Derbyshire 251 and 171 (Hughes 57)
Glamorgan 121 (Palladino 6-29) and 16-1
Glamorgan need 286 runs to win
Before this game, somewhat facetiously and in the light of a dodgy weather forecast for the fourth day, I suggested that Derbyshire would need to beat Glamorgan in three.
Tomorrow, barring something special by the visiting batsmen that would require to be matched in its ineptitude by our bowlers, we should do just that, with plenty of runs and time to spare.
Maybe, at last, in the season's dying embers, we have stumbled across a formula that might work for us moving forward. If we can't prepare fast wickets, let's have some slower ones with variable bounce and movement that plays right into the hands of that most admirable of professionals, Tony Palladino.
There will be those who say he is 35 years old and only plays four-day cricket, perhaps decrying him as a one-dimensional cricketer. I can only say, with Tony out of contract at the end of the summer, that I wish we had a few similar players on the staff, because his level of consistency is remarkable. He took his 300th first-class wicket for us today and has served the county nobly.
If the wicket is in his favour, he takes wickets. If it isn't, he keeps things quiet. 37 wickets at 19 each underlines his importance to this side and I would like to see him given at least another year. There would be worse ideas than his remaining on the coaching staff too, because a bowler such as he can teach plenty to younger bowlers. He keeps himself fit and could feasibly play on for another couple of summers yet.
Today, before and after lunch, he filleted the Glamorgan innings and reduced it from a position of dominance to a wreck in no time. Lockie Ferguson produced trademark yorkers and in the twinkling of an eye we had an unlikely, but very handy lead of 130 runs. It rather put yesterday's efforts, especially that of Billy Godleman, into perspective, yet the second innings began with his early dismissal, cricket being the greatest of levellers.
Today's hero was Alex Hughes, who overcame a narrow escape when he lost his grip on his bat, which slipped over his shoulder and narrowly missed the stumps. He made a watchful 57 in two and a half hours of diligence, while Harvey Hosein added 31 to take the lead past 300.
Psychologically it made a sizeable hill into a mountain and we should win tomorrow by a hundred and plenty. The visitors are left to make the game's highest score by some distance, on a wicket where a batsman can never consider himself 'in'. The loss of their overseas player, Stephen Cook, to that man Palladino before the close made things even tougher and they should face a struggle tomorrow.
Always assuming that we don't bowl like we did at Durham, of course, but this attack has personnel of greater discipline and I expect Tony and Ravi Rampaul to be key men tomorrow, with Ferguson on hand with his howitzers for the tail.
Fingers crossed we all have our smiley faces on, tomorrow evening.
A lot of people are missing the point about the loans. On Tom Lace, Godleman said that they wanted a specialist opener in the absence of Reece and Slater. We've all had enough to say this year about square pegs being forced into round holes in the batting order and it's surprising that they are now suggesting we do that with Dal or Brodick simply to get them into the side. Why would we think that players who haven't opened the batting much if at all are going themselves or the team justice? The other option would have been to promote one of the other batsmen, but do we want to risk Madsen there, go back on most of what we've said about Hosein opening, or expect the techniques of Hughes, Wilson or Critchley to hold up? It's a sensible short-term move which has worked out well so far, and I don't think it has any long-term implications, as Lace has recently signed a new contract and Middlesex or not particularly rich in their batting resources, so wouldn't want to let him go, especially if Gubbins is close to the revolving England door.
ReplyDeleteNeither does Andersson block opportunities. Everyone seems to have assumed he's been brought in as a middle order batsman, where it's obvious now that Derbyshire's primary interest is the pace bowling option he provides, which neither Dal nor Brodick offers. With Davis, Gleadall and Taylor all injured, there were no other options to replace Viljoen, who clearly has not worked well with Ferguson and wouldn't have been right for this pitch anyway. For the record, Andersson has bowled very well, flattered to an extent by a couple of desperately poor shots, but regularly beating the bat with good bounce and seam movement off the pitch. He's got a good high repeatable action from a mercifully short run-up, not particularly quick but getting good carry even on a fairly slow pitch. He looks a decent batsman as well, having got a very poor LBW decision against him in the first innings, and might well fill the gap left by Thakor's departure.
Unlike Lace, he could be a signing prospect. He's at the end of a three year contract with Middlesex, and even if another is on offer, he has a formidable pecking-order of quick bowlers ahead of him, with Murtagh, Roland-Jones, Harris, Finn, Helms, Fuller and Barber ahead of him. Even if Rampaul and Viljoen see out their contracts, and Palladino continues to defy the years, we need to be recruiting or developing their replacements now, and Andersson's all-round package could be good value.
Good post that and having just posted in the day 3 thread you have made me reassess. Andersson probably was signed for his bowling. Dal is a medium part timer from what I understand. Regards openers again your probably spot on there. in my head the only option was Kettlebrough and to drop Hughes or Wilsonand pick Dal. We know what Hughes and Wilson can and cant do but Dal showed some glimpses in t20 and has done well for the 2nds. I think he is unlucky still but as I say you make some great points about the merits of both signings. I am on the Andersson bandwagon now. Sign him up. If possible. Regards openers I would actually like Lace or A Another to sign as would prefer left hand right hand opening partnership with Reece at 3 and Madsen at 4. That way it looks really solid. Hughes is never a 4 nor Wilson a 5. For me something like Hughes 5 Hosein 6 and Critchley at 7 has a much better ring to it. Andersson 8 perhaps. Palladino and Viljeon with an overseas such as Olivier. That would look much better to me. Rampaul can play 2nd Xl or stay in the WI no disrespect but 4 day bowling has been awful. I still think hes more than useful with the white ball and would happily keep him for those formats.
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