expectations for Derbyshire cricket are set too high, but for me we need fresh eyes looking at the club, from top to bottom and back again. An overseas coach would be fine, or a suitably-qualified professional from the county game.
Your thoughts, as always, are appreciated.
Thursday, 19 July 2018
Northamptonshire V Derbyshire Vitality Blast
Too often over the years we have watched Derbyshire fluff their lines when it came to a live TV performance. It was if overcome by the spirit of Greta Garbo, reluctant in the spotlight in her later years.
Yet tonight they gave a virtuoso performance, a tour de force if you will and ran out easy winners against our hosts, who shared bottom place before this game.
Very thoughtfully they prepared a fast and bouncy track for arguably the quickest attack in the country and suffered as a consequence.
It might all have been academic but for the best batting performance of the competition so far, with the magnificent Calum MacLeod scoring a century of rare quality. While the hapless Sky commentators (who were calling him Cameron at one stage) tried to rationalise it as a poor attack, MacLeod hit so cleanly that its quality didn't matter. Nor was it slogging, with deft glances and clean sweeps amid an array all round the wicket.
The tempo was set by Billy Godleman, wearing one of Lockie Ferguson's tops. He hit the first ball for four and gave the innings a great base, built on by MacLeod and Wayne Madsen. Their century stand took the innings to a total of dominance and a late sparkle from Matt Critchley meant we had a defendable score for once.
In reply our hosts never got going. The hugely impressive Ferguson removed the dangerous Duckett with his first ball and bowled a spell in which his fastest ball was 93.6mph. This was missed by the commentators who were prattling on about The Open at the time but he was the quickest of the fast bowling trio, with Viljoen next. Hardus did well tonight and it was a welcome return to form.
So too did Ravi Rampaul who showed his nous at the death and got more movement than anyone on the night. Yet Alex Hughes deserves mention for four wickets and a canny spell when he varied his pace and length to great effect.
The bowlers were well supported in the field and Anuj Dal was especially impressive. It looked a better team and the fielding was in marked contrast to Northamptonshire, whose unfit looking squad were pedestrian in comparison.
Fair play all round and well done to those concerned. I thought Gary Wilson skippered the team well and switched his bowlers around at the right times.
It was good to watch and makes you wonder why we can't do that more often. They will face sterner tests, but at least are up and running.
In closing, I have to say that the Sky commentary team was perhaps the worst I have heard yet. Mark Butcher seemed to spend all night trying to be smart with Ebony Rainford-Brent and neither seemed to have a clue what was happening. Rob Key was as bad and it confirmed why I usually watch with the sound down.
They have a long way to improve.
Derbyshire showed that they have it in them tonight. And it was a pleasure to watch.
Well done guys.
Accountability, transparency and governance - postscript
To illustrate what I referred to earlier, I'd like to offer you the Yorkshire T20 game at Headingley.
You will recall that this was originally scheduled for July 13, but was switched from that date to Monday 30 July, so that fans would be able to see the England World Cup match that was being played that evening.
Now Gloucestershire decided that the game they had on that date would still be played, but with a 3pm start. It may have inconvenienced a few, but they felt that the game could be played and everyone could be home or in the bar to watch the football afterwards.
We - I would think to Yorkshire's mirth - agreed to switch the date completely. A decision almost certainly made by no one on the cricket side, as Kim Barnett had left by that point. Yet whether that decision was made at Board level, or by the Chief Executive, it means that Derbyshire will play not a weakened Yorkshire, but one that will have David Willey, Adil Rashid, Liam Plunkett and Kane Williamson available for selection.
Had we had a greater cricket input on the board, the decision would surely have been made to change the time. Inconvenience a few and lose some of the potential gate, but maximise Derbyshire's chances of winning by not playing against their big guns. Dig our heels in and say no. So what if they are not happy?
It annoys and frustrates me to see that kind of thing happening. We talk about percentages being the difference between winning and losing a cricket match.
Well, there's a few per cent swung against us before we start.
You will recall that this was originally scheduled for July 13, but was switched from that date to Monday 30 July, so that fans would be able to see the England World Cup match that was being played that evening.
Now Gloucestershire decided that the game they had on that date would still be played, but with a 3pm start. It may have inconvenienced a few, but they felt that the game could be played and everyone could be home or in the bar to watch the football afterwards.
We - I would think to Yorkshire's mirth - agreed to switch the date completely. A decision almost certainly made by no one on the cricket side, as Kim Barnett had left by that point. Yet whether that decision was made at Board level, or by the Chief Executive, it means that Derbyshire will play not a weakened Yorkshire, but one that will have David Willey, Adil Rashid, Liam Plunkett and Kane Williamson available for selection.
Had we had a greater cricket input on the board, the decision would surely have been made to change the time. Inconvenience a few and lose some of the potential gate, but maximise Derbyshire's chances of winning by not playing against their big guns. Dig our heels in and say no. So what if they are not happy?
It annoys and frustrates me to see that kind of thing happening. We talk about percentages being the difference between winning and losing a cricket match.
Well, there's a few per cent swung against us before we start.
Accountability, transparency and governance
Three words keep recurring in many of your recent comments, phone calls, and emails about the current issues concerning Derbyshire cricket. Those words are ‘accountability’, ‘transparency’ and ‘governance’.
There is widespread anxiety about the club’s current state. It is fuelled by recent dreadful results and performances, of course, but there seems to be a sense that poor performance on the pitch is closely connected with difficulties off it. We don’t know what is going on behind the scenes, and frankly we don’t need to. It has become abundantly clear that all is not well with Derbyshire cricket, and has not been for years. Since 2012, in fact, when the bright new dawn too quickly became a dark and threatening day.
At least we have a proposed new structure in place and there will soon be a new Head of Cricket who will, we all hope, galvanise our club.
That's fine and dandy, but it’s vital to get this appointment right, and this again raises issues of who is responsible for that appointment, and the process that is followed. That process needs to be transparent and sound, taken by people who are accountable for the outcome. If it isn’t, my concern is that the problems we have been experiencing will soon recur.
There will be some very good people who apply for the role of Head of Cricket, yet frustratingly one of the best-qualified candidates, Kim Barnett, is not in the running.
A look at the job description suggests that we MIGHT have things right this time, the successful applicant having budgetary responsibility, identification of new players and the sports science personnel under his umbrella. That pitch preparation is linked in is also a good idea. There are the requisite skills being demanded and responsibilities being pointed out, but I have a big concern here
Who is doing the interviewing?
When one is recruiting for a senior role, it is a major decision for any organisation. It is of paramount importance that we get this appointment right, because we appear to be on the verge of yet another period of instability. If the panel is to comprise current board members, there is only Colin Tunnicliffe on it with any experience of playing first class cricket. He could quite easily be outvoted on a decision by people with limited experience of the game at that level, who opt for an easy life or a popular choice.
Contrast this with Leicestershire, a club with similarly limited resources that was a laughing stock not long ago. They are still not a major force, but unlike us, they seem to be making real progress. Can it be a coincidence that their Chief Executive was himself a first class cricketer, as well as someone with management expertise? Of course, we need board members with skills other than playing cricket, but if accountability and governance are to mean anything, then the present board HAS to be judged by results on the pitch, just as much as the players and the coach. And ever since we gained promotion in 2012, our results on the pitch have been largely dire.
Whoever interviews for this crucial role, there should be more than a token representation from the cricket side. Could the Professional Cricketers Association, for example, be involved? I think this is at least worth considering, to ensure the 'transparency' I have mentioned before. An alternative would be to involve a working party of former players for the club who have its best interests at heart and who have a good understanding of what it takes to achieve success in first class cricket.
Because otherwise it seems likely that the outcome is already a foregone conclusion, and the job will go to one of two candidates, Mal Loye or Chris Adams.
Mal has done excellent work with the club's academy and a lot of talented young players are starting to emerge. An internal appointment may sometimes be the right one, as long as it is made with sufficient transparency and accountability. If it isn’t, it becomes not only the easy option, but an option that lacks credibility – and that would handicap, and do a disservice to, the man appointed.
Likewise Adams would be the romantic appointment, the local boy done good who comes home to lead us to the promised land, just like he did at Sussex. Intriguingly, he is gaining support on Twitter already. But how would it work in the long run – and how long would he stay with us?
Chris Adams was a terrific cricketer, a combative player who translated that into a competitive edge and used it to become a fine captain, then coach who pulled together a sleepy club at Sussex and made them a force to be reckoned with. But given the concerns that supporters are expressing about accountability and governance at the club, he may well struggle to repeat that fine achievement. He's a proud man, one of integrity and he will want to do things his way. Rightly so, if he is publicly accountable for the club's record and reputation. He is a good man and was a terrific player, but so were Karl Krikken, Graeme Welch and Kim Barnett and look how that ended.
This will be a massive winter for Derbyshire and it needs to be right, from the very top down to the bottom. You don't need to be Sherlock Holmes to work out from various comments in social media of late that things are awry.
I want a Head of Cricket elected by transparent process that commands respect and confidence among the supporters. If this results in the appointment of Mal or Chris, fine. But an 'easy fix' simply won’t work. I want him selected and ultimately to be a part of a board that is fit for CRICKETING purpose and that understands the game is more than just pushing numbers around a spreadsheet.
So I’d like to see a commitment on the part of board members to spend a specified minimum amount of the time watching our team. That way, they can see the performances for themselves, and also connect with supporters in a way that my postbag suggests simply isn’t happening at present.
There are eminently qualified, extremely able people who are steeped in Derbyshire cricket who can contribute a great deal to the club board.
When the time for election comes in February, we need more of them involved.
What do you think?
Wednesday, 18 July 2018
Northamptonshire v Derbyshire preview
Played four, lost four, live on Sky tomorrow evening, against a side in the same position.
What could possibly go wrong?
Well, we can't get any worse than having lost all of our games, so you could look on tomorrow as the start of the good times, if you are of an optimistic bent, or one where the frailties of the current set up are exposed to the nation, if you are less positively inclined.
Tomorrow we come up against a batting line up of such quality that their current plight is surprising. If you put it together with our bowling, there would be the nucleus of a pretty decent team, yet their situation mirrors our own and suggests that appearances can indeed be deceptive.
There is a recall for Billy Godleman to the Derbyshire fifteen tomorrow and I won't even try to call a final eleven. Northampton used to be a spinner's paradise but more often favours seam these days, so the wicket tomorrow will be the driver for the final eleven. As I wrote the other day, we have missed another left-hander at the top of the order, but we have also seemed a bowler light. Read into it as you will, but the final eleven will be from:
Slater, MacLeod, Godleman, Madsen, Hughes, Critchley, Smit, Wilson, Viljoen, Rampaul, Sharif, Dal, Brodrick, Ferguson, McKiernan
The home side's squad is as follows:
Levi, Duckett, Cobb, Wakely, Coetzer, Crook, Procter, Prasanna, Kleinveldt, White, Hutton, Sanderson, Buck, Vasconcelos
Fingers crossed we can get ourselves off the mark, albeit against a side that has punched above its weight in this format in recent years.
As always, I wish the boys luck and hope that they acquit themselves well.
No doubt Sky's commentary team will have plenty to say, one way or another.
What could possibly go wrong?
Well, we can't get any worse than having lost all of our games, so you could look on tomorrow as the start of the good times, if you are of an optimistic bent, or one where the frailties of the current set up are exposed to the nation, if you are less positively inclined.
Tomorrow we come up against a batting line up of such quality that their current plight is surprising. If you put it together with our bowling, there would be the nucleus of a pretty decent team, yet their situation mirrors our own and suggests that appearances can indeed be deceptive.
There is a recall for Billy Godleman to the Derbyshire fifteen tomorrow and I won't even try to call a final eleven. Northampton used to be a spinner's paradise but more often favours seam these days, so the wicket tomorrow will be the driver for the final eleven. As I wrote the other day, we have missed another left-hander at the top of the order, but we have also seemed a bowler light. Read into it as you will, but the final eleven will be from:
Slater, MacLeod, Godleman, Madsen, Hughes, Critchley, Smit, Wilson, Viljoen, Rampaul, Sharif, Dal, Brodrick, Ferguson, McKiernan
The home side's squad is as follows:
Levi, Duckett, Cobb, Wakely, Coetzer, Crook, Procter, Prasanna, Kleinveldt, White, Hutton, Sanderson, Buck, Vasconcelos
Fingers crossed we can get ourselves off the mark, albeit against a side that has punched above its weight in this format in recent years.
As always, I wish the boys luck and hope that they acquit themselves well.
No doubt Sky's commentary team will have plenty to say, one way or another.
Tuesday, 17 July 2018
Better news as Conners makes England under-19 debut
It has been a rough week or two for Derbyshire, but the news that Sam Conners has joined Alfie Gleadall in being selected for England under-19s this summer is encouraging.
I have seen them both in action and both are lads with talent. Gleadall is the fastest, but will need to not push his young body too much in that respect as he grows. It was a problem we had with Will Davis, who has gone from 'boy most likely to' to 'boy who may not make it' in two summers where he has played little cricket.
When I saw Will at Belper recently, his pace had dropped considerably. Quick enough to take wickets at second team level, but without, perhaps, the resilience to make it, mentally and physically. We will see, but professional sport is unforgiving and both Gleadall and Conners appear to have overtaken him at this stage.
Conners isn't as quick as Gleadall, at least from the boundary edge it appears that way, but he is quick enough to be handy and zips it around. Both of them are young enough to learn and develop still further, which is the important thing.
It is also why today's news that Lockie Ferguson will stay to the end of the summer is encouraging. He can help the lads in his time with us and they can tap into the psyche of the fast bowler from New Zealand.
I'll be back tomorrow with a preview of our televised game at Northampton on Thursday.
Both sides are currently winless, so something has to give..
I have seen them both in action and both are lads with talent. Gleadall is the fastest, but will need to not push his young body too much in that respect as he grows. It was a problem we had with Will Davis, who has gone from 'boy most likely to' to 'boy who may not make it' in two summers where he has played little cricket.
When I saw Will at Belper recently, his pace had dropped considerably. Quick enough to take wickets at second team level, but without, perhaps, the resilience to make it, mentally and physically. We will see, but professional sport is unforgiving and both Gleadall and Conners appear to have overtaken him at this stage.
Conners isn't as quick as Gleadall, at least from the boundary edge it appears that way, but he is quick enough to be handy and zips it around. Both of them are young enough to learn and develop still further, which is the important thing.
It is also why today's news that Lockie Ferguson will stay to the end of the summer is encouraging. He can help the lads in his time with us and they can tap into the psyche of the fast bowler from New Zealand.
I'll be back tomorrow with a preview of our televised game at Northampton on Thursday.
Both sides are currently winless, so something has to give..
Sunday, 15 July 2018
Northampton beckons
There is undoubtedly a parallel universe in which Derbyshire's game against Northamptonshire on Thursday night would be a table-topping affair, with the winner getting the spoils of top place in the albeit strong northern section.
Except in the real one, you couldn't be further from the truth.
Northamptonshire have had their struggles, with injuries to key personnel coupled with poor form leaving them, like Derbyshire, without a win in four matches.
Mind you, their problems seem inconsequential compared to ours.
Yesterday was very disheartening for me and, from the mailbag, for many of you too. Yet it was only the latest of a series of such disappointments and right now, more than at any point in my years of writing this blog, I struggle with the club's direction.
Our four-day captain doesn't make the T20 squad. Our highly-paid Kolpak signing isn't in the side either. Our T20 captain is, but really shouldn't be on performances, then astonishes many people by saying that yesterday's loss was down to the respective power plays. To some extent he is right, but far better had he said 'and by the way, I made a pig's ear of the run chase and I am also accountable'.
We leave out a young lad who has been one of the brighter aspects of the T20 so far in Anuj Dal, continue to pick two wicket-keepers and also another Kolpak in Ravi Rampaul whose better days appear sadly to be behind him. This imbalance leaves us either a batsman or a bowler short, whatever the selection. We put a slogger in at three yesterday, which didn't work and never seemed likely to do, as I doubt Riaz has batted that high in his career. We bring in, granted with success, Calum MacLeod but in three matches have had him at three, five and two in the order.
What the heck is going on?
Part of last year's success was in consistency of selection. We had left-right-left-right at the top of the order, we had good balance between bat and ball and we played as a team. We used power plays effectively, we bowled to a plan, we batted to a plan. This year's version appears to have been destroyed before anyone got to see it and things are apparently being winged from day to day. I know I am doing a disservice, but it is how things appear to the many supporters around the country.
Four games in, our hopes of T20 qualification appear as likely as mine of coming first in the Grand National as the winning horse. So we need to see if there are possibilities for the future, as well as having a chance of winning a game or two.
My team for the next few games would be:
Slater
MacLeod
Hughes
Madsen
Dal
Critchley
Smit
McKiernan
Riaz
Sharif
Ferguson
I'm well aware that the omission of Viljoen, Wilson, Rampaul and Godleman sees well over a quarter of a million in salaries on the sidelines. Yet I struggle to fit any of them into a first choice side in this format, on current form. Which tells you all you need to know on why we are struggling. Will the coach be big enough to tell the skipper that he isn't cutting the mustard? Will the captain be big enough to fall on his sword and say he shouldn't be picked? Who is making the calls in this format?
This year Gary Wilson has made 17 (from 14 balls at the death) 28 (28) 6 (6) and 6(11). 57 runs from 59 balls. If he is to play it must be instead of Daryn Smit, a far better keeper, who has made 1 (1) 15 (9) and 28 (24) - 44 runs from 34 balls. I know which way I would go...
Will we win matches with that side? I don't know, but we can't lose more than we are at present. And we might at least get some pointers for the future from a season that has gone from one full of promise to annus horribilis.
How different might it have been with Mitchell Santner and Luis Reece in the side? Quite a lot, because two such all-rounders in any side would enhance it. Recent history may then have been considerably different.
We'll never know, will we?
Except in the real one, you couldn't be further from the truth.
Northamptonshire have had their struggles, with injuries to key personnel coupled with poor form leaving them, like Derbyshire, without a win in four matches.
Mind you, their problems seem inconsequential compared to ours.
Yesterday was very disheartening for me and, from the mailbag, for many of you too. Yet it was only the latest of a series of such disappointments and right now, more than at any point in my years of writing this blog, I struggle with the club's direction.
Our four-day captain doesn't make the T20 squad. Our highly-paid Kolpak signing isn't in the side either. Our T20 captain is, but really shouldn't be on performances, then astonishes many people by saying that yesterday's loss was down to the respective power plays. To some extent he is right, but far better had he said 'and by the way, I made a pig's ear of the run chase and I am also accountable'.
We leave out a young lad who has been one of the brighter aspects of the T20 so far in Anuj Dal, continue to pick two wicket-keepers and also another Kolpak in Ravi Rampaul whose better days appear sadly to be behind him. This imbalance leaves us either a batsman or a bowler short, whatever the selection. We put a slogger in at three yesterday, which didn't work and never seemed likely to do, as I doubt Riaz has batted that high in his career. We bring in, granted with success, Calum MacLeod but in three matches have had him at three, five and two in the order.
What the heck is going on?
Part of last year's success was in consistency of selection. We had left-right-left-right at the top of the order, we had good balance between bat and ball and we played as a team. We used power plays effectively, we bowled to a plan, we batted to a plan. This year's version appears to have been destroyed before anyone got to see it and things are apparently being winged from day to day. I know I am doing a disservice, but it is how things appear to the many supporters around the country.
Four games in, our hopes of T20 qualification appear as likely as mine of coming first in the Grand National as the winning horse. So we need to see if there are possibilities for the future, as well as having a chance of winning a game or two.
My team for the next few games would be:
Slater
MacLeod
Hughes
Madsen
Dal
Critchley
Smit
McKiernan
Riaz
Sharif
Ferguson
I'm well aware that the omission of Viljoen, Wilson, Rampaul and Godleman sees well over a quarter of a million in salaries on the sidelines. Yet I struggle to fit any of them into a first choice side in this format, on current form. Which tells you all you need to know on why we are struggling. Will the coach be big enough to tell the skipper that he isn't cutting the mustard? Will the captain be big enough to fall on his sword and say he shouldn't be picked? Who is making the calls in this format?
This year Gary Wilson has made 17 (from 14 balls at the death) 28 (28) 6 (6) and 6(11). 57 runs from 59 balls. If he is to play it must be instead of Daryn Smit, a far better keeper, who has made 1 (1) 15 (9) and 28 (24) - 44 runs from 34 balls. I know which way I would go...
Will we win matches with that side? I don't know, but we can't lose more than we are at present. And we might at least get some pointers for the future from a season that has gone from one full of promise to annus horribilis.
How different might it have been with Mitchell Santner and Luis Reece in the side? Quite a lot, because two such all-rounders in any side would enhance it. Recent history may then have been considerably different.
We'll never know, will we?
Saturday, 14 July 2018
Lancashire v Derbyshire Vitality Blast
A fourth straight defeat for Derbyshire today at Old Trafford and this one, for me, ranks the worst of the lot in this year's Vitality Blast.
We SHOULD have chased down 158 in twenty overs, after the bowlers had done a good job in pulling Lancashire back from a good start. There was an overall good effort from the bowling unit in limiting the home side, when they looked set for a total nearer 200 at one point. Special praise for Matt McKiernan in a promising debut, while Matt Critchley held a stunning caught and bowled. Riaz and Ferguson again did well, as did Alex Hughes, but we fell embarrassingly short on 145-7.
At one point, with Wayne Madsen and Calum MacLeod going well, I thought we might win our first match of the season. Yet the dismissal of MacLeod brought in Gary Wilson, who batted twelve balls for just six runs.
Some might say that Daryn Smit and Matt Critchley should have got us home, but by the time they came together the run rate had climbed to over ten an over, their spinners choking our advance just as ours had done to them. Yet Wilson came in at 81-3 in ten overs, and when he was out, at the start of the fifteenth, we had added only fifteen runs more. We needed 77 from the last ten overs which came down to 62 from the last six...
I accept he is out of nick, and has been for some time. So why, in that case, is he playing, and why is he batting that high in the order? With Critchley, Hughes and McKiernan in the pavilion, all of who can hit a ball, it made no sense at all.
For me, unless a big decision is made to drop the captain, we won't win many matches in this competition and will be battling Northamptonshire for the wooden spoon. If we cannot chase this sort of total, wins are going to prove very elusive.
Even more disappointing was the omission of Anuj Dal. Unless the lad was injured or unwell, it made no sense to omit a player who has done better than most in two appearances this year.
Genuinely baffled and hugely disappointed tonight.
There's nothing more to say, I'm afraid.
We SHOULD have chased down 158 in twenty overs, after the bowlers had done a good job in pulling Lancashire back from a good start. There was an overall good effort from the bowling unit in limiting the home side, when they looked set for a total nearer 200 at one point. Special praise for Matt McKiernan in a promising debut, while Matt Critchley held a stunning caught and bowled. Riaz and Ferguson again did well, as did Alex Hughes, but we fell embarrassingly short on 145-7.
At one point, with Wayne Madsen and Calum MacLeod going well, I thought we might win our first match of the season. Yet the dismissal of MacLeod brought in Gary Wilson, who batted twelve balls for just six runs.
Some might say that Daryn Smit and Matt Critchley should have got us home, but by the time they came together the run rate had climbed to over ten an over, their spinners choking our advance just as ours had done to them. Yet Wilson came in at 81-3 in ten overs, and when he was out, at the start of the fifteenth, we had added only fifteen runs more. We needed 77 from the last ten overs which came down to 62 from the last six...
I accept he is out of nick, and has been for some time. So why, in that case, is he playing, and why is he batting that high in the order? With Critchley, Hughes and McKiernan in the pavilion, all of who can hit a ball, it made no sense at all.
For me, unless a big decision is made to drop the captain, we won't win many matches in this competition and will be battling Northamptonshire for the wooden spoon. If we cannot chase this sort of total, wins are going to prove very elusive.
Even more disappointing was the omission of Anuj Dal. Unless the lad was injured or unwell, it made no sense to omit a player who has done better than most in two appearances this year.
Genuinely baffled and hugely disappointed tonight.
There's nothing more to say, I'm afraid.
Derbyshire v Nottinghamshire Vitality Blast
With the exception of Lockie Ferguson and Calum MacLeod, there is no Derbyshire player will look back on last night's local derby with Nottinghamshire with any pride.
The bottom line is that this Derbyshire side, in the absence of Luis Reece, looks short of a bowler whichever eleven takes the field, but also looks short of around three batsmen. The excellent streams provided by the county have enabled me to see most of the games so far and at no point has our batting looked like being able to score anywhere near the runs we need to win matches at this level. Similarly the bowling, far from being the potent force we hoped for, looks fairly run of the mill.
Viljoen, a high cost Kolpak signing, is so unimpressive in the nets that he isn't getting picked, Rampaul looks a considerable distance from a bowler who has played this format around the world and Critchley looks shorn of confidence with bat and ball. Alex Hughes bowled well though, as he often does in this format, but in that company he shouldn't be a stand out.
Meanwhile Wahib Riaz is OK, but I wouldn't probably go further than that. He doesn't look like he will run through a side any time soon and, while rhythmic, hasn't yet suggested that the pace is still there. That is in direct contrast to Lockie Ferguson, who came as perhaps the most 'under the radar' overseas signing we have made, but looks a very astute piece of work from John Wright.
Ferguson has a beautifully disguised slower yorker, but a blindingly quick fast one, which in turn accounted for three Nottinghamshire batsmen last night. This could have been a closer game had he been able to bowl more, as he troubled Dan Christian, but the visiting captain and Tom Moores took Nottinghamshire to a total that last year would have been within our compass. This year, it was seriously outwith it.
Ben Slater set off like a train, but as too often happens when he does he got out and skied a catch to square leg. At no point thereafter did we look remotely like chasing down the required total. Alex Hughes came in at three but was run out when oddly running on a curve, rather than straight, Matt Critchley looked a little better but didn't last long, while even Wayne Madsen looked out of touch and made only six from 14 balls.
Gary Wilson doesn't look like scoring runs any time soon and didn't. The captaincy must be the only thing keeping him in this side, as his slowness between the wickets and in the field is far from an asset to it. For me, he looks less likely to score runs than Daryn Smit, a far superior keeper, so should also hand over the captaincy to the South African. Anuj Dal, fresh from scoring 60 from 30 balls for the second team, was oddly kept back to number eight, again looked inventive but was out in a vain attempt at a hopeless pursuit.
MacLeod looked a good player again, but would have been better at three than five. With limited options available, and another game this afternoon at Old Trafford, my side against Lancashire would be as follows:
Slater
Dal
MacLeod
Madsen
Hughes
Critchley
Smit
McKiernan
Riaz
Ferguson
Rampaul
Derbyshire are a better side and a better collection of individuals than they are showing at present, but three defeats from three matches, together with far too much self-inflicted damage, is leaving them well adrift of the rest of this group.
Sadly, it is hard to see it improving any time soon, unless someone produces something very special.
The bottom line is that this Derbyshire side, in the absence of Luis Reece, looks short of a bowler whichever eleven takes the field, but also looks short of around three batsmen. The excellent streams provided by the county have enabled me to see most of the games so far and at no point has our batting looked like being able to score anywhere near the runs we need to win matches at this level. Similarly the bowling, far from being the potent force we hoped for, looks fairly run of the mill.
Viljoen, a high cost Kolpak signing, is so unimpressive in the nets that he isn't getting picked, Rampaul looks a considerable distance from a bowler who has played this format around the world and Critchley looks shorn of confidence with bat and ball. Alex Hughes bowled well though, as he often does in this format, but in that company he shouldn't be a stand out.
Meanwhile Wahib Riaz is OK, but I wouldn't probably go further than that. He doesn't look like he will run through a side any time soon and, while rhythmic, hasn't yet suggested that the pace is still there. That is in direct contrast to Lockie Ferguson, who came as perhaps the most 'under the radar' overseas signing we have made, but looks a very astute piece of work from John Wright.
Ferguson has a beautifully disguised slower yorker, but a blindingly quick fast one, which in turn accounted for three Nottinghamshire batsmen last night. This could have been a closer game had he been able to bowl more, as he troubled Dan Christian, but the visiting captain and Tom Moores took Nottinghamshire to a total that last year would have been within our compass. This year, it was seriously outwith it.
Ben Slater set off like a train, but as too often happens when he does he got out and skied a catch to square leg. At no point thereafter did we look remotely like chasing down the required total. Alex Hughes came in at three but was run out when oddly running on a curve, rather than straight, Matt Critchley looked a little better but didn't last long, while even Wayne Madsen looked out of touch and made only six from 14 balls.
Gary Wilson doesn't look like scoring runs any time soon and didn't. The captaincy must be the only thing keeping him in this side, as his slowness between the wickets and in the field is far from an asset to it. For me, he looks less likely to score runs than Daryn Smit, a far superior keeper, so should also hand over the captaincy to the South African. Anuj Dal, fresh from scoring 60 from 30 balls for the second team, was oddly kept back to number eight, again looked inventive but was out in a vain attempt at a hopeless pursuit.
MacLeod looked a good player again, but would have been better at three than five. With limited options available, and another game this afternoon at Old Trafford, my side against Lancashire would be as follows:
Slater
Dal
MacLeod
Madsen
Hughes
Critchley
Smit
McKiernan
Riaz
Ferguson
Rampaul
Derbyshire are a better side and a better collection of individuals than they are showing at present, but three defeats from three matches, together with far too much self-inflicted damage, is leaving them well adrift of the rest of this group.
Sadly, it is hard to see it improving any time soon, unless someone produces something very special.
Thursday, 12 July 2018
Greetings from Berwick on Tweed
Good morning to all of you, no doubt a little down after England's World Cup exit last night in many cases. We watched the game in the local golf club in Berwick on Tweed, where we are on holiday, which hopefully explains my silence over the past day or two. It has been fairly quiet by recent standards at the cricket, so I have taken the time out to spend with my family.
Still there's cricket action to look forward to tomorrow, as we entertain Nottinghamshire at the 3aaa County Ground. We will need to be a lot more impressive with the bat than we have been to get anything from this game and while I believe we would be better chasing, rather than setting a target, we haven't yet taken anywhere near the requisite number of runs from the Powerplay to get far in this competition.
There is little can be done with the batting either, except maybe tweak the order. Perhaps it is time for Matt Critchley to drop down and let someone else open with Ben Slater, but he remains our best chance of getting off to a flyer. Perhaps the return of Hardus Viljoen would give us the fifth bowler we missed against Worcestershire, but only if he bowls like someone who can see where the stumps actually are. Then there's the wicket-keeping position, which is filled well by Daryn Smit but means that Gary Wilson, the captain, is in the field where he is some way from an asset.
Would John Wright be bold enough to drop his captain? I haven't been impressed by Wilson's batting so far and a bold move would be to give the role to Smit, who made a good fist of it last year when Wilson was on Ireland duty. They could alternatively look at Alex Hughes again, but either way there is plenty to occupy the minds of the coaches between times.
We'll find out soon enough but one man who will not be involved is Chesney Hughes, despite a second big century in successive matches for the second team. I feel for him and for Tom Wood, both playing and doing well for the second team after being released previously by Derbyshire, but it would be a big step for either to be re-engaged. Perhaps Ches is older and wiser now, more in touch with his game than he was and certainly lighter than before. Yet re-signing would be an admission of an earlier error in some eyes, even if both players have improved.
We will see what the winter brings, but the most important thing, for me, is to ensure that all of our current players are on deals that guarantees their staying at Derbyshire to the end of and hopefully beyond their current deals. Whether contracted or not, we all know that players move for greater opportunity or reward and that counties have previously bought out contracts of players they want to sign. It would be careless in the extreme if we were to lose any of the young players who offer promise for the future, as reports suggest is the case with Ben Slater.
On the likes of Ben, Matt Critchley and Luis Reece the club's future depends and we need to do the right thing by all of them to ward off the usual predators.
Still there's cricket action to look forward to tomorrow, as we entertain Nottinghamshire at the 3aaa County Ground. We will need to be a lot more impressive with the bat than we have been to get anything from this game and while I believe we would be better chasing, rather than setting a target, we haven't yet taken anywhere near the requisite number of runs from the Powerplay to get far in this competition.
There is little can be done with the batting either, except maybe tweak the order. Perhaps it is time for Matt Critchley to drop down and let someone else open with Ben Slater, but he remains our best chance of getting off to a flyer. Perhaps the return of Hardus Viljoen would give us the fifth bowler we missed against Worcestershire, but only if he bowls like someone who can see where the stumps actually are. Then there's the wicket-keeping position, which is filled well by Daryn Smit but means that Gary Wilson, the captain, is in the field where he is some way from an asset.
Would John Wright be bold enough to drop his captain? I haven't been impressed by Wilson's batting so far and a bold move would be to give the role to Smit, who made a good fist of it last year when Wilson was on Ireland duty. They could alternatively look at Alex Hughes again, but either way there is plenty to occupy the minds of the coaches between times.
We'll find out soon enough but one man who will not be involved is Chesney Hughes, despite a second big century in successive matches for the second team. I feel for him and for Tom Wood, both playing and doing well for the second team after being released previously by Derbyshire, but it would be a big step for either to be re-engaged. Perhaps Ches is older and wiser now, more in touch with his game than he was and certainly lighter than before. Yet re-signing would be an admission of an earlier error in some eyes, even if both players have improved.
We will see what the winter brings, but the most important thing, for me, is to ensure that all of our current players are on deals that guarantees their staying at Derbyshire to the end of and hopefully beyond their current deals. Whether contracted or not, we all know that players move for greater opportunity or reward and that counties have previously bought out contracts of players they want to sign. It would be careless in the extreme if we were to lose any of the young players who offer promise for the future, as reports suggest is the case with Ben Slater.
On the likes of Ben, Matt Critchley and Luis Reece the club's future depends and we need to do the right thing by all of them to ward off the usual predators.
Sunday, 8 July 2018
Derbyshire v Worcestershire Vitality Blast
Derbyshire 135-9 (Dal 35, Slater 33)
Worcestershire 136-4 (Guptill 65, Rampaul 2-24, Ferguson 2-25)
Worcestershire won by six wickets
I thought Derbyshire did much better today, against the side that top the division, than they did against Lancashire the other night.
We still lost, but to take the game to the penultimate over when we only managed a paltry 135-9 was a pretty good effort.
I thought Ravi Rampaul bowled splendidly and Lockie Ferguson was not far behind him, putting in a few balls of searing pace. Each was rewarded with two wickets and although Wahab Riaz was wicketless, he bowled with fine control. The attack looked a handful, and mention should be made of a good spell by Alex Hughes too. Make no mistake, Worcestershire's top three is as strong as any in the country and you could even extend that to the top six. Good batsmen keep coming.
Matt Critchley and Wayne Madsen were expensive and the former doesn't look himself at present, either with bat or ball. Yet for all the good efforts of those named, Worcestershire never got out of second gear and really didn't need to.
For the second game running our innings was a dysfunctional mess. Critchley holed out after finding the field several times, MacLeod played a shot that would have been deemed genius had it worked but just looked sloppy, while Madsen top edged and was out third ball. So heavily reliant are we on Wayne that the game looked lost at that point.
Ben Slater batted well until he walked past one from D'Oliveira, while Gary Wilson made 28 at a run a ball but never hinted at playing an innings that might give us a chance, nor of scoring quickly enough to do so.
The one bright spot was the debutant, Anuj Dal, who confirmed the good impression he had made on me in the second team with strokes of wristy improvisation that pleased the aesthetes and lovers of improvisation alike. He must have cemented a place in the side with this display and, on his 22nd birthday. looked a player with a decent future.
Most telling today was the omission of Hardus Viljoen, a big call by John Wright, but one against which it is impossible to raise an argument. He was warming up, so was presumably not injured, but I said the other night that I failed to see a role for him in this team and stick by it.
Omitting the highest paid player in the club seemed to bring others together and the one gratifying aspect of the defeat was the team spirit shown, that made a very good opposition work hard for a modest target.
Played two, both at home, lost two. Not the form of a side that is going far in this competition, to be honest, but I am gradually writing off this season as one where too much is happening behind the scenes for my peace of mind.
Every day seems to bring something else that is newsworthy, but sadly not cricket-related, whether it is queues for beers, Twitter spats or an employee being paid less than minimum wage. That's without mentioning the departure of the Head of Cricket. We don't have far to look for trouble right now and it keeps finding us.
It is worrying and needs to be addressed as soon as possible.
Worcestershire 136-4 (Guptill 65, Rampaul 2-24, Ferguson 2-25)
Worcestershire won by six wickets
I thought Derbyshire did much better today, against the side that top the division, than they did against Lancashire the other night.
We still lost, but to take the game to the penultimate over when we only managed a paltry 135-9 was a pretty good effort.
I thought Ravi Rampaul bowled splendidly and Lockie Ferguson was not far behind him, putting in a few balls of searing pace. Each was rewarded with two wickets and although Wahab Riaz was wicketless, he bowled with fine control. The attack looked a handful, and mention should be made of a good spell by Alex Hughes too. Make no mistake, Worcestershire's top three is as strong as any in the country and you could even extend that to the top six. Good batsmen keep coming.
Matt Critchley and Wayne Madsen were expensive and the former doesn't look himself at present, either with bat or ball. Yet for all the good efforts of those named, Worcestershire never got out of second gear and really didn't need to.
For the second game running our innings was a dysfunctional mess. Critchley holed out after finding the field several times, MacLeod played a shot that would have been deemed genius had it worked but just looked sloppy, while Madsen top edged and was out third ball. So heavily reliant are we on Wayne that the game looked lost at that point.
Ben Slater batted well until he walked past one from D'Oliveira, while Gary Wilson made 28 at a run a ball but never hinted at playing an innings that might give us a chance, nor of scoring quickly enough to do so.
The one bright spot was the debutant, Anuj Dal, who confirmed the good impression he had made on me in the second team with strokes of wristy improvisation that pleased the aesthetes and lovers of improvisation alike. He must have cemented a place in the side with this display and, on his 22nd birthday. looked a player with a decent future.
Most telling today was the omission of Hardus Viljoen, a big call by John Wright, but one against which it is impossible to raise an argument. He was warming up, so was presumably not injured, but I said the other night that I failed to see a role for him in this team and stick by it.
Omitting the highest paid player in the club seemed to bring others together and the one gratifying aspect of the defeat was the team spirit shown, that made a very good opposition work hard for a modest target.
Played two, both at home, lost two. Not the form of a side that is going far in this competition, to be honest, but I am gradually writing off this season as one where too much is happening behind the scenes for my peace of mind.
Every day seems to bring something else that is newsworthy, but sadly not cricket-related, whether it is queues for beers, Twitter spats or an employee being paid less than minimum wage. That's without mentioning the departure of the Head of Cricket. We don't have far to look for trouble right now and it keeps finding us.
It is worrying and needs to be addressed as soon as possible.
Saturday, 7 July 2018
Derbyshire v Worcestershire preview
T20 matches come thick and fast at this early stage and we have an early chance to make amends for last night's defeat against Lancashire when we play Worcestershire at the 3aaa County Ground tomorrow afternoon.
There are things we can do to make a better fist of tomorrow's game, aside from hoping that we don't run into a batsman in prime form, as was the case with Liam Livingstone last night. As I wrote then, sometimes you have to credit the opposition for playing well and he played an innings of astonishing talent and power.
Yet the target was never sufficiently challenging to put pressure on Lancashire. Full credit to Wayne Madsen, who is a fine player in this format and produced a full range of shots in batting almost through the innings. Someone has to do that and it is an established way to success in T20, but we reverted to the bad old days by allowing far too many dot balls.
There were twenty-nine in the Derbyshire innings, twenty of them coming in the Powerplay, which is pretty poor. So over half of the balls when the field was in and aggressive shots can clear them brought nothing. Successful sides will generally look to make ten an over from the first six - we took ten overs to reach 60. From there it was always a case of playing catch up.
I was impressed by Calum MacLeod, who worked it around well and lent good support to Wayne Madsen and I wondered how much more effective we would be had we had Luis Reece in there too. Part of last year's success was in having alternate left/right batsmen in down the order, but the early departure of Slater and the absence of Reece and Godleman meant that the visiting attack could get their lines right from the start.
So two things there but the bowling is another area for tweaking.
I hope that all three convince me otherwise, but there was no suggestion of anything special from three senior members of the team - Gary Wilson, Ravi Rampaul and Hardus Viljoen. I don't get the 'wow' factor from Wilson's captaincy and the failure to give Alex Hughes, a proven bowler in the format, an over until the tenth of the innings suggested a degree of inflexibility. It was highlighted last year, when Wayne Madsen opened the bowling against Hampshire, as he had with success all season, rather than give the ball to someone to bowl short against the Pakistan veteran.
Wilson is not especially mobile in the field and has struggled with a knee injury for a while, while his batting was not explosive enough for the situation when he came in to bat. Maybe Hughes or Viljoen should have come ahead of him, but I hope we are not going to have to hide the skipper in the field for whatever reason. He took a very good catch, but needs to play a big role from here.
I thought Lockie Ferguson and Wahab Riaz did OK, considering that the former hasn't played a match for two months and the latter for four. The overs will have done them good and getting that rustiness away will be useful. Rampaul bowled a few decent balls but some that were very poor, while Viljoen doesn't give me the vibe of a man who will take a lot of wickets anytime soon.
I don't think we can play all four in the same side, so the choice may come down to one of the latter two. Viljoen may get the nod for his greater batting ability at the end of an innings, though Rampaul has the far greater record of T20 success.
Whether John Wright decides on changes for tomorrow is a moot point, but he will at least consider bringing in Safyaan Sharif for one of those bowlers and both Anuj Dal and Matt McKiernan would give us different bowling options, while lengthening the batting.
Things to consider, decisions to make. One defeat doesn't make qualification unlikely, but the damage to our net run rate sees us bottom of the group after one match.
It is down to professionalism to get us back to parity tomorrow, against a Worcestershire side that tops the group after two games and has a powerful batting line up.
I'm not being negative, but I am being realistic in saying that we start the game as distant second favourites.
I hope they prove me wrong.
There are things we can do to make a better fist of tomorrow's game, aside from hoping that we don't run into a batsman in prime form, as was the case with Liam Livingstone last night. As I wrote then, sometimes you have to credit the opposition for playing well and he played an innings of astonishing talent and power.
Yet the target was never sufficiently challenging to put pressure on Lancashire. Full credit to Wayne Madsen, who is a fine player in this format and produced a full range of shots in batting almost through the innings. Someone has to do that and it is an established way to success in T20, but we reverted to the bad old days by allowing far too many dot balls.
There were twenty-nine in the Derbyshire innings, twenty of them coming in the Powerplay, which is pretty poor. So over half of the balls when the field was in and aggressive shots can clear them brought nothing. Successful sides will generally look to make ten an over from the first six - we took ten overs to reach 60. From there it was always a case of playing catch up.
I was impressed by Calum MacLeod, who worked it around well and lent good support to Wayne Madsen and I wondered how much more effective we would be had we had Luis Reece in there too. Part of last year's success was in having alternate left/right batsmen in down the order, but the early departure of Slater and the absence of Reece and Godleman meant that the visiting attack could get their lines right from the start.
So two things there but the bowling is another area for tweaking.
I hope that all three convince me otherwise, but there was no suggestion of anything special from three senior members of the team - Gary Wilson, Ravi Rampaul and Hardus Viljoen. I don't get the 'wow' factor from Wilson's captaincy and the failure to give Alex Hughes, a proven bowler in the format, an over until the tenth of the innings suggested a degree of inflexibility. It was highlighted last year, when Wayne Madsen opened the bowling against Hampshire, as he had with success all season, rather than give the ball to someone to bowl short against the Pakistan veteran.
Wilson is not especially mobile in the field and has struggled with a knee injury for a while, while his batting was not explosive enough for the situation when he came in to bat. Maybe Hughes or Viljoen should have come ahead of him, but I hope we are not going to have to hide the skipper in the field for whatever reason. He took a very good catch, but needs to play a big role from here.
I thought Lockie Ferguson and Wahab Riaz did OK, considering that the former hasn't played a match for two months and the latter for four. The overs will have done them good and getting that rustiness away will be useful. Rampaul bowled a few decent balls but some that were very poor, while Viljoen doesn't give me the vibe of a man who will take a lot of wickets anytime soon.
I don't think we can play all four in the same side, so the choice may come down to one of the latter two. Viljoen may get the nod for his greater batting ability at the end of an innings, though Rampaul has the far greater record of T20 success.
Whether John Wright decides on changes for tomorrow is a moot point, but he will at least consider bringing in Safyaan Sharif for one of those bowlers and both Anuj Dal and Matt McKiernan would give us different bowling options, while lengthening the batting.
Things to consider, decisions to make. One defeat doesn't make qualification unlikely, but the damage to our net run rate sees us bottom of the group after one match.
It is down to professionalism to get us back to parity tomorrow, against a Worcestershire side that tops the group after two games and has a powerful batting line up.
I'm not being negative, but I am being realistic in saying that we start the game as distant second favourites.
I hope they prove me wrong.
Friday, 6 July 2018
Derbyshire v Lancashire Vitality Blast
I think it safe to say that if Derbyshire are to get anywhere close to the knockout stages of this competition this year we need to raise our game by about a hundred per cent.
With the honourable exceptions of Wayne Madsen and Calum MacLeod the batting was very average tonight. Slater's wicket was a poor run out, though good fielding, while Critchley played too many air shots for common sense. His early departure was only a matter of time and while MacLeod and Madsen batted well, they were never able to free the shackles of good, sensible, accurate bowling.
Madsen played as he did last year and towards the end unfurled some glorious shots. I felt that with a good start with the ball, we could have made a game of it with his late burst. MacLeod meanwhile played an innings of promise and will prove an asset in this competition.
Yet in reply, Derbyshire's bowlers were very average. Liam Livingstone and Alex Davies treated the attack with near disdain, the former progressing to a century that seemed inevitable from the first ball that he faced. It was perhaps a case of facing a very good batsman on a good day, but the bowlers were poor tonight.
I thought Lockie Ferguson perhaps the best of them, but that's all relative on a night that Derbyshire will want to forget. We weren't beaten tonight, we were slaughtered.
Hardus Viljoen was pretty poor, once again and I am increasingly of the opinion that Derbyshire's high-earner is of little value in this competition. If he bowled straight it went a long way, if it wasn't it made Daryn Smit's life very awkward. Unless he can find a better control of line or length, we would be better going with Safyaan Sharif, though the tail would then be worryingly long.
I hope his professionalism sees him work hard to turn it around, because his recent form has been very poor. Two overs for 37 tells its own story.
So too does the opposition winning with 33 balls to spare.
There is so much work to do.
With the honourable exceptions of Wayne Madsen and Calum MacLeod the batting was very average tonight. Slater's wicket was a poor run out, though good fielding, while Critchley played too many air shots for common sense. His early departure was only a matter of time and while MacLeod and Madsen batted well, they were never able to free the shackles of good, sensible, accurate bowling.
Madsen played as he did last year and towards the end unfurled some glorious shots. I felt that with a good start with the ball, we could have made a game of it with his late burst. MacLeod meanwhile played an innings of promise and will prove an asset in this competition.
Yet in reply, Derbyshire's bowlers were very average. Liam Livingstone and Alex Davies treated the attack with near disdain, the former progressing to a century that seemed inevitable from the first ball that he faced. It was perhaps a case of facing a very good batsman on a good day, but the bowlers were poor tonight.
I thought Lockie Ferguson perhaps the best of them, but that's all relative on a night that Derbyshire will want to forget. We weren't beaten tonight, we were slaughtered.
Hardus Viljoen was pretty poor, once again and I am increasingly of the opinion that Derbyshire's high-earner is of little value in this competition. If he bowled straight it went a long way, if it wasn't it made Daryn Smit's life very awkward. Unless he can find a better control of line or length, we would be better going with Safyaan Sharif, though the tail would then be worryingly long.
I hope his professionalism sees him work hard to turn it around, because his recent form has been very poor. Two overs for 37 tells its own story.
So too does the opposition winning with 33 balls to spare.
There is so much work to do.
Recognition for Sam Conners
It is always nice to see one of your own gaining recognition at a higher level and I am thrilled to report on Derbyshire's Sam Conners being called up for England under-19s.
I had heard good things about the young seamer and was pleased to see that they were all true, when I saw him for myself at Belper last month.
He isn't especially quick, but he has a quicker ball and is capable of hurrying batsmen with it. He nips it around though and will doubtless increase in speed still further as he fills out.
Good news for him and his family.
Well done, Sam - and good luck!
The return of cricket a welcome distraction
It has been a heck of a week and not one that proved the ideal build up for the Vitality Blast T20 competition, which began on Wednesday night at Trent Bridge.
The club chose the eve of its first game against Lancashire at the 3aaa County Ground tonight to unveil its plans for a new Head of Cricket role and the successful applicant will manage the cricket side of the club's operation. Quite rightly, as I wrote was required the other day, he will now have budgetary and contract control and will have the sports science side of the club under his 'umbrella', while still giving the captain a degree of autonomy, which is important. I like the model, while accepting that it needs a strong, experienced and confident captain at its head.
In other words, it is a structure that is largely that as defined by Kim Barnett, yet with a degree of irony that is not lost on many supporters, will not have the county legend in the role.
It is not one that will come without cost, of course. A new head of cricket with the requisite skills (one assumes a level three or four coaching badge would be essential) will not come cheap and the coaching costs beneath the role will not be inconsiderable. The club will need the promised £1.3 million a year from the ECB to make it work, as it would be impossible on current resources without losing a couple of the higher earning players. And let's face it, we're not carrying a large staff at the moment.
Again, though, and harking back to my earlier comments on greater transparency in communications, the press release did not tell the full picture. Call me a pedant, if you will, but in a career that has taken me through local government, civil service and retail press releases by the bucket load, I always strive for accuracy and a lack of ambiguity in the message.
Yesterday's press release quotes chairman Ian Morgan saying that the cricket budget has increased by 40% since 2012, which is true and, on the face of it laudable. Yet it is not quite what it seems.
Among my large collection of club cricket memorabilia and information, I hold a set of club annual reports over the past thirty years or so. They are not often dipped into, because the information therein is hardly of a 'blockbuster read' level.
Yet what they show is that in 2012 the club was spending 66.5% of its total income on the cricket side of the business, £1,521, 068 from a total of £2,287,798
By 2017 the spend had, as the club say, increased to £1,959, 97 but that was only 59.73% of the total spend of £3,280.979.
So in REAL terms we are spending less on the cricket side. Had that 2012 percentage spend been maintained, we would have had £2,181,851 spent on the cricket side, an extra £221,873.
That percentage spend on the cricket side increased to 67.91% and 68.16% in 2013 and 2014, since when it has dropped to 66%, 62.43% and 59.73% in the three years that followed.
Yes, I know the off field operation generates cash for the cricket side, but it has also, on that basis, taken a sizeable chunk from it in real terms. While the club has had some genuine successes, with the Elton John concert and the fireworks display among them, they have run other things less successfully, with the Boyzone concert as a prime example. That is aside from the 'egg in face' impact that losing the Kent game to weather at Chesterfield had as a consequence. We were very lucky to escape that one without sanction.
In my various roles over the years I have put on literally hundreds of events, including festivals, concerts, conferences and much more. I know that they can be a fragile beast, the late appearance of a major event on the same night significantly impacting on your audience and a break even, let alone a profit.Without researching counter attractions, you can be doomed to failure before you start. Look at the impact the England World Cup quarter-final has had on this weekend's cricket for a classic example. Imagine the bride whose big day will be impacted by those following the football...
But going back to my theme of transparency, all that was needed in that press release was the insertion of a sentence to the tune of 'we strive to get back to a point where 2/3 of all of our expenditure as a club is on the cricket side of the business'.
Without that, the transparency that I referred to isn't there. And let's face it, we are a cricket club, so shouldn't that be a realistic goal?
Needs more work, for me. I think that a cricket club SHOULD be spending two thirds of its money on cricket. By all means continue the excellent work that goes on, but carefully study what is losing money.
It may be laudable, but if it ain't lucrative, it should be surplus to requirements.
The club chose the eve of its first game against Lancashire at the 3aaa County Ground tonight to unveil its plans for a new Head of Cricket role and the successful applicant will manage the cricket side of the club's operation. Quite rightly, as I wrote was required the other day, he will now have budgetary and contract control and will have the sports science side of the club under his 'umbrella', while still giving the captain a degree of autonomy, which is important. I like the model, while accepting that it needs a strong, experienced and confident captain at its head.
In other words, it is a structure that is largely that as defined by Kim Barnett, yet with a degree of irony that is not lost on many supporters, will not have the county legend in the role.
It is not one that will come without cost, of course. A new head of cricket with the requisite skills (one assumes a level three or four coaching badge would be essential) will not come cheap and the coaching costs beneath the role will not be inconsiderable. The club will need the promised £1.3 million a year from the ECB to make it work, as it would be impossible on current resources without losing a couple of the higher earning players. And let's face it, we're not carrying a large staff at the moment.
Again, though, and harking back to my earlier comments on greater transparency in communications, the press release did not tell the full picture. Call me a pedant, if you will, but in a career that has taken me through local government, civil service and retail press releases by the bucket load, I always strive for accuracy and a lack of ambiguity in the message.
Yesterday's press release quotes chairman Ian Morgan saying that the cricket budget has increased by 40% since 2012, which is true and, on the face of it laudable. Yet it is not quite what it seems.
Among my large collection of club cricket memorabilia and information, I hold a set of club annual reports over the past thirty years or so. They are not often dipped into, because the information therein is hardly of a 'blockbuster read' level.
Yet what they show is that in 2012 the club was spending 66.5% of its total income on the cricket side of the business, £1,521, 068 from a total of £2,287,798
By 2017 the spend had, as the club say, increased to £1,959, 97 but that was only 59.73% of the total spend of £3,280.979.
So in REAL terms we are spending less on the cricket side. Had that 2012 percentage spend been maintained, we would have had £2,181,851 spent on the cricket side, an extra £221,873.
That percentage spend on the cricket side increased to 67.91% and 68.16% in 2013 and 2014, since when it has dropped to 66%, 62.43% and 59.73% in the three years that followed.
Yes, I know the off field operation generates cash for the cricket side, but it has also, on that basis, taken a sizeable chunk from it in real terms. While the club has had some genuine successes, with the Elton John concert and the fireworks display among them, they have run other things less successfully, with the Boyzone concert as a prime example. That is aside from the 'egg in face' impact that losing the Kent game to weather at Chesterfield had as a consequence. We were very lucky to escape that one without sanction.
In my various roles over the years I have put on literally hundreds of events, including festivals, concerts, conferences and much more. I know that they can be a fragile beast, the late appearance of a major event on the same night significantly impacting on your audience and a break even, let alone a profit.Without researching counter attractions, you can be doomed to failure before you start. Look at the impact the England World Cup quarter-final has had on this weekend's cricket for a classic example. Imagine the bride whose big day will be impacted by those following the football...
But going back to my theme of transparency, all that was needed in that press release was the insertion of a sentence to the tune of 'we strive to get back to a point where 2/3 of all of our expenditure as a club is on the cricket side of the business'.
Without that, the transparency that I referred to isn't there. And let's face it, we are a cricket club, so shouldn't that be a realistic goal?
Needs more work, for me. I think that a cricket club SHOULD be spending two thirds of its money on cricket. By all means continue the excellent work that goes on, but carefully study what is losing money.
It may be laudable, but if it ain't lucrative, it should be surplus to requirements.